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Master of Social Work (MSW)
Program Description
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With an emphasis on clinical practice, clinical supervision and program management, the Master of Social Work (MSW) program provides advanced professional study for women and men in the field of social work. The MSW program is jointly offered by St. Catherine's and the University of St. Thomas. Foundation and advanced courses include study in human behavior and the social environment, social welfare policy and services, social work research, generalist and clinical social work practice, fieldwork, social work values and ethics, diversity, social and economic justice, and populations at risk. The MSW program emphasizes the development of the individual student.
The curriculum, through its focus on clinical social work practice — direct practice with individuals, small groups and families — develops skills in working with problems such as poverty, discrimination, mental illness, developmental disability and oppression. It emphasizes demonstrated mastery of a professional knowledge base and related practice skills. The curriculum is rooted in a philosophy of social responsibility and respect for individuals’ rights. Students have the opportunity to develop a particular practice focus by selecting electives, a fieldwork placement(s), and a clinical research paper that reflects this interest.
The mission of the School of Social Work is: Drawing from the Judeo-Christian traditions of social caring, we prepare students to use social work knowledge, values and skills to demonstrate the intrinsic value of all humankind as they serve those in need and promote social justice and human rights.
The following serves as the mission statement for the Master of Social Work program: “To provide advanced professional study for women and men in clinical social work. The curriculum is rooted in a philosophy of social responsibility and respect for human rights. The program prepares social work practitioners for ethical social work practice and leadership with diverse populations, focusing on direct services, clinical supervision, program management and practice-based research.” As a reflection of this mission, the overall goals of the program are to:
- provide students with the analytical skills and substantive knowledge essential for clinical social work practice, for assessing the effectiveness of current social work methods and for developing more effective practice procedures.
- develop in students the knowledge and understanding of how to work with diverse cultural, class and ethnic groups and to adapt one’s own social work practice to the needs of the specified groups.
- develop in students the capacity and capability for leadership in public and private social service agencies.
- promote and support research and knowledge development to improve the effectiveness of social work practice, policies and programs.
ACCREDITATION
The MSW program is accredited at the graduate level by the Council on Social Work Education: Commission on Accreditation. In June 2004, the Council in Social Work Education: Commission on Accreditation reaccredited the program for the full eight-year cycle. For more information on this organization, call (703) 683-8080 or visit www.cswe.org.
LICENSURE
Effective July 1987, the Minnesota legislature passed legislation that provides for licensure of social workers at four levels. The licensing statute in Minnesota is both a title and practice act. The four levels of licensure are social worker, graduate social worker, independent social worker and independent clinical social worker. For specific information regarding social work licensure, contact the Minnesota Board of Social Work, 2829 University Ave. SE, Suite #340, Minneapolis, MN 55414, (612) 617-2100, or visit www.socialworkstate.mn.us.
DEGREE REQUIREMENTS
The regular standing graduate program requires 60 semester credits, including 1,000 hours of field practicum and the completion of a clinical research paper. The advanced standing graduate program requires a minimum of 42 semester hours, including 600 hours of field practicum and completion of a clinical research paper.
YEARS TO COMPLETE THE PROGRAM
The program must be completed within four years from the initial term of enrollment in the MSW program. You may pursue program requirements during the regular academic year and summer sessions on a full- or extended-time status. As a regular standing student, you may complete the MSW program in two years (four semesters) if you register for 15 credit hours each semester. If you graduated from an undergraduate BSW program accredited by the Council on Social Work Education you may apply for advanced standing admission. Courses are offered in the late afternoon and evenings. Some courses are available in the summer.
Major Requirements
DUAL MSW/MA DEGREE PROGRAM
The Master of Social Work, Master of Arts in Theology and Master of Arts in Holistic Health Studies programs have developed collaborative dual degree programs in social work and theology and social work and holistic health studies. These programs were developed to reinforce and support a professional perspective that serves the multiple and complex needs of clients. As a dual degree applicant, you need to express your intention upon application and be accepted into both the graduate social work and graduate theology or holistic health studies programs. Once accepted, you develop a plan for completing both degrees with the support of an advisor from each program. Upon completion, you will earn two degrees.
