Bridge Curriculum and Advanced Level Courses

44 credits

Advanced standing status may be granted only to students who possess the Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) 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.

Advanced standing status students complete the MSW in 44 credits. The curriculum may be completed in one calendar year on a full-time basis or extended to two or more years.  The summer bridge curriculum always begins the summer before the advanced level with practicum and seminar experience. 

  • One Year with Summer Course Sequence

     

    Bridge Curriculum – Summer Before Advanced Year

    1st Summer Session

    Credits

    2nd Summer Session

    Credits

    SWK491

    Internship for Advanced Standing I

    3

    SWK493

    Internship for Advanced Standing II

    3

    SWK492

    Advanced Generalist Social Work Theory and Practice I

    3

    SWK494

    Advanced Generalist Social Work Theory and Practice II

    3

     

    Total

    6

     

    Total

    6

     

    Advanced Year

    Fall

    Credits

    Spring

    Credits

    SWK500

    Families in the Social Environment

    3

    SWK5XX

    SWK Electives*

    6

    SWK555

    Applied Family Policy and Family Service Programs

    3

    SWK583

    Advanced Internship II

    4

    SWK560

    Applied Methods of Social Work Research

    3

    SWK584

    Advanced Theories of Social Work Practice II

    3

    SWK581

    Advanced Internship I

    4

    SWK595

    Capstone Experience

    3

    SWK582

    Advanced Theories of Social Work Practice I

    3

     

    Total

    16

     

    Total

    16

     *During the advanced 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; however, some electives can be taken concurrently with SWK 500.

  • Two Years with Summer Course Sequence

    Ten Week Summer (1st Year) – 10w*

    Summer

    Credits

    SWK491

    Internship for Advanced Standing I

    3

    SWK492

    Advanced Generalist Social Work Theory and Practice I

    3

     

    Total

    6

     

    Advanced Level (1st Year)

    Fall

    Credits

    Spring

    Credits

    SWK500

    Families in the Social Environment

    3

    SWK5XX

    SWK Electives**

    6

    SWK555

    Applied Family Policy and Family Service Programs

    3

     

     

     

     

    Total

    6

     

    Total

    6

     

    Ten Week Summer (2nd Year) – 10w*

    Summer

    Credits

    SWK493

    Internship for Advanced Standing II

    3

    SWK494

    Advanced Generalist Social Work Theory and Practice II

    3

     

    Total

    6

     

    Advanced Level (2nd Year)

    Fall

    Credits

    Spring

    Credits

    SWK560

    Applied Methods of Social Work Research

    3

    SWK583

    Advanced Internship II

    4

    SWK581

    Advanced Internship I

    4

    SWK584

    Advanced Theories of Social Work Practice II

    3

    SWK582

    Advanced Theories of Social Work Practice I

    3

    SWK595

    Capstone Experience

    3

     

    Total

    10

     

    Total

    10

     

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

    +The internship hours are spread out through the summer.

    **During the advanced 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; however, some electives can be taken concurrently with SWK 500.