The profession of social work centers on the improvement of the quality of life for people and the enhancement of human potential for full productive participation in society. With this philosophy at its core, the Master of Social Work Program offered by the School of Science and Technology emphasizes ecological systems, a perspective that focuses on the interaction of a person or system in relation to his/her environment. Reflecting this stance is Loma Linda University's philosophy, "To Make Man Whole," and its heritage as an international leader in the delivery of services in health care and related facilities. It is the combination of these influences that has guided the development of the foundation curriculum, professional concentrations, and selection of practicum sites for the Master of Social Work Program.
Mission
The mission of the Master of Social Work Program is to prepare competent, ethical, and compassionate social work professionals who will possess the knowledge, values, and skills to equip them for a dedicated life of advanced practice in health and mental health institutions and agencies.
Goals
The goals of the Master of Social Work Program are:
Accreditation
The Master of Social Work Program is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education to provide graduate-level social work education.
Graduate social work education builds on a broad liberal arts (general education) foundation. The program assesses the liberal arts foundation of students applying to the MSW degree program from two perspectives: *
1. Foundation concepts and/or skills in each of the following:
Interviewing and counseling (3)
Human biology (3)
Human growth and development* (3)
Cross-cultural issues (3)
Introductory statistics (3)
Unit values represent the quarter system of measurement. Content from multiple courses may be used to meet most requirements.
2. A balance of coursework in four liberal arts areas:
| Humanities (e.g., history, philosophy, literature, art, music, etc.) |
(20-24 units)
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| English and communication skills (e.g., oral and written communication media, etc.) |
(8-12 units)
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| Mathematics and natural sciences (e.g., mathematics, human biology, physiology, etc.) |
(12-16 units)
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| Social sciences (e.g., psychology, sociology, anthropology, human development, ethnic studies, economics, political science or government, etc.) |
(12-16 units)
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Students not meeting the minimum number of units in any of the foregoing areas are required to complete additional coursework prior to enrolling in the related MSW classes.
Table 1 outlines the time frame for completion of prerequisites. Note: All prerequisite requirements must be completed before advancement to candidacy (prior to beginning the advanced curriculum).
TABLE 1 SEQUENCING OF PREREQUISITE REQUIREMENTS
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Courses
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Course must be taken prior to enrolling in the following courses:
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Human biology
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Prior to SOWK 511, 512
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Human growth and development
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Prior to SOWK 511, 512
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Cross-cultural issues
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Prior to SOWK 511, 512
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Introductory statistics
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Prior to SOWK 549
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Interviewing and counseling
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Prior to SOWK 578 and 757A-C
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Following are the admission requirements for the Master of Social Work Program:
(a) the balance of coursework in four liberal arts areas and
(b) specific coursework considered preparatory to the program's foundation (first year) courses (see also Liberal Arts Requirements in MSW Student Handbook).
Applicants whose cumulative grade point average does not meet the minimum requirements stated above may receive further consideration for admission to the MSW program by providing a satisfactory GRE score or two years related employment experience. Work experience must be verified by employers' statements on official agency stationery.
No academic credit is given for life experience or previous work experience for any part for the Master of Social Work Program (i.e., field practicum or courses in the professional foundation or advanced curricula).
The 78-unit curriculum of the MSW degree program provides the mix of academic, experiential, and research experiences essential for MSW degree students. Students must maintain a program grade point average of 3.0 (or a letter grade of B on a 4.0 scale) and meet the knowledge, skill, and professional performance competencies outlined by the program. The minimum acceptable grade for required (core) courses is a B- (2.7). Grades in selective courses must be a minimum of a C (2.0). Courses with grades falling below the standards set for required and selective courses must be repeated. Students are financially responsible for the cost of repeating courses where grades obtained do not meet the minimum standards.
General overview
The program begins with the professional foundation content (first-year courses) common to all graduate social work education. Courses during this first year of study provide content in human behavior in a cross-cultural environment, social welfare policy and services, practice theory and skills, social research, and practica. These content areas are strengthened by the integration of social work values and ethics as well as knowledge of special populations (i.e., issues of gender, race, class, disability, and oppression).
Program options
Alternate program options have been designed to address the varying needs of students. As such, the program offers a full-time two-year option, a three-year part-time option, and a four-year part-time option.
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. This recognition indicates 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 280 hours of first-year field practicum. Criterion for course transfers is available through the department. The curriculum for students who are granted these 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, nor are students 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 regardless of their baccalaureate degree may have course transfers revoked or denied.
Transfer students
Individuals transferring from other accredited MSW degree programs may transfer units for didactic coursework in accordance with University policy. Field practicum experiences are nontransferable.
