MSW Plans

Traditional Status - (Non social work degree holders)

The MSW program with Traditional Status can be completed in two, three or four years.  A requirement of 60 credits is needed to finish the MSW program.  Optional summer offerings allow students to spread coursework across the calendar year.  Individuals with bachelor degrees from various fields of study may quality for entrance into the MSW program with Traditional Status.

The curriculum is offered in a two-year traditional sequence or a three and four-year curricula that offer a more flexible schedule to meet the needs of professional or non-traditional students, or those who may be unable to complete the program in two years.  

  • Two Year Traditional Sequence

    generalist Level (1st Year)

    Fall

    Credits

    Spring

    Credits

    SOWK 400      

    Foundations in Human Behavior in the Social Environment

    3

    SOWK 455      

    Foundations of Social Welfare Policies

    3

    SOWK 450

    Foundations in Social Work Practice with Individuals

    3

    SOWK 465

    Foundations of Social Work Practice with Groups and Families

    3

    SOWK 460

    Foundations in Social Work Research Methods

    3

    SOWK 480

    Foundations of Social Work Practice, Organizations & Communities

    3

    SOWK 481

    Foundation Internship I

    3

    SOWK 483

    Foundation Internship II

    3

    SOWK 482

    Integrated Generalist Social Work Practice Seminar I

    3

    SOWK 484

    Integrated Generalist Social Work Practice Seminar II

    3

     

    Total

    15

     

    Total

    15

     

    specialization Level (2nd Year)

    Fall

    Credits

    Spring

    Credits

    SOWK   500

    Families in the Social Environment

    3

    SOWK  5XX

    Electives

    6

    SOWK 555

    Applied Family Policy and Family Service Programs

    3

    SOWK 583

    Advanced Internship II

    3

    SOWK 560

    Applied Methods of Social Work Research

    3

    SOWK 584

    Advanced Theories of Social Work Practice II

    3

    SOWK 581

    Advanced Internship I

    3

    SOWK 595

    Capstone Experience

    3

    SOWK 582

    Advanced Theories of Social Work Practice I

    3

     

     

     

     

    Total

    15

     

    Total

    15

     

    **During the specialization level, students complete six, one-credit courses to facilitate the development of specialized knowledge. These courses are selected collaboratively among the student, the academic advisor and the field instructor based upon student learning goals, aptitude and agency need. Some electives can be taken concurrently with SOWK 500.

  • Three Year Traditional Sequence with Optional Summer

    generalist Level (1st Year)

    Fall

    Credits

    Spring

    Credits

    SOWK 400   

    Foundations in Human Behavior in the Social Environment

    3

    SOWK 455   

    Foundations of Social Welfare Policies

    3

    SOWK 450

    Foundations in Social Work Practice with Individuals

    3

    SOWK 465

    Foundations of Social Work Practice with Groups and Families

    3

     

     

     

     

    Total

    6

     

    Total

    6

     

    generalist Level (2nd Year)

    Fall

    Credits

    Spring

    Credits

    SOWK 460 

    Foundations in Social Work Research Methods

    3

    SOWK 483 

    Foundations Internship II

    3

    SOWK 481

    Foundations Internship I

    3

    SOWK 484

    Integrated Generalist Social Work Practice Seminar II

    3

    SOWK 482

    Integrated Generalist Social Work Practice Seminar I

    3

    SOWK 480

    Foundations of Social Work Practice, Organizations & Communities 

     3

     

    Total

    9

     

    Total

    9

     

    specialization Level (2nd Year)

    Summer (optional)

    Credits

    SOWK500

    Families in the Social Environment

    3

    SOWK5xx

    Electives*

    3

     

    Total

    0/3/6

     

    specialization Level (3rd Year)

    Fall

    Credits

    Spring

    Credits

    SOWK 500

    Families in the Social Environment

    0/3

    SOWK 5XX

    Electives*

    3/6

    SOWK 555

    Applied Family Policy and Family Service Programs

    3

    SOWK 583

    Advanced Internship II

    3

    SOWK 560

    Applied Methods of Social Work Research

    3

    SOWK 584

    Advanced Theories of Social Work Practice II

    3

    SOWK 581

    Advanced Internship I

    3

    SOWK 595

    Capstone Experience

    3

    SOWK 582

    Advanced Theories of Social Work Practice I

    3

     

     

     

     

    Total

    12/15

     

    Total

    12/15

     

    **During the specialization level, students complete six, one-credit courses to facilitate the development of specialized knowledge. These courses are selected collaboratively among the student, the academic advisor and the field instructor based upon student learning goals, aptitude and agency need. Some electives can be taken concurrently with SOWK 500.

