Click Images for Larger Version
You may download this chapter in a printable .pdf format.
Social Work
College of Behavioral and Social Sciences
Dean: Gayle Hutchinson
School of Social Work
Butte Hall 511
530-898-6204 telephone
530-898-5574 fax
e-mail:
swrk@csuchico.edu
http://www.csuchico.edu/swrk/
Director: Celeste A. Jones
BA Program Director:
MSW Program Director:
Field Education Director:
Title IV-E Training Program Coordinator:
Mental Health Education Program Coordinator:
Interdisciplinary Gerontology Program Coordinator:
Program
The Master of Social Work
Course Requirements for the Master's Degree: 36-61 units
Continuous enrollment is required. A maximum of 9 units of transfer credit may be applied toward the degree.
A minimum of thirty-six units are required for students who have a baccalaureate from social work programs accredited by the Council on Social Work Education and who meet the criteria listed below for admission to the concentration year. A minimum of sixty-one units are required for students who meet the criteria listed below for admission to the two-year program or three-year weekend program.
Graduate Time Limit
All requirements for the degree are to be completed within five years of the end of the semester of enrollment in the oldest course applied toward the degree. See "Graduate Education" in the University Catalog for complete details on general degree requirements.
Field Education Requirement
The Master of Social Work requires a total of 480 hours of practicum during the foundation year, and 720 hours of practicum during the concentration year. Employment-based practica are considered on an individual basis when agencies are able to provide students with a position that is educationally focused and involves tasks other than normal work duties.
Advanced Generalist Concentration with Focus in Mental Health Services or in Families, Children, and Youth Services
The concentration year presents students with a broad-based set of knowledge, skills, and values necessary for multiple levels of advanced social work practice with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities. The major emphases for the concentration year are direct services to individuals, families, and groups; community and organizational practice; policy analysis and practice; and research as practice. Students choose either Mental Health Services or Families, Children, and Youth Services as their focus area for the concentration year. The thesis, project, and electives augment students' expertise in the focus areas.
A. Mental Health Services
The focus in Mental Health Services is designed to prepare students for a career of service to persons with mental disorders. Graduates may be employed in community mental health centers, mental hospitals, regional centers, alcohol and substance abuse programs, and a variety of other social service agencies.
B. Families, Children, and Youth Services
The focus in Families, Children and Youth Services is designed to prepare students for a career of service to at-risk families and children. Graduates may be employed in a variety of settings including family resource agencies, public child welfare agencies, probation departments, adoption agencies, child guidance centers, schools, and a variety of other social service agencies.
Admission Application Procedures
The School of Social Work admits applicants to the MSW program each fall semester for students entering the two-year program, and in the summer for students entering the one-year program. A three-year weekend program is offered only on specified years. See the Social Work Website or call the department office for additional information. In addition to the Office of Graduate Studies procedures (please see the University Catalog, Graduate Education: Application Procedures), the School of Social Work has its own application. The Office of Graduate Studies' application is available online at http://www.CSUMentor.edu; Social Work application material is available online at http://www.csuchico.edu/swrk.
Prerequisites for Admission to Conditionally Classified Status:
Conditionally classified admission may be granted to applicants who have GPAs lower than 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale) for the last 60 units of course work only if they have: 1. submitted a written request with appropriate documentation based on having met at least one of the following criteria: a. completed 12 units of academic postbaccalaureate gradute-level course work with a GPA of 3.0 or higher from an accredited college or university; b. provided outstanding paid or volunteer experience in human service agencies; c. Performed successful grant writing for human service organizations; d. achieved Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores which indicate an ability to do graduate-level work; e. received a baccalaureate-level social work license from any state or territory within the United States; or f. shown significant potential for advanced social work practice. 2. approval by the School of Social Work, MSW Admissions Committee, and the Office of Graduate Studies.
Conditionally classified admission status will change to classified status once students complete 15 units of MSW program courses with a GPA of at least 3.0.
Prerequisites for Admission to Classified Status:
In addition to meeting the requirements stated above, students must have: 1. a GPA of 3.0 or better (on a 4.0 scale) for the last 60 units of academic course work, and 2. approval by the School of Social Work MSW Admissions Committee and the Office of Graduate Studies.
Advancement to Candidacy:
To advance to candidacy, in addition to requirements listed above, students must have: 1. classified graduate standing; 2. completed at least 15 units of the concentration year of the MSW program; 3. passed the graduate literacy requirement; 4. finished all "incomplete" grades in courses included in the MSW program; 5. filed a plan with the School of Social Work regarding completion of a culminating activity (thesis, project, or comprehensive examination); and 6. approval by the MSW Director of the School of Social Work.
