Online Master of Social Work (MSW)

SW 600 Social Work Community Practice: Leading for Change

This course encourages students to apply critical thinking, explore different community practice settings, and discuss how social workers serve diverse and vulnerable communities and organizations. The course introduces students to the history, values, theory, processes, and skills for generalist social work practice at the level of communities and organizations. The focus of the course is on change in large groups, social agencies, institutions, communities, and government. A special emphasis is on utilizing integrated social work practice to empower oppressed groups including members of racial, ethnic, and other non-dominant groups.

SW 602 Human Behavior and Social Environment I

This course focuses on the biological, psychological, and social changes throughout the life cycle in the context of culture and the physical environment. Using a multi-dimensional approach, students study major theoretical frameworks in order to evaluate and apply this knowledge to practice with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities. This course advances the student’s ability to evaluate the roles of oppression, marginalization, power, and privilege in shaping a person’s life experiences.

SW 604 Diversity and Cross-Cultural Issues

This course examines and applies the theoretical perspectives of social justice and human rights that inform social work practice. Students study and implement the elements of culturally competent practice and self-assess their own cultural beliefs, attitudes, biases, and behaviors. The dominant values of the larger society are analyzed while examining the impact of privilege,  oppression, and social justice in working with culturally diverse populations. Students are introduced to the values, attitudes, strengths, unique needs and lived experiences of diverse populations to broaden and deepen their awareness of cultures and identities outside of their own.

SW 606 Social Welfare Policy

This course introduces students to the history of social welfare, the values and principles that shape policy, and the role of social work in policymaking. Students critically analyze social policies and the impact on diverse, underserved, and vulnerable populations. The delivery of social welfare services to individuals, families, communities, and groups are discussed, as well as the theoretical perspectives that guide policy. This course presents the challenges of various diverse groups and encourages students to reflect on ways to advocate for policies and social welfare programs that promote human rights and social justice and advocate for social change.

SW 608 Human Behavior and Social Environment II

This course builds on the knowledge gained in SW 602: Human Behavior and the Social Environment I. Students examine human behavior across the lifespan and how various social environmental factors influence the developmental process. This course focuses on the stages of development from infancy to late adulthood. Theoretical frameworks related to the physical, emotional, social, spiritual, and cultural development of individuals, families, groups, and communities are analyzed and applied to client systems.

SW 610 Social Work Practice with Individuals

This course provides students with a foundational understanding of the basic social work practice skills and knowledge. Students will be guided through the generalist planned change process to include developing relationship building skills to engage clients and data gathering, assessment, treatment planning with identifying evidenced-based interventions, and implementing outcome evaluation of the interventions, within the context of a strength-based approach. Strategies for cultural competence and working with populations at risk will be presented throughout the course. The bio-psycho-social-spiritual and cultural assessment framework is a central focus of this course.

SW 612 Field Education Internship and Seminar I

This course is the first half of a two-semester course during which students develop generalist social work skills within a social work agency setting under the supervision of an experienced social worker. The seminar course provides support to the student throughout the field experience. During this course, students present agency case examples and are encouraged to share their overall experience of the field education. Areas of ethics, diversity, safety, supervision, legal obligations, and practice skills are discussed.

SW 614 Research I: Ways of Knowing

This course introduces students to the basic concepts and methods of scientific inquiry used in social work practice. This course introduces qualitative and quantitative research design methodologies used in advancing social work knowledge and the evaluation of practice. Students learn to use and translate research evidence to inform and improve practice, policy, and service delivery. Particular attention in the course is given to cultural sensitivity and ethical guidelines for social research.

SW 616 Social Work Practice with Families and Groups

This course introduces students to specific theoretical and skills-based core concepts of generalist practice with families and small groups. It prepares students for engagement, assessment, intervention planning, and decision-making for effective and ethical service delivery to diverse families and groups within the context of social systems. Students learn theoretical models that integrate systems and ecological theory, the strengths perspective, and the problem-solving model.

SW 618 Field Education Internship and Seminar II

This course is the second half of a two-semester course during which students develop generalist social work skills within a social work agency setting under the supervision of an experienced social worker. The seminar course provides support to the student throughout the field experience. During this course, students present agency case examples and are encouraged to share their overall experience of the field education. Areas of ethics, diversity, safety, supervision, legal obligations, and practice skills are discussed.