     

  • Four Year Traditional Sequence

    generalist Level (1st Year)

    Fall

    Credits

    Spring

    Credits

    SOWK 400   

    Foundations in Human Behavior in the Social Environment

    3

    SOWK 455    

    Foundations of Social Welfare Policies

    3

    SOWK 450

    Foundations in Social Work Practice with Individuals

    3

    SOWK 465

    Foundations of Social Work Practice with Groups and Families

    3

     

    Total

    6

     

    Total

    6

     

    generalist Level (2nd Year)

    Fall

    Credits

    Spring

    Credits

    SOWK 460 

    Foundations in Social Work Research Methods

    3

    SOWK 480 

    Foundations of Social Work Practice, Organizations & Communities

    3

    SOWK 481

    Foundations Internship I

    3

    SOWK 483

    Foundations Internship II

    3

    SOWK 482

    Integrated Generalist Social Work Practice Seminar I

    3

    SOWK 484

    Integrated Generalist Social Work Practice Seminar II

    3

     

    Total

    9

     

    Total

    9

     

    specialization Level (3rd Year)

    Fall

    Credits

    Spring

    Credits

    SOWK 500

    Families in the Social Environment

    3

    SOWK 5XX

    Electives*       

    6

    SOWK 555

    Applied Family Policy and Family Service Programs

    3

     

     

     

     

    Total

    6

     

    Total

    6

     

    specialization Level (4th Year)

    Fall

    Credits

    Spring

    Credits

    SOWK 560

    Applied Methods of Social Work Research

    3

    SOWK 595

    Capstone Experience

    3

    SOWK 581

    Advanced Internship I

    3

    SOWK 583

    Advanced Internship II

    3

    SOWK 582

    Advanced Theories of Social Work Practice I

    3

    SOWK 584

    Advanced Theories of Social Work Practice II

    3

     

    Total

    9

     

    Total

    9

     

    **During the specialization level, students complete six, one-credit courses to facilitate the development of specialized knowledge. These courses are selected collaboratively among the student, the academic advisor and the field instructor based upon student learning goals, aptitude and agency need. Some electives can be taken concurrently with SOWK 500.

Advanced Standing - (BSW degree holders)

Advanced standing status students complete the MSW in 39 credits.  The curriculum may be completed in one calender year on a full time basis or extended to two or more years.  The summer bridge curriculum always begins in the summer before the advanced level with practicum and seminar experience.  

Advanced Standing Status may be granted only to students who possess the Bachelor of Social Work degree from a CSWE accredited program.  Advanced Standing status students complete the summer bridge curriculum and then enter the MSW advanced level.  The purpose of the bridge curriculum is to arm the students with the necessary abilities that distinguish the graduate from the undergraduate student.  This entails developing enhanced analytical and critical thinking skills. In addition, KU advanced standing students work to develop the ability to articulate the integration of theory and practice to various constituents.  The KU MSW Family-In-Environment perspective necessitates such preparation due to its focus on developing autonomous practitioners who can express the principles of Family-In-Environment in their chosen fields of practice.

  • One Year with Summer Course Sequence

    Bridge Curriculum – Summer Before Advanced Year

    1st Summer Session

    Credits

    2nd Summer Session

    Credits

    SOWK 491  

    Internship for Advanced Standing I

    3

    SOWK 492  

    Advanced Generalist Social Work Theory and Practice I

    3

    SOWK 494  

    Advanced Generalist Social Work Theory and Practice II

    3

     

    Total

    6

     

    Total

    3

     

    specialization level

    Fall

    Credits

    Spring

    Credits

    SOWK 500

    Families in the Social Environment

    3

    SOWK 5XX

    SOWK Electives*

    6

    SOWK 555

    Applied Family Policy and Family Service Programs

    3

    SOWK 583

    Advanced Internship II

    3

    SOWK 560

    Applied Methods of Social Work Research

    3

    SOWK 584

    Advanced Theories of Social Work Practice II

    3

    SOWK 581

    Advanced Internship I

    3

    SOWK 595

    Capstone Experience

    3

    SOWK 582

    Advanced Theories of Social Work Practice I

    3

     

    Total

    15

     

    Total

    15

     *During the specialization level, students complete six, one-credit courses to facilitate the development of specialized knowledge. These courses are selected collaboratively among the student, the academic advisor and the field instructor based upon student learning goals, aptitude and agency need. Some electives can be taken concurrently with SOWK 500.

  • Two Years with Summer Course Sequence

    Ten Week Summer (1st Year) – 10w*

    Summer

    Credits

    SOWK 491

    Internship for Advanced Standing I

    3

    SOWK 492

    Advanced Generalist Social Work Theory and Practice I

    3

    SOWK 494

    Advanced Generalist Social Work Theory and Practice II

    3

     

    Total

    9

     

    specialization Level (1st Year)

    Fall

    Credits        

    Spring

    Credits        

    SOWK 500

    Families in the Social Environment

    3

    SOWK 5XX

    SOWK Electives**

    6

    SOWK 555

    Applied Family Policy and Family Service Programs

    3

     

     

     

     

    Total

    6

     

    Total

    6

     

    specialization Level (2nd Year)

    Fall

    Credits

    Spring

    Credits

    SOWK 560

    Applied Methods of Social Work Research

    3

    SOWK 583

    Advanced Internship II

    3

    SOWK 581

    Advanced Internship I

    3

    SOWK 584

    Advanced Theories of Social Work Practice II

    3

    SOWK 582

    Advanced Theories of Social Work Practice I

    3

    SOWK 595

    Capstone Experience

    3

     

    Total

    9

     

    Total

    9

     *A 10w plan is a 10 week session of classes.

    +The internship hours are spread out through the summer.

    **During the specialization level, students complete six, one-credit courses to facilitate the development of specialized knowledge. These courses are selected collaboratively among the student, the academic advisor and the field instructor based upon student learning goals, aptitude and agency need. Some electives can be taken concurrently with SOWK 500.

In addition to the standard weekday schedule an executive schedule option is also available (Tuesday evenings and Saturdays). 

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