Social Work, Advanced Generalist Social Work Practice Concentration, M.S.W.
Vickie Harden
615-898-2510
Vickie.Harden@mtsu.edu
www.mtsu.edu/socialwork/
The purpose of the Master of Social Work program is to prepare students for advanced generalist social work practice with systems of all types and sizes in both rural and urban areas, to prepare knowledgeable and competent professionals, and to provide leadership in the development of social delivery services, especially public social services. The M.S.W. program is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE).
Please see undergraduate catalog for information regarding undergraduate programs.
Admission Requirements
Candidates must be admitted to the College of Graduate Studies and must also be admitted to the Master of Social Work program. Admission requirements include an earned undergraduate degree with a minimum GPA of 2.75. Applicants interested in obtaining advanced standing must have completed a Bachelor of Social Work degree from a CSWE-accredited program and attained a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 in their undergraduate coursework. Students who hold a baccalaureate degree from a social work program outside the United States must have their transcript reviewed by CSWE for a determination of equivalency.
Application Procedures
All application materials are to be submitted to the College of Graduate Studies.
Admission to the M.S.W. program is limited and granted for Fall entry only. Review of applications for Fall admission begins on February 1 of each year and continues until capacity is reached. Applicants are encouraged to submit all required documents as early as possible.
Applicant must
- submit application with appropriate fee (online at www.mtsu.edu/graduate/apply.php). Once this initial application has been accepted, the applicant will receive directions on how to enter the graduate portal to be able to submit other materials.
- submit official transcripts of all previous college work.
- submit a supplementary application that requires the application form, the student contract, an essay, and three letters of recommendation from professionals who can address the applicant's interest in social work, potential for successfully completing a master's program, and potential for professional social work practice.
Degree Requirements
The Master of Social Work in Social Work with a concentration in Advanced Generalist Social Work Practice requires completion of 60 semester hours for the full program and 30 semester hours for the advanced standing program.
Candidate must complete this non-thesis program with a capstone course culminating in a written comprehensive examination.
Curriculum: Social Work, Advanced Generalist Social Work Practice
The following illustrates the coursework requirements.
Full Program Track (60 hours)
Foundation Courses (27 hours)
SW 6000 - MSW Practice I
3credit hours
Prerequisite: Admission to the M.S.W. program. A social work methods course designed to enable the student to understand and apply social work methods within the context of the generalist perspective with individuals and families.
SW 6010 - Human Behavior and the Social Environment
3credit hours
Prerequisite: Admission to the M.S.W. program. An introduction to the theories and knowledge of the human bio-psycho-social development including theories and knowledge about the range of social systems in which individuals live (families, groups, organizations, agencies, and communities).
SW 6020 - Research I
3credit hours
Prerequisite: Admission to the M.S.W. program. This is a basic research and statistical methods course utilizing research in general inquiry and practice evaluation in social work with the generalist perspective.
SW 6030 - Social Welfare Policy and Services
3credit hours
Prerequisite: Admission to the M.S.W. program. The historical development, philosophical orientation, and analysis of U.S. social welfare policy and services including the global context. online delivery
SW 6100 - MSW Practice II
3credit hours
Prerequisite: SW 6000 and SW 6010. A social work methods course designed to enable the student to understand and apply social work methods within the context of the generalist perspective with groups, agencies, and communities.
SW 6110 - Social Justice and Equity for Multicultural Populations
3credit hours
Prerequisite: SW 6010. An overview of the professional commitment of social work to oppressed peoples. online delivery
SW 6120 - Research II
3credit hours
Prerequisite: SW 6020. An advanced discussion of program evaluation strategies and single-system design issues. The student will conduct a research project.
SW 6130 - Practicum IA
3credit hours
Prerequisites: SW 6000, SW 6010, SW 6020, and SW 6030. May be taken concurrently with SW 6140. A 200-hour field practicum experience within the generalist perspective.
SW 6140 - Practicum IB
3credit hours
Prerequisites: SW 6000, SW 6010, SW 6020, and SW 6030. May be taken concurrently with SW 6130. A 200-hour field practicum experience within the generalist perspective.
Concentration Courses (24 hours)
SW 6200 - Advanced Direct Practice with Individuals
3credit hours
Prerequisites: Practicum IA (SW 6130) and IB (SW 6140) or advanced standing admission. An advanced social work methods course that prepares students for practice with individuals including client assessment, intervention, and evaluation.
SW 6210 - Advanced Practice with Families
3credit hours
Prerequisites: Practicum IA (SW 6130) and IB (SW 6140) or advanced standing admission. Advanced practice with families including client system assessment, intervention, and evaluation.
SW 6220 - Advanced Group Practice
3credit hours
Prerequisites: Practicum IA (SW 6130) and IB (SW 6140) or advanced standing admission. Advanced practice with groups including client system assessment, intervention, and evaluation.
SW 6230 - Advanced Macro Practice
3credit hours
Prerequisites: Practicum IA (SW 6130) and IB (SW 6140) or advanced standing admission. The advanced generalist practice social work course designed to enable the student to understand and apply social work methods at the advanced generalist level.
