Credit Hour Program

The MSW program consists of two parts:

1. Foundation Level, which includes generalist knowledge and skills common to all professional social workers

2. Advanced Level, which includes opportunities for in-depth specialization in practice methods and in specific fields of practice

The 27 hours of foundation level courses along with the 36 hours in the advanced level comprise the 63 credit hour program.

This program is for students who have earned a bachelor's degree but have not completed an accredited undergraduate social work program. Some of the foundation courses may be waived by students who successfully pass the waiver exams.

The 39 Credit Hour Program

This is the Advanced Standing program for students who have earned a BSW from a CSWE accredited program and requires:

A minimum of 39 hours in graduate social work study focusing in one of two concentrations: Integrated Practice or Clinical Social Work.

Students to enroll in a minimum of two courses per semester; the MSW program must be completed within four years.

The director of the School of Social Work may approve loads to 15 credit hours for social work majors.

Prerequisites - completion is required before entry in the program:  An undergraduate human biology course or equivalent;

 An undergraduate research methods course and an undergraduate statistics course. A final written comprehensive examination

*See the School of Social Work website for the other requirements, for details about research, practicum, waiver exams, etc.

**This includes one 3 credit graduate research course which is part of the foundation level.

Requirements for the MSW/MPA Dual Degree

The UNO School of Social Work and Public Administration offer prospective candidates the option to receive both graduate degrees offered by these programs (MSW and MPA) through the

116

Dual Degree Program. Students who have already graduated with a MSW or MPA degree are not eligible for this program.

The MSW/MPA Dual Degree Program consists of 78 credit hours for Foundation-level MSW students, and 54 credit hours for Advanced Standing MSW students. All MSW/MPA Dual Degree students must choose the Integrated Social Work Practice academic concentration. Students must enroll in a minimum of two courses per semester (excluding summer semesters), and complete both degrees within six calendar years. For information about admission

requirements, please visit the Social work website at http://socialwork.unomaha.edu. Comprehensive Examinations

Students will complete a 4-hour social work comprehensive exam focused on Integrated Social Work Practice administered by the School of Social Work. Students also will complete a 6-hour public administration comprehensive exam administered by the School of Public Administration. Students have the option to take a 3 credit hours capstone course in lieu of the MPA

comprehensive exam. Details are available on the Public Administration website at

http://spa.unomaha.edu/

School of Social Work Academic Standards Policy

Basic Standard. A "B" (3.0 on a 4.0 scale) average must be maintained in all graduate work

taken as part of the degree program. Additionally, a grade of “B” or higher must be achieved in practicum courses (8400 & 8410).

Automatic Dismissal. A grade of "C-" (1.67 on a 4.0 scale) or below in any course taken in the

student's major field of study or in any course included in the plan of study will result in automatic dismissal from the degree program by the Office of Graduate Studies.

Probation or Dismissal. In the following cases, the Office of Graduate Studies notifies the

School at the start of each semester and requires a recommendation from the School's Graduate Program Committee either to dismiss, or place on probation with conditions for reinstatement as a student in good standing, students who:

Receive a grade of "C+" (2.33 on a 4.0 scale) or below in any courses involved in the first 12 hours of graduate study for provisionally admitted students.

Receive at least nine hours of graduate credit with the grade of "C+" (2.33 on a 4.0 scale) or below in any courses taking in the student's major field of study or in any courses included in the plan of study for masters' or specialists' degrees or graduate certificates, regardless of the average. Failure to maintain a "B" (3.0 on a 4.0 scale) average in all graduate work taken as part of the degree or certificate program.

In the case of an automatic dismissal because of a grade of "C-" (2.33 on a 4.0 scale) or below, if the student appeals this action, the School's Program Committee Chairperson will convene a formal Advancement Committee meeting to determine the student's status in the MSW program.

117

In the other situations of failure to meet academic standards (listed above), the Program Committee Chairperson and Director jointly will arrive at a recommendation to be sent to the Office of Graduate Studies. It will state the student is reinstated on probation, with the conditions that he or she will not receive a grade lower than a "B" (3.0 on a 4.0 scale) in the next 12 hours and will maintain a GPA of 3.0 or above; other conditions may be set as well.

Student Responsibilities

Students must be aware of the Quality of Work Standards of the Graduate College as well as additional criteria of satisfactory performance.

It is the student's responsibility to know when his/her previous course work has failed to meet those standards.

Students who are attending classes are still subject to dismissal if the School recommends that action based on review of their previous performance

For more information...

Please call (402) 554-2792.

