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Graduate Announcements > National Catholic School of Social Service > NCSSS Graduate Degree Programs > Master of Social Work Program > MSW Curriculum: Online Program

MSW Curriculum: Online Program

The MSW online curriculum consists of generalist knowledge (thirty credits) and specialized knowledge (thirty credits). In the specialized practice year, the clinical social work specialization is offered. Social work students learn to engage in clinical practice and become eligible to be licensed social workers upon completion of the MSW program.

Specialized Area of Practice

Clinical

The clinical specialization is an area of specialized practice that focuses on advanced practice theory courses with individuals across the life cycle (children, adolescents, adults and families) in the context of family and community. The practice skills emphasized in these courses are rooted in the explanatory concepts of psychodynamic, cognitive, behavioral, and family system theories, that are critiqued and applied within a multicultural context. The intervention skills students are taught are based on evidence-based practice processes and a strengths-perspective. These course requirements, together with ethics, research, and a field practicum focused on specialized practice competencies, form the core of the clinical specialized practice. This core enables students to facilitate change that will promote individual and family well-being. Thus, in addition to the objectives above, clinical specialized practice students will:

1. Apply advanced practice theory to understand the needs of individuals as bio-psycho-social-spiritual beings functioning in a family or family-like structures, as well as the differences between explanatory theories, clinical practice theories, and practice models.

2. Apply advanced clinical skills to facilitate change in individuals as bio-psycho- social spiritual beings, exploring how use of self in clinical practice differs by theory.

3. Integrate the knowledge and skills learned from the academic educational experiences with those of the practicum developing clinical case formulations that incorporate developmental perspectives.

4. Apply the knowledge and skills of research methods to evaluate practice with client systems and program services.

5. Apply professional values and ethical principles to clinical practice.

6. Apply knowledge of the impact of difference and the mechanisms of oppression on populations-at-risk, including use of strategies for promoting social and economic justice within clinical social work practice.

7. Demonstrate awareness of biases, omissions, and cultural limitations of individual theories, particularly related to race, gender, sexuality, religion, and abilities and apply this knowledge in particular in practice with clients who are oppressed and/or marginalized.

Online Program of Study Leading to the MSW Degree

The school offers several options for working toward the MSW degree: the full-time two-year program, the part-time program, and the advanced standing program. All three of these programs can be completed online.

Full-Time Two-Year Program – Online

The full-time structure is a four-semester (two academic years) program, which provides for a sequential learning experience of coursework and concurrent field experience.

Part-Time Programs – Online

The part-time program allows students to complete their MSW degree requirements with flexibility. Students complete coursework in the first and third years, and field placement, integrative field seminar, and practice theory coursework in the second and fourth years. Students in the part-time online clinical program generally complete the program in three and half years if they maintain continuous enrollment. All requirements for the degree must be completed within five years. Most field internships require daytime hours.

Advanced Standing Program – Online

The advanced standing program is individually structured in relation to the courses and credits completed in the social work program at the bachelor's level (see Admissions). All accepted advanced standing students must satisfactorily complete the summer on-line course SSS 680D, Essential Foundations for Advanced Level Social Work Education, in order to continue in the fall semester.

MSW Online Curriculum

The MSW curriculum comprises generalist (foundation) knowledge (30 credits) and advanced knowledge in an area of specialized practice (30 credits). Online, the clinical specialization is offered in the specialized practice year. MSW students may complete the 60-credit MSW program within a minimum of two years and a maximum of five years. During the graduate program, students complete 12 credits of field placement (two placements over four semesters) and 48 credits of coursework.

Full-time students complete the 60-credit MSW program in two academic years. All part-time students must take at least six hours of academic credit per semester. All students must have completed or be concurrently registered for SSS 570D, SSS 571D, SSS 581D, and SSS 605D when registering for SSS 673D; similarly, they must have completed or be concurrently registered for SSS 572D, SSS 582D, SSS 590D, and SSS 606D when registering for SSS 674D.