Requirements for the Master of Social Work:
For the MSW to be conferred, students must meet the following criteria: 1. completion of all requirements as established by the MSW Director and the Office of Graduate Studies; 2. completion of a culminating activity as specified in "Master's Degree Requirements" in the University Catalog and as approved by the MSW Director. MSW students must submit their plan for this activity before the end of the second week of classes during the fall semester of the concentration year. Options for this activity include a thesis, project, or comprehensive examination; 3. approval by the MSW Director and the Graduate Coordinators on behalf of the faculty of the University.
Requirements for the Two-Year and Three-Year Weekend MSW Programs
Students who do not possess a baccalaureate in social work must complete 31 units of 600-level social work professional foundation courses prior to the 30 units of 600-level social work concentration courses. Twelve hundred hours of field education practicum are required. Requirements for the three-year weekend program are the same as for the two-year program, but the courses are offered in a different sequence. The social work professional foundation courses must be taken in the following sequence:
Foundation Courses (First Year) Fall Semester
| SWRK | 601 | Human Behav & Social Envir I | 3.0 | FA |
| SWRK | 605 | Social Welfare Policy&Services | 3.0 | FA |
| SWRK | 608 | Gen SWRK Theory & Practice I | 3.0 | FA |
| SWRK | 617 | Res Methods - Knowledge & Prac | 4.0 | FA |
| SWRK | 631 | Foundation Practicum I | 3.0 | FA |
Spring Semester
| SWRK | 609 | Gen SWRK Theory & Practice II | 3.0 | SP |
| SWRK | 610 | Gen SWRK Theory & Practice III | 3.0 | SP |
| SWRK | 612 | SWRK Prac in Multicult Contxts | 3.0 | SP |
| SWRK | 632 | Foundation Practicum II | 3.0 | SP |
| SWRK | 644 | Human Behavr/Social Environ II | 3.0 | SP |
Concentration Year Courses (Second Year)
In the concentration year of the program, students have the option of focusing in Mental Health Services or in Families, Children, and Youth Services. These courses must be taken in the following sequence:
Fall Semester
| SWRK | 641 | Adv Prac in Mental Hlth Srvcs | 3.0 | FA |
OR (the following course may be substituted for the above)
| SWRK | 642 | Adv Prac in Fam/Child/Yth Serv | 3.0 | FA |
| SWRK | 643 | Assess of Individuals & Fam | 3.0 | FA |
| SWRK | 648 | Adv Practicum I | 4.0 | FA |
| SWRK | 653 | Research: Prog Eval for SWRK | 3.0 | FA |
Thesis/project/elective (2-3 units).
Spring Semester
| SWRK | 652 | Supervision, Prog Dev, & Admin | 3.0 | SP |
| SWRK | 654 | Soc Pol in Mental Health Serv | 3.0 | SP |
OR (the following course may be substituted for the above)
| SWRK | 655 | Soc Pol Fam/Child/Yth Services | 3.0 | SP |
| SWRK | 656 | Advanced SWRK Macro Practice | 3.0 | SP |
OR (the following course may be substituted for the above)
| SWRK | 681 | Adv Family and Child Treatment | 3.0 | SP |
| SWRK | 658 | Adv Practicum II | 4.0 | SP |
Thesis/project/elective (2-3 units).
Requirements for the Concentration Year Program
Applicants who have completed all social work program requirements and obtained a social work baccalaureate accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) within five years of entry into the program, and who meet the School of Social Work's criteria for entry into the concentration year, must complete 36 units of 600-level social work courses, including a minimum of 720 hours of field practicum. The concentration year includes the 30 units listed above plus two courses (6 units) completed during the summer prior to entering the program. Criteria for acceptance to the concentration year program are 1. qualifies for admission to classified status; 2. has a grade point average (GPA) of 3.3 or higher (on a 4.0 scale) for the last 60 units of course work, and a B or better in all undergraduate social work coures; 3. has completed all courses required in the social work major within five years of entry.
Summer Session
| SWRK | 635 | Foundations of SWRK Practice | 3.0 | SM |
| SWRK | 636 | Foundations of SWRK Research | 3.0 | SM |
Electives
| SWRK | 671 | SWRK Health Care Policy/Prac | 3.0 | FS |
| SWRK | 673 | Trauma and Loss | 3.0 | FS |
| SWRK | 674 | Pol/Prac w/Older Americns/Fams | 3.0 | FS |
| SWRK | 677 | Substance Abuse/SWRK Practices | 3.0 | FS |
| SWRK | 688 | SWRK Practice in Schools | 3.0 | FS |
| SWRK | 697 | Independent Study | 1.0 | -3.0 FS |
Note: SWRK 697 may be taken only with permission of the MSW Director.
