Department consent, or admission to the MSW program, is required for enrollment in all graduate level courses.

Foundation Courses

SW 500 Micro Human Behavior in the Social Environment (3)
Presents a biopsychosocial perspective on the developmental processes of human personality and behavior. It also examines human interactions within the social environment, concentrating on interactions occurring within families and groups, while emphasizing the ecological perspective.

SW 501 Macro Human Behavior in the Social Environment (3)
Students are exposed to concepts and substantive information about persons-in-environment transactions. Emphasis is placed on the structure and dynamic processes of organizations, communities and societies.

SW 510 Foundations of Social Policy (3)
Provides an introduction to the formulation, purposes and effects of social policy, including a historical overview of major social policies from a national and international perspective. Emphasis is placed on the relationship of policy to the practice of social work, including the impact of social policy on the social work profession and on the clients who receive social work services.

SW 511 Social Policy and Advocacy (3)
Focuses on the knowledge and skills needed to effectively influence the development, alteration and implementation of social policies and/or organizational policies. Students are required to present a detailed plan for changing selected policies in the legislative arena, on an organizational level, or within a specific social work program. Prerequisite: SW 510.

SW 520 Foundations of Social Work Research (3)
Introduces students to the basic principles of social work research, including ethics, problem formulation, and quantitative and qualitative research designs and methodologies. Emphasis is placed on evaluation of programs and outcomes of practice.

SW 521 Social Work Research Applications (3)
Students will conduct quantitative and qualitative studies on research questions of significance to social work practice. An introduction to the analysis and interpretation of both quantitative and qualitative data is provided. Prerequisite: SW 520.

SW 530 Fundamentals of Social Work Practice (3)
Presents concepts and skills of generalist social work practice and includes the ecological and empowerment framework. Attention is given to preparation for the clinical concentration. Included is an examination of multilevel systems practice. Development of cultural competency is emphasized and integrated throughout the course. Admitted MSW students only.

SW 540 Clinical Assessment and Diagnosis (3)
Presents an in-depth analysis of assessment techniques and diagnostic tools, including the DSM-IV, guided by social work values and ethics. Focus is on developing the knowledge and skills for competent, multicultural assessment of client functioning, within societal and environmental contexts.

SW 550 Generalist Practicum I (5)
Students will gain supervised generalist level social work experience in selected community agencies. A minimum of 16 hours per week (240 clock hours) will be spent in mastering the knowledge and skills for multilevel client assessment, planning, intervention and evaluation. Admitted MSW students only.

SW 551 Generalist Practice Seminar I (3)
This seminar, taken concurrently with SW 550, provides students with the opportunity to integrate academic course work, including values and ethics, with their field practicum experiences. Admitted MSW students only.

SW 560 Generalist Practicum II (3)
This Generalist practicum provides the student further opportunities to gain supervised social work experience in selected community organizations and programs for a minimum of 20 hours per week (160 clock hours). The focus is on refining generalist practice skills, and applying them to more complex social work situations, with multilevel systems. Admitted MSW students only.

SW 561 Generalist Practice Seminar II (2)
This seminar, taken concurrently with SW 560, provides students with further opportunities to integrate academic course work with the practice of generalist social work. Prerequisite: Satisfactory completion of SW 550 and SW 551. Admitted MSW students only.

Clinical Concentration Courses

SW 600 Clinical Social Work Practice with Individuals (3)
Students are expected to develop an understanding of theories, and development of skills, relevant to assessment and intervention with individuals, consistent with social work values and ethics. Special consideration is given to developing cultural competency and providing services to individuals who are vulnerable and/or oppressed. Admitted MSW students only.

SW 601 Clinical Social Work Practice with Families (3)
Students are expected to develop an understanding of theories, and development of skills, relevant to assessment and intervention with families, consistent with social work values and ethics. Special consideration is given to developing cultural competency and providing services to family units who are vulnerable and/or oppressed. Admitted MSW students only.

SW 604 Clinical Social Work Practice with Groups (3)
Students are expected to develop an understanding of theories and development of skills relevant to assessment and facilitation of small group interactions, consistent with social work values and ethics. Special consideration is given to developing cultural competency and providing services to vulnerable populations. Admitted MSW students only.

SW 645 Pre-Clinical Seminar (1)
Students are expected to complete their preparation for entry into the Clinical Practicum. An emphasis is placed on the application of social work values to clinical practice, appropriate use of clinical supervision and dealing with countertransference issues in the clinical setting. This course may be required for Advanced Standing Program Students who wish to have the Generalist Practicum sequence waived. Admitted MSW Students only.

Clinical Practice and Seminar
The Clinical Practicum sequence is the culmination of the MSW educational experience. Students are placed in selected community agencies, under the supervision of qualified clinical social work instructor. Students complete a minimum of 16 hours in placement each week, and over two or three semesters, complete a total of 720 clock hours. In the Practicum setting, students are expected to develop clinical skills for assessment and intervention with individuals, families and groups, while maintaining a person-in-environment approach. This development rests firmly on the integration of theoretical clinical approaches, based on social work values and ethics. Admitted MSW students only.

SW 650 Clinical Practicum I (7)
SW 651 Clinical Practicum I (5)
SW 652 Clinical Practicum I (5)
This first semester of Clinical Practice is taken concurrently with SW 655 Clinical Seminar. In this semester, students begin their professional development in community agencies. Small case load and close supervision is expected.

