The School of Social Work offers courses leading to the Master of Social Work (MSW) degree and is designed to educate advanced generalist social work leaders with a program that equally emphasizes micro and macro practice. The micro practice sequence of courses prepares students to promote change and well-being with individuals, families, and groups. The macro practice sequence of courses prepares students to promote change and well-being with organizations and communities with an integrated focus on policy practice. The program is based upon the requirements of the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE), the national accrediting body for social work programs.

The MSW program is offered in three models: Model (1) offers four semesters of course work leading to the MSW degree within two academic years. This option is intended for students who can devote their time and attention to full-time, intensive study. Model (2) offers the same course work over three academic years. The MSW program includes 1080 hours (two or two and a half days) of supervised placement in an agency during the regular work week in the daytime over two academic years. Model (2) is too intensive for students who work 40 hours per week. It is necessary for these students to reduce their hours of employment. Model (3), an Advanced Standing option, is offered to students with a Bachelors degree in Social Work from a CSWE Accredited program within five years of starting this program. This program can be completed in three terms, starting with courses during the summer, then two additional semesters of course work. The Advanced Standing option includes 600 hours (two and a half days) of supervised placement in an agency during the regular work week in the daytime over one academic year. 

Admission to the Advanced Standing MSW program is based on an examination of an admission application. In addition to the general requirements of the university, specific minimum requirements for admission consideration are:

1. A baccalaureate degree in social work from a Council on Social Work Education accredited program in an accredited college or university (completed within the last 5 years) ;

2. A grade point average of 3.5 out of a 4.0 grading scale or better in all course work; or

3. A grade point average of 3.5 out of a 4.0 grading scale for in the last 60 semester units or last 90 quarter units.

4. A year of full-time paid experience, and/ or applicable internship or volunteer service in the field of social work;

5. Evidence of personal qualifications, motivation, and experience that indicate the likelihood of becoming a successful social worker; an autobiographical statement and three letters of reference from individuals who are familiar with the student's academic background, internship experience, work, potential, and level of maturity;

6. A course in each of the following:

a. Social Science Research Methods

b. Human Behavior Theory

c. Human Biology

To be advanced to candidacy, a student must have:

1. Achieved classified status;

2. Satisfied the general university requirements for advancement to candidacy;

3. Completed the Graduate Entrance Writing requirement through passing the writing intensive SW 6035 course with at least a "B" grade;

4. Completed with a grade point average of at least 3.0 ("B"), at least 22 semester units of course work;

5. Filed an Advancement to Candidacy form which must have the approval of the student's advisor, the field director, and School director indicating demonstrated academic and professional competence in field and classroom.

1. A minimum of 36 semester units of designated graduate courses as approved on the petition for advancement to candidacy;

2. A grade point average of at least 3.0 ("B");

3. Completion of a culminating research project;

4. Up to 16 credits may be transferred from a CSWE Accredited MSW program. Only grades of "B" (3.0) or better will be accepted and student must first be accepted for admission. Courses not in keeping with program requirements may not be acceptable;

5. Completion of all MSW coursework within a four year period;

6. Completion of SW 6013 and SW 6014, which will fulfil the Graduation Writing Assessment Requirement;

7. Any additional requirements not cited above and listed in the Graduate Degree and Program Requirements.

Electives

In lieu of taking an elective in the social work curriculum, students may take up to three semester units of relevant 5000- or 6000- level coursework from other disciplines with the approval of their advisor.

Accreditation

The program has held full accreditation by the Commission on Accreditation of the Council on Social Work Education since February, 1992. Questions regarding accreditation should be directed to the director of the School of Social Work. 

Required courses leading to the MSW degree cover five curricular areas: Human Behavior in the Social Environment, Micro Practice, Macro Practice, Research, and Field Work. Courses with each curricular area must be completed in sequence, as they are listed below, and all generalist courses in a category must be completed before taking advanced generalist courses in the same category.
Generalist Curriculum (9)
SW 6012	Social Work Research II	3
SW 6015	Social Work Research Bridge	2
SW 6035	Generalist Practice Bridge	3
SW 6085	Generalist Field Work Bridge	1
Advanced Generalist Curriculum (27)
SW 6013	Research Project I	1
SW 6014	Research Project II	2
SW 6023	Advanced Generalist Micro Practice I	3
SW 6024	Advanced Generalist Micro Practice II	3
SW 6063	Advanced Generalist Macro Practice I	3
SW 6064	Advanced Generalist Macro Practice II	3
SW 6083	Advanced Generalist Field Work I	3
SW 6084	Advanced Generalist Field Work II	3
SW 6777	Social Work Advanced Generalist Leadership and Capstone	3
SW 6902	Advanced Topics in Social Work II	3
Total Units		36

The research project represents the culminating graduate experience. The research project is developed in SW 6012 and is carried out in the field setting and completed under individual supervision in SW 6013 and SW 6014. It must be on a social work practice topic, must use objective analysis and will be presented to faculty and field personnel orally and in writing.