The Graduate Program

Master of Social Work (MSW) Program Mission

The focus of the Graduate Program is the preparation of social work professionals with advanced skills in human behavior, social work practice, practice evaluation, policy, and critical thinking, with an emphasis on specialized training in Children, Youth and Families, School Social Work and Health/Mental Health, and able to engage in ethical, responsible, and self-critical social work practice in public and private social service systems.

Mission (adopted by faculty, SIUC, September 17, 2008): The organizing principle of the MSW program is service to individuals, families, groups and communities by enhancing their well being and promoting economic and social justice and human rights. The mission of the Master’s of Social Work Program is the educational preparation of graduate students for advanced social work practice in a concentration area (Children Youth and Families and Health/Mental Health, and in the School Social Work). Student learning is based on competent, ethically responsible, professional practice with disadvantaged and diverse groups within state, nation, international, and global contexts, with a special focus on rural areas. Special emphasis is placed on building scholarship and leadership capacities to serve as change agents within one’s area of practice and the larger social work profession.

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MSW Program Goals

1. To prepare social workers with advanced knowledge and skills to practice with individuals, groups, families, organizations, and communities in rural Illinois, the state, nation, international and global contexts.


2. To prepare social workers with advanced knowledge and skills to evaluate the processes and effectiveness of their practice.


3. To prepare social workers with advanced levels of knowledge and understanding of human rights, the forms and mechanisms of oppression and discrimination.


4. To prepare social workers with advanced knowledge and skills to practice without discrimination with respect to client’s age, color, culture, disability, ethnicity, family structure, gender, marital status, national origin, race, religion, sex, and sexual orientation.


5. To prepare social workers who are able to collaborate across disciplines with advanced knowledge, values and skills of the social work profession to engage in ethical, responsible, and self-critical social work practice, with a clear understanding of the history of social work profession and its contemporary structures, and issues.


6. To prepare social workers with values and ethics, skills in critical thinking and advocacy, in order to analyze, formulate and influence social welfare policies.


7. To prepare social workers with advanced skills in practice, policy, practice evaluation, and critical thinking within an area of concentration (Children, Youth and Families, Health/ Mental Health or School Social Work).


8. To prepare social workers for leadership positions in the social welfare service delivery settings within a specific area of practice (Children, Youth and Families, Health/ Mental Health, School Social Work and Gerontology).


9. To prepare social workers to engage in scholarship and professional development that help advance social work knowledge and practice.

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MSW Program Objectives

The goals of the MSW program are carried out through a series of objectives so that upon completion of the M.S.W. degree program graduates will be able to accomplish the following within specific content areas:

1. Demonstrate knowledge which is built upon a liberal arts background and social work  values, ethics, history and philosophy which and applies it to contemporary social concerns (EP 2,5: Values and Ethics);


2. Apply knowledge and skills to practice within rural and diverse populations to promote social and economic justice/human rights that include age, class, color, culture, disability, ethnicity, family structure, gender, marital status, national origin, race, religion, sex and sexual orientation through the use of strategies of advocacy and social changes which advances social and economic justice, and human rights (EP 3: Diversity);


3. Demonstrate the ability to apply knowledge about the forms and mechanisms of oppression and discrimination and apply advocacy strategies which serve to promote social change, social and economic justice, and human rights (EP 4: Populations at risk);


4. Apply the professional use of self and critical thinking skills within professional contexts of practice to include individuals, families, groups, organizations and communities (EP 1: Human behavior in the social environment);


5. Analyze, develop programs, and impact social welfare policies (EP 8: Social Welfare Policy and Services);


6. Intervene with strength based skills and knowledge of a social work practice for service delivery utilizing communication skills with all levels of systems (micro, mezzo and macro) in rural, urban and international levels (EP M6: Social Work Practice);


7. Demonstrate the ability to use the knowledge of  program evaluation and self-evaluation within the context of  research-based and evidence based-practice using both qualitative and quantitative approaches including single-system designs (EP 9: Research);


8. Demonstrate the use of communication skills differentially with a variety of client populations, colleagues, and members of the community (EP 8: Field education);\


9. Apply the knowledge and skills of advanced practice to function within the structure of organizations and service delivery systems and seek necessary organizational change within micro, mezzo and macro levels (EP 12: Field education);

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Advanced Concentration Objectives

1. Apply knowledge, values and skills in more breadth, depth and specificity to achieve above objectives (1 through 8) within one’s area of concentration (Children, Youth & Families and Health/Mental Health, and in the School Social Work Certification program) (EP 3.1);


2. Apply the  knowledge and skills of advanced practice in an area of concentration (Children, Youth & Families and Health/Mental Health, and in the School Social Work Certification program) and (EP 3.1);


3. Analyze, intervene and evaluate in ways that are highly differentiated and self-critical within one’s area of concentration (Children, Youth & Families and Health/Mental Health, and in the School Social Work Certification program) (EP 3.1);


4. Synthesize and apply a broad range of knowledge, social work values and skills with a high degree of autonomy and proficiency within one’s area of concentration (Children, Youth & Families and Health/Mental Health, and in the School Social Work Certification program) (EP3.1);


5. Use supervision and consultation appropriate to advanced practice in an area of concentration (Children, Youth & Families and Health/Mental Health, and in the School Social Work Certification program) (EP 9);


6. Refine and advance the quality of one’s practice and that of the larger social work profession through leadership, scholarship and professional development within one’s area of concentration. (Children, Youth & Families and Health/Mental Health, and in the School Social Work Certification program) (EP3.1).

