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St. Cloud State University

St. Cloud State University

Graduate Bulletin Table of Contents

Additional Social Work Bulletin Information

Master of Social Work (MSW)
Stewart Hall

Offered through the Department of Social Work
in the College of Social Sciences
224 Stewart Hall
Phone: 320.308.3139
Fax: 320.308.3285
E-mail: ebtalbot@stcloudstate.edu
Web: www.stcloudstate.edu/social work

Department Chairperson: Dr. Jeanne Lacourt
Department Secretary: Ms. Carleen Guck

Director of Graduate Program: Dr. Elizabeth Talbot
Graduate Faculty: Chesborough, Gensheimer, Pfohl, Talbot, Togo

Program Overview

The Master of Social Work degree prepares the professional worker to think critically, and work effectively and collaboratively in the professional world of human services. Social workers graduating from SCSU will be prepared to promote economic, political, and social justice in a diverse and global society The purpose of the program is to:

  • Educate advanced-level generalist social workers who are grounded in the liberal arts and the values, ethics, and theories of the social work profession, so they will be able to express this in their practice through critical thinking and collaboration with others to intervene with systems at all levels.
  • Develop student's professional identity as social workers who promote change at levels ranging from the individual to national policy, including empowering communities and populations who create human service delivery systems based on social work values.
  • Educate students so they will understand the implications of social welfare history and policy and demonstrate policy practice skills to influence, formulate, and advocate for policy consistent with social work values.
  • Educate students in order they they will be able to evaluate their own practice and contribute their knowledge to the advancement of their profession.
  • Educate students so they will be able to recognize and enhance cultural and global diversity, and advocate for equality in the distribution of societal resources and who can promote social, economic and political justice at all levels of intervention, including global.

Mission of the MSW Program

Our mission is to engage students in an educational program that prepares them to think critically and evaluate practice and programs and contribute to the body of social work knowledge through active research. Students will be prepared to work effectively and collaboratively as professional social workers to enhance human well-being and promote economic, political and social justice in a diverse and global society. Using justice centered and community based practice approaches, the MSW program will prepare social work professionals at the advanced generalist level who can practice across a variety of social service settings.

Accreditation Specific to the Program

The Master of Social Work Program at SCSU is in the process of becoming an accredited program. Candidacy status has been granted by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE). The CSWE will not award accreditation until a class has actually graduated. Once the first class graduates, we can then request the final visit for accreditation. The accreditation is retroactive to when the first class was admitted. Students must be willing to deal the the stress and anxiety of waiting until they have graduated for the final accreditation visit. Once the first class has graduated the program will be able to stand for initial accreditation.

The Profession

Social workers are employed in all areas of social services to individuals, families, groups, and communities. One finds social workers active in public advocacy, government agencies, and at all levels of services in communities. Social workers are employed in administrative positions in agencies and companies where persons are in need of social services. Social workers also provide direct services, mental health services and counseling to groups of people, families and individuals.

Employers

Social work is one of the fastest growing careers in the United States and is expected to grow by 30 percent by the year 2010 (NASW). The MSW has national and international recognition as a professional degree. Graduates will be prepared for advanced generalist social work practice with individuals, families, groups, and communities. Professionals with the MSW degree work in public and not-for-profit community agencies. This includes mental health settings, hospitals, clinics, domestic violence agencies, and all areas of child welfare practice. MSW degree holders have enjoyed responsible administrative positions such as: agency directors, clinical directors, advocates through the court system, and in communities with groups of all sizes. Social workers are also employed in the political arena as advocates for social worker organizations that seek changes in policy which will further issues of social justice. Many social workers are in private practice with individuals and families. Private practitioners are found in employee assistance programs in the public and private sectors, and as consultants for managers regarding human services issues.

