MSW Course Descriptions
MSW 500 Introduction to Social Policy & the Social Work Profession
This course will cover the history and development of the social work profession and policy including an understanding of where social work practice is located relative to other service provider professions, organizations, and the credentialing process. A particular focus in the course will be placed upon the foundations of knowledge and various fields of social work practice both at the individual, family, group, organization and societal/macro level. Areas of social work specialization will be covered with particular attention given to diverse populations and the social work field itself through the lens of anti-racism, diversity, equity, and inclusion.
MSW 510 Ethics and Social Work Practice
This course examines the ethical and legal practice of social work as it relates to the varied professional roles, specializations, and organizations, in which social workers conduct their practice. The course will address social worker’s professional identity formation, advocacy duties, self-care, and ethical decision making. The course will cover the NASW Code of Ethics, ethical decision making models and principles, and social work jurisprudence.
MSW 520 Social Work Practice I: Individuals, Families, & Group
The course provides an introduction to strengths-based generalist practice for working with individuals, families and groups using a collaborative approach. The course is designed to allow students the opportunity to demonstrate generalist level competencies. Grounded in a person and environment construct, an appreciation of oppressive systems, and respect for human diversity, the course provides students with generalist knowledge, skills and values necessary for generalist social work practice. Particular attention will be given to generalist social work practice as they relate to diverse populations through the lens of anti-racism, diversity, equity, and inclusion.
MSW 525 Social Work Practice II: Organizations & Communities
This course provides the core theoretical perspectives of human behavior in organizations and communities and other societal systems. Traditional theories, alternative paradigms, and models of behavior in these various sized systems will be explored and related to one another to analyze the functioning of individuals within collectives. The tasks and developmental operations within organizations and community systems will be examined with respect to how they maintain themselves, as well as how the behavior of individuals and groups within them influence one another. Particular attention will be given to social work practice as it relates to diverse populations through the lens of anti-racism, diversity, equity, and inclusion.
MSW 530 Human Behavior in the Social Environment
This course utilizes the person-in-environment, biopsychosocial lens to examine theories, themes, and issues concerning human behavior and interaction as individuals grow, change, and develop across their lifespan. Assumptions and theories about human behavior and diversity are critically reviewed, with a focus on values and ethical issues related to human development, anti-racist and anti-oppressive practice.
MSW 545 Clinical Assessment & Diagnosis
This course will cover the current DSM psychiatric system, and specifically the characteristics, etiology and contributing factors of specific diagnoses. Students will learn how to arrive at a differential diagnosis. The course will address evidence-based interventions for these diagnoses. This course will also cover the specific areas of controversy surrounding particular diagnoses and the diagnostic system itself. Particular attention will be given to use of the DSM in an applied setting as it pertains to diverse populations. Particular attention will be given to an understanding of clinical assessment and diagnosis as it relates to anti-racism, diversity, equity, and inclusion work
MSW 550 Field Simulation & Field Seminar
This is the first of two courses within the Generalist field curriculum, which is designed to facilitate students’ mastery of the fundamentals of social work practice and the acquisition of the nine professional practice competencies required by the Council of Social Work Education (CSWE). In this skill-based course, students will develop competency in performing essential social work skills via simulations, role-plays, discussion, and peer activities. These skills will be applied to working with client systems, including: individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities. Students will obtain up to 50 hours of Generalist field experience that will count towards their 400 total hours Generalist Field Education.
MSW 555 Field Practicum & Seminar I
This is the second of two courses within the Generalist field curriculum, which is designed to facilitate students’ mastery of the fundamentals of social work practice and the acquisition of the nine professional practice competencies required by the CSWE. Building upon their work in MSW 550, students will participate in a minimum of 350 hours in an approved field education site that provides generalist level learning opportunities to successfully demonstrate Generalist level social work competence. Students will simultaneously engage in the asynchronous Field Seminar course, which serves as a forum for support to assist in the successful completion of the Generalist Field Education requirement.
