UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA
SCHOOL OF SOCIAL WORK
Master of Social Work Program
Information Packet
Thank you for your interest in our Master of Social Work Program. As the USF Graduate Catalog indicates, our program is a specialized course of study designed to prepare graduates for clinical practice with individuals, families and groups in agency or organization-based community practice settings. The program is designed to produce graduates who exhibit professional standards, values, and ethics in the practice of social work; who demonstrate a respect for human beings and a commitment to the capacity for growth and change in people; and who demonstrate the application of professional social work principles through professional discipline and self-awareness in the service of all clients. Graduates will be able to engage in a range of practice methodologies appropriate for treatment of individual and family problems and in work with groups.
Program Description
The graduate program in social work is a course of study designed to respond to an identified need in the region for skilled clinical social work practitioners. It is built upon a core of information basic to social work practice, followed by advanced scholarly study in preparation for clinical work with individuals, families, and small groups. An intense field practicum affords the student the opportunity to apply theory gained in the classroom to the problems of agency clients. The MSW program is fully accredited by the Council on Social Work Education.
Program Options
The MSW program is offered as either a full-time or part-time program.
Full-time plan: offered over four semesters (Fall, Spring, Fall, and Spring). Electives are offered during the Summer.
The field practicum requirements are completed during semester one through four.
Part-time plan: offered over eight consecutive semesters. At this time, the three-year plan is being offered on an alternative cycle (contact school for start dates). The field practicum requirements are completed during semesters two through eight.
Advanced standing (full-time): offered in the Spring and Summer semester for 3 semesters (Spring, Fall, and Spring). Electives can be taken during the Summer semester. Applicants who have graduated from an accredited BSW program within the last 5 years may be eligible to apply for advanced standing status.
Advanced standing (part-time): admitted in the fourth semester of the part-time program.
Admission decisions for the two-year plan are made each Spring for classes beginning in the Fall semester. The same decisions for the part-time students are made in the six-month period prior to the beginning of the next class.
Program Requirements
MSW Program
MSW program for students with a bachelor’s or other master’s degree consists of 60 semester hours of study, as follows: (see attached course schedule)
17 hours of foundation courses
24 hours of advanced courses
13 hours of supervised field instruction
6 hours of elective work
MSW Advanced Standing Program
The program offers recent graduates from an accredited BSW program (within the last 5 years) the option of applying for advanced standing which provides for entry into graduate study under different standards than students entering with other degrees. This difference reflects recognition of the professional
foundations content provided in an accredited BSW program. Students who qualify by receiving a “B” or better in an undergraduate social work course can be waived out of 17 hours of foundations content, thus completing the degree with 38 hours of course credit hours. The course of study for the MSW 48 semester hour advanced standing program consists of: (see attached course schedule)
24 hours of advanced courses
8 hours of supervised field instruction
6 hours of elective work
The Master of Social Work program is a rigorous, two or three year course of study. Students are encouraged to devote sufficient time to their studies. All students receive a comprehensive evaluation by faculty at the end of the first semester.
Field Instruction
Field instruction in social work education is a specially designed learning experience, not intended as a mechanism to accrue on-the-job training. Students currently employed in a social agency may not complete their field placements in their current jobs except with the consent of the MSW Field Placement Coordinator. In this case, a special contract is drawn up between the School and the agency to define and protect the learning process for the student-employee. Students should be aware that most field practicums occur Monday-Friday during normal business hours. Therefore, students should make arrangements to accommodate fieldpracticums
Electives
All social work students must take two electives (six hours total) during their coursework at the School of Social Work. Several elective courses are offered by the School each semester and during the summer.
Electives taken in another department must be pre-approved by the Chair of the Graduate Program
Note: Since the curriculum is heavily sequenced with required courses, students are cautioned that withdrawal from any one course is tantamount to withdrawal from the MSW program. In this event, a student must re-apply for admission to the program at the time the program is offered again.
MSW/MPH Dual Degree
The MSW/MPH program is a collaborative effort between the School of Social Work and College of Public Health. Interested students should contact the School of Social Work for more details. Admissions to each program are conducted independently. Students must gain admissions to either the School of Social Work or the College of Public Health, then submit the dual degree application to the other program.