CURRICULUM
The following courses are required for the MSW program:
FOUNDATION COURSES
GRSW 5000 History and Philosophy of Social Work
GRSW 5010 Theory and Practice of Social Work I
GRSW 5020 Theory and Practice of Social Work II
GRSW 5050 Field Practicum and Seminar I
GRSW 5060 Field Practicum and Seminar II
GRSW 5400 Human Behavior and the Social Environment
GRSW 5800 Methods of Social Work Research
CLINICAL CONCENTRATION
GRSW 6030 Methods of Clinical Social Work I
GRSW 6040 Methods of Clinical Social Work II
GRSW 6070 Field Practicum and Seminar III
GRSW 6080 Field Practicum and Seminar IV
GRSW 6250 Social Policy and Program Development
GRSW 6450 Psychopathology and Human Behavior
GRSW 6500 Clinical Supervision and Program Management
GRSW 6810 Social Work Practice Research
GRSW 6820 Applied Research Seminar (Clinical Research Paper)
ELECTIVES
Choose any three:
GRSW 5150 Social Work and the Law
GRSW 5160 Child Welfare
GRSW 5230 Practice with Older Adults and Their Families
GRSW 5410 Family Resilience and Diversity
GRSW 5903 Topics
GRSW 6050 Progressive Social Work Practice
GRSW 6090 The Spiritual Dimension of Social Work Practice
GRSW 6120 Grief Counseling and Therapy
GRSW 6140 Clinical Practice with Children
GRSW 6150 Clinical Practice with Couples and Families
GRSW 6160 Clinical Practice with Groups
GRSW 6190 Integrative Psychotherapy
GRSW 6210 Brief Dynamic Psychotherapy
GRSW 6220 Clinical Practice with Adolescents
GRSW 6230 Clinical Practice with the Elderly
GRSW 6240 Mental Illness: Clinical Issues and Practice
GRSW 6260 Clinical Practice with Trauma
GRSW 6270 Clinical Practice in Schools
GRSW 6280 Clinical Practice with Immigrants and Refugees
GRSW 6903 Topics
IDSW 6600 Interdisciplinary Perspectives in Healthcare Ethics
Field Practicum and Seminar
You are required to complete a 400-hour supervised field practicum during the foundation year of the program. If you are granted advanced-standing admission you are not required to complete this foundation field practicum. The foundation practicum must be taken concurrently with GRSW 5010 and 5020. All students are required to complete a clinical field practicum of 600 hours. The clinical field practicum must be taken concurrently with GRSW 6030 and 6040. The minimum number of hours required for field practicum is 1,000 for the two years. While in the field practicum placement, you are required to attend a campus-based field seminar as part of your practicum experience.
You may propose completing one practicum in your place of employment. Such placements must meet specific criteria and be approved by the Director of Field Education in advance. You also may propose completing one practicum in a full-time summer block format. Assessment of student performance in the field is based on a specific learning contract developed by you in consultation with the agency-based field practicum instructor and faculty field supervisor. The contract articulates the learning goals and objectives, tasks to be performed and means of evaluation.
Elective Courses
Six of the nine elective credits must be taken within the St. Catherine/University of St. Thomas social work program. Electives are selected in consultation with your faculty advisor. Within the context of clinical social work practice, you may focus your program through the use of nine credits of guided electives, your clinical field practicum and the clinical research paper.
Clinical Research Paper
Candidates for the MSW degree must satisfactorily complete a clinical research paper. The paper must demonstrate an original and significant contribution to knowledge in your selected area of focus. It should demonstrate your ability to integrate social work theory with research findings. While engaged in social work research and preparation of the clinical research paper you register for GRSW 6820. This seminar provides support, discussion and critique of your research to enable progress and completion of the paper.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Full-time and Extended-time Status
Regular-standing, two-year (four semesters), full-time students enroll in a minimum of 15 credit hours per semester, including field practicum. The total number of hours required for completion of the regular program is 60 semester hours. Regular standing students can elect to complete the program on extended-time status with either a three year (six semesters) or four year (eight semesters) plan. Students admitted into the advanced standing program complete a minimum of 42 semester hours, including field practicum. An advanced standing admission student can complete the program in 12 months, full-time status, or elect a two year (four semester) or three year (six semesters) plan. A graduate student is considered to be full time when registered in the MSW program for six or more credits per term during the academic year.
Advising
Upon admission to the MSW program, you are assigned an academic advisor who assists in dealing with academic or personal issues throughout the graduate program.
Independent Study
Independent study for credit is a means of supplementing a program of regular courses. If you are seeking such credit you must submit a written proposal for the study. Approval will be granted only if the proposal is judged appropriate and if a qualified faculty member is available to supervise you.
Weekend Cohort
The School of Social Work offers a three-year weekend cohort for advanced standing and four-year for regular standing MSW students. Classes meet in St. Paul one Friday and Saturday a month. For current availability of the weekend cohort, applicants should contact St. Catherine's Office of Graduate Admission.
PROGRESSION POLICY
In order to remain in good standing, MSW students must earn a grade of C– or better in each social work course, maintain a cumulative GPA of at least a 3.0, comply with the National Association of Social Workers Code of Ethics and the Minnesota Licensing Code of Ethics, as well as comply with Standards of the MSW Social Work program as detailed in the MSW Student Handbook.
