Social Work

Graduate Programs

Description

The Department of Social Work offers a full-time Master of Social Work (MSW) program, accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) focusing on Advanced Generalist social work practice, including specialization year emphasis on practice in small and rural communities. The MSW program prepares students for both advanced direct practice and administration in a wide variety of public and private social service, medical, and educational settings. Students achieve program objectives through foundation and specialization coursework and extensive field education. Students will learn from faculty dedicated to high quality social work education using innovative teaching techniques and cutting edge technologies.

The Master of Social Work (MSW) is a graduate degree that will prepare you to work as an advanced, professional social worker in a wide range of public and private social service agencies, in health care and public schools, with clients ranging from infants to senior citizens, from agencies to communities, and with challenges such as poverty, mental illness, disabilities, health problems, chemical dependency, abuse, and many others. MSWs work directly with clients in direct practice capacities, as clinicians, serve as program directors, supervisors, agency administrators, and also work in applied research and social welfare policy practice. 

Majors

 Program Locations Total Credits
Social Work MSW MSW - Master of Social Work
  • Mankato
 59

Policies & Faculty

Policies

Admission Requirements

In addition to completing the admission requirements for the College of Graduate Studies and Research, the following are required:

  1. Completed a bachelor degree for students applying to the Traditional (TR) Program or completed a bachelor degree in social work from a CSWE accredited institution for students applying to the Advanced Standing (AS) Program.
  2. Earned a GPA of at least 3.0 on 4-point scale. (Some exceptions may be considered.)
  3. Obtained approximately 20 college credits (6 undergraduate courses) in areas of social and behavioral sciences. (Some exceptions may be considered).
  4. Completed an undergraduate course with human biology content, with a grade of C or better.
  5. Completed an undergraduate course in statistics, with a grade of C or better.
  6. Documented experience in the human or social services, education, or health care areas either as a paid staff member, intern, or volunteer.
  7. Complete and sign the MSW Application Form (available on the MSW Program website).
  8. Submit a Professional Resume.
  9. Submit a Professional Statement (refer to MSW Application for guidelines).
  10. Submit three Recommendation Forms and Letters (refer to MSW Application for guidelines).

Current MSW Program Policies are available in the MSW Graduate Student Handbook available online at http://sbs.mnsu.edu/socialwork/graduate/handbook.html.

 

Contact Information

358 Trafton Science Center North

(507) 389-6504
FAX (507) 389-6769
MRS/TTY (507) 627-3529
www.sbs.mnsu.edu/socialwork

Faculty

MSW Program Director
  • Kimberly Zammitt, Ph.D., LICSW
Chair
  • Debra Gohagan, MSW, Ph.D.
BSSW Program Director
  • Paul Mackie, PhD, LISW
Faculty

500 Level

Credits: 3

This course provides an overview of social services that support the well-being of children and families in a diverse society. Students, regardless of disciplinary affiliation, identify personal and professional values, develop a working knowledge of the theories that inform practice with children and families, and understand the roles and legal responsibilities of child welfare workers and professionals from multiple disciplines in the delivery of child welfare services.

Prerequisites: none

Credits: 3

Co-morbid substance abuse and mental health disorders will be encountered by social workers in all areas of practice. Current research on dual diagnosis indicates integrated treatment of substance misuse and mental illness is the most effective approach to treatment. This course will provide an understanding of the intersection of multiple diagnoses, and enable social worker professionals to effectively treat multiple diagnoses in their area of practice. This course examines the interaction of addictive and other mental health disorders. Particular focus is placed on case-conceptualization, assessment, and intervention with multiply diagnosed clients in specific populations.

Prerequisites: none

Credits: 3

Issues, resources, and processes in working with the elderly and their families in the social service system.

Prerequisites: none

Credits: 3

This course is designed to provide upper level (junior and senior) undergraduate social work students with a comprehensive introduction to the epidemiology (scientific study of disease), etiology (causes of disease), history, policy, and treatment modalities of substance abuse from a person-in-environment and systems theory social work perspective.

Prerequisites: none

Credits: 3

Service delivery issues and skills for working in hospitals, nursing homes, and community programs.

Prerequisites: none

Credits: 3

Course provides an overview of intimate partner violence from a theoretical and evidence-based, social work perspective. Students learn about intervention strategies from direct practice to advocacy and policy change. Multiple systems are explored. The intersection of gender, class, sexual orientation, age, and culture with intimate partner violence is covered.

