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The »¨½·Ö±²¥ Master of Social Work Program educates students in a variety of both generalist and specialized social work practice methods and skills that contribute to the wellbeing of our global society. The program prepares social workers who are rooted in professional values and ethics and are equipped for future leadership and successful careers in the field of social work. The MSW is a 60-credit hour program designed to prepare students for a multitude of professional practice positions, particularly in clinical health care, mental health, and forensic social work systems of care. The program is cohort-based and builds on the University of »¨½·Ö±²¥â€™s core values of community, respect, justice and excellence. 

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Program Options

• MSW, Full-time, 60 credits, completed in two years
• MSW, Part-time, 60 credits, completed in three years
• MSW, Full-time with Advanced Standing, 30 credits, completed in one year (3 semesters)
• MSW, Part-time with Advanced Standing, 30 credits, competed in two years (6 semesters)

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Plan of Study

• 14 courses for a total of 42 credits and a capstone project (3 credits), totaling 45 credits
• Field Practica (9-15 credits based on standing)
• Total Program: 60 credits (30 for Advanced Standing)
• Program includes both synchronous and asynchronous courses

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Course Descriptions

SW 601 Orientation Seminar (3)

The course prepares first semester students for success in the online program. Students will explore the principles of the USM social work program and learn how to use USM resources, engage in technology preparation for courses, have instruction on APA citation method, learn how advising works, and complete certification in human subjects research.

 

SW 603 Human Rights, Social, Economic, and Racial Justice (HR-SERJ) (3)

Students will explore the local and global interconnections of oppression, theories of justice, and strategies to promote human and civil rights. The course will take into account how social and economic justice practices can be applied to organizations, institutions, and society to ensure that basic human rights are distributed equitably and without prejudice. Exploration of personal values and attitudes regarding diverse groups will be encouraged, including race; gender; religion; and lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender issues.

 

SW 605 Human Behavior in the Social Environment (HBSE) (3)

Students explore human development and behavior in the context of the person-in-environment perspective and human diversity. The course is an overview of theoretical perspectives applied to understanding the bio-psycho-social development of the person from infancy to old age within context of diverse family, group, community, organizational, and cultural systems.

 

SW 610 Generalist Practice with Individuals (3)

Students learn and practice the values, knowledge, and skills of interviewing; the data gathering necessary for effective, evidence-based treatment planning; goal setting; and problem solving. Students practice assessment, learn to develop detailed intervention plans, and write contracts. The student will learn how to evaluate the effectiveness of the interventions, revise the plan, and how and when to terminate with the client..

 

SW 612 Generalist Practice with Families and Groups (3)

Students learn and put into practice the values, knowledge, and skills of forming both treatment and task groups with all segments of society. Students learn to assess group dynamics and develop interventions, which may include individual, group, family, and community change. Students learn to evaluate change within group members, in the group, and in the larger environment. Students will learn to evaluate the implementation of the plan, modify interventions as needed, and terminate when appropriate. Group skills with diverse populations are interwoven throughout the

 

SW 614 Generalist Practice with Communities and Organizations (3)

Students learn the values, skills, and knowledge required for practice within organizations and communities. Students will conduct community needs assessments, assess nonprofit organizations, and help organizations and communities develop strategic plans for change, including implementation, monitoring and evaluation. Students learn to identify and work effectively with the political forces within organizations and communities.

 

SW 618 Social Welfare Policy and Services (3)

Students will learn the processes involved in the development of public policy, and how those decisions affect issues of social justice, service delivery, and client consumption of services. Students will learn the current structures of social policies, and how to analyze, formulate, and advocate for policies that advance equality and social well-being.

 

SW 630 Spiritual Diversity in Social Work Practice (3)

This elective course provides a specialized framework of the knowledge, values, and skills essential to spirituality in social work practice. The course surveys the ethical use of spirituality as part of the person-in-environment and strengths-based approach to social work practice. It explores spiritual diversity and integrates evidenced-based practices of spiritual social work into the helping process.
 

SW 700 Foundation Practicum Seminar (1)

This weekly seminar class in field instruction runs concurrently with SW 702 Foundation Practicum Internship. Field instruction gives students the opportunity to integrate classroom theory and social work practice. This course provides instruction in the social work practice competencies along a variety of social work methods with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities.

 

SW 702 Foundation Practicum Internship (375 hours) (5)

The Field Practicum is an integral part of the social work curriculum. Field practicum provides an educationally-directed, coordinated, and monitored field experience for students. Students engage in supervised, direct practice activities to build on knowledge and skills and apply theory from all foundation areas. This course requires 375 hours in the practicum setting.

 

SW 710 Mental Health & Substance Abuse (3)

The course covers the relationship between mental health and mental illness, risk and resilience, bio-psycho-social-spiritual assessment, a strengths-based assessment process, a critical use of DSM-5, and major types of mental illness and their evidence-supported treatments. Students will understand alcohol and drug abuse from biological, sociological, psychological, and cultural perspectives, and examine the causes and consequences of alcohol-drug abuse, diagnostic issues, intervention, treatment, aftercare, and prevention, as well as their own personal values and attitudes toward alcohol/drug use. The impact of alcohol/drug abuse on families, special groups (e.g., women, elderly, minority populations), and the larger societal context will be addressed. Students will also be introduced to psychotropic medications, their therapeutic uses, side effects, and potential risk.

