Department of Social Work and Social Ecology
Combined degree program: PhD in social policy and social research / MSW in social work
Purpose
The combined MSW/PhD program at Loma Linda University provides students with the opportunity to learn the professional skills of social work simultaneous with advanced theory and research study. The combined program makes it possible for a more efficient completion of two graduate degrees for students with strong interests in social policy, social research, and social work practice. Students who complete this combined program will be prepared to make significant contributions to the field of social policy and social work education. Graduates will be able to provide leadership to social work practice and social policy areas. Participants in the combined program will utilize the important resource networks within the University and those affiliated organizations working on solutions to significant social problems.
Admissions
To enter the combined program, students are required to gain separate acceptance to the PhD and MSW programs. Students admitted to the MSW program may subsequently apply to the PhD program and be admitted to the combined degree program. Students will complete all of the core requirements and the approved electives for both degrees by taking courses in social work and social policy approved by their respective graduate advisors. All other degree requirements, such as comprehensive examinations and dissertation would be completed as prescribed in each program.
Prerequisites
Students entering the combined degree program must meet the undergraduate preparation required for admission to the MSW program. In addition, students must demonstrate computer proficiency using the statistical package for social sciences. Students can take a course at LLU in order to meet this prerequisite requirement.
Staging
All students in the combined degree program are designated as primary MSW students during the first year of their study. Students admitted to advanced MSW standing complete the MSW degree after the first year and are advanced to the PhD program during their second year of study. Students normally completing their MSW in two years are usually advanced to the PhD program beginning with their third year of study.
Program of study
The expected time to complete the combined degree (MSW / PhD) is four years--Three years of course work, one year of research, and the doctoral dissertation. Most students receive the MSW after the first two years; however, advanced standing students may receive the MSW after only one year of study.
Social work curriculum for the MSW
Cognates
RELE 522 Bioethics for Social Work (4)
GSCJ 515 Graduate Research Writing (2)Sequence I Human behavior and cross-cultural environment
SOWK 511 Human Behavior in a Cross-cultural Environment I (3)
SOWK 512 Human Behavior and Cross-cultural Environment II (3)Sequence II Social welfare policy and services
SOWK 515 Social Policy I (3)
SOWK 615 Social Policy II (3)Sequence III Research
(The research requirement for the MSW is met by the PhD research sequence)Sequence IV Practice
SOWK 517 Foundation Practice I: Individuals (3)
SOWK 518 Foundation Practice II: Groups (3)
SOWK 519 Foundation Practice III: Organizations and Communities (3)
SOWK 520 Foundation Practice IV: Families (3)
SOWK 671 Foundation Practice V: Social Work Administration (3)Sequence V Field practicum
SOWK 500 Professional Colloquium
SOWK 578 Field Orientation (1)
SOWK 587 Field Practicum and SeminarConjoining
SOWK 613 Human Behavior in a Cross-cultural Environment III (3)
SOWK 660 Advanced Theory and Practice for Working with Ethnically Diverse Clients (3)
SOWK 682 Legal and Ethical Aspects of Health and Mental Health (3)Advanced
SOWK 600 Advanced Professional Colloquium
SOWK 687 Advanced Practicum and SeminarAdvanced research requirement is met by the PhD research sequence
Concentration core:
SOWK 676A Human Resources Planning and Development Seminar (3)
SOWK 672 Advanced Practice in Organizations and Systems (3)
SOWK 673 Program Planning and Evaluation (3)
SOWK 683 Advanced Policy Analysis (3)Supervision
SOWK 675 Supervision (3)PhD core courses that apply on the MSW:
Research 12 credits
SPOL 654 Qualitative Research Methods (4)
SPOL 655 Quantitative Research Methods (4)
PSYC 501 Advanced Statistics I (4)Selectives 8 credits selected from the following
SPOL 614 Social Science Concepts and Theories (4)
SPOL 615 Economic Theory and Social Policy (4)
SPOL 624 Nature/Society Thought and Social Policy (4)RELF 557 A Theology of Human Suffering (4)
RELE 558 Philosophical Ethics (4)
RELR 528 Christian Citizenship and Leadership (4)SPOL 664 Applied Research for Social Policy (2)
SPOL 665 Information Technology and Social Policy (2)Total 78 Units
Social policy and social research curriculum for the PhD
Social science
SPOL 614 Social Science Concepts and Theories (4)
SPOL 615 Economic Theory and Social Policy (4)
SPOL 624 Nature/Society Thought and Social Policy (4)Christian ethics
RELF 557 A Theology of Human Suffering (4)
RELR 528 Christian Citizenship and Leadership (4)Research
SPOL 654 Qualitative Research Methods (4)
SPOL 655 Quantitative Research Methods (4)
PSYC 501 Advanced Statistics I (4)
PSYC 502 Advanced Statistics II (4)
PSYC 503 Advanced Multivariate Statistics (2)
SPOL 664 Applied Research for Social Policy (2)
SPOL 665 Information Technology and Social Policy (2)SPOL 671,672,673 Research Orientation Seminar (2,2,2)
SPOL 681,682,683 Research Seminar (2,2,2)Dissertation
SPOL 697 Research (24)
SPOL 699 Dissertation (12)Social work core courses which apply on the PhD degree
RELE 522 Bioethics for Social Work (4)Students must select three (3) courses or nine (9) credits from the courses listed below. (9)
SOWK 672 Advanced Practice in Organizations and Systems
SOWK 673 Program Planning and Evaluation
SOWK 676A Human Resources Planning and Development
SOWK 676B Human Resources Planning and Development Seminar
SOWK 680 Children and Families Policies and Services
SOWK 681 Health and Mental Health Policy and Services
SOWK 682 Legal/Ethical Aspects in Health/Mental Health
SOWK 683 Advanced Policy Practice
SOWK 685 International Environment of Social WelfareMSW 78 unitsTotal 103
PhD 103 units
less 33 credits of shared units