Social Work: Foundation (MSW)
Degree: Master of Social Work
Program of Study: Social Work: Foundation
Program Code: 8702
About This Program . . .
The MSW program has HLC approval and is in the CSWE accreditation process.
“The purpose of the social work profession is to promote human and community well-being. Guided by a person-in-environment framework, a global perspective, respect for human diversity, and knowledge based on scientific inquiry, the purpose of social work is actualized through its quest for social, racial, economic, and environmental justice, the creation of conditions that facilitate the realization of human rights, the elimination of poverty, and the enhancement of life for all persons, locally and globally. To fully realize our commitment to social justice, social workers must engage in anti-racist, culturally responsive social work practice at the individual, family, group, organizational, community, research, and policy levels, informed by the theories and voices of those who have been marginalized. In an ever-shifting social and environmental context, social work is agile, responsive, and generative.
Social work education at the baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral levels shapes the profession’s future through the education of competent professionals, the generation of knowledge, the promotion of evidence-informed practice through scientific inquiry, and the exercise of leadership. Social work education prepares competent policy practitioners to develop socially responsible policy, address the policy implications of their work, and implement strategies that result in a more engaged public and better-educated policymakers to address inequalities and inequities.
Social workers share a commitment to promoting social welfare, helping people of all backgrounds overcome their unique challenges, advocating for social and economic justice for all members of the community, and embodying a professional code of ethics” (CSWE, 2022).
Professional social workers are found in a wide variety of settings including schools, hospitals, mental health clinics, senior centers, elected office, private practices, prisons, military, corporations, and in numerous public and private agencies that serve individuals and families in need. They often specialize in one or more of the following practice areas:
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Psychiatric Social Work (mental health centers, medical hospitals, psychiatric hospitals)
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Child welfare (abuse and neglect; adoption, foster care)
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Alcohol and drug abuse, addictions, substance abuse treatment centers
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Medical Social Work (inpatient and outpatient hospitals, health clinics, specialty clinics)
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School Social Work (public or private schools K-12)
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Geriatric facilities (nursing homes, home health, Alzheimer's units)
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Military & Veterans services (United States & International)
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Hospice & Palliative Care (end of life care)
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International Social Work (United Nations, WHO - global social work; economic stress; liberation, community organizing)
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Forensic Social Work (jails, prisons, courts, public defenders, district attorney, alternative defense, specialty courts)
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Clinical - Private Practice (therapist, mental health, addictions, family, divorce)
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Trauma and Violence (combat, sexual violence, human trafficking, refugee, natural disaster)
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Police Department (co-responder, crisis intervention, therapist)
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Community Organizing
Important Information about this program:
- The MSW program has two tracks: Foundation and Advanced Standing.
- MSW Foundation Program is open to all students who have completed a bachelor's degree from an accredited university. This is a two-year program that requires 74 credits with 1050 hours of practicum/internship training.
- MSW Advanced Standing is open to all students who have completed a Bachelor Social Work degree from a CSWE accredited university within the last five years. This is a one-year program and requires 44 credits with 600 hours of internship training.
- The MSW is a degree that allows for licensure in all 50 states.
- MSW Program Acceptance required prior to enrollment. Please see the program website for specific admission requirements.
All CMU masters-level graduates are expected to demonstrate proficiency in specialized knowledge/applied learning, quantitative fluency, communication fluency, critical thinking, information literacy, and ethical reasoning. In addition to these campus-wide student learning outcomes, a graduate of this program will be able to:
- Demonstrate Ethical and Professional Behavior\ \ Demonstrate ethical decisions making by applying the standards of the NASW Code of Ethics, relevant laws and regulations, models for ethical decision-making, ethical conduct of research, and additional codes of ethics as appropriate to the context; demonstrate professional demeanor in behavior; appearance; and oral, written, and electronic communication; manage personal and professional value conflicts and affective reactions; use technology ethically and appropriately to facilitate practice outcomes; and use supervision and consultation to guide professional judgment and behavior. (Applied Learning, Communication Fluency, Critical Thinking, Ethical Reasoning)\