Sociology graduate program

The department of sociology and anthropology offers an MA in sociology. Department faculty have strengths in several areas, including Medical Sociology, Sociology of Families, Global Social Inequality, Organizational Sociology, and Anthropology.

Medical Sociology examines the impact of social factors on the health and illness of people and

the system of medical services. Topics include: experience of illness

issues of prevention and self-care

inequalities in health and quality of health care services provider-patient relationships

alternative/complementary medicine medical ethics

health care policy

the professional dominance of medicine

Sociology of Families examines gender, kinship and families in different societies. Topics

include:

the impact of poverty and racism on families

social capital, employment, and inequality among and within families the impact of law and public policies on families

118

Global Social Inequality examines new patterns of domestic and international inequality.

Specific topics include:

the role of transnational corporations and multilateral policy bodies in the restructuring of First and Third World economies, politics, polities and societies

labor displacement and migration

new forms of class, gender, inter-ethnic, language and cultural conflicts and new forms of resistance to global inequalities

Organizational Sociology is an applied field of sociology that examines the social context of

organizational performance. Using a human relations perspective, organizational sociologists analyze and solve problems of group structure, dynamics, and process that enhance or hinder employer and employee goals and interests. Students of organizational sociology are prepared for leadership or consulting positions in business, government, and private agencies.

Anthropology examines contemporary and prehistoric cultures and how they change over time.

Topics include:

cultural anthropology North American archeology medical anthropology

contemporary Native American peoples applied anthropology

Admission Requirements

Applicants for admission to the graduate program in sociology should present a minimum of 15 undergraduate semester hours in the following social sciences.

o statistics

o research methods and social theory

o a minimum of six additional hours of sociology or related courses

Students with a background in sociology but without the specific course requirements may be admitted provisionally, but must remove any deficiencies within the first year of graduate study. Students admitted provisionally can show competence in statistics by taking:

o SOC 2130, in theory

o SOC 4710 in research methods and o SOC 2510 or

o in any of these areas by taking a program of independent work approved by the graduate committee

All courses must be passed with a grade of “B” (3.0 on a 4.0 scale) or better.

Admissions will be made on a rolling basis, beginning March 1 with a strong preference for Fall admission.

Application Checklist:

UNO Graduate Studies Office application and fee

Department graduate program application available from the Department of Sociology web site

119 Writing sample

Personal statement of goals and perception of how graduate work in sociology may help you achieve your goals

Optional unofficial copy of transcripts (for earlier consideration)

Master of Arts Degree Requirements

Thesis and non-thesis options are available. For both programs, students must complete one course in sociological theory (SOC 8010 or SOC 8020), research methods (SOC 8030), and statistics (SOC 8040) with grades of “B” (3.0 on a 4.0 scale) or better. At least one half of the hours of course work for either program should be in courses restricted to graduate students only (8--0).

Thesis Option

Recommended for students who wish to pursue the PhD degree after completing their work at UNO.

Recommended for students who wish to participate in a research project and gain writing experience through the thesis process.

Students must pass a comprehensive oral exam structured around the thesis

Prior to beginning the thesis, students must also have their project approved by the thesis committee.

Requires a minimum of 24 semester hours of approved graduate work in sociology and related disciplines, including the graduate research methods, statistics, and theory courses, plus six semester hours of thesis credit, for a total of 30 hours.

Courses will be approved by advisement and the student will develop a program of study that reflects their interests.

Up to 12 credit hours of non-sociology courses may be included in the program of study. Non-Thesis Option

Recommended for students who do not wish to pursue the PhD degree after completing their work at UNO.

These students are exempt from the thesis requirement.

Students must complete 36 graduate credit hours including graduate research methods, statistics, and theory and may include up to 18 credit hours in a discipline other than sociology.

Courses will be approved by advisement and the student will develop a program of study that reflects his or her interests. Reading courses may not be used to meet this requirement except by petitioning the Graduate Program Committee.

Credit for previously earned thesis hours will not be counted toward the 36 hour requirement. After meeting all other requirements for the non-thesis master’s degree or during their final semester in the program, students must pass a comprehensive written examination. This will fulfill the capstone requirement for the M. A. degree. The examination will focus on the student’s course work, and will include one question on sociological theory, one question on research methods and two questions from substantive area(s) of focus. This will be a four-hour exam at a date and time stipulated by the department. Exams will be given at the end of each semester. All eligible students are required to take the exam at the stipulated date and time. In case of a non-

120

passing grade, students may take the exam one additional time, to be negotiated with their advisor.