Standard Program

The MSW curriculum for the Standard degree option consists of 58 credit hours, which includes credit for generalist practice and specialized internships. The first year of study provides the student with knowledge, skills, and values for generalist social work practice as well as the foundation for advanced or specialized social work practice. Students enroll in internships in the fall and spring of the first (Generalist) year of the standard program and must complete the practicum education application process according to a designated timeline prior to the fall semester. In the second year, the students choose one of two areas of specialized practice: community practice, and clinical practice. The clinical specialization is the best fit for those who are interested in direct practice with individuals, families, and groups. The community specialization best fits those interested in practice with groups, organizations, and communities. After completing a second internship during the final semester, students participate in a one-week capstone seminar before graduating.

Foundation (Generalist) Year/Phase

First Year/First Phase in the Standard Degree Option

The foundation year or phase provides a generalist education in social work at an advanced level and is required of every student in the standard degree option.

The generalist curriculum is organized around these five curriculum content areas:

• Human Behavior and the Social Environment (SWO 5351 Human Behavior Theory: Person & Environment and SWO 5320 Human Diversity & Social Justice)
• Social Welfare Policy and Services ( SWO 5322 Social Policy For Social Work Practice),
• Social Work Practice (SWO 5361 Social Work Practice with Individuals and Families; SWO 5362 Social Work Practice with Groups; SWO 5363 Social Work Practice with Communities & Organizations)
• Research (SWO 5381 Research for Social Work Practice)
• Practicum Education (SWO 5491 Foundation Internship I and SWO 5492 Foundation Internship II)

Students will take classes according to their plan of study, choosing between a 4-term, 6-term, or 8-term option. Students must earn at least a “B” in Foundation Internship I, Social Work Practice with Individuals & Families, in order to enroll for Foundation Internship II. Required Practicum Education orientation must be completed before enrolling in the internship. Foundation Internship I & II consist of professional preparation for practice in an approved setting, generally 16 hours weekly for 15 weeks, for a minimum of 240 clock hours, and a weekly integrative seminar. Foundation Internship II consists of an additional minimum of 240 clock hours of training practice in the agency. Students will apply the foundations of knowledge, values, and skills they have learned in the standard courses in Foundation Internship I & II. Students must earn at least a B in Foundation Internship II, Social Work Practice with Groups, and Social Work Practice with Communities & Organizations in order to enroll in practice and internship courses for the specialized year. Students should pay careful attention to requirements for prerequisites and enrollment in courses concurrently, following the appropriate course sequence options on the following pages.

Specialized Year

Second Year/Phase of Standard Degree Option 

Curriculum Content

The program offers two areas of specialized practice. Students acquire advanced practice skills and knowledge in each specialization that builds on the standard curriculum. Two areas of practice define the program’s specializations: Clinical Practice and Community Practice. Students complete the Advanced Internship in a setting that allows them the opportunity to prepare for practice in these areas. Students are expected to expand their learning further through the use of electives.

Each area of specialized practice consists of a combination of courses taken exclusively with others in the specialization. In addition, students in all specializations will choose to take Organizational Leadership & Management, Social Work Practice & Advocacy with Children & Families, or Health Practice & Policy. All students will enroll in a Capstone course. These combined courses allow students an opportunity to learn from each other and gain exposure to other areas of specialized practice.

Students must have completed all standard requirements before enrolling in the advanced social work practice courses. These courses are designed to provide an intensive experience for applying learning in the standard curriculum and advanced practice methods and principles in the specialization to actual practice situations. Students will learn the skills for advanced practice in their specialization, assess their practice, and establish ongoing professional development.

Students follow a concurrent format for internship and will enroll in both terms or advanced internship in a two-hour seminar course while also completing 16-20 hours weekly for a minimum of 225-275 hours during the first term of internship and 20-24 hours weekly for a minimum of 275-325 hours during the second term of internship, for a minimum total of 550 hours across the two terms. Students must have completed all other pre- or co-requisite coursework before enrolling in the Advanced Internship. Advanced Internship consists of social work preparatory practice in a setting appropriate to the student’s specialization.

During the last week of their final trimester, students engage in a capstone experience, during which they present a practice-oriented workshop to colleagues and professional social workers, including a faculty evaluator.

Brief Description of Master of Social Work Areas of Specialized Practice

Clinical Practice

The clinical practice specialization prepares students for advanced, direct practice with individuals, families, and groups in various clinical settings. Students learn to apply evidence-based practice theories and methods of intervention that reflect a person-environment orientation and a strengths perspective. Specific philosophical frameworks include humanism, positivism, and evidence-based methods. The program is based on developing an eclectic method that offers the opportunity to investigate more specific practice models. Some examples include cognitive behavioral therapy, solution-focused therapy, motivational interviewing, narrative approaches, Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), structural family therapy, therapeutic use of play, and dialectical behavior therapy. Assessment tools and techniques, especially focusing on the DSM, are critical to the program. 

Community Practice

The community practice specialization prepares students for advanced practice with public and/or nonprofit organizations, neighborhoods, communities, congregations, and religiously affiliated agencies. Students learn a variety of professional community practice models that serve to strengthen and enrich communities in local and global settings. Communities are geographic (e.g., neighborhoods) and relational (e.g., ethnic communities). The central models are rooted in professional literature and research, and they include advanced skills in community development, community organizing, and community planning.

The advanced development model is asset-based community development, which recognizes community struggles but responds most centrally to community assets. Asset mapping is a key skill learned when studying this model.

The advanced model of organizing is consensus-based. Consensual organizing is rooted in consensus-building rather than building on potential conflict. Negotiation and facilitation are key skills learned with regard to this model.

The advanced model of planning is emergent-based. While most planning requires a rational approach to planning (e.g. the logic model), the emergent model allows for greater flexibility and adaptability when working in diverse contexts. The engagement of stakeholders is a key skill here.

All Standard degree plan options can be found below. Please review your plan of study options with your student success advisor. 

Standard: 4 Term - Clinical 

¹

5V80 is Social Justice & Technology; you must choose 3 hours when registering. 

²

You must choose one of these courses that have not already been taken. 

Standard: 4 Term - Community 

¹

5V80 is Social Justice & Technology; you must choose 3 hours when registering. 

²

You must choose one of these courses that have not already been taken. 

Standard: 6 Term - Clinical 

¹

5V80 is Social Justice & Technology; you must choose 3 hours when registering.

²

You must choose one of these courses that have not already been taken. 

Standard: 6 Term - Community

¹

5V80 is Social Justice & Technology; you must choose 3 hours when registering.

²

You must choose one of these courses that have not already been taken. 

Standard: 8 Term - Clinical 

¹

5V80 is Social Justice & Technology; you must choose 3 hours when registering.

²

You must choose one of these courses that have not already been taken. 

Standard: 8 Term - Community 

¹

5V80 is Social Justice & Technology; you must choose 3 hours when registering.

²

You must choose one of these courses that have not already been taken.