MSW degree advanced curriculum
The advanced curriculum of the program begins with coursework that supports integration of the foundational first year with the program's advanced curriculum. As part of the advanced curriculum, students take core courses required of all students and then select one of two concentrations.
PROFESSIONAL CONCENTRATIONS IN BEHAVIORAL HEALTH
The Social Work Program offers two concentrations for professional practice, which are the focus of the second year study: clinical practice; and policy, planning, and administration.
Clinical-practice concentration
The clinical-practice concentration requires mastery of advanced-practice roles, modes of intervention, and methods used in clinical health and mental health settings. Study includes the integration of clinical-practice theories, diagnostic assessment, problem-solving skills and techniques, as well as the impact of policy upon the availability of treatment, treatment modalities, and expectation of outcomes. Students’ experiences and knowledge are expanded through the selection of practicum sites and selectives concerning special population and problem areas. These include, but are not limited to, children at risk, geriatric dilemmas, mental disorders, substance abuse, and family conflict. The integration of cultural diversity as a factor guiding the analysis and intervention with clinical populations is incorporated into the totality of the concentration.
Policy, planning, and administration concentration
The policy, planning, and administration concentration is designed to prepare students for management roles in health and mental-health-care organizations. It focuses on giving students understanding and skill in:
In this way, students have an opportunity to integrate and explore health and mental-health practices and policies from their underlying value base and to explore the impact of cultural definitions on health, illness, and systems designs.
CENTRAL ACADEMIC PROCESSES AND COGNATES
Professional practica
Professional practica experiences (field practica) are regarded as an integral part of the MSW degree program because these offer students opportunities to integrate and apply theoretical and research knowledge with social work practice and intervention skills in institutional or agency settings. Practica are designed (and selected) to provide maximum learning opportunities under the supervision of a qualified field instructor. As such, experiences are patterned to build upon one another, presenting the increasing challenges present in the continuum of generalist to advanced social work practice. Students complete 21 units of professional practica--which includes 1,080 hours of field work in a qualified setting and 120 hours of concurrent integrated seminar for a total of 1,200 hours.
Emphasis during SOWK 757A,B,C Professional Foundation Practicum and Seminar (9 professional practica units requiring 480 hours of practicum and 60 hours of seminar) is placed on achieving generalist social work knowledge, values, and skills, including developing rapport with agency personnel and clients, acquiring interviewing skills, and obtaining beginning-level psychosocial assessment and intervention capabilities. The content of the concurrent seminar further supports this perspective as it provides students with opportunities to integrate their practicum experiences with their developing professional identity.
The SOWK 787A, B, C Advanced Professional Practicum and Seminar (12 units of professional practica units requiring 600 hours of practicum and 60 hours of seminar) reflect students' choice of concentration and provide the depth and breadth of learning opportunities that underpin the acquisition of advanced-practice capabilities. More specifically, advanced professional practica experiences are expected to promote increased insight and understanding of agency and/or client systems as these build on the professional foundation skills achieved during the first year of study.
Research
The MSW degree program includes completion of coursework in applied research. An individually authored thesis option is available for students meeting program criteria. These study options aim to develop knowledge for the advancement of social work practice and provide guided experiences in the conduct of research applicable to a variety of professional and academic settings. Guidelines for these options are provided by the School of Science and Technology and the department.
Professional foundation processes and cognates
Two academic review processes take place during the first year of the MSW degree program. These are:
Ultimately, the results of this review help both the student and faculty to develop learning objectives for the concentration year. A specific orientation is held to explain the expectations, format, and scheduling of the qualifying review process.
Advanced curriculum cognate--wholeness portfolio
All students complete a wholeness portfolio during SOWK 787A, B, C Advanced Professional Practicum and Seminar. This review of the student's individualized objectives and professional development during the second year of study--combined with a discussion of his/her plans for employment and further growth--is seen as a capstone academic experience that facilitates closure and the final stage of reflection and review in the development of a scholar-practitioner.
Professional foundation courses (40)
(required of all students)
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RELE 522
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Bioethics for Social Workers
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(4)
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STCJ 515
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Graduate Research Writing
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(3)
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SOWK 511
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Human Behavior in a Cross-cultural Environment I
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(3)
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SOWK 512
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Human Behavior in a Cross-cultural Environment II
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(3)
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SOWK 515
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Social Policy I
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(3)
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SOWK 615
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Social Policy II
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(3)
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SOWK 547
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Research Methods I
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(3)
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SOWK 549
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Research Methods II
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(3)
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SOWK 517
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Foundation Practice I: Individuals
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(3)
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SOWK 518
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Foundation Practice II: Groups
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(3)
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SOWK 519
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Foundation Practice III: Organizations & Communities
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(3)
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SOWK 520
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Foundation Practice IV: Families
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(3)
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SOWK 671
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Foundation Practice V: Social Work Administration
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(3)
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SOWK 578
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Field Orientation
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(1)
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Professional foundation cognates (required of all students)
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SOWK 757 A-C |
Professional Foundation Practicum & Seminar |
(3,3,3) |
[Professional practicum and seminar units not calculated into degree units. Students pay program fees for professional practicum units instead of tuition.]