MSW Program(s)
Full-Time Advanced Standing : (Total Hours=48)
Full-Time Non-Advanced Standing : (Total Hours=60)
*
Electives scheduled by student preference and class availability may be taken during summer (Yr 1) Sem 1SOW 6105 (3) Foundations in Human Behavior
SOW 6235 (3) Foundations of Social Welfare and Policy
SOW 6305 (3) Foundations of Social Work Micro Practice
SOW 6348 (3) Diversity and Social Justice
SOW 6186 (2) Foundations of Social Work Macro Practice
SOW 6534 (1)
(Yr 1) Sem 2 SOW 6124 (3) Psychopathology
SOW 6342 (3) Social Work Practice with Individuals
SOW 6405 (3) Foundations of Social Work Research &
Statistics
SOW 6535 (4) Field Instruction II
Clinical Elective (3)*
(Yr 2) Sem 1 SOW 6236 (3) Social Welfare Policy Development and Analysis
SOW 6362 (3)
Social Work Practice with Couples and Families
SOW 6438 (3) Evaluations of Clinical Practice in Diverse Settings
SOW 6536 (4) Field Instruction III
Clinical Elective (3) *
(Yr 2) Sem 2 SOW 6126 (2) Health, Illness, and Disability
SOW 6368 (3)
Social Work Practice with Groups
SOW 6375 (3) Advanced Social Work Macro Practice
SOW 6539 (4) Field Instruction IV
SOW 8907 (1) Capstone Project (Yr 1) Sem
1
Foundation courses waived (17)
(Yr 1) Sem. 2 SOW 6124 (3) Psychopathology
SOW 6342 (3) Social Work Practice with Individuals
Elective (3) Elective (3)
(Yr 2) Sem. 1 SOW 6236 (3) Social Welfare Policy Development and Analysis
SOW 6362 (3)
Social Work Practice with Couples and Families
SOW 6438 (3) Evaluations of Clinical Practice in Diverse Settings
SOW 6536 (4) Field Instruction III
(Yr 2) Sem.2 SOW 6126 (2) Health, Illness, and Disability
SOW 6368 (3)
Social Work Practice with Groups
SOW 6375 (3) Advanced Social Work Macro Practice
SOW 6539 (4) Field Instruction IV
SOW 8907 (1) Capstone Project Social Work
Electives are available during the summer Summer Electives
Summer Electives Social Work Electives are available during the summer
*All students are required to take 6 credit hours of electives .Electives scheduled by student preference and class
availability may be taken during summer semester to lighten course load in fall and spring semesters.
Part-Time Course Schedule : (Total Hours=60; AS=48)
Sem 1 Sem 2 Sem 3 Sem 4 Sem 5
SOW 6105 (3)
Found of Hum
Behavior
SOW 6305 (3)
Found of Social
Work Micro
Practice
SOW 6348 (3)
Diversity and
Social Justice
SOW 6186 (2)
Foundations of
Social Work
Macro Practice
SOW 6235 (3)
Found of Social Welfare and PolicySOW 6534 (1)
Field Instruction I
SOW 6342 (3)
Social Work
Practice with
Individuals
SOW 6405 (3)
Fundamentals of Social Work Research &Statistics
SOW 6553 (2)
Field InstructionADVANCED STANDING ENTER HERE
SOW 6124 (3)
Psychopathology
SOW 6342 (3)
Social Work
Practice with
Individuals
(AS ONLY)
SOW 6438 (3)
Evaluation of Clinical Practice in Diverse SettingsSOW 6554 (2)
Field InstructionSOW 6236 (3)
Social Welfare Policy Development and AnalysisSOW 6362 (3)
Social Work Practice with Couples and FamiliesSOW 6555 (2)
Field InstructionSem 6 Sem 7 Sem 8
SOW 6368 (3)
Social Work
Practice with
Groups
Sow 6556 (2)
Field InstructionElectives
SOW 6126 (2)
Health, Illness,
and Disability
SOW 6557 (2)
Field InstructionElectives
SOW 6375 (3)
Advanced Social Work Macro PracticeSOW 8907 (1) Capstone Project
SOW 6558 (2)
Field InstructionElective (3)
*All students are required to take 6 hours of electives.
(180 clock hours per semester or 12 hours per week)
The highlighted courses are waived for advanced standing students.
Part-Time Field Program Field Internship
Part-time students should carefully examine the challenges of combining the MSW program with a job and personal responsibilities. Courses are offered on week nights and the field seminars may be offered on Saturdays. Field practicum opportunities are rarely available evenings and weekends so that students must be prepared to complete internship requirements during normal working hours.
Admissions
If you wish to apply for admission to our program, please follow the guidelines outlined below. You will note that some materials are to be sent to the USF Graduate School, and some materials should be sent to the School of Social Work.
All applicants must meet the pre-requisites of an undergraduate Liberal Arts background as defined in the Procedures and Criteria for Admission portion of this application. Gaining admission to the MSW program is a competitive process. Applicants who meet the minimum criteria will not necessarily be accepted into the program due to space limitations. The minimum criteria are:
An applicant must have one of the following:
1. A bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited institution and satisfying at least one of the following
criteria:
o
"B" average or better in all work attempted while registered as an undergraduate student working
for a degree, or
o
"B" average or better in all work attempted while registered as an upper division undergraduate
student working for a baccalaureate degree.
2. A bachelor's degree with a "B" average or better from a regionally accredited institution and a previous
graduate degree with a "B" average or better from a regionally accredited institution.
3. The equivalent bachelors and/or graduate degrees from a foreign institution.
NOTE: "B" average is equivalent to a 3.0 GPA
The MSW program does not grant social work course credit for life or previous work experience.
SOW policy regarding the TOEFL (The Test of English as a Foreign Language) passing score is the same
as the USF Graduate School..
