College of Social & Behavioral Sciences
Department of Social Work
358 Trafton Science Center N
507-389-6504
The Master of Social Work (MSW) curriculum has been carefully developed based upon our mission, goals, and objectives. We give particular attention to the requirements of our accrediting body (CSWE) as well as the perceived needs of graduate students, and our institution. Students are required to proceed through the curriculum as it is sequenced below. The program is based upon a full-time graduate credit load and does not have a part-time option.
Students in the Traditional (TR) MSW program are required to complete 60 credit
hours spread over two calendar years. During the first year students complete
11 credits in fall and spring semesters and 8 credits in the summer semester.
During the concentration year students complete 8 required credits in the fall,
11 credits in the spring, and 8 credits in the final summer semester. In addition
students must complete 3 elective credit hours, typically taken during one of
the summer semesters or fall semester of the concentration year. The TR program
includes 40 credit-hours of classes and two 10-credit field education placements
in a supervised practicum. The first and second year practicums each run from
January through July.
Students in the Advanced Standing (AS) MSW program are required to complete
32 credit hours over one calendar year, beginning with a 2-credit seminar in
the summer, followed by 8 required credits in the fall, 11 credits in the spring
and 8 credits in the final summer semester. In addition students must complete
3 elective credit hours, typically taken during one of the summer semesters
or fall semester. The AS program includes 22 credit hours of classes and one
10-credit field education placement in a supervised practicum. The practicum
will runs from January to July.
Fall Semester
* SOWK 601 – Foundations of Generalist Practice I (3)
* SOWK 603 – Human Behavior in the Social Environment I (3)
* SOWK 605 – Social Welfare Policy and Services (3)
* SOWK 607 – Professional Competence Seminar I (2)
Spring Semester
* SOWK 611 – Foundations of Generalist Practice II (3)
* SOWK 613 – Human Behavior in the Social Environment II (3)
* SOWK 615 – Foundation Practicum & Seminar I (5)
Summer Semester (Traditional 2-Year only)
* SOWK 625 – Foundation Practicum & Seminar II (5)
* SOWK 629– Foundations of Applied Social Work Research (3)
Summer Semester (Advanced Standing Students Only)
* SOWK 650 – Advanced Standing Preparation Seminar (2)
* SOWK 651 – Advanced Social Work Practice with Individuals (3)
* SOWK 657 – Professional Competence Seminar II (2)
* SOWK 669 - Advanced Social Work Evaluation (3)
Spring Semester
* SOWK 655 - Social Welfare Policy Practice (3)
* SOWK 660 – Advanced Social Work Practice with Couples, Families &
Groups, (3)
* SOWK 665 – Advanced Practicum and Seminar I (5)
Summer Semester
* SOWK 661– Advanced Social Work Practice Administration (3)
* SOWK 675 – Advanced Practicum and Seminar II (5)
* Elective: The 3 credit elective requirement is typically taken during one
of the summer sessions or during the fall of the concentration year. Please
check with program for a list of approved electives.
SOWK 512 (3) Social Welfare Issues & Policies
This course provides exploration of the interrelatedness of social services, social policy formation and analysis, and social work practice. This course may not be considered as an elective for MSW students.
SOWK 515 (3) Child-Family Welfare Services
This course examines social services designed to facilitate child development and family functioning, including child protection, foster care, adoption, family preservation.
SOWK 519 (3) Social Work and Aging
This course examines issues, resources, and processes in working with the elderly and their families in the social service system.
SOWK 520 (3) Women’s Issues in Social Work
This course explores women’s concerns as clients and workers in the social
service system.
SOWK 522 (3) Social Work and Chemical Dependency
This course is designed to provide upper level students with a comprehensive
introduction to the epidemiology, etiology, history, policy, and treatment modalities
of substance abuse from a person-in-environment and systems theory social work
perspective.
SOWK 525 (3) Social Work Health Care Setting
This course examines social service delivery issues and skills for working in
hospitals, nursing homes, and community health programs.
SOWK 527 (3) Social Work and Domestic Violence
The overall goal of this course is to enable students to understand the rationale
for and application of a variety of intervention strategies for the prevention
and intervention of domestic violence.
SOWK 530 (3) Social Work in the School Setting
This course examines service delivery issues, knowledge and skills for providing
social services within school settings.
SOWK 532 (3) Social Work and Disabilities
This course focuses on service delivery issues and skills, using a strengths-based,
family systems, and empowerment approach for working with individuals with developmental
and other disabilities and their families across the life span. Students hoping
to do a practicum in a disability services setting should complete this course
prior to beginning the practicum.
SOWK 565 (3) Analyzing the Small Community
Community study, application of research techniques; student-conducted research
and analysis using a community setting. This course may not be considered as
an elective for MSW students.
SOWK 569 (3) Applied Social Work Research
This course examines research issues and techniques typically used in social
science research, including needs assessment, program evaluation, and practice
evaluation. This course may not be considered as an elective for MSW students.
SOWK 585 (1-6) Selected Topics
Topics announced when offered.
