Clinical Practice Specialization: Micro/Mezzo/Macro Social Work
The Clinical Practice 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. Graduates may become therapists or counselors working in direct practice, healthcare administration, and advanced case management.
As a social work student specializing in Clinical Practice, you will: make ethical decisions in complex clinical cases based on applicable law, regulations, and standards; advocate for clinical practices and policies that advance social, economic, and environmental justice; articulate and apply evidence-informed intervention to activate interpersonal, familial, and organizational change.
Download Competencies and Practice Behaviors
Learn about our social work Clinical Practice specialization from Dr. Helen Harris
Learn about—
DSM-V assessment
Counseling and therapy techniques
Medical care management
Crisis intervention
Conflict mediation
Cognitive behavioral and resiliency theories
Intervention practice models
Behavioral and emotional challenges
Abuse, neglect and exploitation
Parenting concerns
Marital discord
Addiction
Homelessness
School failure
Develop skills to work in—
Hospitals and primary care clinics
Health education programs
Long-term care facilities and hospice
Chemical dependency units
Mental health centers and facilities
Counseling agencies
Employee assistance programs
Public, private and faith-based schools
Child welfare and family service agencies
Residential settings for children and youth
Recreational and leisure agencies
Refugee and immigration centers
Juvenile justice systems
Shelters and churches
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.