If you should have any further questions, please call the School at (813) 974-2063 and ask to speak to the Chair of the Graduate Admissions Committee.
Deadlines
Spring Semester- October 15th
Fall and Summer Semester- February 15th
Graduate Assistantships
Academically strong students with a GPA over 3.5 are encouraged to apply for a competitive Graduate Assistantship. These assistantships provide for up to 12 graduate hours of tuition and guarantee students 10 hours of employment with a Social work professor per week for two semesters. Students will work closely with their assigned Professor on course preparation and research projects. Once students have been accepted into the MSW program, they will be sent a GA application. The Graduate Assistantships are highly selective and GA applications are due by June 1st. Students will be notified after June 15th. This only applies to Fall applicants.
Procedures & Criteria for Admission
Applicants are required to apply to both the USF School of Social Work and the USF Graduate School. The procedures and required materials are outlined below.
USF Graduate Admissions Application
The USF Graduate Admissions application is available online. Consult the USF Graduate School Website and Graduate Admissions link.
Applicants must also submit:
Official transcripts of all undergraduate & graduate coursework attempted and/or completed
GRE scores are not required for application to the program, but if students wish to include their GRE scores (test taken within [5] years preceding application) they can be forwarded by Educational Testing Service to the Graduate Admissions Office. Information about the GRE test, test dates, and applications may be secured from the Continuing Education Testing Services, SVC2060,
(www.outreach.usf.edu/conted/testing) or directly from the Educational Testing Service, CN 6000, Princeton, NJ 08541-6000.
Send to: USF Office of Graduate Admissions 4202 E Fowler Ave., SVC 1036
Tampa, Fl. 33620-2910 School of Social Work Application (see attached)
Send to: USF School of Social Work c/o MSW Admissions Chair
13301 Bruce B. Downs Blvd., MHC 1400 Tampa, Fl. 33612
Three reference forms (see application form) These references should be completed by the
applicant’s current and previous professors and supervisors in social service positions. NOTE: The School of Social Work Recommendation Form must be provided to each person from whom the applicant is soliciting a reference (see pages 11-16 for copies of form). Please do not submit personal references.
You may also submit a “Request for Recommendation” form to those you are requesting references from. You can find the form at this link:
http://socialwork.cbcs.usf.edu/_assets/docs/LoR.pdf
Essay’s
o
Essay 1 should be approximately 500 words, typed, double-spaced, and must be submitted with the School of Social Work’s application. Please include: how your life experiences, including those relating to human diversity, have led you to an interest in the Social Work field; your reasons and readiness for pursuing a graduate degree; and an assessment of your strengths and weaknesses. In addition, you should describe any experiences that you have had either voluntary or paid, in working with people.o Essay 2 should be approximately 500 words, typed, double-spaced, and must describe a national or global social problem. Assuming you have the power and resources at your disposal, what would you recommend for intervention and/or social change to address the social problem? Be sure to support your ideas.
Student Resume.
Applicants for Advanced Standing status should submit a copy of their undergraduate field practicum evaluation.
A personal interview with members of the faculty may be part of the admissions process. This interview will cover all matters relevant to the candidate’s qualifications. Arrangements may be
made for the interview to be held elsewhere when traveling distance poses a hardship for the applicant.
Early submission is strongly recommended. All credentials must be received by the Graduate Admissions Office prior to the deadline for applications to the Master of Social Work program.
Admissions Criteria:
See USF Graduate Catalog for University Admissions Criteria Additional Admissions Requirements:
It is preferred, but not required that all applicants to the Master’s Degree program in Social Work have completed one year of post undergraduate work in a social service agency (in a service
capacity) or its equivalent as determined by the MSW Graduate Admissions Committee. Experiences that might be considered as equivalent to one year’s work include supervised field practicum hours, extensive volunteer experience, or other professional work experiences.
All MSW applicants will have their undergraduate transcripts evaluated in relation to a set of liberal arts
course pre-requisites. Please review your undergraduate courses in advance to determine whether you
have met the criteria. All applicants must attain a liberal arts background, which we define as the
following course work:
6 hours English
6 hours Math
6 hours Sciences
3 hours Humanities
3 hours Social Sciences
With the exception of the human biology content, applicants graduating from an A.A. degree program in
a Florida state community college or holding a baccalaureate degree from a Florida state
university/college usually will meet these liberal arts requirements. However, any applicant may be
advised as to an appropriate course of action if found deficient in any liberal arts requirement as a pre-
condition for admission.
However, any applicant may be advised as to an appropriate course of action if found deficient in any
liberal arts requirement as a pre-condition for admission. For example, applicants accepted in the MSW
program but lacking content in human biology will be required to take a course on human biology or its
equivalent, i.e., Foods and Drugs; Human Sexuality; or Sex, Reproduction and Population prior to
graduation.
All Admission materials must be received by the Graduate Admissions Office and by the School of Social Work by the specified deadlines of the year for which admission is being sought. (Please see page 5 for deadlines dates.)
