MSW P ROGRAM C URRICULUM General Statement

The Department of Social Work has been committed to excellence in generalist social work since its inception in 1975, and continues with our offering of the Master of Social Work (MSW). As the University has grown and modified its mission, so has the Department. Both the University and the Department emphasize ethical behavior, life-long learning, service to the community, and the importance of a

knowledge base. Social work has long been viewed as the conscience of the University and as specifically applying the university mission in its educational process. The university values dignity, respect,

inclusiveness, tolerance, and ethical leadership qualities consistent with social work values.

The mission of the MSW Program is consistent with the social work profession’s purpose and values and the program’s context. Through graduate social work education, students prepare to become competent and effective professionals and leaders in policy, research, and practice. This educational process is grounded in the profession’s history and purpose and is based on a body of knowledge, values, and skills. Goals of the MSW Program

The MSW Program goals are derived from the mission of the department and supported throughout the efforts of the department. The goals are incorporated as objectives in the syllabi of the social work courses and in the expressed competencies and practice behaviors assessed in field education. The goals form the basis for the design of the curriculum and are discussed in both classroom and field experiences.

The MSW Program has three goals, each of which relates to the competencies that will be assessed in relation to that goal. The goals reflect the MSW Program’s commitment to its mission and to the mission of the University.

1. To prepare advanced practitioners to practice with an emphasis on human rights and social justice, in order to enhance the quality of life for all people;

2. To prepare advanced practitioners to contribute to the social work profession through leadership, administration, and supervision; and

3. To prepare advanced practitioners with competence to address human needs both locally and globally.

These goals are accomplished through a course of study consisting of a foundation curriculum required of all students, followed by an advanced curriculum. The MSW Program ensures students have the

knowledge, values, and skills required to move into advanced social work practice and incorporates the core competencies specific to the concentration of advanced generalist. The curriculum is developed in a structured manner building on the foundation content and moving into more advanced practice content. The MSW Program emphasizes that advanced generalist social workers have a common base of social work knowledge, values, and skills and to move into positions of leadership and promoting human rights and social and economic justice. The advanced generalist requires professional judgment and proficiency to apply the professional foundation within service systems of various sizes and types.

The MSW Program is in the process of becoming accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE). A copy of the CSWE Educational Policy and Accreditation Standards for Master’s Degree Programs

in Social Work is included in this Handbook.

Foundation Curriculum

The foundation curriculum provides students with the basic knowledge, skills and values necessary for generalist social work practice and for progression into advanced generalist work. In order to achieve its objective, the foundation curriculum provides instruction in values and ethics; diversity; populations-at- risk and social and economic justice; human behavior and the social environment; social work practice; research; and field education.

In their field placement, students are placed in social service agencies under the supervision of Masters- level social workers, where they learn generalist practice methods used with a variety of client systems. Students complete 400 hours in the foundation field placement, with approximately two full days each week (16 hours) spent in the placement.

The foundation curriculum will provide students with the knowledge and skills consistent with the values of a generalist social work perspective, and provide a foundation for advanced practice. In addition, the student's knowledge of and identification with the social work profession is developed: knowing about and appreciating social work's historical development and evolution, the range of modes of professional

intervention characteristic of contemporary practice, ethical issues and concerns now confronting practitioners, and the organizational contexts of practice.

Foundation Curriculum Courses MSW Foundation (full time) Fall

SOWO 61803- Professional Foundation SOWO 61873-Micro Practice

SOWO 61843- HBSE I SOWO 61843-Research I SOWO 61883-Field I

Spring

SOWO 61863-Social Welfare Policies & Services SOWO 61833-Macro Practice

SOWO 61853-HBSE II

SOWO 63553-Diversity & Social Justice SOWO 61893-Field II

MSW Foundation Year 1 (part-time) Fall

SOWO 61803- Professional Foundation SOWO 61873-Micro Practice

Spring

SOWO 61863-Social Welfare Policies & Services SOWO 61833-Macro Practice

Summer

SOWO 61883-Field I

MSW Foundation- Year 2 (part-time) Fall

SOWO 61843- HBSE I SOWO 61843-Research I

Spring

SOWO 61853-HBSE II

SOWO 63553-Diversity & Social Justice Summer

SOWO 61893-Field II Course Descriptions

SOWO 61803 Professional Foundation - Introduces students to the profession of social work. The history

The course includes an overview of the knowledge, values, and skills that form the foundation of social work practice.

SOWO 61873 Micro Practice - Student examines the helping process, including theories of practice,

engagement, assessment, planning, intervention, evaluation, and termination. Emphasis is placed on the acquisition of social work skills to be used throughout the helping process.

SOWO 61843 Human Behavior and the Social Environment (HBSE) I- Provides students with a foundation of

knowledge regarding theories, mechanisms, and principles of human development and functioning. As the first section of a two-part class, HBSE I focuses on life-stages beginning with conception and ending with adolescence.

SOWO 61813 Research Methods in Social Work I- Introduces students to the scientific method as a form of

knowledge development and helps students understand how science is used to understand and address social problems and evaluate social work practice.

