Program Overview

Masters in Social Work (MSW)

The Masters in Social Work (MSW) program is designed to equip students with the advanced skills and knowledge needed to practice social work in a variety of settings. The program emphasizes social justice, empowerment, and the Vincentian values of respect, advocacy, service, and inventiveness.

Course Descriptions

• MSW 350: Special Topics Course for Undergraduates: An in-depth examination of selected and timely social issues from a social work perspective. Topics vary from quarter to quarter.
• MSW 401: Professional Writing and Development: The practice of professional social work requires accurate and persuasive communication in multiple formats. This course introduces students to the major possibilities and constraints of professional writing and other forms of communication.
• MSW 411: Human Behavior and the Social Environment I: This course offers an ecosystems framework and method for understanding human behavior within the context of personal, family, group, and community systems. Using a bio-psycho-social theoretical framework, fundamental concepts and theories are introduced with the life cycle serving as the organizational focus.
• MSW 412: Human Behavior and the Social Environment II: This course continues the exploration of human behavior and the social environment, covering the second half of the life span: young adulthood, middle adulthood, later adulthood, and end of life.
• MSW 421: Introduction to Social Work Research: This course presents the conceptual foundations and methods of research needed to integrate research knowledge and professional social work practice. It presents social justice as an overarching paradigm in the study of social work research.
• MSW 431: Social Welfare Policy I: This foundation-level course provides students with entry-level knowledge of social work ethics and values, policy formation and analysis, and practice skills necessary to impact and interpret the rules and regulations surrounding social welfare.
• MSW 432: Advanced Social Welfare Policy II: This concentration course focuses on policy practice (including advocacy) skills in agencies and organizations. It includes a review of analytical techniques and emphasizes human interactions that shape policy review and implementation.
• MSW 450: Special Topics in Social Work: See schedule for current offerings. Graduate standing required.
• MSW 481: Foundation Practice I: This course is the first in a series of three required foundational courses designed to equip students with the basic theoretical knowledge, analytical skills, practice skills, and values needed to practice generalist social work with diverse individuals and families in an urban context.
• MSW 482: Foundation Practice II: This course is the second in a series of three required foundational courses, emphasizing the development, implementation, and evaluation of various forms of therapeutic groups along with some content on organizational task groups.
• MSW 483: Foundation Practice III: This course introduces skills associated with task groups that serve to meet client needs in communities and organizations, using the empowerment model with an emphasis on social justice and Vincentian values.
• MSW 484: Advanced Standing Foundation Practice: This course is required for all Advanced Standing students and may be taken as an elective with permission of the Instructor. It is designed to equip students with the basic theoretical knowledge, analytical skills, practice skills, and values needed to prepare for advanced, community practice in social work.
• MSW 491: Foundation Field Education I: This course requires simultaneous enrollment in MSW 481 as well as enrollment in an approved foundation field work placement. Students apply the beginning skills and knowledge needed to professionally aid individuals and families using the bio-psycho-social model and the empowerment approach.
• MSW 492: Foundation Field Education II: This course requires simultaneous enrollment in MSW 482 as well as enrollment in an approved foundation field work placement. Students apply the beginning skills and knowledge needed to professionally aid individuals and families using the bio-psycho-social model and the empowerment approach.
• MSW 493: Foundation Field Education III: This course requires simultaneous enrollment in MSW 483 as well as enrollment in an approved foundation field work placement. Students apply the beginning skills and knowledge needed to professionally aid individuals, families, and groups using the bio-psycho-social model and the empowerment approach.
• MSW 494: Advanced Standing Foundation Field Education: This field education course is required for all Advanced Standing students and may be taken as an elective with permission of the Instructor. It requires enrollment in an approved field agency placement for the entire summer session.
• MSW 499: Independent Study: Individually-supervised learning experience, usually involving extensive research and written analysis.
• MSW 501: Program Evaluation: This course offers a comprehensive overview of how program evaluation fits into today's social service environment, presenting social justice as an overarching paradigm in the study of program evaluation.
• MSW 521: Fund Development and Management: This course introduces students to creating, implementing, and adjusting budgets within agencies and programs that serve people, as well as program marketing and fundraising (including grant writing).
• MSW 561: Forensic Social Work Practice I: Using select theoretical approaches, this course equips students with the advanced skills and knowledge needed to practice at the intersections of human services organizations and legal systems.
• MSW 562: Forensic Social Work Practice II: This course expands the focus on learning and applying major evidence-based treatment models for treating individuals involved in the justice system and victims of crime.
• MSW 563: Forensic Social Work Practice III: Students utilize knowledge gained in the prerequisites and in their internships to develop a project scenario featuring a client and describing treatment approaches as well as related ethical, legal, and multicultural factors.
• MSW 571: Forensic Field I: This course requires simultaneous enrollment in MSW 561 as well as enrollment in an approved field agency placement specializing in Forensic Practice.
• MSW 572: Forensic Field II: This course requires simultaneous enrollment in MSW 562 as well as enrollment in an approved field agency placement specializing in Forensic Practice.
• MSW 573: Forensic Field III: This course requires simultaneous enrollment in MSW 563 as well as enrollment in an approved field agency placement specializing in Forensic Practice.
• MSW 581: Community Practice I: Using select theoretical approaches, including empowerment practice, this course equips students with the advanced skills and knowledge needed to practice in community-serving agencies and organizations.
• MSW 582: Community Practice II: This course introduces students to the skills and knowledge needed to plan and design programs in community-based, people-serving organizations, starting with problem analysis and needs assessment.
• MSW 583: Community Practice III: This course continues facilitation in planning and designing programs in community-based or community-serving organizations while also providing students with opportunities to integrate fund development, program evaluation, and effective stewardship of resources.
• MSW 591: Community Field Education I: This course requires simultaneous enrollment in MSW 581 as well as enrollment in an approved field agency placement specializing in Community Practice.
• MSW 592: Community Field Education II: This course requires simultaneous enrollment in MSW 582 as well as enrollment in an approved field agency placement specializing in Community Practice.
• MSW 593: Community Field Education III: This course requires simultaneous enrollment in MSW 583 as well as enrollment in an approved field agency placement specializing in Community Practice.
• MSW 599: Candidacy Continuation: This class is intended for students who experience disruption in their MSW course of study. Students may register for this class if they are engaged in work associated with their academic or field-placement-based work.