- Engage in Anti-Racism, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Practice\ \ Demonstrate anti-racist social work practice at the individual, family, group, organizational, community, research, and policy levels, informed by the theories and voices of those who have been marginalized; demonstrate cultural humility applying critical reflexivity, self-awareness, and self-regulation to manage the influence of bias, power, privilege, and values in working with clients and constituencies acknowledging them as experts of their own lived experiences. (Specialized Knowledge/Applied Learning, Communication Fluency, Critical Thinking, Information Literacy, Ethical Reasoning)\
- Advance Human Rights and Social, Racial, Economic, and Environmental Justice\ \ Advocate for human rights at the individual and system levels; and \ engage in practices that advance social, racial, economic, and environmental justice for equal justice and the dismantling of structural racism and oppression. (Specialized Knowledge/Applied Learning, Communication Fluency, Critical Thinking, Information Literacy, Ethical Reasoning)\ \
- Engage in Practice Informed Research and Research informed Practice\ \ Apply research findings to inform and improve practice, policy, and programs; and identify strategies for use of quantitative and qualitative methods of research to advance the purposes of social work. (Quantitative Fluency, Critical Thinking, Information Literacy)\ \
- Engage in Policy Practice\ \ Assess how social welfare policies affect the delivery of and access to social services; and apply critical thinking to analyze, formulate, and advocate for policies that advance human rights and social, racial, economic, and environmental justice. (Applied Learning, Communication Fluency, Critical Thinking, Ethical Reasoning\
- Engage with Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities\ \ Apply knowledge of human behavior and person-in-environment, and other multidisciplinary theoretical frameworks to engage with clients and constituencies; and use empathy, reflection, and interpersonal skills to effectively engage diverse clients and constituencies. (Applied Learning, Communication Fluency, Critical Thinking, Information Literacy)\
- Assess with Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities\ \ Apply knowledge of human behavior and person-in-environment and other culturally responsive multidisciplinary theoretical frameworks when assessing clients and constituencies; and demonstrate respect for client self-determination during the assessment process collaborating with clients and constituencies in developing mutually agreed-on goals. (Specialized Knowledge, Applied Learning, Communication Fluency, Critical Thinking, Ethical Reasoning)\ \
- Intervene with Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities\ \ Engage with clients and constituencies to critically choose and implement culturally responsive, evidenced-based interventions to achieve mutually agreed-on practice goals and enhance capacities of clients and constituencies; and incorporate culturally responsive methods to negotiate, mediate, and advocate, with and on behalf of clients and constituencies. (Specialized Knowledge, Applied Learning, Communication Fluency, Critical Thinking, ethical Reasoning)\
- Evaluate with Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities\ \ Select and use appropriate methods for evaluation of outcomes; and critically analyze outcomes and apply evaluation findings to improve practice effectiveness with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities. (Specialized Knowledge, Applied Learning, Quantitative Fluency, Communication Fluency, Critical Thinking, Ethical Reasoning)\
Each section below contains details about the requirements for this program. Select a header to expand the information/requirements for that particular section of the program's requirements.
To print or save an overview of this program's information, including the program description, learning outcomes, requirements, suggested course sequencing (if applicable), and advising and graduation information, scroll to the bottom of the left-hand navigation menu and select "Print Options." This will give you the options to either "Send Page to Printer" or "Download PDF of This Page." The "Download PDF of This Page" option prepares a much more concise presentation of all program information. The PDF is also printable and may be preferable due to its brevity.
Institutional Degree Requirements
The following institutional requirements apply to all CMU graduate-level degrees. Specific programs may have different requirements that must be met in addition to institutional requirements.
- Graduate certificates consist of a minimum of 5 credit hours. Master’s degrees consist of a minimum of 30 credit hours. Doctoral degrees consist of a minimum of 60 credit hours.
- All credits in a graduate program must be minimally at the 500-level.
- At least fifty percent of the credit hours must be taken at CMU.
- Students must achieve a 3.00 cumulative GPA or higher in all CMU coursework.
- Students may not apply coursework with a grade lower than a “B” toward graduation requirements.
- A course may only be used to fulfill one requirement for each degree/certificate.
- Capstone exit assessment/projects (e.g., Major Field Achievement Test) requirements are identified under Program-Specific Requirements.
- The Catalog Year determines which program sheet and certificate requirements a student must fulfill in order to graduate. Visit with your advisor or academic department to determine which catalog year and program requirements you should follow.
- See “Graduate Degree Requirements” in this catalog for a complete list of graduation requirements.
- All policies for graduate degrees are outlined in the Graduate Policies and Procedures Manual, Capstone Guidelines Manual, and Thesis and Dissertation Guidelines Manual, all of which are provided on the Graduate Studies website.
Specific to this degree:
- MSW program acceptance required prior to enrollment. See the program website for specific admissions requirements.
- MSW in Social Work: Foundation program is open to all bachelor degrees from an accredited university. This program requires a completion of 74 credit hours and 1050 hours of practicum/internship. This is a two year program.
- Students must successfully pass all didactic and field education requirements.
- All courses and course sequencing are required and must be completed at CMU or through applicable transfer credit.
