Social Work (MSW)

Catalog Year

2019-2020

Degree

Master of Social Work

Total Credits

59

Locations

Mankato

Accreditation

CSWE

Council on Social Work Education

Program Requirements

Research/Methods Course(s)

Required of all students

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 capstone integrative evaluation project in conjunction with SOWK 675 Advanced Practicum and Seminar II.

Prerequisites: none

Restricted Electives

Foundation Core - Required of all students admitted into the Traditional Program (TR)

This foundation social work course focuses on direct generalist practice with individuals, families, and groups; emphasizing the history, knowledge, skills, values, and ethics of the social work profession and the principles that promote social and economic justice, and human well-being.

Prerequisites: none

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.

Prerequisites: none

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.

Prerequisites: none

This foundation course provides students with the knowledge and skills for effective interpersonal communication and interviewing, with emphasis on the application of effective communication with diverse populations. Students develop self-awareness and understand implications of their values across diversity domains.

Prerequisites: none

This course provides students foundation knowledge, theories, values and skills for generalist social work practice with task groups, organizations and communities. The course emphasizes community level practice, focusing on theories and strategies for community assessment, community development, and community change.

Prerequisites: none

Foundation Practicum and Seminar I provides 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.

Prerequisites: none

Foundation Practicum and Seminar II is a continuation of SOWK 615 Foundation Practicum and Seminar I. Students integrate social work theory and practice knowledge, values, and skills through direct practice with individual clients, families, groups, agencies, and communities.

Prerequisites: none

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.

Prerequisites: none

Advanced Standing Core - Required only for students admitted into the Advanced Standing Program (AS)

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.

Prerequisites: none

Specialization Core - Required of all students

This course provides students with advanced generalist knowledge, values, and skills for evidence-based direct social work practice with individuals - children, adolescents, and adults - from diverse backgrounds.

Prerequisites: none

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.

Prerequisites: none

This course provides students with advanced generalist theories, knowledge, values, and skills for evidence-based practice with couples and families. Students will develop, analyze, and apply advanced knowledge and skills in the assessment and application of interventions with couples and families.

Prerequisites: none

This course provides students with advanced generalist 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 aspects of administering effective social service agencies.

Prerequisites: none

This course provides students with advanced generalist theories, knowledge, values, and skills for evidence-based practice with treatment groups. Students will develop, analyze, and apply advanced knowledge and skills in the assessment and application of interventions with treatment groups.

Prerequisites: none

Unrestricted Electives

Students must complete a 3-credit elective from the approved elective list or students may propose a substitute elective requiring approval of the MSW Program Director or their MSW Academic Advisor.

A combination of classroom lecture and interaction with community professionals involved in crisis intervention. Designed to give students practical experience in distinguishing between crisis intervention, theory, and practice.

Prerequisites: none

This course is specific to the counseling profession, focusing on both the cultural and sociopolitical forces influencing people in a multicultural society, as well as the microskills necessary for engaging in cross-cultural counselor-client interactions.

Prerequisites: none

Provides an overview of theory, research, and practice regarding counseling with children and adolescents. Developmentally and culturally appropriate counseling strategies are stressed. Relevant current topics are examined.

Prerequisites: none

Theories of human development and the family cycle are presented as the basis for multi-contextual assessment, case conceptualization, and treatment skills when working with contemporary families.

Prerequisites: none

Major theories of play therapy and play therapy techniques are reviewed and applied to a range of mental health, learning, and developmental needs of children. Readings, lectures, class demonstrations, and role-play experiences are included.

Prerequisites: none

Scholars preparing for and/or working in the helping professions or related careers will address the issues and experiences of culturally different persons. Special attention will be given to preparation for effective cross-cultural interactions.

Prerequisites: none

This course is designed for those students or professionals who prepare for and/or work in the diverse organizations/institutions, corporations, communities in and outside America. Theories, techniques and skills for cross-cultural training/consultation and diversity management are covered.

Prerequisites: none

This course will provide students with an integrated knowledge of theory and practice in gerontology and examine the challenges involved in studying and providing services to the elderly, as well as ethical and advocacy-related issues in an aging society.

Prerequisites: none

The course will cover a range of topics, including the strategic management of human resources, job analysis, hiring, performance appraisal, training and development, compensation, as well as labor relations.

Prerequisites: none

This course will focus on an area of study that attempts to explain, predict, control, and increase understanding of human work behavior in organizations both in the U.S. and internationally. Using a variety of techniques, students will learn about the nature of people as well as how individual and group behavior is influenced by organizational factors. The intent is to use various theories and principles to help diagnose and solve organizational problems. The goal is to more effectively manage in today's environment so employees are engaging in ethical, creative, and productive behaviors on the job. Learning tools include some lecture/discussion active learning groups, original readings, exercises, projects, cases, library research and presentations.

Prerequisites: none

This course is designed to combine the why of leadership thinking with the how of leadership skill development. The class is both philosopical and practical, so you will have to both think and apply what you are learning. The course will provide students with opportunities to use theories to analyze leader behaviors, and with personal awareness and development. You will come out of the class with a Leadership Development Plan of your own to help you apply the class to your own development as a leader and manager.

