To be eligible for admission into the MSW program with advanced standing status, an applicant must hold a baccalaureate degree from an undergraduate Social Work Program accredited by the Council of Social Work Education. Applicants applying to the advanced standing program must have a BSW degree that was awarded five years or less from their admission to the advanced standing program. Students admitted with advanced standing status must complete 6 graduate credits toward the M.S.W. degree during the spring and/or summer term following admission, and subsequently an additional 30 credits in the curriculum of the graduate program, as prescribed within the student's concentration totaling 36 credits.
Student will have the option to complete the program in 10 months. Students may also opt to extend their program by enrolling in spring semester courses after they complete the fall and winter semesters.
| SUMMER TERM (June - August) | |
| Electives (see list) | 3 cr |
SW 7160 DSM in Clinical Practice (required for IP students OR
SW 7840 Community and Organizational Measures (required for ICPL students) | 3 cr |
Advanced Curriculum
The curriculum of the Advanced Year of the Master of Social Work Program is organized into two concentrations: Innovation in Community, Policy and Leadership (ICPL) and Interpersonal Practice (IP).
Interpersonal Practice
This concentration offers students broad exposure to contemporary practice theories; assessment of psychosocial disorders, risk and resilience; developmental issues; and in- depth clinical assessment skills. Building on these foundational interpersonal practice theories and skills, students have opportunities to deepen their clinical intervention skills with individuals and families by choosing an intervention course including but not limited to Cognitive-Behavioral Interventions in Interpersonal Practice, Family Systems Interventions, Contemporary Psychodynamic Interventions, and Client-Centered Interventions. Students may then choose from a range of electives across the curriculum, either within the Interpersonal Practice track, or from other areas of the Social Work curriculum such as Policy, Research, or ICPL. These electives are offered to supplement the required courses and to deepen and enrich students' knowledge of additional areas of Social Work Practice.
First-year (full-time)
| FALL TERM (September - December) | |
| SW 8305 Assessment Skills for Interpersonal Practice | 3 cr |
| SW 8315 Integrative Theories and Practice Approaches in IP | 3 cr |
| Electives (see list) | 6 cr |
| SW 8998 Practicum Work for Social Workers | 4 cr |
| WINTER TERM (January - April) | |
Choose 1 Intervention Course from the list below: - SW 8345 Psychodynamic Interventions in Social Work Practice
- SW 8355 Family System Interventions in Social Work Practice
- SW 8325 Cognitive Behavioral Interventions in Social Work Practice
- SW 8335 Client-Centered Interventions in Social Work Practice
| 3 cr |
Choose 1 Advanced Policy Analysis Course from the list below: - SW 8770 Advanced Policy Analysis
- SW 8771 Advanced Policy Analysis in Aging
- SW 8772 Advanced Policy Analysis in Child and Family Wellbeing
- SW 8773 Advanced Policy Analysis in Mental Health and Substance Use
| 3 cr |
| Electives (see list) | 4 cr |
| SW 8998 Practicum Work for Social Workers | 4 cr |
First-year (part-time)
| FALL TERM (September - December) | |
| SW 8315 - Integrative Theories and Practice Approaches in IP | 3 cr |
| SW 8998 Practicum Work for Social Workers | 4 cr |
| WINTER TERM (January - April) | |
Choose 1 Intervention Course from the list below: - SW 8345 Psychodynamic Interventions in Social Work Practice
- SW 8355 Family System Interventions in Social Work Practice
- SW 8325 Cognitive Behavioral Interventions in Social Work Practice
- SW 8335 Client-Centered Interventions in Social Work Practice
| 3 cr |
| SW 8998 Practicum Work for Social Workers | 4 cr |
