Program Description

As adult learners, students have opportunities to choose assignments and electives fitting their learning needs. Faculty members view students as active co-directors of the learning process. Group discussion and debate; role playing; and other experiential activities complement readings and written assignments.

The practice-oriented curriculum is focused on advanced generalist social work practice in an urban environment. It is an eclectic theory base for viewing human behavior in the social environment; skills for operating in a multidisciplinary agency and community environment; research methods with practical application to agency practice; and approaches to working with culturally diverse populations.

The full-time, regular M.S.W. program offers a two-year, 60-credit curriculum combining classroom and field experience. For students who already have a B.S.W. degree, the full-time advanced standing program includes 36 credits during a summer semester and one full-time year of coursework with a supervised field practicum. Any student may attend part-time but must complete the M.S.W. in four years.

The foundation year includes coursework in generalist social work practice theory and skills, social policy, human behavior in the social environment, social work research and a generalist field practicum experience in a social service agency 16 hours a week.

In the concentration level year, the curriculum focuses on advanced generalist method within an urban context. Students select four electives with a requirement of at least one elective in Integrative content area and at least one elective in Advanced Methodological approaches to Social Work practice. Students explore individualized interest by their selection of electives. Then a second field practicum for 16 hours a week provides advanced generalist experience and supervision.