Program Overview

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Social Work, MSW

Pathways to the MSW Degree

The graduate program prepares students for advanced social work practice. It provides students with the needed theoretical and practice expertise to function with maximum competence at different administrative or policy levels in social welfare fields and/or in the provision of direct services to individuals, families, groups, and communities. The school provides opportunities for study and practice that utilize the wealth of interdisciplinary resources available in the Health Sciences Center, the University, and community agencies throughout the New York metropolitan area. The requirements of the MSW Program as outlined here have been approved by the New York State Education Department as meeting the academic pre-requisites qualifying students to sit for both the LMSW and LCSW License Exams. Students who have graduated from a CSWE-accredited baccalaureate degree program in social work - within five (5) years from their initial matriculation are not required to repeat what has been achieved in their undergraduate program.

Curriculum

The curriculum provides for a generalist foundation year of courses and practicum education for all students. In the second year, students concentrate on Advanced Social Work Practice in one of three areas of Specializations.

Generalist Foundation

In the first year, the array of courses and practicum education provides the basic professional foundation of knowledge, values and skills for social work practice with individuals, families, groups, organizations and communities. The professional foundation includes content on social work values and ethics, diversity, social and economic justice, populations historically devalued and oppressed, human behavior in the social environment, social welfare policies and services, social work practice, research and practicum education.

First Year, Full-time MSW Requirements

• Fall Term
  • HWC 500 - Practicum Education I 4-6 credits
  • HWC 504 - Human Behavior and the Social Environment: Critical Applications of Social Work Theory 3 credits
  • HWC 509 - Foundations of Social Justice: Challenging Oppression 3 credits
  • HWC 511 - Research I 3 credits
  • HWC 513 - Social Work Practice I 3 credits
  • HWC 596A - Community Learning and Professional Preparation Year I Part A 0.5 credit
• Spring Term
  • HWC 501 - Practicum Education II 4-6 credits
  • HWC 505 - Integrating Seminar 3 credits
  • HWC 510 - Social Policy and Social Determinants 3 credits
  • HWC 512 - Research II 3 credits
  • HWC 514 - Social Work Practice II 3 credits
  • HWC 596B - Community Learning and Professional Preparation Year I Part B 0.5 credit

Advanced Curriculum/Second Year Specialization

The program prepares students for advanced generalist social work practice in a variety of professional roles, including direct services with individuals, families, groups, and communities and in the analysis, development, implementation, management and evaluation of human services, and health policies and programs. The School of Social Welfare requires students to select a specialization in their second year. The School has three areas of specializations.

Second Year, Full-Time and Advanced Standing MSW Requirements

• Fall Term
  • HWC 502 - Practicum Education III 4-6 credits
  • Required Specialization Practice Course 3 credits
  • Required Specialization Course 3 credits
  • HWC 519 - Clinical Assessment, Diagnosis, and Psychopharmacology 3 credits
  • Elective 3 credits
  • HWC 597A - Community Learning and Professional Preparation Year II Part A 0.5 credit
• Spring Term
  • HWC 503 - Practicum Education IV 4-6 credits
  • Required Specialization Practice course 3 credits
  • Required Specialization course 3 credits
  • Two Advanced Practice Electives 6 credits
  • HWC 597B - Community Learning and Professional Preparation Year II Part B 0.5 credit

Advanced Standing Program

Students who have graduated from a CSWE accredited baccalaureate program in social work within the past five years may apply for the Advanced Standing Program. Students applying for this option must demonstrate their readiness to function at the level of a second year MSW student. Students generally complete the program in one year, or may take a reduced program and complete the requirements in 1½ to two years. Students spend three days in a practicum education setting for one academic year and must complete the required and elective courses. Students in this program cannot use their place of employment for their field placement and must earn all the 36 credits as matriculated students in the School of Social Welfare. Students in the Advanced Standing Program must choose a Specialization, but will generally follow the format listed above (Advanced Curriculum/Second Year Specialization.)

Advanced Standing Modified Program

The MSW Program will begin offering a Modified Advanced Standing Option to incoming Advanced Standing students beginning in the academic year. The Modified Option will allow Advanced Standing students to do 14 hours/week in their practicum placements during the Fall and Spring semesters and will require them to continue their practicum placements through the summer term that follows their second semester in the program. The curriculum credits will be adjusted from the regular 6 fall and 6 spring semester credits to 4 fall, 4 spring and 4 summer practicum credits. Note: the summer practicum credits will represent an additional per credit cost (tuition and fees) since this will be a summer course. Advanced Standing students who wish to take advantage of this Modified Option AND who wish to apply for financial aid to cover the cost of the summer term will be required to take either the Psychopharmacology course (HWC 519) or one of their 3 electives in the summer term following the spring semester in order to have the minimum 6 credits necessary to qualify for financial aid.

Part-Time Program

This option is designed for students who choose not to follow the regular full-time schedule. Students must take a minimum of two courses per semester (6 credits) but may take up to three courses per semester (9 credits). Part-Time students begin practicum education during the Fall semester of their second year. Social Work Practice courses must be taken concurrently with practicum education in the second year (HWC 513 with HWC 500; HWC 514 with HWC 501). HWC 505, Integrating Seminar, must be taken in the Spring semester of the second year. The degree requirements are typically completed in three to four years.

Additional Requirements

The following courses are required and may be taken in any semester after the successful completion of the Year II courses:

• Psychopathology
• Three Electives

Part-time students will develop a curriculum plan with their advisors designating in which semesters they will enroll in these required courses.