Certificate in Trauma Practice

Program Overview

The Master of Social Work (MSW) + Trauma Practice Certificate program at Simmons University equips students with advanced knowledge and skills in working with trauma-impacted populations. The program includes 65 credit hours of coursework and practicum, with a specialized year focused on advanced clinical practice and trauma treatment. Graduates are prepared for practice in various settings, including schools, mental health centers, and the legal system. The program also offers optional certificate programs in public policy, clinical practice with veterans, and mental health practice.

Program Outline

Degree Overview:

The Master of Social Work (MSW) + Trauma Practice Certificate program provides students with an opportunity to increase their knowledge and competency in working with populations that have been impacted by trauma. The Certificate in Trauma Practice will prepare graduates for practice opportunities with a variety of populations in multiple settings including: schools and universities, community mental health centers, immigrant & refugee centers, the legal justice and prison systems, inpatient & outpatient hospitalization programs, and psychotherapeutic settings with children, adults, couples, families and groups.

Outline:

The MSW degree requires 65 credit hours, consisting of 48 credit hours of classroom courses and 17 credit hours of practicum courses.

Specialized Year:

• SW404 Social Welfare Policy (3 credits)
• SW414 Assessment and Diagnosis (3 credits)
• SW424A Advanced Clinical Practice (3 credits)
• SW424B Advanced Clinical Practice (3 credits)
• SW447A Practicum Education Year II (4 credits)
• SW447B Practicum Education Year II (4 credits)
• SW509 Program Evaluation in Social Work (3 credits)
• Elective (3 credits)
• Elective (3 credits)
• Elective (3 credits)

Licensure and Certificate Programs:

• MSW with MA Licensure in School Social Work (On-Campus): Students interested in practicing as a school social worker can elect to work towards the Massachusetts state license to be a School Social Worker/School Adjustment Counselor (SSW/SAC).
• Requirements include: 62 credits in the MSW program including SW 539 Social Work in Schools and SW 595, Child and Adolescent Diagnosis, one specialized social work elective and three required courses (eight credits) taken in the Simmons University Department of Education (SPND 441, SPND 444, SPND 445).
• Successful completion of the two SSW practicum; one placement must be in a school setting the other placement is encouraged to be in a setting serving children and families.
• Completion and submission of required documentation.
• MSW with Certificate in Public Policy (On Campus): This certificate program is designed to give MSW students with an interest in macro/policy issues the opportunity to supplement their clinical education experience with a deeper knowledge of public policy.
• MSW with Certificate in Trauma Practice (On Campus and Online): The Certificate in Trauma Practice will prepare graduates for practice with a variety of populations in multiple settings.
Students complete all regular MSW program requirements, as well as SW 528A Child and Adolescent Trauma, SW 528B Lifespan of Trauma Treatment: Adults and Families, and two Trauma Practice certificate electives.
• MSW with Certificate in Clinical Practice with Active Service Members, Veterans, and Families (On Campus and Online) (Launching Fall 2023): This certificate provides MSW students with a unique opportunity to develop the knowledge and skills necessary to engage in effective and culturally-sensitive clinical practice with servicemembers, veterans, and their families.
• Certificate in Mental Health Practice (Online): The Certificate in Mental Health Practice prepares graduates to work with people who have experience with serious mental health conditions, including those with concurrent health conditions.

Elective Courses:

MSW students who opt not to enroll in a certificate can still develop a focused skill set through their elective courses. Examples of focus areas are:

• Health and Aging
• Child and Family Wellbeing
• Substance Use and Misuse
• Adult Mental Health
• Trauma and Interpersonal Violence
• Group Practice
• Clinical Practice and Therapy Models

Course Sequencing / Prerequisites:

• Research, SW 441/SWO 441 must be completed prior to enrollment in Evaluation, SW 509/SWO 509.
• Program Evaluation, SW 509/SWO 509 must be taken concurrently with SW 447A or SW 447B/SWO 447A or SWO 447B.
• Dynamics of Racism and Oppression, SW 409/SWO 409 must be completed before commencing specialized year courses.
• SW 403/SWO 403 must be completed before SW 404/SWO 404.
• Practicum Education Year I, SW 446A or SWO 446L is concurrent with SW 421A or SWO 421A; SW 446B or SWO 446B is concurrent with SW 421B or SWO 421B
• Practicum Education Year II, SW 447A or SWO 447A is concurrent with SW 424A or SWO 424; SW 447B or SWO 447B is concurrent with SW 424B or SWO 425
• Students must stay in the same sections (day, time, and professor) for practice classes: SW 421A/SWO 421A and SW 421B/SWO 421B and SW 424A and SW 424B.

Careers:

Examples of employers for first jobs following graduation:

• Violence Recovery Program, Fenway Health
• Justice Resource Institute (JRI)
• Riverside Community Care
• North Shore Mental Health
• Compass Schools
• Veteran’s Administration
• Boston Regional STARR
• Department of Children and Families