SOWO 61883 Field Education I - Foundation level supervised field learning within a social work agency

provides the student an opportunity to learn the structure, function, and policies of social work agencies. Students also attend a weekly university-based seminar that integrates classroom and field learning. Through experiences in the agency and field seminar, the students gain a sense of professional identity and applies social work knowledge to the development of skills in human service delivery.

SOWO 61863 Social Welfare Policies and Services – Addresses the historical development of social welfare

policies and services to meet needs including the process of policy development and implementation. Students discuss and analyze social welfare issues including their political implications and causative factors, and steps necessary to change or impact policy.

SOWO 61833 Macro Practice – Students learn the practice aspect of social work concerned with the

organization, planning and administration of social work services (as distinguished from provision of services directly to clients), as well as with the analysis and evaluation of policy and practice within the profession.

SOWO 61853 Human Behavior and the Social Environment II - Provides students with a foundation of

knowledge regarding theories, mechanisms, and principles of human development and functioning. As the second section of a two-part class, HBSE II focuses on life-stages beginning with young adulthood through late adulthood.

SOWO 61823 Diversity & Social Justice - Students examine what it means to be culturally competent in

practice and learn about diverse cultures, family structure, roles, immigration and assimilation experiences of marginalized groups, and about the influence of dominant culture on these diverse and marginalized groups.

SOWO 61893 Field Education II- This course is a continuation of SOWO 61883 Field Education I.

Foundation level supervised field learning within a social work agency provides the student an opportunity to learn the structure, function, and policies of social work agencies. Students also attend a weekly

university-based seminar that helps students integrate classroom and field learning. Through experiences in the agency and field seminar, the student gains a sense of professional identity and applies social work knowledge to the development of skills in human service delivery.

The advanced curriculum builds on the foundation curriculum and has an advanced generalist focus with the expectation that graduates can assume practice, supervisory, and administrative roles in organizations at the advanced level. The advanced curriculum is also structured to allow students to choose electives in the areas of children and families, and health and mental health.

All students complete a full year of advanced practice courses, as well as one course each in administration and management, policy analysis, and research. In addition to these required courses, the advanced curriculum provides for students to take three electives which will enhance their knowledge and skills in one area of specialization, either children and families, or health and mental health.

The advanced field education courses allow students to apply their knowledge and skills to one area of specialization noted above through placement in an agency that reflects the specialization of the student's choice. In their field placement, students are placed in social service agencies under the supervision of Masters-level social workers, where they learn advanced practice methods used with client systems of interest to the student. Students complete 500 hours in the advanced field placement, with approximately two to three full days each week (20-24 hours) spent in the placement.

Advanced Curriculum Courses

The MSW advanced curriculum chart below serves as a guide for both traditional 60-hour students as well as advanced standing students who are entering the program after completion of an accredited BSW program. Traditional full-time students will complete the advanced curriculum in their second year of the program and part-time students will complete the advanced curriculum in years three and four of the program. Full-time advanced standing students will complete the advanced curriculum in year one of the program and part-time advanced standing students will complete the advanced curriculum in years one and two of the program.

MSW Advanced (full-time) Fall

SOWO 65863-Policy Analysis

SOWO 65873-Advanced Micro Practice SOWO 65813-Research II

SOWO 65883Field III Elective

Spring

SOWO 65833-Advanced Macro Practice SOWO 65803-Administration & Management SOWO 65893Field IV

Elective Elective MSW Advanced- Year 3 (part-time)

Fall

SOWO 65863-Policy Analysis

SOWO 65873-Advanced Micro Practice

Spring

SOWO 65833-Advanced Macro Practice SOWO 65803-Administration & Management Summer

SOWO 65883Field III

MSW Advanced- Year 4 (part-time) Fall SOWO 65813-Research II Elective Spring Elective Elective Summer SOWO 65893Field IV

SOWO 65863 Policy Analysis - Techniques for analyzing social welfare policy in order to impact services that

affect clients and society at large including strengths and weaknesses of current government interventions are learned. Concepts and theories of social welfare policy are examined with emphasis is on analyzing values and beliefs underlying policy, and their impact on the lives of clients. Policies and programs are examined within the context of the social problems they address.

SOWO 65873 Advanced Micro Practice - This course builds on the generalist perspective and focuses on

relating a range of intervention theories to various client populations relevant to students’ work concerns. Theoretical underpinnings for various approaches are explored.

SOWO 65813 Research Methods in Social Work II - Advanced course in the application of research principles

and techniques. It builds on previous research coursework and has students apply qualitative and

quantitative research methods and commonly used statistical procedures to the evaluation of social work interventions.

SOWO 65883 Field Education III - Advanced field education helps to extend and deepen the development of

social work knowledge and practice skills with clients. Supervised by experienced social workers, students gain autonomy and independence in working in agency settings. Students develop leadership skills, particularly in the areas of social work with children and families and in health and mental health settings. Students also attend a weekly university-based seminar that integrates classroom and field learning.

SOWO 65833 Advanced Macro Practice – This course builds on the generalist perspective and addresses

advanced aspects of understanding organizations, planning and administration of social work services, and analysis and evaluation of policy and practice within the profession.