Qualifying review
(required of all students following the completion of foundation courses and SOWK 757 A, B, C)
Advanced Curriculum (38)
(required of all students)
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SOWK 613
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Human Behavior in a Cross-cultural Environment III
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(3)
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SOWK 660
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Adv Theory & Practice with Ethnically Diverse Clients
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(3)
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SOWK 682
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Legal & Ethical Aspects of Health & Mental Health
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(3)
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SOWK 695A-C
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Advanced Research Methods
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(2, 2, 2)
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Thesis option is available for students meeting program criteria.
Policy selective (see selective options) (2)
General selectives (see selective options and restrictions) (2, 2, 2)
Concentrations
Students take courses in one of the following concentrations:
Clinical practice
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SOWK 661
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Time-Limited Services & Interventions
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(3)
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SOWK 663
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Advanced Social Work Practice with Individuals
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(3)
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SOWK 665
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Advanced Social Work Practice with Groups
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(3)
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SOWK 667
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Advanced Integrative Practice
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(3)
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SOWK 675
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Supervision
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(3)
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Policy, Planning, and Administration
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SOWK 672
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Advanced Organizations and Systems
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(3)
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SOWK 673
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Program Planning & Evaluation
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(3)
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SOWK 676A
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Human Resources Planning & Development
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(3)
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SOWK
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Human Resources Planning & Development Seminar
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(3)
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SOWK 683
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Advanced Policy Practice
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(3)
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Advanced curriculum cognates (required of all students)
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SOWK 787A-C
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Advanced Professional Practicum & Seminar
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(4, 4, 4)
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Professional practicum and seminar units not calculated into degree units. Students pay program fees for professional practicum units instead of tuition.
Wholeness portfolio (completed by all students during SOWK 787A, B, C.)
Selective courses
(All students take a total of 8 units of selectives, including a 2-unit policy selective. Students receiving specialized grant funding should check with program for additional requirements and/or restrictions on selective choices.)
Policy selective
(All students must take one of the following to meet the policy selective requirement.)
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SOWK 680
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Children and Families Policies and Services
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(2)
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SOWK 681
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Health and Mental Health Policies and Services
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(2)
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Students choose 6 units of selectives that support their concentration and areas of interest. Students choose selectives from the following categories.
Population groups
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SOWK 648
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Dual Diagnosis
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(2)
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SOWK 650
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Treatment with Children & Adolescents in Trauma
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(2)
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SOWK 652
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Social Problems with Minority Populations**
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(2)
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SOWK 653
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Interventions with Special Needs Children
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(2)
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SOWK 654
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Therapeutic Interventions with Older Adults
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(2)
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SOWK 658
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Children’s Psychotherapy
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(2)
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SOWK 659
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Intervention with the Chronically Mentally Ill
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(2)
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SOWK 666
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Women's Clinical Issues and Treatment**
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(2)
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SOWK 668
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Men's Clinical Issues and Treatment**
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(2)
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SOWK 669
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Child and Adolescent Clinical Issues and Treatment
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(2)
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SOWK 658
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Children's Psychotherapy
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(2)
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SOWK 659
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Interventions with the Chronically Mentally Ill
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(2)
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MFAM 638
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Family Therapy and Chemical Abuse
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(2)
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MFAM 664
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Family Therapy and Child Abuse
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(2)
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MFAM 658
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Reality Family Therapy
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(2)
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MFAM 665
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Structural Family Therapy
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(2)
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Problem Areas
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SOWK 649
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Social Work and health-care
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(2)
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SOWK 651
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Health-care Interventions with High-Risk Families & Communities
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(2)
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SOWK 656
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Religion and Spirituality in Direct Practice
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(2)
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SOWK 674
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Fiscal and Information Management**
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(2)
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SOWK 676B
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Human Resources Planning and Development Seminar
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(2)
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SOWK 680
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Children and Families Policies and Services
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(2)
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SOWK 681
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Health and Mental Health Policies and Services
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(2)
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SOWK 684
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Advanced Policy Project**
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(2)
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SOWK 685
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Public Policy and the Dynamics of Global Change
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(2)
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Note: Students wishing to take courses that are not included in the above list of approved selectives must obtain an academic variance through the department’s Academic Standards Committee prior to enrolling in the course.
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Last Revised: Mon, May 21, 2007