MSW Course Descriptions

Foundation Year Courses

5221 Introduction to the Profession
Prerequisite(s): Admission to the Master of Social Work program.
      History and development of the social work profession, social work values and ethics, foundations of knowledge, and fields of practice with systems of all sizes.

5561 Professional Practice with Individuals and Families
Prerequisite(s): Minimum grade of C or concurrent enrollment in SWO 5221; or a minimum grade of C in SWO 5122.
      Knowledge, values and skills needed for working with individuals and families.

5362 Professional Practice with Groups
Prerequisite(s): A minimum grade of B or concurrent enrollment in SWO 5561.
      Knowledge, values and skills needed for working with groups.

5491 Foundation Internship I
Prerequisite(s): A minimum grade of C in SWO 5122 or a minimum grade of C or concurrent enrollment in SWO 5221; and a minimum grade of B or concurrent enrollment in both SWO 5362 and SWO 5561.
      Orientation and introduction to field internship, at least 240 hours and applied learning in the field, and an integrative seminar. Fee: $50. 

5381 Research for Social Work Practice
Prerequisite(s): A minimum grade of C in SWO 5221 or a minimum grade of C in SWO 5122.
      Critical evaluation and use of research and conducting research in one's on professional practice.

5463 Professional Practice with Communities and Organizations
Prerequisite(s): SWO 5561 and 5362.
      Knowledge, values, and skills needed for working with communities and organizations.

5322 Social Policy for Social Work Practice
Prerequisite(s): SWO 5221.
      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.

5492 Foundation Internship II
Prerequisite(s): B or higher in SWO 5362, 5491, and 5561; and credit or concurrent enrollment in SWO 5463, 5381, and 5322.
      Additional 240 hours of field experience; continuation of SWO 5491. Includes more sophisticated social work practice opportunities and expectations. Fee: $50. 

Advanced Standing Seminar

5301 Advanced Practice Readiness
Prerequisite(s): Admission into the Master of Social Work program.
      This course prepares students for entrance into Baylor's Advanced standing MSW Program. Introduces the mission of the program with an emphasis on integrated faith and social work practice, the strengths perspective and building communities. Overviews the professional foundation to include human behavior and the social environment and social work practice with individuals, families, groups, communities, and organizations. 

Advanced Year Courses

5337 Advanced Clinical Theories and Models
Prerequisite(s): SWO 5301; or B or better in SWO 5492; or B or better in SWO 4492.
      Prepares students learn and apply developmental, sociological, psychological, and therapeutic theories to the needs of individuals, families, groups, and communities. The course explores advanced clinical theories and empirically informed and emerging models for practice.

5379 Advanced Clinical Practice: Individuals, Families, and Groups
Prerequisite(s): Credit or concurrent enrollment in SWO 5337.
      Prepares students with specialized knowledge and skills for advanced clinical practice within a broad array of practice contexts. Uses social work knowledge, skills, and values to prepare students to assess and intervene at the levels of individual, family, and group with some discussion of organizational and community practice. The course provides an overview of major theoretical clinical practice models.

5376 Advanced Clinical Practice: Health Settings
Prerequisite(s): B or better in SWO 5379 or concurrent enrollment in SWO 5379.
      Prepares students with specialized application of theory, models, and skills for advanced clinical practice within health practice contexts. Uses social work knowledge, skills, and values to prepare students to assess and intervene at the levels of individual, family, and group in health care settings. A grade of B or better must be received in this course in order to complete requirements for the master’s degree. 

5377 Advanced Clinical Practice: Children and Families
Prerequisite(s): B or better in SWO 5379 or concurrent enrollment in SWO 5379.
      Emphasizes application of theory, models, and skills in contexts of practice with children and families. Includes instruction on models and theories and the impact of crisis and trauma on the family. Exposes students to a variety of themes in child and family practice such as grief, levels of need, strengths, and collaborative work. A grade of B or better must be received in this course in order to complete requirements for the master’s degree. 

5335 Frameworks and Perspectives for Community Practice
Prerequisite(s): SWO 5301; or B or better in SWO 5492; or B or better in SWO 4492.
     Guides advanced practice social workers in the evaluation and selection of frameworks for community change. Emphasizes values, professional role, and cultural influences on how change is envisioned, enacted, and evaluated. 

5375 Advanced Practice I: Community Practice
Prerequisite(s): Credit or concurrent enrollment in SWO 5335.
      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. 

5378 Advanced Practice II: Community Practice
Prerequisite(s): B or better in SWO 5375.
      Continuation of 5375. 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. A grade of B or better must be received in this course in order to complete requirements for the master’s degree.

5323 Administrative Practice in Social Work
Prerequisite(s): SWO 5322; or SWO 5301; or B or better in SWO 4492.
      Administrative Practice in Social Work prepares students to perform managerial functions in public, nonprofit, and faith-based human service organizations with particular emphasis on those with programs designed to improve human wellness. Specific attention is given to the topics of leadership, human resources, fund raising, organization development, structure and governance, resource management, and efforts to link human service organizations in an integrated community-wide service delivery system. 

5282 Evaluation of Practice I
Prerequisite(s): SWO 5301, credit or concurrent enrollment, or 5381 or B or better in SWO 4492, and credit or concurrent enrollment in 5375 or 5379.
      Selection and implementation of outcome-based, evaluation of practice protocols to inform intervention decisions by advanced practice social workers.

5494 Part I Advanced Internship
Prerequisite(s):SWO 5301, or B or better in 5492, or B or better in SWO 4492; and credit or concurrent enrollment in SWO 5337 or 5335; and credit or concurrent enrollment in SWO 5379 or 5375.
      Introduction and first of two semesters of the advanced internship in a specified area of specialization. Fee: $50. 

5490 Part II Advanced Internship
Prerequisite(s): Credit in 5335 or 5337; and a minimum grade of B (3.0) in SWO 5494; and a minimum grade of B (3.0) in SWO 5379 or 5375; and credit or concurrent enrollment in SWO 5376, 5377, or 5378; and credit or concurrent enrollment in SWO 5323.
      Second of two semesters of the advanced internship in a specified area of specialization. Fee: $50. 

5283 Evaluation of Practice II
Prerequisite(s): SWO 5282.
      Selection and implementation of outcome-based, program evaluation protocols to inform intervention decisions by advanced practice social workers.

5298 Capstone
Prerequisite(s): Credit or concurrent enrollment in SWO 5490, and credit or concurrent enrollment in SWO 5283.
      Integrative seminar to demonstrate readiness to practice social work at an advanced level in the student's area of specialization. A grade of B or better must be received in this course in order to complete requirements for the master’s degree.