SOWO 65803 Administration and Management - This is an advanced methods course in social

administration/management covering topics in planning, supervision, performance appraisal, budgeting, and organizational theory. This course prepares students to assume leadership roles in human service organizations and social change systems.

SOWO 65893 Field Education IV - In this final field education course, students continue to extend and

deepen their development of social work knowledge and practice skills with clients. Supervised by experienced social workers, students gain autonomy and independence in working in agency settings. Students develop leadership skills, particularly in the areas of social work with children and families and in health and mental health settings. Students also attend a weekly university-based seminar that helps students integrate classroom and field learning

Approved Electives

SOWO 63503: Treatment of Addictions - Through this course, students will examine the various theories and

methods of the treatment of compulsive behaviors and addictions. Students will learn to engage, assess, intervene, and evaluate with various client populations that are impacted by compulsive behavior and addictions.

SOWO 63513 Social Work and the Law - This course introduces students to law and legal systems, legal

issues for professionals, laws relating to specific social problems and vulnerable populations, and legal issues for practice.

SOWO 63523 Advanced Family Treatment - This course builds on the content from previous practice classes;

client groups. This content includes engaging clients in an appropriate working relationship, identifying issues, problems, needs, resources, and assets; collecting and assessing information; and planning for service delivery.

SOWO 63533 Global Poverty, Inequality, and Social Justice - This course explores questions of contemporary

global poverty, economic and social inequality, social injustice, and environmental degradation. The course perspective includes Western and non-western interpretations of poverty, inequality, and social injustice to ensure that students evaluate a diverse set of theories and understandings about these social problems.

SOWO 63543 Psychopathology - Through this course students learn about major forms of emotional distress

and mental disorders in children, youth, and adults. The course provides an introduction to clinical syndromes in terms of diagnostic methodology, research and social concerns and their implications for at risk groups.

SOWO 63553 Medical Social Work - This course is designed to expose students to some of the various

practice settings under the umbrella of medical social work. This course builds on the generalist practice classes and provides students an opportunity to enrich their knowledge, understanding, and skills working with medical professionals and in medical environments.

SOWO 63563 Comparative Social Policy and Social Service Delivery - Students will study and compare

complex issues that affect social and economic justice through social policy and social service delivery. Students will gain an understanding of global problems such as poverty, homelessness, hunger, and health care, and how each country responds through policy and service delivery.

SOWO 63573 Child Welfare - This course examines the dynamics of child abuse and neglect, the current

state of child welfare services, and issues in practice and intervention with children and their families.

SOWO 63583 Program Development, Grant Writing, and Fundraising - This course provides students with

the knowledge and skills to plan and design agency programs and write grants and proposals to secure funding for agency initiatives. Emphasis is on identifying and using evidence based practice strategies in program development to ensure that clients receive the most effective services.

SOWO 63593 Crisis Intervention - Through this course, students gain the knowledge and skills needed to

assess, engage, and intervene in crisis situations. Students learn how to respond to crisis with diverse clients in a variety of situations and settings.

III. ACADEMICPOLICIES&PROCEDURES

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Academic advising is an intentional process that involves a collaborative partnership between the student and the academic advisor. Successful advising is a shared responsibility that will equip students with knowledge and tools to make responsible decisions and to enable them to identify and achieve their educational and career goals (TCU Student Handbook, p.19).

Each student is assigned an academic advisor upon upon admission into the program. Advisors are Social Work faculty and are responsible for overseeing student degree plans and being accessible to students regarding job opportunities, doctoral education, and professionalism. The Department chair has primary responsibility for overall accountability of advising. Each student is expected to meet with their academic advisor prior to the beginning of each semester. It is expected that advising will be more in-depth in the advanced year when determining which electives and field placements will best advance the student’s career goals and aspirations upon graduation.

Any student who is assigned a grade of I (incomplete), a grade of C or below, or who is placed on academic warning status must contact their assigned advisor before registering for the following semester.

Registration bars are placed on all MSW student records prior to each registration period. Bars will be lifted only if students have satisfied all requirements to date.

For students experiencing difficulties, faculty advisors refer them to appropriate resources inside or outside the university setting. University services most frequently used include the Counseling Center, the Writing Center, the Health Center, and the Center for Academic Services. Social Work faculty members limit their role of advising to those concerns relevant to the educational needs of students. When students require or request ongoing professional counseling, faculty refer them to appropriate resources, both on and off campus.

The Director of Field Education may also serve in an advisory function to students as they work to

determine which field placement locations best fit their educational and professional goals. The Director of Field Education will also work individually with each student entering their final field placement to ensure that the field placement process, including preparing a professional statement and resume, is successful.

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MSW Students

If a student’s overall grade-point average falls below 2.75, the student is placed on academic warning status. While in warning status, the student may not drop any course or withdraw from the University without the approval of their academic advisor, MSW program director and Department Chair. In the next semester in which the student enrolls, the overall grade-point average must be raised to 2.75 or the student is dismissed from further study.

Certain circumstances make it possible for a student to be dismissed from continuation in the MSW