Other Approved Graduate Courses Political Science
| POLS | 660A | Seminar: Public Management | 3.0 | FA |
| POLS | 660B | Seminar: Pub Personnel Admin | 3.0 | SP |
| POLS | 660C | Sem: Pub Financial Resources | 3.0 | SP |
| POLS | 663 | Seminar: Health/Human Services | 3.0 | FS |
This course is also offered as HCSV 663.
Psychology
| PSYC | 648 | Career Counseling/Development | 3.0 | Inq |
Special Rules Governing Course Enrollment:
1. Not more than 15 units may be taken before admission to classified status. 2. Not more than 9 units of transfer and/or CSU, Chico extension or Open University credit may be included in the program (correspondence courses and UC extension course work are not acceptable). Acceptance of transfer credit is decided by the MSW Director. 3. Students may enroll in a maximum of 3 units of Independent Study. 4. Not more than 2 units of SWRK 699T (Master's Thesis) or SWRK 699P (Master's Project) may be taken per semester, with no more than 4 units total. 5. After being accepted into the two-year or three-year weekend MSW program, students with a social work baccalaureate degree obtained within the last five years may challenge selected courses from the professional foundation year of the MSW program if they believe they have mastered the objectives and content through previous courses. If successful, students will substitute elective courses in the program to meet the unit requirement for the degree. For detailed information, see "Proficiency Examination Policy" in The MSW Student Handbook. 6. A maximum of 12 units of Credit/No Credit graded course work may be included in the One-Year MSW Program, and a maximum of 18 units of Credit/No Credit graded course work may be included in the Two-Year or the Three-Year Weekend MSW Programs. All program courses must be taken for a letter grade with the exception of the foundation year and concentration year practicums (SWRK 631, SWRK 632, SWRK 648, and SWRK 658) and Master's Thesis or Project (SWRK 699T/SWRK 699P).
Graduate Literacy Requirement:
Writing proficiency is a graduation requirement.
Students in the MSW program will demonstrate their writing competence through successful completion of either SWRK 641, Advanced Practice in Mental Health Services, or SWRK 642, Advanced Practice in Families, Children, and Youth Services during the concentration year of the program.
Graduate Grading Requirements:
All courses included in the MSW program (with the exception of practicum courses and thesis/project) must be taken for a letter grade. While grading standards are determined by individual programs and instructors, it is also the policy of the University that unsatisfactory grades may be given when work fails to reflect achievement of the highest standards, including high writing standards, expected of students pursuing the MSW degree. All social work practice courses must be passed with a minimum grade of B or CR.
Students must maintain a 3.0 grade point average in each of the following three categories: all course work taken at any accredited institution subsequent to admission to the master's program; all course work taken at CSU, Chico subsequent to admission to the program; and all courses on the approved master's degree program.
Graduate Advising Requirement:
Prior to the beginning of classes, students should contact the School of Social Work office with questions regarding the MSW program and their graduate education experience. After the beginning of classes, students should contact their assigned faculty advisor.
Human Subjects in Research:
The use of human subjects in research at CSU, Chico is governed by Executive Memorandum 93-04 and by the policies of the University Human Subjects in Research Committee, which follow the Code of Federal Regulations for the protection of human subjects. If human subjects are part of the research, these regulations and policies must be complied with and proper procedures followed. For a copy of the guidelines and answers to specific questions, see the chair of the Campus Institutional Review Committee in the Office of Graduate Studies.
Standards of Professional Behavior and Conduct:
Refer to the standards in the undergraduate section and the MSW Student Handbook on the Social Work Website at www.csuchico.edu/SWRK/.
Federal TItle IV-E Child Welfare Training Program
The MSW program is a participant in the Federal Title IV-E Child Welfare Training Program. The program provides stipends to students who commit to a minimum of two years of postgraduate employment in public child welfare. Interested students should contact the MSW Director and the Title IV-E Coordinator in the School of Social Work.
Practicum Partnership Program (PPP)
The PPP is an innovative opportunity for second-year (concentration) MSW students interested in gerontology. The practicum provides a rotation model that focuses on working with older adults across multiple settings and service needs. Students attend six specialized seminars/workshops during the year and receive a stipend. Interested students should contact th MSW Director.