SW 620 Advanced Clinical Practice with Individuals

This advanced clinical course prepares students for direct clinical practice with individuals. The course builds on the generalist-level courses and introduces students to evidence-based theories and strengths-based intervention strategies applicable for working with individual clients in a variety of clinical settings. Particular attention is given to the importance of the therapeutic relationship, ethical decision-making frameworks, and culturally sensitive relational techniques that foster therapeutic alliances with diverse clients.

SW 624 Research II: Evaluation of Clinical Social Work Practice

This specialized course builds on the generalist-level research course with an emphasis on evaluating and advancing clinical practice through single-subject design studies. Quantitative and qualitative methodologies are examined as means to inform social work research and clinical practice. In conjunction with their field placement, students will design, conduct, and report on a single-subject design study as a part of direct practice for assessing clients, monitoring intervention implementation and delivery, and evaluating client change.

SW 626 Clinical Assessment and Diagnosis

This specialized course focuses on the incidence, etiology, and assessment of health and mental health issues among children, adolescents, adults, and families using a holistic bio-psycho-social-spiritual and cultural approach and strengths perspective to evaluate human functioning through the lifecycle. The course examines and utilizes the classification systems and theories applied in psychopathology and advanced clinical social work practice to assess and understand diagnostic categories within the DSM and to identify, analyze, and implement empirically based assessment tools.

SW 632 Field Education Internship and Seminar II

This specialized course is the first half of a two-semester seminar course that facilitates students’ fieldwork learning by providing an environment to critically reflect on the agency experience. Throughout the semester students develop an understanding of professional advanced clinical practice by integrating theory, research, policy, and ethical standards into their agency fieldwork. The purpose of the seminar is to allow students to share their field experiences with the instructor and their peers to enhance professional growth through mutual consultation. The areas of safety, self-care, and mandate reporting are discussed.

SW 634 Advanced Clinical Practice with Groups

This advanced clinical course prepares students for direct clinical practice with groups. The course builds on the knowledge of the generalist-level courses and focuses on the advanced clinical skills necessary for group work practice with clients experiencing a variety of social, emotional, and/or psychological issues. Evidence-based theories, interventions, and techniques used in social work group practice are examined in the context of developing strategies to engage, plan, implement, and facilitate groups across a diversity of practice settings.

SW 636 Clinical Practice: Policies and Administration

This specialized course emphasizes current policies, laws, and trends in clinical practice. Students develop knowledge and skills in the roles and functions of social workers in social work management, administration, and supervision in non-profit and public organizations. This course provides opportunities for students to build the necessary skills to become effective service providers and change agents in the context of their work in social service organizations.

SW 638 Field Education Internship and Seminar IV

This specialized course is the second half of a two-semester seminar course that facilitates students’ fieldwork learning by providing an environment to critically reflect on the agency experience. Throughout the semester students develop an understanding of professional advanced clinical practice by integrating theory, research, policy, and ethical standards into their agency fieldwork. The purpose of the seminar is to allow students to share with the instructor and their peers, client case studies and receive professional supervision and consultation. The areas of safety, self-care, and mandate reporting are discussed.

SW 642 Advanced Clinical Practice with Families

This advanced clinical course prepares students for advanced clinical practice with families. The course builds on the knowledge of the generalist-level courses and introduces students to evidence-based theories and strengths-based intervention strategies applicable for working with families in a variety of clinical settings. The course pays particular attention to interventions and skills in helping families overcome issues such as trauma, oppression, and social and economic injustices while also focusing on the unique experiences that shape the lives and development of family systems.

SW 644 Trauma in Children and Adolescents (Elective)*

This course prepares students for clinical practice with traumatized child and adolescent populations from diverse backgrounds. It introduces students to evidence-based theories and strengths-based intervention strategies applicable for working with traumatized children and adolescents in a variety of clinical settings. Theoretical and practical approaches to treatment of chronic stress, acute stress, and trauma-related stress disorders specific to children and adolescents are examined with the goal of advancing students’ knowledge of best practices.

SW 646 Trauma in Adults (Elective)*

This course prepares students for clinical practice with traumatized adult and older adult populations from diverse backgrounds. The course introduces students to evidence-based theories and strengths-based intervention strategies applicable for working with traumatized adults in a variety of clinical settings. The course pays particular attention to trauma theory and skill development specific to the engagement, assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of adult populations, their families, and larger communities who have been exposed to potentially traumatizing experiences.

SW 620 Advanced Clinical Practice with Individuals

This advanced clinical course prepares students for direct clinical practice with individuals. The course builds on the generalist-level courses and introduces students to evidence-based theories and strengths-based intervention strategies applicable for working with individual clients in a variety of clinical settings. Particular attention is given to the importance of the therapeutic relationship, ethical decision-making frameworks, and culturally sensitive relational techniques that foster therapeutic alliances with diverse clients.

