Master of Social Work (MSW)

This course presents an introduction to the practice of contemporary social work. You will review concepts and theories to better understand populations at risk and to enhance awareness of personal values. You also will examine the individual, familial and community context of social work. Finally, you will evaluate professionalism, ethics, communication, and key skills in social work practice.

In this course you will explore concepts of diversity, cultural humility, human rights, and justice. You will explore social work practices with diverse populations and assess multisystemic advocacy approaches to social and environmental justice. You also will examine multidisciplinary frameworks of social work to gain a better understanding of human behavior in social environments. You will apply specific theories relevant to diverse client systems and human development.

In this course, you will focus on the social worker-client relationship development with both individuals and families. You will investigate client assessment techniques and principles of professional client relationship building. Evidence-based practice and service delivery will be explored. Elements of justice from the social work perspective as they apply to individuals and families also will be reviewed.

In this course students will focus on the social work with organizations and communities. Students will assess the impact of diversity on these constituents and the social work roles at the mezzo level in organizations and communities. Students will evaluate usage of evidence-based practices service delivery in organizations and communities. Students will examine how economic policies impact social welfare and by extension, the types of services needed. Students will also review emerging forms of technology used for service delivery.

This course will introduce social work in behavioral health practice. Students will be introduced to laws and regulations that define mental health services and scope of practice. Students will be introduced to evidence-based practices and service delivery models used in behavioral health. Students will also explore intervention plans and strategies social workers use in behavioral health. Knowledge and skill development for multi-systems practice in mental health settings will be explored. Students will examine conceptual frameworks for practice at the micro, mezzo and macro levels.

Models of ethical decision making in social work will be discussed in this course. Students will assess the need for ethics in working with diverse populations and constituents, as well as analyze governmental policy that guides social work practice with diverse clients. Students also will examine the ethics of social workers as advocates to ensure justice for constituents.

In this generalist course, students will explore historical and current social welfare policies, programs, and institutions in the United States as well as the social, racial, economic, and environmental justice issues that shaped these responses to identified social problems. You will learn the legislative process by which social welfare policies are enacted and understand the relevance of policy to social service delivery and social work practice. The course also provides a framework for the critical analysis of social welfare policy including recognition of how such policies contribute to oppression, marginalization, and injustice.

The focus of this course is on the fundamentals of quantitative and qualitative approaches to social work research. Students will gain an understanding of the strengths and limitations of each approach and how these methods apply to social work research. This course also provides students with a foundation in research ethics, and skills, in conducting literature reviews and scholarly writing. Students will also conduct a critical analysis of existing research on diverse and oppressed populations.

This course introduces students to the process and practice of social work engagement and collaboration with other professionals as a team to deliver services to diverse populations. Students will explore communications styles that comprise interdisciplinary therapeutic interventions. Practice interventions supported by research for integrated care settings will also be examined.

In this course you will receive social work practice training through supervised experiential learning in a social work/social services agency setting. You will incorporate social work values and ethics including social justice and cultural competency. Emphasis is placed on the application of the generalist intervention model with individuals, families, groups, and communities. You will demonstrate social work competencies, theoretical integration, ethics, and personal and professional development.

In this course you will continue your social work practice training through supervised experiential learning in a social work/social services agency setting. You will incorporate social work values and ethics including social justice and cultural humility. Emphasis is placed on the application of the generalist intervention model with individuals, families, groups, and communities. You will demonstrate social work competencies, theoretical integration, ethics, and personal and professional development.

In this course, students will apply evidence-based practice in addressing client problems to gain an understanding of their personal and professional values as a social worker engaged with clients who have complex needs. Students will be exposed to unique ethical considerations regarding practice interventions with both individuals and families. The application of regulations and standards in working with diverse populations will also be assessed. Students will critique the effectiveness of specific practices and explore the adjustment of interventions based on client needs. Students will also explore various family types and dynamics, cultural factors, and other factors influencing family interaction within the family system, with organizations, and the community. Students will also integrate DSM-5 guidelines.

In this course, students will examine what is meant by marginalized populations such as those experiencing homelessness, victims of natural disasters, veterans, and those with severe and persistent mental illness. Students will learn how discrimination and oppression impacts the lives of marginal populations. Students will also gain an understanding of the needs and services of diverse populations and the problems they face in accessing social services. Additionally, students will work to advocate for oppressed populations for social, political, legal, and economic justice. Students will explore the role of research, to include the minority stress model, in understanding the needs of marginalized and oppressed populations and in increasing opportunities for oppressed populations to improve resilience and access additional options.

In this course, students will examine current and emerging health behavior theory, research, practice, and interventions specific to various health related settings used by diverse populations. Students will explore theories of behavior change, including resilience orientation, to assist the student’s continuous professional growth. Students will also gain insight into the ethics of social worker facilitation of transitions and endings in medical care. Students will develop knowledge of community resources to assist with social work consultation, advocacy, referral and networking on behalf of clients to include working with DSM-5 guidelines.

In this course students will examine DSM-5 inclusion with facets of mental health intervention needs for individuals with severe and persistent mental illness from a social work perspective. Of particular focus for students in this course will be distinguishing between evidence-based practice, best practices, and areas with emerging research knowledge. Students will also examine strategies that evaluate and monitor client progress and treatment outcomes as well as the recovery paradigm for individuals with severe and persistent mental illness. Students will also critically analyze the impact of health/mental health policies on populations-at-risk.

In this course, students will examine the core clinical skills in forensic social work practice. Students will explore contemporary and complex social problems, including health and justice disparities. Common populations and issues regarding forensic social work, including children and families, adults, and older adults as well as theories integral to forensic social work practice will be evaluated. Students will also explore the diverse roles and careers in forensic social work, along with the collaborative relationships that forensic social workers engage in with physicians, nurses, psychiatrists, legal professionals, law enforcement, and correctional officers.

In this course, students will explore the skills needed to cultivate leadership and professional behavior and work effectively with multi/interdisciplinary teams. Students will examine the delivery of supervision, leadership development, strategic planning, and transitioning from clinician to a leadership position. The role of leader at the organizational level will also be evaluated, including legislative advocacy and a review of jurisdictional regulations and requirements related to licensure and practice. Students will examine the expectations of administrative leadership for the daily operation of social work service delivery systems, including the functions of management, team-work, decision-making, use of authority, program planning, and staffing.

Advanced Practicum consists of two courses with a focus on experiential learning, offered within a community social service agency, or practice, and supervised by approved community practitioners. In this course, students will apply practice skills with families, groups, and individuals in their social contexts. The emphasis for this first advanced practicum is on developing professional roles and relationships, engaging in interactions with clients, and applying multi-systems assessment and interventions.

In this second advanced practicum course, students will implement practice skills to differentially assess the strengths and capacities of interacting with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities. Application of social work ethics in professional practice will be utilized. Students will also practice interventions and models of evidence-based therapies to evaluate and problem-solve client issues from a generalist practice perspective.

The capstone course is designed to provide students with the opportunity to consolidate what has been learned in the social work program and effectively apply concepts to real-world social work practice. Students will collaborate with their field placement to identify a project in which they will evaluate a selected aspect of the organization or agency work. Students will also evaluate their ability to integrate social work knowledge, values, and practice skills in their professional role as a social worker. The capstone is a course at the end of the MSW process that provides students the opportunity to demonstrate key social work competencies at an advanced level with the potential to engage in research-informed practice which may lead to publications.