Prerequisites: none

This course is designed to provide students with the theory and practical applications to diagnose organizational problems and to develop appropriate interventions and solutions to those problems. Students also use theory to guide practice in designing and implementing successful organizational change. These activities require students to use research and data analysis skills to gather data to learn about organizations.

Prerequisites: none

This is a survey course of the nonprofit sector, covering history and philosophy of the sector, ethics, board and staff relations, operations and fundraising, fiscal management, and human resource development.

Prerequisites: none

An examination of modern principles and techniques of leadership and management. Emphasis is placed on the interactive style of leadership and behavioral concepts of management.

Prerequisites: none

Change is the constant in today's human resource management in public organizations. The technical framework for productivity improvement and employee development is placed in the context of the legal environment. Emphasis is on managing diversity.

Prerequisites: none

Physical, social, emotional, intellectual, and personality development from conception to preadolescence. Focus on interplay between maturation and experience.

Prerequisites: none

This class covers the development of the individual from the age of 11 to 19 years of age. Discussion will include aspects of both normal and abnormal development.

Prerequisites: none

This course is designed to increase the student's awareness and understanding of abnormal psychology. Students will become familiar with clinical descriptions, course of onset, and treatment regimens specific to various disorders.

Prerequisites: none

This course provides an overview of the procedures and processes of behavior change in applied contexts. Topics include functional assessment, behavioral intervention planning, and specific applied behavioral analytic interventions with an emphasis on non-aversive options.

Prerequisites: none

Implications of sociological knowledge for the administration of Human Services programs. Theoretical and practical aspects of administration with the social service systems.

Prerequisites: none

Theoretical and practical aspects of the planning process within social service systems. Examines the social context of planning and the use of a sociological knowledge base for planning in human services.

Prerequisites: none

This course provides an overview of social services that support the well-being of children and families in a diverse society. Students, regardless of disciplinary affiliation, identify personal and professional values, develop a working knowledge of the theories that inform practice with children and families, and understand the roles and legal responsibilities of child welfare workers and professionals from multiple disciplines in the delivery of child welfare services.

Prerequisites: none

Co-morbid substance abuse and mental health disorders will be encountered by social workers in all areas of practice. Current research on dual diagnosis indicates integrated treatment of substance misuse and mental illness is the most effective approach to treatment. This course will provide an understanding of the intersection of multiple diagnoses, and enable social worker professionals to effectively treat multiple diagnoses in their area of practice. This course examines the interaction of addictive and other mental health disorders. Particular focus is placed on case-conceptualization, assessment, and intervention with multiply diagnosed clients in specific populations.

Prerequisites: none

Issues, resources, and processes in working with the elderly and their families in the social service system.

Prerequisites: none

This course is designed to provide upper level (junior and senior) undergraduate social work students with a comprehensive introduction to the epidemiology (scientific study of disease), etiology (causes of disease), history, policy, and treatment modalities of substance abuse from a person-in-environment and systems theory social work perspective.

Prerequisites: none

Service delivery issues and skills for working in hospitals, nursing homes, and community programs.

Prerequisites: none

Course provides an overview of intimate partner violence from a theoretical and evidence-based, social work perspective. Students learn about intervention strategies from direct practice to advocacy and policy change. Multiple systems are explored. The intersection of gender, class, sexual orientation, age, and culture with intimate partner violence is covered.

Prerequisites: none

Service delivery issues, knowledge, and skills for providing social services within school services.

Prerequisites: none

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.

Prerequisites: none

The purpose of this course is to prepare students for advanced social work practice in a public, private, and tribal child welfare settings. This course is required for MSW Child Welfare Scholars. The course is designed to provide the student with a focused, practice-oriented learning environment that will build upon previous experiential and academic learning. The emphasis will be upon increasing the student¿s conceptual and practice skill level to become an effective social worker in a child welfare setting while increasing knowledge of historical and current federal and state child welfare policies, programs, and practices.

Prerequisites: none

The purpose of Clinical Social Work Practice with Infants, Children, and Adolescents is designed for students who plan to work in a clinical setting with infants, children, and/or adolescents. The course prepares students to understand development, attachment, developmental stressors and trauma, developmental resiliency, biopsychosocial factors, and evidence-based social work interventions. Students will consider the intersections of development, attachment, stressors and trauma, and resources from a biopsychosocial framework to increase knowledge on how infants, children, and adolescents become identified at-risk and how these concerns can compromise development and what support and/or interventions contribute to developmental growth and change over time.

Prerequisites: none

Raising resources for public and nonprofit organizations from needs assessment through obtaining funding to managing the grant after it is awarded.

Prerequisites: none

Survey of the history, concepts, values, and ethics of public-sector planning. Emphasis on practical and comprehensive approach to developing and implementing plans.

Prerequisites: none

Capstone Course

Required of all students

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.

Prerequisites: none

Advanced Practicum and Seminar II is a continuation of SOWK 665 Advanced Practicum and Seminar I. Students integrate foundation and concentration social work theory and practice knowledge, values, and skills through direct practice with individuals, families, groups, agencies, and communities.

Prerequisites: none