Fall 2008 Admission Overview

  • The MSW program will admit students each fall. Spring semester admittance is not available at this time.
  • In fall 2008, 12 foundation year (non-BSW) students and 12 advanced standing students (with a BSW) will be admitted.
  • In fall 2009, 12 foundation year (non-BSW) students and 12 advanced standing students (with a BSW) will be admitted.
  • Foundation year students are those without advanced standing, i.e., applicants with a bachelor degree other than social work and applicants whose BSW is older than seven years.
  • Rolling admissions will be available for fall 2008 with decisions starting as early as December 2007. Rolling admissions means that completed applications will be reviewed as they are received and an admission decision made. Students are encouraged to apply early as there is anticipated great demand for the spaces available. If space is still available the latest an applicant may submit an application and all accompanying materials is June 1 for fall semester consideration.

What is Advanced Standing?

Students with a bachelor of social work do not need to take the foundation year (1st year) of the MSW program because they studied the social work knowledge base as undergraduates.

Admission Requirements

  • An interview may be requested.
  • Careful attention will be given to previous work experience, academic background, scholarship, emotional maturity, interpersonal skills, and commitment to the social work profession.

Specific Admission Requirements for Students without a BSW

  • Applicants must meet all the admission requirements of the School of Graduate Studies.
  • For applicants not holding a bachelor's degree in social work from a program accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE), evidence of completion of the the following prerequisites is required: human biology, human life cycle development, social statistics, and three additional courses in the social or behavioral sciences. This includes courses in the disciplines of: anthropology, sociology, economics, political science, psychology, history, or human relations. The courses may be taken at any accredited institution.
  • Students must have a minimum of a 3.0 grade point average on a 4.0 scale.
  • Foundation students must have completed two years of experience in human services or social change activities. The program does not grant social work course credit for life experience or previous work experience but may take these factors into account in the admission process.
  • Please include a current resume with your application materials that includes: education, paid work experience, volunteer experience, and community involvement.

Specific Admission Requirements for Students with a BSW (Advanced Standing)

  • Applicants must meet all the admission requirements of the School of Graduate Studies.
  • Advanced standing students must have graduated from a Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) accredited BSW program and received the degree within the past seven years. The social work degree must be granted prior to the beginning of advanced standing classes on September 1.
  • Advanced standing students must have two years of social work experience after receiving the BSW. The program does not grant social work course credit for life experience or previous work experience but may take these factors into account in the admission process.
  • Advanced standing students must have a minimum of a 3.0 grade point average on a 4.0 scale. Additionally an advanced standing applicant must have at least a 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale in social work course work.
  • Please include a current resume with your application materials that includes: education, paid work experience, volunteer experience, and community involvement.

Application Materials to Submit

In addition to the application, statement of intent, GRE scores, recommendation forms, and official transcripts the MSW program requests:

  • A resume
  • An additional three to five page essay to address the questions below. Responses should be typed, double spaced pages in 12 pt. font.
  • Having read the mission of the social work program please respond to the following:
    1. How are your career goals consistent with the mission?
    2. Describe a social justice issue that is of interest to you and describe the contribution you plan to make toward the resolution of the problem.

Required Orientation Program

All new students will be required to attend a new student orientation program prior to the beginning of the academic year.

Length of Program

  • Full-time student, non BSW: four semesters (56 credits)
  • Full-time student with a BSW: two semesters (34 credits)

Program Structure

Courses are held on Thursday and Friday in the late afternoon and evening from 3:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. This schedule has worked well to meet the needs of the student who must continue to work throughout their MSW education.

Graduate Assistantship Overview

  • Two graduate assistantship positions are available for the fall-spring academic year.
  • Graduate assistants work 20 hours per week with a faculty member on administration, teaching, research projects, or providing administrative support.
  • Graduate assistantships require full-time student status.
  • An application must be submitted to the department chairperson. It is recommended that applicants for department graduate assistantships meet the March 1 deadline for full consideration.
  • In addition, all applicants for department assistantships are required to contact the Office of Scholarship and Financial Aid to determine eligibility and apply for a federal work-study assistantship.
  • Graduate assistants receive $10,000 stipend for the fall-spring academic year and eight credits of tuition reimbursement in both the fall and spring semesters.