Prerequisites: none

Credits: 3

This course introduces students to the work of specialized instructional support personnel, who enhance the capacity of every student to learn. Emphasis will be placed on multidisciplinary collaboration that promotes student well-being and supportive school environments.

Prerequisites: none

Credits: 3

Service delivery issues, knowledge, and skills for providing social services within school services.

Prerequisites: none

Credits: 3

This course covers the evolution of school social work as a profession and the impact of the culture and climate of the school on practice. It examines how social diversity impacts academic achievement and the role of the school social worker in addressing disparities.

Prerequisites: none

Credits: 3

Course focuses on service delivery issues and skills, using a strengths-based, family systems, and empowerment approach for working with individuals with developmental and other disabilities and their families across the life span. Students hoping to do a practicum in a disability services setting should complete this course prior to beginning the practicum.

Prerequisites: none

Credits: 1-7

Social Work practice in public child welfare agencies is multi-faceted and uniquely challenging. Seven 1-credit modules are designed to offer maximum specialization in the study of direct (interventions with children, youth, and families) and indirect (policy and administration) practice in state, county, or tribal child welfare. Issues related to practice, policy, cultural responsiveness, and the application of social work ethics are addressed. This course can meet the elective requirement for MSW students, including Title IV-E child welfare stipend recipients. Previous experience or coursework in public child welfare is recommended. Course is taken, with advisement, for up to 7 credits.

Prerequisites: none

Credits: 5-10

This course provides students with the opportunity to apply knowledge and skills acquired in the school social work certificate program in a school-environment. In seminar students clarify and integrate theoretical and school-specific curriculum content with experiences.

Prerequisites: none

Credits: 1-6

Topics announced when offered.

Prerequisites: none

Credits: 1-3

Prerequisites: none

600 Level

Credits: 3

This foundation social work course focuses on direct generalist practice with individuals, families, and groups; emphasizing the history, knowledge, skills, values, and ethics of the social work profession and the principles that promote social and economic justice, and human well-being.

Prerequisites: none

Credits: 3

This course focuses on theories and knowledge which guide social work practice, emphasizing systems theory, person-in-environment perspective, strengths perspective, and oppression theory. Students also examine theories of individual and family development across the lifespan.

Prerequisites: none

Credits: 3

The course provides students with an overview of the historical and contemporary social services system and an exploration of the interconnectedness between social welfare policies, social services and social work practice, with an emphasis on oppressed populations.

Prerequisites: none

Credits: 3

This foundation course provides students with the knowledge and skills for effective interpersonal communication and interviewing, with emphasis on the application of effective communication with diverse populations. Students develop self-awareness and understand implications of their values across diversity domains.

Prerequisites: none

Credits: 3

This course provides students foundation knowledge, theories, values and skills for generalist social work practice with task groups, organizations and communities. The course emphasizes community level practice, focusing on theories and strategies for community assessment, community development, and community change.

Prerequisites: none

Credits: 5

Foundation Practicum and Seminar I provides students with the opportunity to integrate social work theory and practice knowledge, values, and skills through direct practice with individual clients, families, groups, agencies, and communities.

Prerequisites: none

Credits: 4

Co-morbid substance abuse and mental health disorders will be encountered by social workers in all areas of practice. Current research on dual diagnosis indicates integrated treatment of substance misuse and mental illness is the most effective approach to treatment. This course will provide an understanding of the intersection of multiple diagnoses and enable social work professionals to effectively treat multiple diagnoses in their area of practice. This course examines the interaction of addictive and other mental health disorders. Particular focus is placed on case-conceptualization, assessment, and intervention with multiple diagnosed clients in specific populations. Graduate students will also explore supervision/management.

Prerequisites: none

Credits: 5

Foundation Practicum and Seminar II is a continuation of SOWK 615 Foundation Practicum and Seminar I. Students integrate social work theory and practice knowledge, values, and skills through direct practice with individual clients, families, groups, agencies, and communities.

Prerequisites: none

Credits: 3

This course enables students to understand the rationale for and application of quantitative and qualitative research techniques commonly used in generalist social work practice. Students will become more skilled at reading and critically evaluating research studies, including studies that are designed to empirically test theory, as well as in conducting independent research. Students will understand how issues of diversity are applicable to conducting and evaluating research and to engaging in effective, culturally competent social work practice. Students will also recognize the values, ethical issues, and social and economic justice issues that underlie research with an emphasis on social work research.

Prerequisites: none

Credits: 3

The purpose of this course is to acquire advanced school social work practice skills to bring about systems level change. Students will learn how to utilize clinical skills to mobilize stakeholders to adopt evidence informed practices and implement them with fidelity.

