School of Science and Technology

Department of Social Work and Social Ecology

Advanced standing

Course transfers
Practicum advanced standing
Course descriptions and syllabi

The MSW degree program does not admit students with advanced standing. Rather, it recognizes the knowledge and skills of individuals who have received a baccalaureate degree from an accredited social work program within the last five (5) years. This recognition acknowledges that the candidate may have already met the proficiency outcomes expected of MSW degree students who have completed the foundation curriculum. Such candidates may transfer up to 30 course units of first-year coursework and reduce the MSW practicum requirement by 280 hours. Criterion for course transfers is available through the department.

The curriculum for students who are granted course transfers still requires two academic years of residency. The students will have additional time to complete their thesis or advanced research coursework for socialization into the profession as well as opportunity to take advantage of the rich interdisciplinary options available at Loma Linda University.

Students may petition to accelerate the completion of the MSW degree with a minimum of four quarters in full-time residence. The unit load for each of these quarters cannot exceed 15 units, and students are not allowed to transfer foundation courses when content is required by California state law. In addition, students who have difficulty applying foundation skills in their practicum may have course transfers revoked or denied.

Course transfers

Courses with grades of 3.3 (on a 4.0 scale) or better are eligible for transfer to the MSW Program. In addition, course transfers are influenced by assessment of quantitative and qualitative content equivalents. As such, it is the responsibility of students to submit a course syllabus from the BSW program where each course was completed. The syllabus must clearly indicate that it was the syllabus in use at the time the student completed the course. Students having difficulty obtaining syllabi from their BSW alma mater should contact the Academic Standards Committee for assistance. Consideration is given for university/college variations stemming from semester and quarter systems. The specific foundation courses eligible for transfer are:

** If the course content of the Research Methods I and II is determined to be closely aligned with the courses taken in the BSW program, the student will be eligible to receive transfer credit for those courses once they have taken and received a passing grade on the course specific equivalency exams.

In cases where students report that their BSW grades do not accurately reflect their mastery of knowledge, or there is disagreement with the depth and breadth equivalency to the MSW Program, students may choose to take a comprehensive equivalency exam.

All transfer requests must be completed prior to beginning any course work as the transfer courses establish the basis for advisement. Students are required to register for all foundation courses for which they have not obtained a transfer equivalent. No exceptions.
Steps for transferring courses
    1. Confirm your acceptance into the MSW Program.

    2. Fill out the course transfer worksheet: BSW course transfer worksheet

    3. Fill out the petition for academic variance form for each course you wish to transfer. Make sure you indicate the grade you received for the course.

    4. Submit the petition for academic variance forms with attached syllabi to Wendy Hoopes (e-mail), Assistant to the Chair for Academic Standards.
Practicum advanced standing

Practicum advanced standing is contingent upon successful evaluation of practice maturity. For determination of practice maturity, students must successfully pass a qualifying exam. Passing this qualifying examination demonstrates the applicant's practice maturity.

In addition to the examination, students are asked to sign a release of information form permitting a Practicum Advanced Standing Evaluation to be completed by the student's bachelor of social work program. Student's undergraduate field instructors from the primary practicum sites (if more than one) are also asked to complete this evaluation. The combination of these three measures (the qualifying exam and the two practice assessment forms) makes up the primary determinants of practice maturity and the student's eligibility for receiving a practicum advanced standing designation.

Students who are granted practicum advanced standing automatically achieve transfer of the following courses:

SOWK 757A Professional Practicum and Seminar (160 hours transferred)

SOWK 757B Professional Practicum and Seminar (160 hours transferred)

SOWK 757C Professional Practicum and Seminar (160 hours transferred)

The second-year practicum is then completed in four quarters (800 practicum hours plus 80 hours of seminar) in one setting. Students must start the advanced practicum experience in the summer quarter and end in the spring quarter.
Steps to take if applying for Practicum Advanced Standing:

All of the steps below must be completed before May 1st.
      1. Submit the following documents to the director of field education:
        1. Release of information, enabling the department to contact your BSW director of field education if necessary.
        2. Letters of reference from your BSW director of field education and a previous field instructor. The Field Committee will review these letters to evaluate your practice competency.
        3. Copies of field placement outcome evaluations.

      2. Contact Wendy Hoopes (e-mail) to schedule a time to take the qualifying exam.

      In anticipation of a successful application for practicum advanced standing, the process of securing a field practicum needs to begin. Please fill out the following forms and submit them to the director of field education:


    Individuals who do not receive practicum advanced standing are regarded as regular, full- or part-time students and must complete all first- and second-year practicum requirements. Students who do not receive practicum advanced standing are still eligible for course transfers as deemed appropriate. Although course transfers may reduce a student's     course load, all students must attend an on-campus field seminar while in practicum, thus assuring the continued integration of course and practicum content.

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