SW 6240 - Social Policy Analysis
3credit hours
Prerequisites: Practicum IA (SW 6130) and IB (SW 6140) or advanced standing admission. A study of the design, implementation, and analysis of social policies and their impact on social work practice. online delivery
SW 6300 - Empirical Social Work Practice
4credit hours
Prerequisites: Advanced Direct Practice with Individuals (SW 6200) and Advanced Practice with Families (SW 6210), or Advanced Practice with Individuals (SW 6220) Advanced Macro Practice (SW 6230), and Social Policy Analysis (SW 6240). A seminar in the integration of theoretical perspectives and the application of research findings and empirical outcome evaluation techniques to advanced generalist social work practice.
SW 6310 - Practicum IIA
4credit hours
Prerequisites: Advanced Practice with Individuals (SW 6200) and Advanced Practice with Families (SW 6210) or Advanced Group Practice (SW 6220), Advanced Macro Practice (SW 6230), and Social Policy Analysis (SW 6240). May be taken concurrently with Practicum IIB (SW 6320). A 250-hour field practicum experience. Must be taken concurrently with Empirical Social Work Practice (SW 6300).
SW 6320 - Practicum IIB
4credit hours
Prerequisites: If taken concurrently with SW 6130, prerequisites are the same. If not taken concurrently, SW 6310 is the prerequisite. May be taken concurrently with Practicum IIA (SW 6310) and Empirical Social Work Practice (SW 6300).
**Either course meets requirement; the other one may be taken as an elective.
Electives (9 hours)
SW 5000 - Special Topics
3credit hours
Prerequisites: Permission of department. Special topics in social work and social welfare. May be repeated for a maximum of 9 hours. online delivery
SW 6210 - Advanced Practice with Families
3credit hours
Prerequisites: Practicum IA (SW 6130) and IB (SW 6140) or advanced standing admission. Advanced practice with families including client system assessment, intervention, and evaluation.
SW 6220 - Advanced Group Practice
3credit hours
Prerequisites: Practicum IA (SW 6130) and IB (SW 6140) or advanced standing admission. Advanced practice with groups including client system assessment, intervention, and evaluation.
NOTE: Electives include children's mental health, trauma and recovery, neuroscience in social work, grant writing, domestic violence, school social work, child abuse and neglect treatment, community health, evidence-based substance abuse treatment, supervision in social work practice, military social work, child welfare, and aging issues and controversies.
Advanced Standing Track (30 hours)
Concentration Courses (24 hours)
SW 6200 - Advanced Direct Practice with Individuals
3credit hours
Prerequisites: Practicum IA (SW 6130) and IB (SW 6140) or advanced standing admission. An advanced social work methods course that prepares students for practice with individuals including client assessment, intervention, and evaluation.
SW 6210 - Advanced Practice with Families
3credit hours
Prerequisites: Practicum IA (SW 6130) and IB (SW 6140) or advanced standing admission. Advanced practice with families including client system assessment, intervention, and evaluation.
SW 6220 - Advanced Group Practice
3credit hours
Prerequisites: Practicum IA (SW 6130) and IB (SW 6140) or advanced standing admission. Advanced practice with groups including client system assessment, intervention, and evaluation.
SW 6230 - Advanced Macro Practice
3credit hours
Prerequisites: Practicum IA (SW 6130) and IB (SW 6140) or advanced standing admission. The advanced generalist practice social work course designed to enable the student to understand and apply social work methods at the advanced generalist level.
SW 6240 - Social Policy Analysis
3credit hours
Prerequisites: Practicum IA (SW 6130) and IB (SW 6140) or advanced standing admission. A study of the design, implementation, and analysis of social policies and their impact on social work practice. online delivery
SW 6300 - Empirical Social Work Practice
4credit hours
Prerequisites: Advanced Direct Practice with Individuals (SW 6200) and Advanced Practice with Families (SW 6210), or Advanced Practice with Individuals (SW 6220) Advanced Macro Practice (SW 6230), and Social Policy Analysis (SW 6240). A seminar in the integration of theoretical perspectives and the application of research findings and empirical outcome evaluation techniques to advanced generalist social work practice.
SW 6310 - Practicum IIA
4credit hours
Prerequisites: Advanced Practice with Individuals (SW 6200) and Advanced Practice with Families (SW 6210) or Advanced Group Practice (SW 6220), Advanced Macro Practice (SW 6230), and Social Policy Analysis (SW 6240). May be taken concurrently with Practicum IIB (SW 6320). A 250-hour field practicum experience. Must be taken concurrently with Empirical Social Work Practice (SW 6300).
SW 6320 - Practicum IIB
4credit hours
Prerequisites: If taken concurrently with SW 6130, prerequisites are the same. If not taken concurrently, SW 6310 is the prerequisite. May be taken concurrently with Practicum IIA (SW 6310) and Empirical Social Work Practice (SW 6300).
**Either course meets requirement; the other one may be taken as an elective.
Electives (6 hours)
NOTE: Electives include children's mental health, trauma and recovery, neuroscience in social work, grant writing, domestic violence, school social work, child abuse and neglect treatment, community health, evidence-based substance abuse treatment, supervision in social work practice, military social work, child welfare, and aging issues and controversies.
Program Notes
All M.S.W. students will be reviewed for candidacy by the social work faculty prior to beginning their second practicum. Students must obtain a favorable candidacy recommendation to remain in the program.