Program Specific Requirements
74 Semester Hours required for the degree.
| Code | Title | Semester Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| SOWK 510 | History and Philosophy of Social Work | 3 |
| SOWK 511 | Human Behavior and Social Environment | 3 |
| SOWK 512 | Social Justice in Social Work Practice | 3 |
| SOWK 513 | Social Work Theory and Practice with Individuals and Families | 3 |
| SOWK 514 | Social Work Theory and Practice with Groups, Organizations, and Communities | 3 |
| SOWK 515 | Social Work Policy and Practice | 3 |
| SOWK 516 | Psychopathology for Social Work Practice | 3 |
| SOWK 521 | Advanced Ethical, Legal, and Professional Issues in Social Work Practice | 3 |
| SOWK 522 | Clinical Supervision and Leadership in Social Work Practice | 3 |
| SOWK 523 | Advanced Social Work Practice with Individuals and Families | 3 |
| SOWK 524 | Advanced Social Work Practice with Groups, Organizations, and Communities | 3 |
| SOWK 525 | Social Work Research and Program Evaluation | 3 |
| SOWK 526 | Advanced Psychopathology for Social Work Practice | 3 |
| SOWK 594A | Field Education: Foundation Seminar I | 1 |
| SOWK 594B | Field Education: Foundation Seminar II | 1 |
| SOWK 594C | Field Education: Advanced Seminar I | 1 |
| SOWK 594D | Field Education: Advanced Seminar II | 1 |
| SOWK 597A | Field Education: Social Work Practicum I | 5 |
| SOWK 597B | Field Education: Social Work Practicum II | 5 |
| SOWK 599A | Field Education: Social Work Internship I | 6 |
| SOWK 599B | Field Education: Social Work Internship II | 6 |
| Choose 3 courses from the following: | 9 | |
| Trauma Informed Practice | ||
| Restorative Justice and Social Work | ||
| Substance Abuse: Assessment, Interventions, and Treatment | ||
| Crisis Intervention and Social Work | ||
| Global Relations and International Social Work | ||
| Topics | ||
| Total Semester Credit Hours | 74 | |
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall Semester | Semester Credit Hours | |
| SOWK 510 | History and Philosophy of Social Work | 3 |
| SOWK 511 | Human Behavior and Social Environment | 3 |
| SOWK 513 | Social Work Theory and Practice with Individuals and Families | 3 |
| SOWK 594A | Field Education: Foundation Seminar I | 1 |
| SOWK 597A | Field Education: Social Work Practicum I | 5 |
| Semester Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| SOWK 512 | Social Justice in Social Work Practice | 3 |
| SOWK 514 | Social Work Theory and Practice with Groups, Organizations, and Communities | 3 |
| SOWK 515 | Social Work Policy and Practice | 3 |
| SOWK 516 | Psychopathology for Social Work Practice | 3 |
| SOWK 594B | Field Education: Foundation Seminar II | 1 |
| SOWK 597B | Field Education: Social Work Practicum II | 5 |
| Semester Credit Hours | 18 | |
| Summer Semester | ||
| Choose 3 courses from the following: | 9 | |
| Trauma Informed Practice | ||
| Restorative Justice and Social Work | ||
| Substance Abuse: Assessment, Interventions, and Treatment | ||
| Crisis Intervention and Social Work | ||
| Global Relations and International Social Work | ||
| Topics | ||
| Semester Credit Hours | 9 | |
| Second Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| SOWK 523 | Advanced Social Work Practice with Individuals and Families | 3 |
| SOWK 524 | Advanced Social Work Practice with Groups, Organizations, and Communities | 3 |
| SOWK 526 | Advanced Psychopathology for Social Work Practice | 3 |
| SOWK 594C | Field Education: Advanced Seminar I | 1 |
| SOWK 599A | Field Education: Social Work Internship I | 6 |
| Semester Credit Hours | 16 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| SOWK 521 | Advanced Ethical, Legal, and Professional Issues in Social Work Practice | 3 |
| SOWK 522 | Clinical Supervision and Leadership in Social Work Practice | 3 |
| SOWK 525 | Social Work Research and Program Evaluation | 3 |
| SOWK 594D | Field Education: Advanced Seminar II | 1 |
| SOWK 599B | Field Education: Social Work Internship II | 6 |
| Semester Credit Hours | 16 | |
| Total Semester Credit Hours | 74 | |
Advising Process and DegreeWorks
Documentation on the pages related to this program is intended for informational purposes to help determine what courses and associated requirements are needed to earn a degree. Some courses are critical to complete in specific semesters while others may be moved around. Meeting with an academic advisor is essential in planning courses and discussing the suggested course sequencing. It is ultimately the student’s responsibility to understand and fulfill the requirements for their intended degree.
DegreeWorks is an online degree audit tool available in MAVzone. It is the official record used by the Registrar’s Office to evaluate progress towards a certificate and determine eligibility for graduation. Students are responsible for reviewing their DegreeWorks audit on a regular basis and should discuss questions or concerns with their advisor or academic department head. Discrepancies in requirements should be reported to the Registrar’s Office.
Graduation Process
Students must complete the following in the first two months of the semester prior to completing their degree requirements:
- Review their DegreeWorks audit and create a plan that outlines how unmet requirements will be met in the final semester.
- Meet with their advisor and modify their plan as needed. The advisor must approve the final plan.
- Submit the “Intent to Graduate” form to the Registrar’s Office to officially declare the intended graduation date and commencement ceremony plans.
- Register for all needed courses and complete all requirements for each degree sought.
Submission deadlines and commencement details can be found on the Graduation web page.
If a student's petition for graduation is denied, it will be their responsibility to apply for graduation in a subsequent semester. A student's “Intent to Graduate” does not automatically move to a later graduation date.