SOWK 590 (1-3) Workshop
SOWK 601 (3) Foundations of Generalist Practice I
This course presents foundation knowledge, values and skills for generalist social work practice at multiple systems levels, emphasizing individuals, families and treatment groups. Students obtain an understanding of the history, purpose and scope of the social work profession.
SOWK 603 (3) Human Behavior in the Social Environment I
This course focuses on theories and knowledge which guide social work practice, emphasizing systems theory, person-in-environment perspective, strengths perspective, and oppression theory. Students also examine theories of individual and family development across the lifespan.
SOWK 605 (3) Social Welfare Policy and Services
The course provides students with an overview of the historical and contemporary social services system and an exploration of the interconnectedness between social welfare policies, social services and social work practice, with an emphasis on oppressed populations.
SOWK 607 (2) Professional Competence Seminar I
The course helps prepare students for culturally and ethically competent social
work practice. Students examine the many facets of diversity, learn models for
culturally competent social work practice, and analyze ethical dilemmas from
a social work ethics and value-base.
SOWK 611 Foundations of Generalist Practice II (3)
This course presents foundation knowledge, values and skills for generalist social work practice with task groups, organizations and communities. The course will emphasize community level social work practice, focusing on strategies for community assessment, development and change.
SOWK 613 (3) Human Behavior in the Social Environment II
Building on SOWK 603 HBSE I, this course examines theories and knowledge focusing
on groups, organizations, communities, societies, and economic systems. Students
explore the ways mezzo and macro level systems impact individual, family and
societal well-being.
SOWK 615 (5) Foundation Practicum and Seminar I
Foundation Practicum and Seminar I provide students with the opportunity to integrate social work theory and practice knowledge, values, and skills through direct practice with individual clients, families, groups, agencies, and communities.
SOWK 625 (5) Foundation Practicum and Seminar II
Foundation Practicum and Seminar II is a continuation of SOWK 615. Students integrate social work theory and practice knowledge, values, and skills through direct practice with individual clients, families, groups, agencies, and communities.
SOWK 629 (3) Foundations of Applied Social Work Research
This course enables students to understand the rationale for and application of quantitative and qualitative research techniques commonly used in generalist social work practice. Students will become more skilled at reading and critically evaluating research studies, including studies that are designed to empirically test theory, as well as in conducting independent research. Students will understand how issues of diversity are applicable to conducting and evaluating research and to engaging in effective, culturally competent social work practice. Students will also recognize the values, ethical issues, and social and economic justice issues that underlie research with an emphasis on social work research.
SOWK 650 (2) Advanced Standing Preparation Seminar
This seminar helps students admitted to the Advanced Standing MSW program refine their professional self-identity as generalist social workers and reviews foundation curriculum content to ensure that students are ready for the concentration year of the advanced generalist MSW program.
SOWK 651 (3) Advanced Social Work Practice with Individuals
This course provides students with advanced generalist theories, knowledge, values, and skills for competent, ethical and evidence-based direct social work practice with individuals from diverse backgrounds.
SOWK 655 (3) Social Welfare Policy Practice
This course is designed to provide students with knowledge, values and skills
to engage in macro level advanced policy practice in organizations and communities
in order to promote social and economic justice. This course will focus on policy
issues relevant to rural and small communities.
SOWK 657 (2) Professional Competence Seminar II
Building on SOWK 607, this course utilizes a case study approach to develop advanced skills in applying principles of ethical decision-making and cultural competence to practice with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and rural and small communities.
SOWK 660 (3) Advanced Social Work Practice with Couples, Families & Groups
This course provides students with advanced generalist theories, knowledge, values, and skills for evidence-based direct practice with couples, families, and treatment groups.
SOWK 661 (3) Advanced Social Work Practice Administration
This course provides students with advanced generalist practice knowledge, values and skills for administrative social work practice. Students develop knowledge and skills in personnel management, grant writing, resource development, budgeting, leadership, and other aspect of administering effective social service agencies.
SOWK 665 (5)Advanced Practicum and Seminar I
Advanced Practicum and Seminar I provides students with the opportunity to
integrate foundation and concentration social work theory and practice knowledge,
values, and skills through direct practice with individual clients, families,
groups, agencies, and communities.
SOWK 669 (3) Advanced Social Work Evaluation
This course provides students with advanced generalist knowledge, values, and skills for both direct social work practice evaluation and program evaluation. Students develop and implement a ÒcapstoneÓ integrative evaluation project in conjunction with SOWK 675 Advanced Practicum and Seminar II.
SOWK 675 (5) Advanced Practicum and Seminar II
Advanced Practicum and Seminar II is a continuation of SOWK 665. Students integrate
foundation and concentration social work theory and practice knowledge, values,
and skills through direct practice with individuals, families, groups, agencies,
and communities.
SOWK 677 (1-3) Individual Study
Under faculty mentorship, students may pursue in-depth library or field research on topics of their choice.
SOWK 694 (2) Alternate Plan Paper
Individual research.
Prerequisite: grad school approval
SOWK 697 (1-10) Internship: Social Work
Internship in approved social agency.