| SPRING/SUMMER (May - August) | |
| Electives (see list) | 3 cr |
Second-year (part-time)
| FALL TERM (September - December) | |
| SW 8305 Assessment Skills for Interpersonal Practice | 3 cr |
| Electives (see list) | 4 cr |
| WINTER TERM (January - April) | |
Choose 1 Advanced Policy Analysis Course from the list below: - SW 8770 Advanced Policy Analysis
- SW 8771 Advanced Policy Analysis in Aging
- SW 8772 Advanced Policy Analysis in Child and Family Wellbeing
- SW 8773 Advanced Policy Analysis in Mental Health and Substance Use
| 3 cr |
| Electives (see list) | 3 cr |
Innovation in Community, Policy, and Leadership
This concentration prepares students for three broad, overlapping career paths: 1) developing and sustaining effective communities, analyzing and advocating for social justice policies, and taking leadership in organizations and the profession. Students must select at least one of the three courses that signal their career path - 1) SW8065 Advanced Systems Theory & Practice (Leadership); 2) SW8075 Advanced Community Building & Development (Community); or 3) SW8085 Theories & Practice of Social Policy & Social Action (Policy). Students take a 3-credit Advanced Advocacy and Social Justice course (e.g., SW8770) and 8 credits practicum education (SW 8998). Students must also take 3 credits of research. For electives we encourage students to take courses that support their career path inside and outside of social work. See elective list and set up an appointment with your advisor.
First-year (full-time)
| FALL TERM (September - December) | |
Theory/Practice: SW 8065 Advanced Systems OR SW 8075 Community Building and Development OR
elective if taking SW 8085 in winter | 3 cr |
| SW 8998 Field Work for Social Workers | 4 cr |
ICPL Research Option: SW 8025 Community Assessment and Evaluation, SW 8035 Quantitative Data Analysis,
SW 8045 Data Interpretation and Presentation OR elective if taking SW 8048 in Winter | 3 cr |
| Electives (see list) | 4 cr |
| WINTER TERM (January - April) | |
| SW 8998 Practicum Work for Social Workers | 4 cr |
Choose 1 Advanced Policy Analysis Course from the list below: - SW 8770 Advanced Policy Analysis
- SW 8771 Advanced Policy Analysis in Aging
- SW 8772 Advanced Policy Analysis in Children and Family Policy
- SW 8773 Advanced Policy Analysis in Mental Health and Substance Use
| 3 cr |
| Theory/Practice: SW 8085 Social Policy and Social Action OR elective if requirement already satisfied | 3 cr |
| ICPL Research Option: SW 8048 Social Action Research OR elective if requirement already satisfied (see list) | 3 cr |
| Electives (see list) | 3 cr |
First-year (part-time)
| FALL SEMESTER (September - December) | |
Theory/Practice: SW 8065 Advanced Systems OR
SW 8075 Community Building and Development OR elective if taking SW 8085 in winter | 3 cr |
| SW 8998 Practicum Work for Social Workers | 4 cr |
| WINTER SEMESTER (January - April) | |
| SW 8998 Practicum Work for Social Workers | 4 cr |
Theory/Practice: SW 8085 Social Policy and Social Action OR
elective if requirement already satisfied (see list) | 3 cr |
| SPRING/SUMMER (May - August) | |
| Electives (see list) | 3 cr |
Second-year (part-time)
| FALL TERM (September - December) | |
ICPL Research Option: SW 8025 Community Assessment and Evaluation, SW 8035 Quantitative Data Analysis,
SW 8045 Data Interpretation and Presentation OR elective if requirement already satisfied | 3 cr |
| Electives (see list) | 4 cr |
| WINTER TERM (January - April) | |
Choose 1 Advanced Policy Analysis Course from the list below: - SW 8770 Advanced Policy Analysis
- SW 8771 Advanced Policy Analysis in Aging
- SW 8772 Advanced Policy Analysis in Children and Family Policy
- SW 8773 Advanced Policy Analysis in Mental Health and Substance Use
| 3 cr |
| ICPL Research Option: SW 8048 Social Action Research OR elective if requirement is satisfied (see list) | 3 cr |