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, as well as requirements of our institution. Students will be 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 will be required to completed 60 credits spread over two calendar years, with 11 credits each in fall and spring semesters and 8 credits in the summer semesters. The TR program includes 40 credit-hours of classes and two 10-credit field education placement in a supervised practicum. The practicums will run each year from January to July.
Students in the Advanced Standing (AS) MSW program will take 32 credits spread over one calendar year, beginning with a 2-credit seminar in the summer, followed by 11 credits each in fall and spring semesters, and 8 credits in the final summer semester. The AS program includes 22 credit hours of classes and one 10-credit field education placement in a supervised practicum. The practicum will run 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)
* SOWK 569 – Applied Social Work Research (3)
* SOWK 625 – Foundation Practicum & Seminar II (5)
Summer Semester (Advanced Standing Students Only)
* SOWK 650 – Advanced Standing Preparation Seminar (2)
* SOWK 651 – Advanced Social Work Practice with Individuals (3)
* SOWK 655 – Social Welfare Policy Practice (3)
* SOWK 657 – Professional Competence Seminar II (2)
* Elective (please check with program for a list of approved electives)
Spring Semester
* SOWK 660 – Advanced Social Work Practice with Couples, Families &
Groups, (3)
* SOWK 661 – Advanced Social Work Practice Administration (3)
* SOWK 665 – Advanced Practicum and Seminar I (5)
Summer Semester
* SOWK 669 – Advanced Social Work Evaluation (3)
* SOWK 675 – Advanced Practicum and Seminar II (5)
SOWK 512 (3) Social Welfare Issues & Policies
Theoretical and practical exploration of the interrelatedness of social services, social policy formation and analysis, and social work practice.
SOWK 515 (3) Child-Family Welfare Services
Social services designed to facilitate child development and family functioning.
SOWK 519 (3) Social Work and Aging
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
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
Service delivery issues and skills for working in hospitals, nursing homes, and community 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
Service delivery issues, knowledge and skills for providing social services within school settings.
SOWK 532 (3) Social Work and Disabilities
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.
SOWK 569 (3) Applied Social Work Research
Research issues and techniques, needs assessment, program, and practice evaluation.
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 650 (2) Advanced Standing Preparation Seminar
This seminar helps students admitted to the Advanced Standing MSW program refine their professional self-identiy 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 practice knowledge, values and skills for evidence-based direct social work practice with individuals - children, adolescents, and adults- from diverse backgrounds.
SOWK 655 (3) Social Welfare Policy Practice
This course provides students with knowledge and skills to engage in advanced
policy practice in organizations and communities. Students conduct a comparative
policy analysis on a rural policy issue and will analyze, design and implement
strategies for promoting change.
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 knowledge, values, and skills for evidence-based direct social work practice with couples, families and treatment groups, with an emphasis on practice in a rural and small community context.
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.