 

SW 712 Trauma Informed Care (3)

Trauma is broadly defined, and includes children, families, and communities exposed to traumatic events including, but not limited to, natural disasters, war, abuse and neglect, medical trauma, witnessing interpersonal crime (e.g., domestic violence), and institutional racism. The course will highlight trauma-specific treatment planning and intervention, and assess the capacity of the community to facilitate restorative processes.

 

SW 714 Integrated Health Care Social Work Practice (3)

This course provides an overview of the knowledge, skills and theory of integrated health care social work practice, where physical and behavioral health services are most often provided in a primary care medical environment. The course prepares a student for a commitment in an interprofessional care setting, including an examination of their effectiveness as a member of the collaborative care team. Strategies and skills in patient engagement and advocacy will be taught through case studies and group activities. Cultural competency and effective care planning in a healthcare environment will be emphasized.

 

SW 716 Crisis Intervention-Disaster Response (3)

This course explores methods and models for dealing with people experiencing a life crisis. This course will examine various types of crisis experiences and apply crisis intervention methods to their resolution. Responding to disasters, such as natural catastrophes, and interprofessional responses is examined, including appropriate response interventions for social workers. De-escalation practices in responding to crises are included.

 

SW 730 Methods of Research and Assessment (3)

Examines principles and approaches to research design in the behavioral sciences. Models and methods of hypothesis testing, research analysis, and assessment are reviewed. Students develop the skills to evaluate empirical research and design a research project.

 

SW 752 Introduction to Forensic Social Work (3)

This foundational course prepares students for forensic social work. Provides an overview of the nexus of social work practice and the law. Students will gain an understanding of forensic social work theory and practice and the legal issues that contribute to existing social injustices with a variety of populations in practice. The course highlights the intersection of human rights, race, ethnicity, age, poverty, mental health, and substance abuse with forensic social work practice and social justice. Students will be prepared to work effectively in the forensic areas of practice of adult and juvenile criminal justice, family violence, child welfare, mental health.

 

SW 754 Forensic Social Work Practice (3)

This course prepares students for clinical and community forensic social work practice. The course provides an overview of forensic social work roles and functions in a range of settings. Students will learn the forensic social work skills of assessment and intervention with complex, clinical cases that require an understanding of crisis, mental health, cognitive disabilities, substance abuse, violence, and trauma with individuals and families. Further, the course emphasizes the use of evidenced-based practice and community restorative justice principles to assist with community peacemaking and social justice processes in the field of forensic social work. This course stresses observational and experiential learning with the use-of-self and instructor feedback to gain skills in clinical and community social work practice.

 

SW 756 Social Work and the Law (3)

This course focuses on the intersection of social work practice and the law. The course lays foundational knowledge about the legal and judicial systems and integrates ethical knowledge and skill capacity to support forensic social work practice. Forensic social workers encounter social problems that require effective, interdisciplinary collaboration in a variety of legal and judicial settings. Students will learn about conflicting interests of clients and communities and the implications for laws and policies that impact social services. The course emphasizes forensic practice skills and professional, forensic documentation in the legal system.

 

SW 800 Specialization Practicum Seminar (1)

This weekly seminar class in field instruction runs concurrently with  Specialization Practicum Internship. Field instruction gives students the opportunity to integrate classroom theory and social work practice. This course provides instruction in the social work practice competencies along a variety of social work methods and practice skills among specialized populations of practice.

 

SW 802 Specialization Practicum Internship (300 hours) (4)

The Field Practicum is an integral part of the social work curriculum. Field practicum provides an educationally-directed, coordinated, and monitored field experience for students in a direct clinical practice setting. Students engage in supervised, direct clinical practice activities to build on knowledge and skills and apply theory from all foundation areas. This course requires 300 hours in the practicum setting.

 

SW 900 Specialization Practicum Seminar (1)

This weekly seminar class in field instruction runs concurrently with SW 902 Specialization Practicum Internship. Field instruction gives students the opportunity to integrate classroom theory and social work practice. This course provides instruction in the social work practice competencies along a variety of social work and practice skills among specialized populations of practice.

 

SW 902 Specialization Practicum Internship (225 hours) (3)

The Field Practicum is an integral part of the social work curriculum. Field practicum provides an educationally-directed, coordinated, and monitored field experience for students in a direct clinical practice setting. Students engage in supervised, direct clinical practice activities to build on knowledge and skills and apply theory from all foundation areas. This course requires 225 hours in the practicum setting.

 

SW 950 Capstone Project (3)

The Capstone course focuses on the development of the student as a graduating social work professional and ultimately, critically assess and reflect on their whole academic and professional development in the process of creating an emergent professional identity. Options for the Capstone Final Project include: a major research paper focused on professional interest area; or a major project which includes a presentation and a deliverable social work product.