MSW Curriculum
The MSW Curriculum has been carefully developed based upon:
- our department mission, goals, and objectives;
- the requirements of our accrediting body, the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE);
- the College and University missions and requirements for graduation; and
- our understanding of the needs of graduate students as adult learners.
Each course is offered once per year, and students are required to proceed through the curriculum as it is sequenced below. Both the Traditional and Advanced Standing programs are based upon a full-time graduate credit load and do not have an option for part-time enrollment. Learn More
Traditional (TR) MSW program
Students in the TR program are required to complete 56 required credits, 20 of which are Practicum (experiential education), and 3 hours of elective credit, spread over two calendar years (6 semesters). Students in the TR program take courses in the Fall, Spring, and Summer semesters. Elective coursework is typically completed during one of the two summer semesters. Practicum runs from January to mid-July.
Friday/Saturday courses are offered in a blended course delivery (approximately 60% in-person on-campus and 40% online).
Advanced Standing (AS) MSW Program
Students in the AS program are required to complete 34 credits, 10 of which are Practicum (experiential education) spread over 4 semesters (Summer, Fall, Spring, Summer). The AS program begins with a 3-credit seminar in the summer. Elective coursework is typically completed the first summer semester in the program. Practicum runs from January to mid-July.
Friday/Saturday courses are offered in a blended course delivery (approximately 60% in-person on-campus and 40% online).
Required Courses
Generalist Year (Traditional program students only)
The TR program begins with a Generalist Year, which constitutes 28 credits of required coursework. This includes 10 credits of Practicum (experiential education) in a supervised setting during spring and summer semesters. TR students typically complete the 3 credits in elective coursework during the summer semester of the Generalist year.
Fall
- SOWK 601 – Foundations of Generalist Practice (3 credits) (Fall)
- SOWK 605 – Social Welfare Policy and Services (3 credits) (Fall)
- SOWK 609 - Culturally Responsive Communication in Social Work Practice (3 credits)
Spring
- SOWK 603 – Human Behavior in the Social Environment (3 credits) (Spring)
- SOWK 611 – Macro Social Work Practice and Theory (3 credits) (Spring)
- SOWK 615 – Foundation Practicum & Seminar I (18-20 hours/week) (5 credits) (Spring)
Summer - Traditional Students
- SOWK 625 – Foundation Practicum & Seminar II (18-20 hours/week) (5 credits) (Summer, continuation of SOWK 615)
- SOWK 629 – Applied Social Work Research (3 credits) (Summer)
- Elective Course (3 credits required/MSW program elective courses offered in the summer)
Summer - Advanced Standing Students
- SOWK 650 – Advanced Standing Preparation Seminar (3 credits) (Summer)
- Elective Course (3 credits required/MSW program elective courses offered in the summer)
Specialization Year (all students)
Students in both the Traditional and Advanced Standing Programs take 31 credits in the Specialist year of the program, which includes 10 credits of Practicum (experiential education) in a supervised setting, and 3 hours of elective credit (if not already completed by TR student during the Generalist year). AS students typically fulfill the elective requirement the first summer in the program.
Fall
- Elective – Graduate level (500 or 600 level) (3 credits) May be taken anytime.
- SOWK 661 – Advanced Social Work Practice Administration (3 credits) (Fall)
- SOWK 651 – Advanced Social Work Practice with Individuals (3 credits) (Fall)
- SOWK 663 - Advanced Practice with Groups (3 credits) (Fall)
Spring
- SOWK 655 – Social Welfare Policy Practice (3 credits) (Spring)
- SOWK 660 – Advanced Practice with Couples and Families (3 credits) (Spring)
- SOWK 665 – Advanced Practicum and Seminar I (18-20 hours/week) (5 credits) (Spring)
Summer
- SOWK 669 – Advanced Social Work Evaluation (3 credits) (Summer)
- SOWK 675 – Advanced Practicum and Seminar II (18-20 hours/week) (5 credits) (Summer, continuation of SOWK 665)