MSW 560 Diversity, Equity, & Anti-Oppressive Practice
In this course students will explore multicultural social work theory, research and treatment modalities for all levels of practice. Students will learn how to develop their knowledge, awareness and skills for working with diverse clientele. The course requires students to examine both their own and clients’ complex cultural identity with a particular focus on privilege and oppression and how these identities inform social work practice. Special topics examined in this course include, but are not limited to: race/racism, ethnicity/ethnocentrism, social class/classism, ability/ableism, biological sex/sexism, sexual orientation/homophobia, gender identity/transphobia, religion/anti-Semitism/Islamophobia, immigration/xenophobia, and nationality/fascism.
MSW 580 Introduction to Social Work Research Methods
This introductory course will cover basic quantitative and qualitative research utilized by social workers as they study and assess individual and family clinical practice, as well as community and agency programs. This course will utilize a small-group, hands on, research project method to cover all phases of the research process and related inquiry, computer technology and software. Particular attention will be given to an understanding of social work research through the lens of anti-racism, diversity, equity, and inclusion.
MSW 600 Trauma Informed Practice
This course serves as the foundational course in healing-centered clinical practice and goes beyond traditional approaches to the treatment of trauma, both individual and socio-political. Course content will cover the history of trauma treatment in social work, as well as current approaches that include cognitive, neurological, psychological, biochemical, developmental, and interpersonal aspects of trauma work. Consideration will be given to trauma-based diagnoses, how trauma prevails in specific populations, and the sociopolitical realities that traumatize some groups more than others. Particular attention will be given to an understanding of trauma work and related topics as they relate to diverse populations through the lens of anti-racism, diversity, equity, and inclusion.
MSW 605 Advanced Trauma Topics
This course serves as an advanced course in healing-centered clinical practice. The course covers advanced trauma care topics that build upon the knowledge gained and skills developed in the MSW 600 Trauma Informed Practice. The topics covered in this course will include vicarious traumatization of the service provider, treatment strategies for insidious and complex trauma and related dissociative disorders, how the brain responds to trauma, how socio-political oppression informs individuals’ trauma, and how the intergenerational transmission of trauma presents in clients’ trauma narratives and presenting symptomatology. Particular attention will be given to trauma work and related topics, as they related to diverse populations through the lens of anti-racism, diversity, equity, and inclusion.
MSW 610 Grief & Bereavement Counseling
This course explores the complexity of how people struggle with grief and bereavement. In particular, the course will cover the cultural, emotional, psychological, physical and spiritual dimensions of grief and bereavement across the lifespan. Students will examine current models of grief theory and recovery treatment. Emphasis will be placed on therapeutic strategies for facilitating holistic grief work in clinical social work. Particular attention will be given to grief work and related topics as they relate to diverse populations through the lens of anti-racism, diversity, equity, and inclusion.
MSW 615: Crisis Intervention
This course offers an overview of crisis intervention in all levels of social work practice. Major theoretical models of situational crises are examined and operationalized across a variety of service delivery systems. Students will develop the conceptual competency needed to engage in crisis intervention. Special emphasis is given to contemporary research in suicidology, disaster psychology, and crisis management for public schools and organizations. Topics of discussion include emergency situations such as natural disasters, terrorism, school violence, abuse, and crisis interventions with diverse populations. Particular attention will be given to crisis intervention and related topics as it relates to diverse populations through the lens of anti-racism, diversity, equity, and inclusion.
MSW 620 Advanced Clinical Social Work Practice with Individuals & Families
This course will explore advanced theories, models, and skills for social work clinical practice with individuals and families through a problem-solving model and ecological perspective. An analysis of the strengths and needs of diverse individuals and family cultures and structures will be explored. Through the view of individuals and families as partners in clinical assessment and intervention, this course will focus on recovery and building resiliency. The role of social workers in individual and family permanency planning, preservation, and support services across the lifespan will be covered. Particular attention will be given to clinical social work with individuals and families through the lens of anti-racism, diversity, equity, and inclusion.
MSW 625 Social Justice, Management, & Community Engagement
This course will cover policy and social work practice related to promoting social, racial, economic, and environmental justice for individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities. Students will explore values, ideologies, and the socio-political forces that promote or fail to promote economic justice in the United States and specific types of communities therein. In particular, social work theories and models of community engagement focusing on democracy and representation will be explored as they directly relate to addressing community-based economics, employment, poverty, food and housing insecurity, health, immigration, and the criminal justice system. Particular attention will be given to social justice management and community engagement through the lens of anti-racism, diversity, equity, and inclusion.