Advisement

Each new student will be assigned an adviser when they are admitted. In order for courses to be taken in sequence, all semester schedules will be planned by the department. Students may have some flexibility in the course section in which they are enrolled and the selection of their internship site and hours.

Candidacy

Admission to a graduate program does not constitute candidacy for a degree. Rather, a student who has been admitted to graduate study is advanced to degree candidacy upon the recommendation of the Department of Social Work degree faculty. Advancement to a degree candidacy requires that that candidate:

  • Have successfully completed the required coursework, research and field internships required for the MSW.
  • Have clearly demonstrated the aptitude and ability to pursue graduate work, exhibited the maturity expected of an MSW and compliance with the social work code of ethics in the classroom and in the field internships, and a documented commitment to social work as a profession.
  • Completed the necessary forms requesting graduation.

Admission to degree candidacy is not an automatic process, but rather the advancement to candidacy is approved by all program faculty only after careful evaluation of all pertinent factors.

Academic Review and Retention Policy

The Department of Social Work faculty meets regularly to discuss the progress of students in the program. The following elements are reviewed: academic progress and promise; social work skills acquisition and development; personality traits or personal issues that may be interfering with progress in the program; or legal and ethical issues. In the event that there is a faculty concern about a student regarding any of these areas, a faculty member will meet with the student to discuss necessary remediation, offer steps toward improvement, or offer assistance to the student in finding a more suitable field of study. While there was preliminary evaluation of a prospective student's suitability for social work at the time of admission, evaluation also occurs throughout a student's course of study. Throughout the program course evaluations are made by faculty as to whether students have developed the skills, professional behavior, and professional characteristics necessary to proceed as a MSW student. During the field internships, regular evaluations are made by faculty and in conversation with the field supervisor to determine whether the student is prepared to continue in the field placement. Throughout the field internship, regular assessments are made by the site supervisor documenting the pre-professional progress and readiness for a recommendation for graduation.

Supervised Internship

Full-time students complete two internships over a period of three semesters. The advanced standing student will complete an internship for two semesters. All internships must be supervised by an MSW degree holder and in an agency approved by the Department of Social Work as a facility that will enhance learning. All students completing the two-year MSW program will be required to complete a 900-hour internship over a period of three semesters. Advanced standing students are required to complete a 500-hour internship over two semesters.

The Curriculum

The concentration is advanced generalist with a focus on vulnerable individuals and families in changing communities. The advanced generalist concentration prepares the MSW-holder for practice in all areas of social work. It is considered an ideal concentration for social workers who live in rural, small, or changing communities.

The following program reflects the current curriculum available. Additions, deletions, or change may be approved in the future and it is the responsibility of the student to check on changes that affect her/his program.

Students will be accepted into the MSW program as foundation students (non-BSW holders) and advanced standing students (BSW holders). Non-BSW students complete pre-requisites and four semester of courses (56 credits); advanced-standing students complete two semester of courses (34 credits). The MSW program requires a two-year commitment for graduate students without advanced standing. A one-year commitment is required for the advanced standing student, those who received their BSW within seven years of entering the MSW program. All students will complete a research project.

SW 610. Social Work Theory and Frameworks
SW 611. Generalist Social Work Practice I
SW 612. Generalist Social Work Practice II
SW 613. Social Work with Marginalized Populations
SW 620. Integrated Social Work Practice Seminar
SW 621. Social Welfare Policy
SW 622. Research I
SW 625. Foundation Field Placement
SW 630. Advanced Generalist Practice in Changing Communities
SW 631. Advanced Generalist Practice with Vulnerable Individuals and Families
SW 633. Integrated Practice Seminar II
SW 635. Field Placement II
SW 641. Advanced Generalist Practice with Organizations
SW 642. Advanced Policy Practice
SW 643. Integrated Practice Seminar III
SW 699. Thesis
SW 645. Field Placement III

For more information contact:
Dr. Elizabeth Talbot
MSW Program Director
Telephone: 320.308.2981
E-mail: ebtalbot@stcloudstate.edu