Master of Social Work (MSW)

The mission of the Master of Social Work Program at Concord University is:

"To prepare graduates for advanced social work practice with a rural concentration. The Master of Social Work Program is built upon a systems approach and a strengths perspective, delivered in a manner that meets the needs of rural students."

The Social Work Program Mission Statement is consistent with the profession's purpose, values, and the program's context. Derived from the Program's mission are the following Program Goals. Students will demonstrate the ability to:

Conduct advanced social work practice, with a rural concentration, which operates from a systems and strengths perspective with the ability to respond to varying rural contexts, including diversity and difference and to engage, assess, intervene, and evaluate at all levels including individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities.
Think critically and examine issues within the rural context while applying knowledge from both a person in environment and human behavior perspective to determine appropriate methods of intervention and to communicate these in an ethical manner utilizing the strengths of rural settings.
Utilize an advanced reflective and developmental approach to practice.
Apply an advanced critical and analytical approach to practice that incorporates the unique culture and systems within rural settings and includes engaging in research-informed practice and practice-informed research.
Use advanced knowledge and skills in analyzing rural social policies and promoting change in rural settings through the development of more just and humane policies as they affect clients, social workers, and service systems.
Address the uniqueness of issues of human rights, mechanisms of operation, discrimination, and social and economic justice in order to improve the social and economic well-being of clients within rural settings across all levels of practice.

The Program Goals are consistent with the associated practice behaviors effectuated through the curriculum.

MSW PROGRAM FORMAL CURRICULUM DESIGN

Students without a BSW will complete the Standard Generalist Year Curriculum and then the student may enter the Advanced Generalist Curriculum.

Students with a CSWE accredited BSW (with a 3.0 GPA in Social Work classes and a 2.75 overall GPA) may apply directly to the Advanced Year (Advanced Standing).

Sixty (60) semester hours are required for graduation: 24 hours to be completed in the Foundation Curriculum and 36 hours to be completed in the Advanced Curriculum.

The Concord University MSW Program cannot grant social work course credit for any life experience and/or work experience.

Standard Generalist Curriculum Content 24 hours required

Advanced Generalist Curriculum 36 hours required (To be completed by students in both the Standard Generalist Program and the Advanced Generalist Program)

Policy Not Repeating BSW Content

BSW graduates entering the MSW program will not be required to repeat what has been mastered in their BSW programs. Avoidance of duplication is addressed in two ways. First, the student may apply to the Advanced Standing Program. Secondly, if Advanced Standing is not an option for the student, then the student may request that courses they have taken in their BSW program be reviewed in light of their BSW academic record for assessment of mastery in HBSE, Research and Policy. The assessment of mastery will include all the elements of competency evaluation offered by their BSW program along with the grades earned in the sequence. BSW students who have demonstrated mastery in the manner described above may request exemption for one or more of the following foundation courses:

SOWK 501 Introduction to Generalist Practice

SOWK 511 Generalist Human Behavior and the Social Environment

SOWK 521 Generalist Policy

; and

SOWK 570 Generalist Research

Students wishing exemption from one or more of the above courses must submit a request to do so to the MSW Program Director at least five weeks prior to the start of the semester in which the course is normally taught.

Additional Information

Further information on the MSW Program may be found in the MSW Student Handbook.

The Concord University MSW Program was granted Candidacy by CSWE, June 2013 and awarded accreditation June 2015.