Curriculum Overview

MSW Program Themes:

The content of this program emphasizes public and tribal sector practice, family focused practice, practice across rural and metropolitan settings, and work with clients from diverse backgrounds.

Foundation Curriculum:

(For students who have a bachelor's degree, but do not have a BSW degree)

The Foundation Curriculum is required to be completed by students who do not have an undergraduate degree from an accredited Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) program in the past eight years.  Foundation students complete 16 hours per week in a Field Placement for 4 credits per semester.

Concentrations:

The Advanced Curriculum is completed by all students, those who already have their BSW degrees in the past eight years, and those who have finished foundation requirements.  To complete the Advanced Curriculum, students must select one of two possible areas of concentration:

Advanced Direct Practice:

For students interested in developing advanced intervention skills working with individuals, groups, and families.  Work with vulnerable families facing many challenges is emphasized.  Students interested in clinical practice please see visit the LCSW Credentialing web-page.

Administration/Management:

For students interested in moving into supervisory and administrative roles, particularly in public and tribal social service settings.  This concentration requires a minimum of 8 students to ensure course offerings.

Overview of the Collaborative MSW Curriculum:

The complete curriculum are described below:

The Foundation Curriculum is to be completed by all students who do not have a BSW from an accredited Social Work Program within the past eight years.  We offer both full time and part time cohorts. 

The Advanced Curriculum is to be completed by all students.  Those students who do not have a BSW from an accredited Social Work Program within the past eight years will complete the Advanced Curriculum after their Foundation Coursework is completed.  Those students who do have a BSW from an accredited Social Work Program within the past eight years may begin at the Advanced Curriculum level.  We offer both full time and part time cohorts.

Advanced HBSE Options:

Advanced Direct Practice:

• In Social Work:  Social Work 727 Psychopathology and Strength Based Assessment
• At UWGB:  Education 552 Social and Family Influences on Early Development and Learning
• At UWO:  Psychology 530 Adult Development and Aging
                   Psychology 690 Special Topics (approval of Program Coordinator required)
                   Women's Studies 550 Women, Race and Class

Administration/Management:

• At UWGB:  Management 753 Organizational Theory and Behavior
• At UWO: MPA 723 Organizational Structure and Behavior

Elective Options:

•  In Social Work:  Social Work 571 Child and Family Welfare
                                Social Work 575 Treatment and Mistreatment of Offenders
                                Social Work 735 Emerging Issues in Child Welfare
                                Social Work 795 Special Topics
                                Social Work 798 Independent Study
• At UWGB:           Management 757 Leadership and Innovation
                               Management 750 Team Dynamics & Problem Solving
                               Management 776 Organizational Communication & Conflict
                               Human Development 344 Dying, Death, and Loss
• At UWO:             MPA 711 Politics, Policy and Public Administration
                              MPA 760 Administrative Law
                              MPA 729 Health Care Organization and Management
                              MPA 797 Special Topics

Students May Also Take Advanced HBSE options as Electives:

Students may also petition the MSW Program Coordinator and request that another elective option not on these lists be approved.  The MSW Program Coordinator will approve such options when they fit with the program's mission and goals, when they are congruent with the objectives of the concentration curriculum, and when they are graduate level in scope and content.