Master of Social Work (MSW)

MSW Program Requirements

The primary goal of the Master of Social Work program at Washburn University is to prepare students to integrate the knowledge, values, and skills of the social work profession into the competent and ethical practice of clinical social work. The MSW curriculum consists of both Advanced Standing and Regular Standing Programs. For both programs, students enter the Clinical Concentration following successful completion of all Foundation course work. The Clinical Concentration provides students with the theoretical knowledge and methodological and technical skills necessary for the practice of entry level clinical social work. The Clinical Concentration is dedicated to maintaining a person-in-environment perspective for multiple levels of practice.

Advanced Standing Program (ASP) Students

Advanced Standing Program (ASP) applicants who have a baccalaureate degree within the past 10 years from a CSWE-accredited social work program will be granted advanced standing status in the MSW Program at Washburn University. Full-time advanced standing students typically begin their studies in the MSW Program in the summer semester. Part-time advanced standing students typically begin their studies in the fall term. However, all students have the option of beginning their studies in the spring semester.

Course and/or credit waivers are dependent on the equivalency of the course content as determined by the MSW Program Director in consultation with the department chairperson and Washburn social work faculty. Applicants may be asked to provide a course syllabus/outline for each course for which a waiver is being requested. Additional supporting materials may be requested. A grade of “B” or better in the undergraduate course considered for waiver is required.

Regular Standing Program (RSP) Students

Applicants who have a baccalaureate degree in a field other than social work may apply for regular standing status in the MSW Program at Washburn University. Regular standing students typically start taking classes in the MSW Program during the fall semester. Students have the option of beginning their studies in the spring semester.

Part Time and Full Time Schedules

Both part-time and full-time scheduling options are available. ASP students may begin the MSW Program in the summer semester. ASP students who elect to go full-time will complete the program in three semesters, including the initial summer semester. Part-time ASP students will complete the program in two full years and may take courses during the summer semester between the first and second year.

RSP students begin the MSW Program in the spring or fall semester. RSP students who elect to go full-time can complete the program in two academic years, including the summer semester between the first and second year. Regular standing students attending part-time must complete the program within four years.

MSW Student Learning Outcomes

MSW students at Washburn University, upon graduation, are expected to have developed nine core competencies (CSWE, 2015).

Demonstrate ethical and professional behavior.
Engage diversity and difference in practice.
Advance human rights and social, economic, and environmental justice.
Engage in practice-informed research and research-informed practice.
Engage in policy practice.
Engage with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities.
Assess individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities.
Intervene with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities.
Evaluate practice with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities.

Upon graduation, all students will be able to:

Engage clients and constituents with the highest level of ethical and professional behavior.
Demonstrate the clinical competence to work effectively with individuals, families, and groups.
Engage effectively with vulnerable, oppressed, and underserved populations to promote mental health wellness and economic justice.
Pursue professional life-long learning.

MSW students are expected to have developed knowledge, skills, critical thinking, professional values and ethics, and cognitive/affective reasoning in relation to the nine core competencies (CSWE, 2015).

Continuous Enrollment Requirement

Effective Fall 2016, students pursuing a graduate degree who have completed all degree requirements, and have enrolled in but not completed a capstone, practicum, or thesis, will be required to maintain continuous enrollment at Washburn University until graduation (unless a leave has been approved). Continuous enrollment means that candidates must be enrolled in at least one credit hour until degree requirements are met. If all other course work has been completed, students will be required to enroll in a one-credit-hour class SW 777 Continuous Enrollment each semester until the program is completed. Credit hours completed through the SW 777 Continuous Enrollment will not count toward the credit hours required for graduation and will be recorded as a credit on the transcript. This requirement also applies to the summer term for students whose degrees are being awarded at the end of the summer term. Interruption of continuous registration due to a failure to follow this requirement will result in a need for readmission to the program.

Degree Requirements

Completion of 63 credit hours or its equivalent, based on a combination of graduate hours and appropriate course waivers, is required for the awarding of the MSW degree. Students must maintain a 3.0 grade point average on a 4.0 point scale. Students will not be allowed to graduate with a cumulative grade point average that is less than 3.0. Students must complete their program of study within 4 years from the time of registration.

Foundation Curriculum

Foundation Curriculum courses are designed to prepare students for beginning generalist practice. These courses are taken prior to and concurrently with the generalist practicum. The Foundation Curriculum includes 24 credit hours of in-class instruction. Full-time regular standing students complete six (6) credit hours of field education in a community agency during the fall and spring semesters of the first year. A minimum of 400 hours of generalist field education must be completed over a two-semester period. Applicants should note that this translates into 16-20 hours per week spent at the field education site. Advanced standing students may have some or all of these courses waived.

Some foundation courses are sequential, offered in a fall-spring format. Students should work closely with their advisor to develop a plan of study.