MSW 635 Advanced Clinical Social Work with Groups, Organizations, & Communities
This course provides the advanced theoretical perspectives of human behavior in groups, organizations and communities and other societal systems, with a focus on diversity. Traditional theories, alternative paradigms, and models of behavior in these various size systems will be explored and related to one another to analyze the functioning of individuals within collectives. The tasks and developmental operations within organizations and community systems will be examined with respect to how they maintain themselves and as the behavior of individuals and groups within them influence one another. Particular attention will be given to clinical social work with groups, organizations, and communities through the lens of anti-racism, diversity, equity, and inclusion.
MSW 640 Human Sexuality Across the Lifespan
This course will cover human sexuality across all developmental lifespan stages and will explore the biological, social, and psychological facets of human sexuality, including identity, expression, and dysfunction. A particular emphasis will be placed in the course on how human sexuality varies across diverse positionalites, cultures and communities. Attention will be given to clinical social work with individuals, groups, and organizations who represent oppressed sexual and gender identities through the lens of anti-racism, diversity, equity, and inclusion.
MSW 645 Advanced Training with Queer & Trans Communities
This course utilizes the person-in-environment, biopsychosocial lens to examine theories, themes, and issues concerning human behavior and interaction as individuals grow, change, and develop across their lifespan. Assumptions and theories about human behavior and diversity are critically reviewed, with a focus on values and ethical issues related to human development, anti-racist and anti-oppressive practice. This course will use literature from 2SLGBTQQIA+ individuals as a way to examine how sexuality, sex, gender and cultural constructs around sex affect both our understanding of gender and sex roles and how we develop implicit biases and feed into social constructs that can be harmful and inaccurate in clinical practice.
MSW 650 Politics, Policy, & Racial Justice
This course covers the history and current racial reality in the United States with a particular focus on racism and how it is perpetuated through politics, policy and social practices in America. The course will focus on critical race theory, racial equity models, reparations, and other topics chosen to educate social workers on how to intervene at the individual/family, community, and national level as an advocate for racial change and equality.
MSW 655 Social Work Research Methods II
This course will cover advanced quantitative and qualitative research and evaluation methods utilized by social workers as they study and assess individual and family clinical practice, as well as community and agency programs. This course will utilize a small-group, hands on, research project method to cover all phases of the research process and related inquiry, computer technology and software.
MSW 665 Field Practicum & Seminar II
This is the second of two courses within the Specialist Field curriculum, which is designed to facilitate students’ mastery of their selected area of specialized social work practice, including the acquisition of the nine professional practice competencies required by the CSWE and the identified specialized practice behaviors. Students will complete a minimum of 500 hours (total between MSW 665 and MSW 670) in an approved field education site that provides specialist level learning opportunities to successfully demonstrate Specialist level social work competence. Students will simultaneously engage in the asynchronous Field Seminar III course, which serves as a forum for support to assist in the successful completion of the Specialist Field Education requirement.
MSW 670 Field Practicum & Seminar III
This is the second of two courses within the Specialist Field curriculum, which is designed to facilitate students’ mastery of their selected area of specialized social work practice, including the acquisition of the nine professional practice competencies required by the CSWE and the identified specialized practice behaviors. Building upon their work in MSW 665, students will complete a minimum of 500 hours (total between MSW 665 and MSW 670) in an approved field education site that provides specialist level learning opportunities to successfully demonstrate Specialist level social work competence. Students will simultaneously engage in the asynchronous Field Seminar III course, which serves as a forum for support to assist in the successful completion of the Specialist Field Education requirement.
MSW 680 Integrative Capstone Seminar
This course gives students the opportunity to deeply analyze and apply the knowledge, skills, theories, values, and ethics covered throughout the MSW program. This course requires students to focus topically either through the clinical or macro social work lens on human diversity, populations at risk, social and economic justice, human behavior and the social environment, social welfare policy, social work practice, social work research, and social work field education. Overall course focus and content builds upon all MSW curriculum and field internships utilizing a multi-Âlevel case study method and prepares students for professional practice at all system levels. Course focus will be offered through the lens of anti-racism, diversity, equity, and inclusion.