Part-time students may have to take course(s) during summer sessions, depending on the number of credit hours taken during fall and spring semesters.

Generalist Curriculum

Social Welfare Policy and Services (SSS 581D, SSS 582D) presents the historical and contemporary context for understanding social work practice. Students learn the political and organizational processes that are used to influence policy as well as develop skill in analyzing policy. With a focus on affecting policy change for vulnerable and stigmatized populations, issues of power and oppression are considered. Foundations of Research (SSS 590D) integrates practice, theory and research to inform ethical and culturally responsive professional social work or scientific inquiry.

Human Behavior and Social Environment (SSS 571D) utilizes an ecological perspective to examine micro, mezzo, and macro theoretical frameworks related to the bio-psycho-social-spiritual aspects of human development. and community well-being. Human Development and Psychopathology (SSS 572D) utilizes a "life course perspective" and introduces students to major milestones of human development and complexities often faced across the lifespan, from conception through late adulthood and death as well as the impact of social and economic forces are highlighted as salient influences on life course trajectories and the emergence of mental, emotional, and behavioral disorders.

Diversity in a Multicultural Society (SSS 570D) examines the history of diversity and discrimination, enhancing self-awareness and sensitivity for a culturally competent social work practice. The generalist model of social work practice is introduced through the two generalist practice courses (SSS 605D) - Individuals, Families and Groups, and (SSS 606D) - Groups, Organizations and Communities) and an integrative field seminar (SSS 673D or SSS 674D), taken concurrently with the foundation year field internship.

Supplementing supervised practice in the field, the seminar provides the opportunity for practicing skills through role play, case and project presentations, and seminar discussion. The seminar instructor serves as the liaison between the field agency and the school, maintaining and enhancing that link.

Generalist Curriculum

SSS 570D	Diversity in a Multicultural Society
SSS 571D	Human Behavior and the Social Environment
SSS 572D	Human Development and Psychopathology
SSS 581D or SSS 582D	Social Welfare Policy and Services I and II
SSS 590D	Foundations of Research
SSS 605D	Generalist Practice with Individuals, Families and Groups
SSS 606D	Generalist Practice with Groups, Communities and Organizations
SSS 673D and SSS 674D	Generalist Field Education and Seminar I and II

Specialized Practice Curriculum

Upon completion of the generalist curriculum, MSW students specialize in clinical practice in the specialized practice year. Clinical specialized practice students complete practice theory courses within categories of advanced clinical theory, theory and practice with individuals and groups across the life cycle, and theory and practice with family. The intervention skills students are taught are based on evidence-based practice processes and a strengths- perspective. The following clinical courses are required in the specialization year: Psychodynamic Theory and Social Functioning (723D), Cognitive Behavioral Theory (724D), Clinical Social Work with Adults (802D), Clinical Social Work with Children and Adolescents (805D). Students then choose one of the following courses as an elective: Social Work Response to Trauma (655D), Assessment, Diagnosis and Treatment of Mental Illness (656D). These requirements, together with ethics, research, and a field practicum within a chosen field of practice, form the core of the clinical specialization. This core enables students to facilitate change that will promote individual and family well-being. Thus, in addition to the objectives above, clinical specialized practice students will: Have a two-semester field internship along with a weekly Clinical Field Integrative Seminar (SSS 871D or SSS 872D)

Clinical Specialization Coursework

SSS 740D	Ethics
SSS 756D	Practice Evaluation
SSS 723D SSS 724D SSS 802D SSS 805D SSS 822D SSS 656D or SSS 655D	Psychodynamic Theory and Social Functioning Cognitive Behavioral Theory Clinical Social Work with Adults Clinical Social Work with Children and Adolescents Clinical Social Work with Families Assessment, Diagnosis and Treatment of Mental Illness Social Work Response to Trauma
SSS 871D and SSS 872D	Clinical Field Education and Integrative Seminar I and II