|
Master of Social
Work Degree Requirements
The academic
program leading to the Master of Social Work degree equips the
student for careers in direct practice, and macro practice. The
M.S.W degree is conferred after satisfactory completion of the
prescribed requirements that provide specialized understanding of
methods and processes in Social Work practice. The minimum
requirements for advanced standing students are 45 credits with a
cumulative GPA of 3.0. The minimum requirements for all other
students are 60 credits with a cumulative GPA of 3.0. To be applied
toward a degree, graduate credits must be earned within the past
five (5) years. A letter grading system is utilized. Students choose
a level of intervention or mode of practice as a major area of
concentration, as well as a field of practice. This choice of
concentration is supported by a foundation curriculum, fields of
practice, and Field Education. Specific areas of concentration are
subject to changes.
The purpose of
the fields of practice concentration is to provide a knowledge base
in the student's chosen area of specialization in social work. The
courses examine policies, programs, and services; two semesters are
required. The fields of practice specializations include:
criminal justice, social gerontology, mental health, social work in
health care settings, family and child welfare, and displaced
populations.
Supervised
Field Education is provided for students in a wide range of agencies
and organizations covering the fields of practice listed above. The
educational experience takes place in a large number of approved
field settings on a concurrent Field Education methods model.
Electives
Students may
choose electives from any of the following options:
-
courses in
direct service, community organization or social service
management concentrations or fields of practice concentrations
which are not required for their chosen majors
-
from the
list of general electives in the social work curriculum
-
from
course offerings of other schools or colleges in the University
or
-
from the
Consortium of Universities of the Washington Metropolitan Area.
Courses should be chosen in consultation with the student's
advisor.
Part-Time
Enrollment
Part-time
enrollment is available each semester with evening classes scheduled
that cover foundation curriculum content. Under the part-time
option, students are permitted to develop an individualized
part-time course of studies with their advisers or they may choose
the Planned Part-Time Program as recommended by the School. The
Planned Part-time Program options are:
-
Plan 1:
The usual
full-time, two year program is distributed over a three to four
year period, enabling a student to complete the degree
requirements in four years.
-
Plan 2:
A student completes half the degree requirements, 30 hours in
full-time enrollment, and 30 hours in part-time enrollment, over
a three year period.
Field
Instruction (Click here for
Field Education Manual)
Field Education is an integral part of the MSW program. It is the
class that takes place at an agency site and is the practical
learning component of the curriculum. This “ off campus classroom “
experience requires the first year student to spend 16 per hours per
week and the second year student to spend 20 hours per week at an
agency in the Greater Washington, DC metropolitan area. The Office
of Field Education chooses these sites. This course carries 6 credit
hours per semester and accounts for over 1/3 of the 60 credits
required for the completion of the MSW degree.
The Field Education program also requires a mandatory orientation
for all entering students and ongoing Field Education seminars,
which are structured as on campus classes. Student experiences at
their Field Education sites are often the most memorable ones as
they matriculate through the MSW program. The Field Education
opportunities are diverse and are supervised by licensed social work
practitioners. These experiences are exciting, challenging and
provide opportunities for professional development in a practical
sense. Goals of Field Education include but are not limited to the:
(1) identification with the profession, (2) integration of classroom
knowledge with practical experiences, (3) laboratory experience to
increase and strengthen social work skills, (4) exposure to
different social work settings, (5) opportunity to determine a
specialty in an of area of practice, and (6) opportunity to learn
about social and economic justice, and advocacy.
Field Education complements the curriculum by providing
opportunities to explore, expand, and explain the “Black
Perspectives as articulated in our school’s mission, vision and
principles. Applicants choosing the MSW program should consider
these opportunities for professional growth when planning their
entry into the program. The Office of Field Education along with
other faculty will assist students in their field experiences to
insure that each student receives an appropriate learning
experience.
|