Prerequisites: none

Credits: 3

This seminar helps students admitted to the Advanced Standing MSW program refine their professional self-identity as generalist social workers and reviews foundation curriculum content to ensure that students are ready for the concentration year of the advanced generalist MSW program.

Prerequisites: none

Credits: 3

This course provides students with advanced generalist knowledge, values, and skills for evidence-based direct social work practice with individuals - children, adolescents, and adults - from diverse backgrounds.

Prerequisites: none

Credits: 3

The purpose of this course is to prepare students for advanced social work practice in a public, private, and tribal child welfare settings. This course is required for MSW Child Welfare Scholars. The course is designed to provide the student with a focused, practice-oriented learning environment that will build upon previous experiential and academic learning. The emphasis will be upon increasing the student¿s conceptual and practice skill level to become an effective social worker in a child welfare setting while increasing knowledge of historical and current federal and state child welfare policies, programs, and practices.

Prerequisites: none

Credits: 3

This course provides students with knowledge and skills to engage in advanced policy practice in organizations and communities. Students conduct a comparative policy analysis on a rural policy issue and will analyze, design and implement strategies for promoting change.

Prerequisites: none

Credits: 3

This course provides students with advanced generalist theories, knowledge, values, and skills for evidence-based practice with couples and families. Students will develop, analyze, and apply advanced knowledge and skills in the assessment and application of interventions with couples and families.

Prerequisites: none

Credits: 3

This course provides students with advanced generalist knowledge, values, and skills for administrative social work practice. Students develop knowledge and skills in personnel management, grant writing, resource development, budgeting, leadership, and other aspects of administering effective social service agencies.

Prerequisites: none

Credits: 3

This course provides students with advanced generalist theories, knowledge, values, and skills for evidence-based practice with treatment groups. Students will develop, analyze, and apply advanced knowledge and skills in the assessment and application of interventions with treatment groups.

Prerequisites: none

Credits: 5

Advanced Practicum and Seminar I provides students with the opportunity to integrate foundation and concentration social work theory and practice knowledge, values, and skills through direct practice with individual clients, families, groups, agencies, and communities.

Prerequisites: none

Credits: 3

The purpose of Clinical Social Work Practice with Infants, Children, and Adolescents is designed for students who plan to work in a clinical setting with infants, children, and/or adolescents. The course prepares students to understand development, attachment, developmental stressors and trauma, developmental resiliency, biopsychosocial factors, and evidence-based social work interventions. Students will consider the intersections of development, attachment, stressors and trauma, and resources from a biopsychosocial framework to increase knowledge on how infants, children, and adolescents become identified at-risk and how these concerns can compromise development and what support and/or interventions contribute to developmental growth and change over time.

Prerequisites: none

Credits: 3

This course provides students with advanced generalist knowledge, values, and skills for both direct social work practice evaluation and program evaluation. Students develop and implement a capstone integrative evaluation project in conjunction with SOWK 675 Advanced Practicum and Seminar II.

Prerequisites: none

Credits: 5

Advanced Practicum and Seminar II is a continuation of SOWK 665 Advanced Practicum and Seminar I. Students integrate foundation and concentration social work theory and practice knowledge, values, and skills through direct practice with individuals, families, groups, agencies, and communities.

Prerequisites: none

Credits: 1-3

Under faculty mentorship, students may pursue in-depth library or field research on topics of their choice.

Prerequisites: none

Credits: 1-4

The purpose of this course is to acquire advanced clinical practice knowledge and skills that can be integrated into current systems of mental/behavioral health practice. Emphasis is placed on contemporary evidence-based assessment and intervention practices, integrated critical analysis, and culturally responsive and reflective practice. Graduate degree in social work or other related discipline and admittance into the Post-Graduate Advanced Clinical Practice Training Series is required.

Prerequisites: none

Credits: 1-4

Advanced Clinical Practice II is a continuation of Advanced Clinical Practice I.The purpose of this course is to acquire advanced clinical practice knowledge and skills that can be integrated into current systems of mental/behavioral health practice. Emphasis is placed on contemporary evidence-based assessment and intervention practices, integrated critical analysis, and culturally responsive and reflective practice. Graduate degree in social work or other related discipline, admittance to the Post-Graduate Advanced Clinical Practice Training Series.

Prerequisites: none

Credits: 2

Individual research.

Prerequisites: none

Credits: 1-10

Internship in approved social agency.

Prerequisites: none