CONDITIONS FOR PROBATION, PROGRAM DISMISSAL OR TERMINATION
You may be placed on probation, dismissed from the program and/or terminated from the program for violations of any of the above depending on the severity of the issue. In the event of probationary status or dismissal, you will be advised in writing of the actions you must take to address identified concerns and a timeframe for doing so in order to regain full program status. This may include meeting minimal GPA requirements in the next 12 credits of course work (for academic probation or dismissal), demonstrating specific performance levels (in the areas of basic professional practice skills, stress management and emotional self-awareness, and professional judgment) in field practica and/or the classroom, future meetings with your advisors, seeking outside assistance, and re-evaluating readiness for the program.
READMISSION TO THE PROGRAM
If you are dismissed you are not eligible to register for courses or seek field placement, but may apply for readmission after the lapse of at least one semester or as specified in the dismissal letter. To be readmitted, you must submit a petition to the Dean of the School of Social Work via the MSW Program Director describing why you will be successful if readmitted.
If readmitted, you are automatically place on probation, and the terms of probation will be provided in writing to you. A readmitted student must achieve a minimum GPA of 3.0 in the next 12 credits of course work taken. Should you fail to achieve a 3.0, you will be terminated form the program with no option for readmission. If you are placed on probationary status, dismissed or terminated, you may use the institutional grievance policy and procedures of the University of St. Thomas to appeal any decision. This policy does not supersede or replace any applicable Institution-wide process or policy.
There may be circumstances that warrant immediate discipline including termination form the program. The School of Social Work has the right to discipline or terminate a student during the course of or in lieu of the processes described.
Program Faculty:
Diane Bauer, Clinical Faculty. B.A., Hamline; M.S.W., University of Minnesota.
Mary Ann Brenden, B.S.N.. Program Director. Associate Professor of Social Work. B.A., Cornell University; M.S.W., University of Minnesota–Duluth.
Sheila Brommel, Assistant Professor of Social Work. B.S., North Dakota State University; B.S.W., Moorhead State University; M.S.W., Augsburg College, Ph.D., University of Minnesota.
Kathy Erb Caron, M.S.W. Weekend Cohort Field Coordinator, Professional Faculty. B.A., The College of St. Catherine; M.S.W., University of Minnesota
Mike Chovanec, Assistant Professor of Social Work. B.S.W., M.S.W., University of Wisconsin– Milwaukee; Ph.D., University of Minnesota.
Sarah Ferguson, M.S.W. Weekend Cohort Director, Assistant Professor of Social Work. B.A., Drake University; M.A.–Public Affairs, Humphrey Institute, University of Minnesota; M.S.W., University of Minnesota; Ph.D., University of Minnesota.
Kendra Garrett, Professor of Social Work. B.A., M.S.W., University of Iowa; D.S.W., The Catholic University of America.
Mari Ann Graham, Associate Professor of Social Work. B.A., M.S.W., University of Nebraska at Omaha; Ph.D., Case Western Reserve University.
Colin Hollidge, Associate Professor of Social Work. B.A., University of Waterloo; M.S.W., Wilfrid Laurier University; Ph.D., Smith College for Social Work.
Stacy Husebo, Professional Faculty. B.A., University of Minnesota; M.S.W., The College of St. Catherine/University of St. Thomas.
Jane Hurley Johncox, Clinical Faculty. B.A., The College of St. Catherine; M.S.W., The College of St. Catherine/University of St. Thomas.
Tamara Kaiser, Associate Professor of Social Work. B.A., M.S., University of Wisconsin; Ph.D., University of Minnesota.
Carol Kuechler, MSW Program Director and Associate Professor of Social Work. B.A., Marquette University; M.S.W., University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee; Ph.D., University of Minnesota.
Theresa McPartlin, BSW Field Director. Assistant Professor of Social Work. B.A., The College of St. Catherine; A.M., University of Chicago.
Sandy Parnell, Assistant Professor of Social Work. B.A., St. Mary’s; M.S.W., University of Minnesota.
Lisa Richardson, M.S.W. Field Director, Assistant Professor. B.A., Marlboro College; M.S.S., Bryn Mawr College Graduate School of Social Work and Social Research.
David Roseborough, Assistant Professor of Social Work. B.A., Valparaiso University; M. Div., Harvard University; M.S.W., The College of St. Catherine/ The University of St. Thomas; Ph.D., University of Minnesota.
Barbara Shank, Dean of the School of Social Work and Professor of Social Work. B.A., Macalester College; M.S.W., Ph.D., University of Minnesota.
Serene Thornton, B.S.W. Program Director and Assistant Professor of Social Work. B.A., Concordia College; M.S.W., University of Denver.
Jessica Toft, Assistant Professor of Social Work. B.A., Grinnell College; M.S.W., University of Iowa; Ph.D., University of Minnesota.
Valandra, Assistant Professor of Social Work. B.S.B.A., M.B.A., University of Nebraska; M.S.W., University of Minnesota.