Graduate School
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Social Work (SW)
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This program is offered in Durham and in Manchester through CGPS.
Degree Offered: M.S.W.
The Department of Social Work offers a master of social work (M.S.W.) degree. This program develops advanced professional knowledge and skill for persons interested in pursuing careers in the field of social work. The M.S.W. program is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE). It requires two years of full-time study or three-to-four years of part-time study. The full-time program is available in Durham only; the part-time program is available in Durham or Manchester. The Manchester academic classes are delivered in a weekend model. All students complete a foundation-year course of study, and then elect a second-year concentration either in direct/clinical practice or community/administrative practice. Both concentrations require classroom work and two yearlong field internships. Field internship hours are typically completed during normal business hours. In addition, the Departments of Social Work and Kinesiology offer a dual degree program, which consists of a master in social work (M.S.W.), as well as a master of science (M.S.) in kinesiology with a concentration in outdoor education.
Admission Requirements
The department encourages applications from persons who hold a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university; have attained an overall grade-point average of "B" or better in undergraduate coursework; have completed courses in a broad range of liberal arts and science disciplines; have acceptable recommendations from three individuals, one of whom must be a member of an academic faculty; and have completed a personal statement of interest in pursuing graduate education in the field. Although not required, significant volunteer and/or work experience in the field is strongly recommended. Students who do not meet the liberal arts and science expectations may be asked to complete additional coursework prior to or during the first year of their enrollment in the program. Standardized graduate examinations are not required, but results of such tests may be submitted to supplement other admission materials.
Students applying for advanced standing must hold a B.A. from an accredited S.W./B.S.W. program with a minimum overall grade-point average of 3.2 (4.00 point scale). This coursework must have been completed within five years of the date of M.S.W. matriculation. Advanced-standing applicants must also submit a reference from a B.S.W. faculty member and the undergraduate field supervisor or field coordinator.
Students applying to the dual degree program must meet the application requirements for both the Departments of Social Work and Kinesiology. See kinesiology for their admission requirements.
The M.S.W. program concentrates on strengths and empowerment models that encourage individuals and families and communities and organizations to realize their full potential. The department supplies the students with a social and community systems context and promotes practice skills that are responsive to diversity issues. The program is housed in the newly renovated Pettee Hall with access to interview observation rooms and state-of-the-art classrooms and computer labs.
Financial aid opportunities in the department include grants for students interested in the child welfare field or in work with developmentally disabled children and their families. The department also offers graduate research assistantships to a few second year students. Graduates of the program are employed in a wide variety of social and human service agencies as direct practitioners and in managerial roles.
Degree Requirements
M.S.W. Degree Requirements
An M.S.W. candidate must complete 62 credit hours of 800- or 900-level courses including two, two-semester field internships, comprising a total of 1,100 hours in the field. Grades below the B- level in a graded course or a "fail" in a credit/fail course are considered failing grades for the purposes of determining academic standing. Repeating a course does not remove the original failing grade from the record. Graduate students receiving failing grades in 6 or more credits, received either in two courses or in one course taken twice, will be dismissed from the M.S.W. program.
Although a significant portion of the curriculum is required, students will be able to complete three elective courses. At least one of these must be taken from among Department of Social Work course offerings. Students select a second-year concentration in direct/clinical practice or community/administrative practice. Each concentration requires that three courses and the second-year field internship be completed in the student's area of concentration.
Advance-standing students complete a minimum of 35 credits for graduation. This includes a 10-week summer practicum and seminar, which students must take prior to their advanced practice and field placement. Additional information may be obtained by contacting the coordinator of graduate admissions in the department office.
Dual degree students take classes simultaneously over the course of three years in both social work and kinesiology: outdoor education and complete a minimum of 77 credits for graduation. This includes two internships, one during their first year of study, and a second specialized internship during the third year, which concentrates on the utilization and application of adventure therapy in an agency setting. Students are required to also complete either a master thesis or an advanced studies project during their third year of study which is supervised by faculty in kinesiology: outdoor education.
Courses
Courses
| Abbreviation | Course Number | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| SW | 801 | Women and Aging | 3 |
| SW | 805 | Child and Adolescent Risks and Resiliency: Program, Policy and Practice | 3 |
| SW | 810 | Computer Utilization in Social Work | 3 |
| SW | 812 | Understanding Developmental Disabilities | 3 |
| SW | 814 | Introduction to Addiction: Assessment and Intervention | 3 |
| SW | 815 | Practice with Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender People | 3 |
| SW | 820 | Social Welfare Policy I | 3 |
| SW | 830 | Social Work Practice I | 3 |
| SW | 831 | Social Work Practice II: Practice in Small Groups and Community Organizations | 3 |
| SW | 840 | Implications of Race, Culture, and Oppression for Social Work Practice | 3 |
| SW | 850 | Human Behavior and the Social Environment I | 3 |
| SW | 851 | Human Behavior and the Social Environment II | 3 |
| SW | 860 | Research Methods in Social Work | 3 |
| SW | 873 | Intervention with Groups | 3 |
| SW | 880 | Field Internship I | 3 |
| SW | 881 | Field Internship II | 3 |
| SW | 882 | Therapeutic Applications of Adventure Programming | 4 |
| SW | 885 | Study Abroad: Comparative Social Welfare Systems | 3 |
| SW | 897 | Special Topics in Social Work and Social Welfare | 3 |
| SW | 900 | Advanced Standing Practice and Field Seminar | 3 |
| SW | 926 | Social Welfare Policy II | 3 |
| SW | 932 | Direct Practice III: Clinical Assessment and Intervention | 3 |
| SW | 933 | Direct Practice IV: Advanced Clinical Assessment and Intervention | 3 |
| SW | 936 | Community and Administrative Practice III: Community Organization and Political Strategies | 3 |
| SW | 937 | Community and Administrative Practice IV: Management of Human Service Organizations | 3 |
| SW | 952 | Human Behavior and the Social Environment III | 3 |
| SW | 957 | Program and Resource Development in the Social Service Arena | 3 |
| SW | 962 | Research II Statistics | 3 |
| SW | 965 | Research III: Program and Practice Evaluation | 3 |
| SW | 974 | Social Work Supervision | 3 |
| SW | 975 | Theory and Practice of Family Therapy | 3 |
| SW | 979 | Social Work and the Law | 3 |
| SW | 982 | Field Internship III | 4 |
| SW | 983 | Field Internship IV | 4 |
| SW | 992 | Special Projects and Independent Study | 1 TO 3 |