Course List
Code	Title	Hours
Foundation Requirements
SW 606	Person in Environment I: Individuals & Families ¹	3
SW 607	Person in Environment II: Groups, Organizations, & Families ²	3
SW 608	Foundations of Social Policy ¹	3
SW 621	Quantitative Social Work Research ²	3
SW 622	Qualitative Social Work Research ¹	3
SW 640	Fundamentals of Social Work Practice ¹	3
SW 685	Diversity and Justice in Social Work	3
SW 690	Generalist Field Education Workshop ¹	0
SW 691	Generalist Field Education I ¹	3
SW 692	Generalist Practice Seminar I ²	3
SW 693	Generalist Field Education II ²	3
Total Hours		30

¹: Offered in the fall semester
²: Offered in the spring semester
³: First year graduate students may take SW 700 Clinical Assessment and Diagnosis, one of the four (4) clinical core classes, during the summer semester along with SW 691 Generalist Field Education I and SW 692 Generalist Practice Seminar I.

Foundation courses are offered in an all-day block format usually on Mondays. A typical class session runs for 2.50 hours. A day long block consists of three classes, running throughout the day and into the evening (i.e., 8:00-10:30 am, 1:00-3:30 pm, and 5:30-8:00 pm). Every reasonable attempt is made to offer the second part of each foundation sequence course on the same day and at the same time during the spring semester.

Clinical Core Curriculum

Following completion of the Foundation Curriculum, all students begin the Clinical Curriculum. This consists of 24 credit hours of in-class instruction, including:

Course List
Code	Title	Hours
Clinical Core
SW 700	Clinical Assessment and Diagnosis	3
SW 705	Clinical Social Work Practice with Individuals	3
SW 706	Clinical Social Work Practice with Families	3
SW 707	Clinical Social Work Practice with Groups	3
Clinical Social Work Electives ¹		9
SW 790	Clinical Field Education Workshop	0
SW 791	Clinical Field Education I	3
SW 792	Clinical Practice Seminar I	3
SW 793	Clinical Field Education II	3
SW 794	Clinical Practice Seminar II	3
Total Hours		33

¹: Classroom work
²: A minimum of 600 clock hours are required for completion of the clinical field education. Applicants should note that this translates to approximately 24 hours per week spent at the field education site.

Clinical Core classes are offered in an all-day block format typically on Wednesdays. Classes usually run for 2.50 to 2.75 hours. A day long block consists of three classes, running throughout the day and into the evening (i.e., 8:00-10:50 am, 1:00-3:45 pm, and 5:30-8:00 pm). Compared to the fall semester, the order in which clinical core classes are offered in the spring may be different.

Clinical Elective Courses

Students should select elective courses in concert with their social work advisor and based on their particular area of practice interest. Nine credit hours of clinical social work electives are required.

Most elective courses will only be offered during one semester per year. Other clinical electives may be added to fit client/community needs.

School Social Work Concentration

Within the clinical MSW program, students may choose to receive specialty training in school social work. The concentration in School Social Work consists of three graduate level courses plus a clinical field education in an approved school social work setting. For students completing the School Social Work Concentration, their required nine (9) credit hours of clinical social work elective courses can be used to satisfy the course requirements for the concentration. The coursework in the concentration is consistent with the educational requirements of many states. The required courses in the concentration are as follows:

Course List
Code	Title	Hours
Concentration Requirements
SW 781	Clinical Social Work Practice with the Exceptional Child	3
SW 782	Clinical Social Work Practice in the Educational Environment	3
SW 783	Clinical Social Work Practice in Schools	3
Total Hours		9

SW 783 Clinical Social Work Practice in Schools should be taken concurrently with SW 791 Clinical Field Education I and SW 792 Clinical Practice Seminar I. In addition, the two-semester clinical field education must be in a school setting under the supervision of a school social worker. Students other than those in the School Social Work concentration may take the SW 781 Clinical Social Work Practice with the Exceptional Child and/or SW 782 Clinical Social Work Practice in the Educational Environment courses listed above to fulfill clinical elective requirements.

Detailed information about the School Social Work concentration, including course descriptions, NASW School Social Work Standards, links to organizations and resources, and employment opportunities can be found on the Social Work Department’s website at www.washburn.edu/msw.

Graduates of an accredited MSW program wishing to demonstrate formal academic training in school social work may want to consider post graduate completion of the concentration in school social work.

Healthcare Social Work Concentration

Within the clinical MSW program, students may choose to receive specialty training in healthcare social work. The concentration consists of three graduate electives (9 hours) plus either a generalist or clinical field education in an approved healthcare setting. Students selecting the healthcare concentration should notify their advisor of their intentions in order to ensure appropriate academic advising to meet the requirements.

Course List
Code	Title	Hours
Concentration Requirements
SW 680	Clinical Social Work Practice in Healthcare	3
Select two of the following:		6
SW 681	Inclusive and Competent Social Work Practice in Healthcare
SW 682	Family Decisions in Healthcare
SW 787	Geriatric Social Work in Clinical Practice
SW 794	Clinical Practice Seminar II
Total Hours		9

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