SW 654 Clinical Practicum in Schools I (7)
This Clinical Practicum, taken concurrent with SW 655, occurs within a school setting when available, with supervision provided by a licensed School Social Worker. The student has an opportunity to build on the knowledge and skills gained in the generalist placement. The focus of this practicum is specific to developing skills in direct clinical practice within the school setting. The practicum must be taken concurrent with SW 655 Clinical Practice Seminar. School placement is a competitive process and can not be guaranteed for all interested students.

SW 655 Clinical Practice Seminar (3)
In this seminar, taken concurrently with the Clinical Practicum I, students are expected to integrate academic course work, including values and ethics, with the practice of clinical social work, and to analyze and evaluate their effectiveness with clients.

SW 660 Clinical Practicum II (8)
SW 661 Clinical Practicum II (10)
SW 662 Clinical Practicum II (5)
SW 663 Clinical Practicum II (5)
This field experience is a continuation of Clinical Practicum I. Students are expected to further develop their clinical skills for assessment and intervention with individuals, families and groups. Prerequisite: Satisfactory completion of Clinical Practicum I and Clinical Practice Seminar.

SW 664 Clinical Practicum in Schools II (8)
This field experience is a continuation of Clinical Practicum in Schools I. Students are expected to further develop their clinical skills for assessment and intervention with individuals, families and groups. Special emphasis is placed on the school setting.

Clinical Elective Courses
Students should select elective courses in concert with their social work advisor and based on their particular area of practice interest. Six credit hours of clinical social work electives are required.

All elective courses will not be offered every Semester. Other Clinical electives may be added to fit client/ community needs.

SW 602 Values and Ethics in Clinical Social Work Practice (3)
Students in this course are expected to develop the ability to provide in-depth examination of values and ethics in the practice of social work, including ethical responsibilities to clients, peers, organizations and society at large.

SW 603 Crisis Intervention in Clinical Social Work Practice (3)
Students in this course are expected to develop the knowledge and skills necessary for effective assessment and treatment of clients who are in crisis. The emphasis in placed on social work practice in short-term settings, such as hospital emergency rooms, outpatient mental health centers, and short-term substance abuse treatment centers.

SW 610 Clinical Social Work Practice with Children and Youth (3)
Students in this course are expected to develop the knowledge and skills necessary for effective assessment and treatment of children and youth. Effects of environment, culture, family and developmental influences are emphasized.

SW 611 Clinical Social Work Practice with the Elderly (3)
Students in this course are expected to develop the knowledge and skills necessary for effective assessment and treatment of the elderly. An emphasis on the importance of case management as an intervention strategy with elderly clients is included.

SW 612 Clinical Social Work Practice with Diverse Populations (3)
Students in this course are expected to develop the knowledge and skills necessary for effective assessment and treatment of ethnic minorities, women, and other disenfranchised groups. The psychological and sociological implications of discrimination are examined from a local, national and international framework as well as the development of specific skills, including advocacy and empowerment, in working with disadvantaged groups.

SW 613 Clinical Social Work Practice in Health Care (3)
Students in this course are expected to develop the knowledge and skills necessary for effective social work practice in health care settings, including hospitals, home health care agencies, long-term care facilities, outpatient clinics, public health departments, physicians' offices, and other health care settings.

SW 614 Clinical Social Work Practice in Mental Health Care (3)
This elective course develops the necessary knowledge and skills to practice effectively in mental health settings, including psychiatric hospitals, psychiatric units in acute care general hospitals, outpatient clinics, private practice, and other mental health care settings.

SW 615 Psychopharmacology in Clinical Social Work Practice (3)
Students in this course are expected to develop the conceptual background needed to understand current pharmacological interventions used with clients. An emphasis is placed on the social worker's role in direct service with the client, the family, and other providers. Ethical issues involved with medications and medication compliance are stressed.

SW 617 Human Sexuality and Clinical Social Work Practice (3)
Students in this course are expected to develop the knowledge and skills necessary for effective clinical social work services to clients experiencing difficulties in the area of sexual functioning.

SW 618 Social Work Practice in Schools (3)
Students in this course are expected to develop the knowledge and skills necessary for effective practice of school social work. An emphasis on the impact of policies for student and family functioning is included.

SW 619 Clinical Social Work Practice with Survivors of Trauma (3)
Students in this course are expected to develop the knowledge and skills necessary for effective clinical or systemic interventions for both children and adults who have survived a traumatic event.

SW 620 Solution Focused Brief Therapy (3)
Students in this course are expected to develop the knowledge and skills necessary for effective application of solution focused brief therapy. Major focus is on skill development and application to clinical social work with individuals, families and groups.

SW 629 Special Topics (1)
Using a 1 credit hour format, a variety of clinical social work electives may be offered. These are meant to introduce a specific topic or intervention skill to students.

SW 630 Independent Study (1-3)
This opportunity for study is designed for students wishing to complete an in-depth project in a specific area. The study must be approved by and coordinated with an individual member of the core social work faculty.

SW 720 School Practicum (5)
This Clinical Practicum is for students who have completed their MSW degree (from a CSWE accredited program or state approved equivalent), and who return to advance their knowledge and skills in the area of school social work. Plans and Clinical Practicum placements must be approved by the Department.