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Admission

Regular Two-Year Program

To be considered for admission to the regular two-year M.S.W. Program, applicants must:

Entry is in the fall semester for the regular two-year program.

Advanced Standing

Applicants seeking admission with advanced standing must have a B.S.W. degree from an accredited social work program and meet all requirements listed for the Regular Two-Year Program applicants. Entry is in the summer semester for the advanced standing students. Admitted students are required to register for the following three summer transitional courses:

In order to continue in the M.S.W. program, students must receive a grade of 'B' or better in each class.

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Accreditation

The Master of Social Work program is fully accredited by the Council on Social Work Education until June 2018. For more information, write, phone, or e-mail:

Council on Social Work Education
1725 Duke Street
Suite 500
Alexandria, Virginia 22314-3457
Phone 703-683-8080
Fax 703-683-8099

www.cswe.org

info@cswe.org

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Application Deadline

Applicants must apply to both the Graduate School and the School of Social Work. However, all application materials should be sent directly to the School of Social Work. Students accepted into the M.S.W. program must register for the semester they are admitted.

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Student Advisement

Upon admission to the Master of Social Work program, the student will be assigned a faculty advisor. The advisor is responsible for supervision of the student's progress and is available for career counseling as well as assisting in other matters that might arise in connection with the student's work.

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Requirements for the Degree

Students admitted to the regular two-year program are required to complete the first year foundation curriculum and the second year advanced curriculum, a minimum of 60 semester hours of graduate course work taken in the approved sequence.

Students with a bachelor's degree in social work from an accredited program will be admitted with advanced standing. These students are required to complete nine semester hours of transition courses and a minimum of 30 semester hours of the second year curriculum, including all required courses taken in the approved sequence.

Within limits imposed by the policies of the Graduate School, transfer credit may be permitted for up to 30 semester hours for applicants who wish to transfer from another graduate program in social work.

Students must maintain a 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.

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Typical Study Load

First Year - Regular Program
Foundation Courses

Advanced Standing
Transition Courses

Second Year
Advanced Standing and Regular Program
Health/Mental Health Emphasis

Children, Youth, and Families

Certification in School Social Work

• —School Social Work Courses (SOCW 533-2 and SOCW 567-2); and
  —Education Courses (SPED 408-3 or SPED 420, and EAHE 501-3 or EAHE 503-3): and
  —Field Placement (SOCW 543-3 & SOCW 544-3) will be in a school setting for two consecutive semesters.

• SPED 408-3 or SPED 420, and EAHE 501-3 or EAHE 503-3 are a prerequisites to field placement for students in the School Social Work Program and must be completed before fall semester field placement (SOCW 543).

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Field Practicum

In each year of study, in addition to classroom work, students are required to take field practicum. Applied learning through field practice is an integral component of social work education. Field instruction provides the student with the opportunity for applying social work theory and conceptual learning to realistic and practical situations. Students may not substitute current or past, paid or volunteer social work experience for field practicum requirements of the M.S.W. program. While the School takes into account the student's career goals in the selection of the field practicum assignment, we do not guarantee that students will receive their first preference of field assignment.

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J.D./M.S.W. Concurrent Degree Program

The joint J.D./M.S.W program will provide an excellent opportunity for you to supplement your
traditional legal education with additional expertise in the field of social work.

The Concurrent J.D./M.S.W. Degree Program

The program is designed to educate practitioners in law and social work to effectively utilize the problem-solving strategies and techniques of both disciplines. Students prepared in this program will develop an understanding of the ethics, language, research, history, and processes of both professions. Individuals so trained will be uniquely prepared for careers which combine both legal and human service needs such as administration, supervision of the provision of services, public policy leadership roles, family practice, and community planning and development. In addition, strengthening the academic training of lawyers and social workers will enhance the quality of research performed in both disciplines as well as enhance the quality of publications in both fields of study. Finally, students with this concurrent degree will be uniquely prepared to address the myriad of problems in our society which present complex legal and social issues. Students who complete this concurrent program will have enhanced educational and professional opportunities both inside and outside of academia.

The Course of Study

The School of Law academic program consists of three years of study with a 90 hour credit requirement for graduation. The School of Social Work offers two tracks for the M.S.W. degree. The first track is a two-year track requiring 60 hours of credit. This track is generally undertaken by those students whose undergraduate degree is in a field other than social work. The second track is an advanced program, consisting of a 39-hour credit requirement. Students must meet the requirements for admission and be admitted separately to the School of Law and the School of Social Work. Information on admission to the School of Law is available through the Admissions Office (618/453-8767 or 800/739-9187) and for the School of Social Work contact the Assistant to the Graduate Program Director (618/453-2243).

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Application Materials For the Graduate Program

Please select the link below to be guided through the application process. If you encounter any problem in preparing your application package, please contact us by e-mail at mmmjw@siu.edu

click here: Application Materials to download the application forms.

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For More Information on the Graduate Program...

Please write, call, or e-mail:

Graduate Program
School of Social Work, Mailcode 4329
Southern Illinois University at Carbondale
Carbondale, IL 62901-4329
1-618-453-2243

Graduate Program information:

Judy Wright, Assistant to the Graduate Program Director
For Graduate Program Information please contact Judy

Dr. Elaine Jurkowski, Graduate Program Director

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