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. Our MSW program is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE), thus we give particular attention to the requirements set forth by the CSWE, as well as the perceived needs of graduate students and the requirements of our institution. Students are required to proceed through the curriculum as it is sequenced below. The MSW 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 credits spread over two calendar years. During the first year students complete 11 credits in fall and spring semesters and 8 credits in the summer semesters. 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 practicum each run from January to July.

Students in the Advanced Standing (AS) MSW program are required to complete 33 credits spread over one calendar year, beginning with a 3-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 23 credit hours of classes and one 10-credit field education placement in a supervised practicum. The practicum runs from January to July.

 

Master of Social Work MSW

Foundation Year (Traditional, 2-year)

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 629 – Foundations of Applied Social Work Research (3)
• SOWK 625 – Foundation Practicum & Seminar II (5) 

Summer Semester (Advanced Standing Students Only)

• SOWK 650 – Advanced Standing Preparation Seminar (3)

Concentration Year (All students)

Fall Semester

• 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)
• SOWK 679 – MSW Capstone Project (0)

Summer Semester

• SOWK 661 – Advanced Social Work Practice Administration (3)
• SOWK 675 – Advanced Practicum and Seminar II (5)
• SOWK 679 – MSW Capstone Project (0)

* 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.
 

Course Descriptions

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 (3) 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.