SW 624 Research II: Evaluation of Clinical Social Work Practice

This course examines U.S. health care policy and the political challenges related to delivery, cost, quality, and access to care. The course is in seminar format which allows students to observe the policy-making process and the role of government and private stakeholders in the financing and delivery of services through a field experience attending health policy-related events and meetings.

HP 622 Economics of Health Care

This specialized course builds on the generalist-level research course with an emphasis on evaluating and advancing clinical practice through single-subject design studies. Quantitative and qualitative methodologies are examined as means to inform social work research and clinical practice. In conjunction with their field placement, students will design, conduct, and report on a single-subject design study as a part of direct practice for assessing clients, monitoring intervention implementation and delivery, and evaluating client change.

SW 626 Clinical Assessment and Diagnosis

This specialized course focuses on the incidence, etiology, and assessment of health and mental health issues among children, adolescents, adults, and families using a holistic bio-psycho-social-spiritual and cultural approach and strengths perspective to evaluate human functioning through the lifecycle. The course examines and utilizes the classification systems and theories applied in psychopathology and advanced clinical social work practice to assess and understand diagnostic categories within the DSM and to identify, analyze, and implement empirically based assessment tools.

SW 632 Field Education Internship and Seminar III

This specialized course is the first half of a two-semester seminar course that facilitates students’ fieldwork learning by providing an environment to critically reflect on the agency experience. Throughout the semester students develop an understanding of professional advanced clinical practice by integrating theory, research, policy, and ethical standards into their agency fieldwork. The purpose of the seminar is to allow students to share their field experiences with the instructor and their peers to enhance professional growth through mutual consultation. The areas of safety, self-care, and mandate reporting are discussed.

SW 634 Advanced Clinical Practice with Groups

This advanced clinical course prepares students for direct clinical practice with groups. The course builds on the knowledge of the generalist-level courses and focuses on the advanced clinical skills necessary for group work practice with clients experiencing a variety of social, emotional, and/or psychological issues. Evidence-based theories, interventions, and techniques used in social work group practice are examined in the context of developing strategies to engage, plan, implement, and facilitate groups across a diversity of practice settings.

SW 636 Clinical Practice: Policies and Administration

This specialized course emphasizes current policies, laws, and trends in clinical practice. Students develop knowledge and skills in the roles and functions of social workers in social work management, administration, and supervision in non-profit and public organizations. This course provides opportunities for students to build the necessary skills to become effective service providers and change agents in the context of their work in social service organizations.

SW 638 Field Education Internship and Seminar IV

This specialized course is the second half of a two-semester seminar course that facilitates students’ fieldwork learning by providing an environment to critically reflect on the agency experience. Throughout the semester students develop an understanding of professional advanced clinical practice by integrating theory, research, policy, and ethical standards into their agency fieldwork. The purpose of the seminar is to allow students to share with the instructor and their peers, client case studies and receive professional supervision and consultation. The areas of safety, self-care, and mandate reporting are discussed.

SW 642 Advanced Clinical Practice with Families

This advanced clinical course prepares students for advanced clinical practice with families. The course builds on the knowledge of the generalist-level courses and introduces students to evidence-based theories and strengths-based intervention strategies applicable for working with families in a variety of clinical settings. The course pays particular attention to interventions and skills in helping families overcome issues such as trauma, oppression, and social and economic injustices while also focusing on the unique experiences that shape the lives and development of family systems.

SW 644 Trauma in Children and Adolescents (Elective)*

This course prepares students for clinical practice with traumatized child and adolescent populations from diverse backgrounds. It introduces students to evidence-based theories and strengths-based intervention strategies applicable for working with traumatized children and adolescents in a variety of clinical settings. Theoretical and practical approaches to treatment of chronic stress, acute stress, and trauma-related stress disorders specific to children and adolescents are examined with the goal of advancing students’ knowledge of best practices.

SW 646 Trauma in Adults (Elective)*

This course prepares students for clinical practice with traumatized adult and older adult populations from diverse backgrounds. The course introduces students to evidence-based theories and strengths-based intervention strategies applicable for working with traumatized adults in a variety of clinical settings. The course pays particular attention to trauma theory and skill development specific to the engagement, assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of adult populations, their families, and larger communities who have been exposed to potentially traumatizing experiences.