MSW Degree Program Overview

Full-Time Option: Full-time students complete the program in two academic years. Foundation classroom courses require two days per week and field instruction requires an additional two days per week. The student is assigned a first-year class schedule by the college and attends classes during the day. The student selects a specialization for the second year; specialization courses require two days per week and field instruction requires an additional two to three days per week.

PM-Extended Study Option: (leading to the MSW degree in three years) In this program option, PM-Extended Study students complete their Generalist coursework over two years, with classes being in the afternoon and evening. For the first two years of study, students are assigned to specific courses and course sections. In the third year, students must register for full-time study in their selected specialization and may enroll in daytime or evening courses. In addition to coursework, students will complete a field placement during their second year for a total of 450 hours and a placement in their third year for 630 hours.

Advanced Standing Option: If, within the past six years, you have completed or are in the process of completing a baccalaureate degree in a social work program accredited by the Council on Social Work Education, you must apply for the Advanced Standing option. You may be granted a maximum of 28 credit hours toward the degree. Admitted Advanced Standing students will complete their Specialization year only. Specialization year courses are offered two days per week and field instruction requires an additional three days per week for a total of a 21 hours a week and 630 hours.

Transfer Option: Students transferring from other institutions must also meet the minimum admission requirements and complete the application by the deadline. Credit is not automatic and the number of hours that may be transferred is determined on an individual basis. Requests for transfer of course credit will be assessed on a case by case basis.

Child and Family: The Child and Family Specialization emphasizes trauma-informed, strengths-based and family-centered practice and community-based services as contexts for helping graduates provide children and their families integrated services. A unique feature of this specialization is its focus on the family, broadly defined to include extended and augmented family members in their communities. With an emphasis on culturally grounded services in urban environments, the curriculum equips students to work in a variety of interprofessional settings.

Mental Health: The Mental Health Specialization prepares students with competencies for specialized practice in a variety of public and public-supported behavioral health settings. The curriculum is designed to give students an understanding of various clients ranging from those with mild distress to those with severe mental health conditions including mood, anxiety, psychotic, personality disorders and substance use disorders. Throughout the courses students are taught a strengths-based and ecosystems approach to assessment and intervention with at-risk populations in an urban environment.

Organization and Community Practice: The Organization and Community Practice (OCP) Specialization prepares students for advanced organizational development and community practice in urban communities. Conceptually grounded in the social determinants of health and a human rights framework, this specialization emphasizes a macro approach to advancing social justice. It prepares students to build urban organizations and communities that are physically, socially, economically and environmentally healthy. Students will gain the skills required to address structural inequities through organizational leadership, community practice, advocacy and policy reform.

School Social Work: Urban school systems are at the center of contemporary efforts to improve the quality of life for the most at-risk urban populations. The School Social Work Specialization prepares students with competencies for advanced practice in urban public school settings. Employing an ecological perspective to develop school social work practice, the specialization focuses on the transactions between students and their environment, and Critical Service Learning is a key component of the curriculum. Students in the specialization are equipped to intervene at multiple levels and systematically analyze schools and make recommendations for change at the individual, group, school-wide, district-wide, community or larger levels.

Certificate in Evidence-Based Mental Health Practice with Children Program: Only students enrolled in the Mental Health Specialization are eligible to apply for admission into the certificate program.

Jane Addams Child Welfare Traineeship Project: Traineeships are available only to students enrolled in the Child and Family Specialization who have a longstanding interest in a career in child welfare and have an academic status in good standing.

Integrated Behavioral Health Care Training Program: Specialized training in integrated evidence-based behavioral health practices for underserved individuals across the lifespan. Only students enrolled in the Mental Health or School Specializations are eligible to apply for admission into this program.

Integrated Substance Use Disorder Training Program: Specialized training in evidence-based practices to serve individuals with substance use disorders in integrated care settings. Only students enrolled in the Mental Health or School Specializations are eligible to apply for admission into this program.

Project LEAD (Leaders Enhancing outcomes for Adjudicated youth with Disabilities with intensive needs in urban settings): This program is available to currently enrolled Foundation students. Project LEAD prepares special educators and school social workers through grant-funded scholarships to earn initial certification in their respective programs and additional training to improve outcomes for youth with disabilities who are involved or at risk for becoming involved in the juvenile justice system.

Interdepartmental Specialization in Gender and Women’s Studies (GWS): Students must be accepted into the MSW program before they can be eligible for the GWS specialization. Completion of the specialization requires a minimum of 16 credit hours (typically four semester-long courses). Further information can be obtained from the GWS website.

Interdepartmental Specialization in Violence Studies: See the Violence Studies (Interdepartmental Graduate Specialization) section of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences online catalog for more information.