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Program Requirements — Master of Social Work
The M.S.W. curriculum is comprised of courses that constitute 60 semester credit hours of study. The first 30 semester hours of study in the M.S.W. program introduces the student to the area of generalist social-work practice. The remaining 30 semester hours allow students to select a concentration in one of two areas: Clinical Practice, or Leadership and Community Practice. The program is offered on both the Aurora campus and George Williams College campus in Williams Bay, Wisconsin.
On the Aurora campus, students have many options for pursuing the M.S.W. course of study: full-time, part-time and advanced standing. Full-time students complete the program in two years, part-time students may select either a three-year or four-year option, and students with advanced standing may choose a one-year full-time option or two-year part-time option. Courses in the M.S.W. program are offered in the day and evening.
The M.S.W. program at the George Williams College campus offers two courses of study: part-time and advanced standing. Part-time students typically complete the program in three years, and students with advanced standing typically complete the program in two years. Classes at GWC are held Friday evenings and Saturday mornings. Summer course work is required for students attending the GWC campus.
- Aurora Campus Two-Year Full-Time M.S.W. Program
- Aurora Campus Three-Year Part-Time M.S.W. Program
- Aurora Campus Advanced Standing Full-Time M.S.W. Program
- Aurora Campus Advanced Standing Part-Time M.S.W. Program
- George Williams Campus M.S.W. Program
- George Williams Campus Advanced Standing M.S.W. Program
M.S.W. Program Concentrations
The M.S.W. program offers two concentrations: Clinical Practice, and Leadership and Community Practice. Prior to the advanced year, students select one of the two concentrations:
Clinical Practice
The Clinical Practice concentration is designed to educate graduate M.S.W. students to practice in a variety of clinical social-work settings, such as mental-health settings, family-service agencies, schools, child-welfare agencies, hospitals, forensic settings, YMCAs and YWCAs, and many other social-service arenas. The concentration strives to educate M.S.W. students about the wide range of theories and skills necessary to practice in all of these settings. In addition, students learn how to assess, intervene and evaluate their clinical work from an integrative perspective.
Leadership and Community Practice
The Leadership and Community Practice concentration is designed to educate graduate M.S.W. students to practice in administration, supervision, political advocacy and community organizations. The Leadership and Community Practice concentration strives to educate students about the wide range of theories and skills necessary to practice in macro settings and to use a variety of managerial and organizational theoretical models to integrate macro skills for social-work practice. Students are prepared to be competent administrators, political advocates and community organizers in the field of social work.
M.S.W. Program Requirements
Prerequisite:
- Statistics (complete a basic statistics course with a grade of "C" or better prior to enrollment)
- Completion of SWK 6090: Orientation (one-day orientation prior to enrollment)
Foundation Curriculum - 30 semester hours
Social Welfare (3 semester hours)
- SWK6140 Social Welfare Policy and Institutions
Human Behavior and Social Environment (6 semester hours)
- SWK6150 HBSE I: Theories of Human Development: Infancy to Adolescence
- SWK6160 HBSE II: Theories of Human Development: Adult Lifespan
Social Work Practice Theory and Methods (12 semester hours)
- SWK6370 Social Work Practice I: Individuals and Families
- SWK6381 Social Work Practice II: Group Work (1.5 semester hours)
- SWK6382 Social Work Practice II: Community Practice (1.5 semester hours)
- SWK6390 Social Work Practice with Diverse & Vulnerable Populations
- SWK6500 Social Work Perspectives on Psychopathology
Research (3 semester hours)
- SWK6250 Research I: SW Research Methods
Field Instruction (6 semester hours)
- SWK6730 Field Instruction I: Beginning Internship
- SWK6740 Field Instruction II: Beginning Internship
Concentration Curriculum - 30 semester hours
Social Work Practice and Policy (9 semester hours)
- SWK 6533: Advanced Social Policy
AND
- SWK6511 Social Work Practice III: Clinical Theory & Methods
- SWK6521 Social Work Practice IV: Clinical Adv. Clinical Knowledge & Application
OR
- SWK6512 Social Work Practice III: Leadership & Community Practice Theory & Methods
- SWK6522 Social Work Practice IV: Leadership & Community Practice Knowledge & Application
Research (3 semester hours)
- SWK6283 Practice & Program Evaluation
Social Work Electives (12 semester hours)
Advanced Field Instruction (6 semester hours)
- SWK6750 Field Instruction III: Advanced Internship
- SWK6760 Field Instruction IV: Advanced Internship
Total required to graduate - 60 semester hours
Specializations in the M.S.W. Program (Optional)
The M.S.W. program also offers a variety of specializations. The specializations are optional. The five specializations are School Social Work, Addictions, Gerontology, Child Welfare, and M.B.A. Leadership Certificate. In addition, the School offers the Post-M.S.W. Type 73 certification.
School Social Work
The School Social Work Specialization prepares students to become certified as school social workers in Illinois. Advanced course work focuses on working with children, adolescents and families. The three required courses for school social work explore the dynamics of working with exceptional children, the practice of social work in the schools and the policies that drive the public educational system. The advanced year field internship, within the clinical concentration, is in the public schools. Upon successful completion of this specialization, students are eligible for Type 73 certification.
Addictions
The Addictions Specialization prepares students to work with substance abusing individuals and their families within a primary substance-abuse treatment setting. The course work focuses on educating students about various aspects of substance abuse, challenging some of their own biases regarding this population and learning specific clinical skills to help the various sub-populations of addictions. Within the clinical concentration, students complete a field internship at an approved addictions site. Upon successful completion of this specialization, students are eligible to take the Illinois CADC examination.
Gerontology
The Gerontology Specialization focuses on course work providing an in-depth understanding of individuals in their later years. Initially, students learn to identify normal biological and psychological changes of the later years, as well as the health concerns of older adults. Students recognize changes older adults face socially over the years by examining social supports of older adults including families, groups and various living environments. Finally, students learn different assessment tools and counseling techniques for older adults. Within the clinical concentration, field internship experiences include positions in case management, hospice, hospitals and adult day-care settings.
Child Welfare
The Child Welfare Specialization focuses on course work to address issues surrounding families facing turmoil and struggles, protecting children from abuse, and finding permanent placements for those who cannot safely return to their homes. Internship experiences include positions in case management, shelter care services, criminal justice, substance-abuse agencies and therapeutic foster-care services. Within either the Clinical Practice or Leadership and Community Practice concentrations, students complete four electives and a child-welfare-specific internship. Courses pertain to child-welfare services, expressive therapies, practice with vulnerable children and families, and effects of trauma.
M.B.A. Leadership
Students in either the Clinical Practice or Leadership and Community Practice concentrations may take elective courses from the M.B.A. (Master's in Business Administration) Leadership curriculum. This advanced business curriculum is ideal for M.S.W. students interested in learning more about business management and administration in the field of social work. Students complete courses in organizational management, leading teams, and leadership strategies. Upon completion of this specialization, students receive a certificate in leadership for the not-for-profit sector.
