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School of Social Work
S I U - Carbondale
Carbondale,IL 62901-4329
Phone (618) 453-2243
   
 

The Graduate Program


The Graduate Program in Social Work

The Master of Social Work (M.S.W.) degree program offers preparation for advanced professional social work practice. The organizing principle of the M.S.W. Program is the improvement of the quality of individual life through the enhancement of social and economic justice and opportunity. Upon completion of the M.S.W. Program, the student will have acquired knowledge, values, and skills consistent with the social work profession and will be capable ultimately of engaging in autonomous social work practice. Graduates with such preparation will be able to effectively deliver the social services needed to meet human needs in both urban and rural areas.

Students in the first year of the program take the foundation curriculum which consists of 30 semester hours. The second year curriculum is organized around the following areas of emphasis: health/mental health; and children, youth, and families. The school also offers course work in preparation for School Social Work Type 73 Certification by the Illinois State Board of Education. Applicants must indicate their preference of area of emphasis. Although we attempt to accommodate each applicant's first preference for a second-year emphasis, we do not guarantee that individuals will receive their first choice in field practicum assignment.

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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:

  • Meet all admission requirements set forth by the Graduate School.
  • Have a GPA of at least 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale) in the last two years of undergraduate course work.
  • Show evidence of a broad liberal arts base with substantial preparation in the social and behavioral sciences and the humanities.
  • Demonstrate content in human biology and introductory statistics.
  • International students must have a TOEFL score of 550 (paper)/220 (computer) or above.

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:

  1. SOCW 502
  2. SOCW 512
  3. SOCW 522

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 2010. 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

  • February 1 for the advanced standing program
  • March 15 for the regular two-year program

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

Fall     Spring    
SOCW 500 3 HBSE SOCW 511 3 SW Research
SOCW 501 3 Generalist Practice SOCW 521 3 Social Welfare Policy
SOCW 504 2 Ethnic Diversity SOCW 531 3 Psycosocial Disorders
SOCW 510 3 Family,Groups,and Organizational Systems SOCW 542A 2 Practicum/Seminar II
SOCW 541A 2 Practicum/Seminar I SOCW 542B 2 Found. Practicum II
SOCW 541B 2 Found. Practicum I XXX 2 Elective
  15 Credit Hours   15 Credit Hours

Advanced Standing
Transition Courses

Summer    
SOCW 502 3 Perspectives on Human Behavior
SOCW 512 3 Research Design/Theory Building
SOCW 522 3 Social Welfare Policy
  9 Credit Hours


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

Fall     Spring    
SOCW 543A 2 Practicum/Smnr I SOCW 532 3 Evaluation Research
SOCW 543B 4 Adv. Practicum I SOCW 544A 2 Practicum Smnr II
SOCW 551 3 H/MH Practice I SOCW 544B 4 Practicum/Seminar II
SOCW 555 3 Adv. Policy: H/MH SOCW 552 3 H/MH Practice II
XXX 3 Elective XXX 3 Elective
  15 Credit Hours   15 Credit Hours

Children, Youth, and Families

Fall     Spring    
SOCW 543A 2 Practicum/Smnr I SOCW 532 3 Evaluation Research
SOCW 543B 4 Adv. Practicum I SOCW 544A 2 Practicum Smnr II
SOCW 561 3 CY & F Practice I SOCW 544B 4 Adv. Practicum II
SOCW 565 6 Adv. Policy: CY & F SOCW 562 3 CY & F Practice II
XXX 3 Elective XXX 3 Elective
  15 Credit Hours   15 Credit Hours

 

Certification in School Social Work

  • Those students who wish to qualify for certification in school social work need to complete the core courses listed above under the children, youth and families emphasis.
    In addition take:
  • —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 543-6 & SOCW 544-6) 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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