MSW Specializations
Our innovative and holistic program provides two areas for MSW students to specialize. Students choose from a specialization in Community or Clinical Practice. The clinical specialization is designed for those who wish to work one-on-one with clients, families, and groups, providing case management, counseling, mental health care, and more. The community specialization prepares students for macro social work practice with organizations and communities. Students in both specializations have unique internship experiences supporting their chosen specialization.
Clinical Practice Specialization: Micro/Mezzo Social Work
Clinical practice specialization - this specialization prepares students for advanced social work practice in multiple clinical settings, often working with interdisciplinary teams. This specialization is designed for those who wish to work one-on-one with clients, families, and groups, providing case management, counseling, mental health care, and more. Students apply evidence-based practice theories and models in advanced clinical practice settings. Students who choose this track often move on to careers in healthcare, schools, behavioral health organizations, trauma intervention, advanced case management, work with children and families, and more.
Learn about— DSM-V assessment | Develop skills to work in— Hospitals and primary care clinics |
A sampling of social work courses for Clinical Practice students
5320 Human Diversity & Social Justice
This course provides foundational content to better understand how diversity and difference shape the human experience and are critical to the formation of identity. Dimensions of intersectionality are explored and examined considering privilege and marginalization. Students will learn to identify structural mechanisms of oppression as well as strategies for interrupting systems of power to create equity and inclusion in professional and community contexts.
5361 Social Work Practice with Individuals and Families
In this course, students practice skill development by applying the steps of the generalist intervention model (engagement, assessment, planning, intervention, evaluation, and termination/transition) to create diversity-sensitive care management plans for individuals and families.
5338 Clinical Diagnosis in Social Work
This course utilizes a strengths-based social work perspective to examine common diagnoses of the American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, associated assessment tools and areas for professional, ethical and cultural consideration in the diagnostic process.
5370 Clinical Social Work Practice I
This course prepares students with specialized knowledge of theories and practice models and skills for advanced clinical practice within a broad array of practice contexts. Students learn to assess and intervene at the levels of individual, family, and group with some discussion of organizational and community practice. A grade of B or better must be received in this course to complete the requirements for the master’s degree.
Download Competencies and Practice Behaviors
Community Practice Specialization: Macro Social Work
Community practice specialization - this specialization prepares students for working with public and/or nonprofit organizations, communities, congregations, and religiously affiliated agencies. Students learn to apply evidence-informed and asset-based community practice frameworks and methods of intervention to develop responsive human resource systems, sustainable physical and social environments, and just public and institutional policies.
| Learn about— Planning, organizing and development theories and practice Practice skills implementation through team-based learning Assets and needs assessment and intervention Community-based research and advocacy Negotiation and facilitation Engagement of stakeholders, and more | Develop skills to work in— Public, nonprofit organizations and NGOs Child and elder social service agencies Refugee and immigration centers Neighborhoods and communities Religiously affiliated agencies and congregations Government, and more |
A sampling of social work courses for Community Practice students
5320 Human Diversity & Social Justice
This course provides foundational content to better understand how diversity and difference shape the human experience and are critical to the formation of identity. Dimensions of intersectionality are explored and examined considering privilege and marginalization. Students will learn to identify structural mechanisms of oppression as well as strategies for interrupting systems of power to create equity and inclusion in professional and community contexts.
5363 Social Work Practice with Communities & Organizations
This course prepares students for ethical and effective social work practice with communities and organizations. Students will learn models and skills that relate to macro social work Practice. A grade of B or better must be received in this course to complete the requirements for the master’s degree.
5322 Social Policy for Social Work Practice
Introduces the historical context of social policy and services in the United States, the analysis of current developments, and how social work influence social welfare policy and provide social services.
5375 Community Social Work Practice I
Prepares advanced practice social workers to promote community problem-solving and development. Emphasizes community assets; leadership development; and change strategy selection, enactment, and evaluation. Focuses on congregations and religiously affiliated organizations as agents of community change.