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SOCIAL WORK

College of Health and Human Services

• BACHELOR OF ARTS
• MINOR
• MASTER OF SOCIAL WORK
• CAREER POSSIBILITIES
• FACULTY
• CONTACT
• COMPLETE COURSE LISTING

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

Social Work is a profession that strives to enhance the well being of all people while attending specifically to the needs and empowerment of those in vulnerable life conditions. The Sacramento State program focus embraces the interdependent interests of both the individual and society, with particular attention to the social context that creates, contributes to, and addresses obstacles and resources for individual and community growth and development.

Social Workers seek to help people address their own needs and influence the responsiveness of organizations, communities, and other social institutions, thus promoting social justice and social change. Towards these ends, multilevel Social Work activities include group work, community organization, supervision, individual and family counseling, consultation, administration, advocacy, social and political action, policy development and implementation, education, and research and evaluation. In practice, Social Workers are sensitive to cultural and ethnic diversity, and work to combat discrimination, oppression, poverty, and other forms of social injustice.

The principle objective of the Bachelor of Arts in Social Work degree program is to educate beginning professional practitioners as generalists. The Master of Social Work degree program supports advanced professional practice.

Special Features

• The Bachelor of Arts in Social Work and the Master of Social Work degree programs are accredited by the Council on Social Work Education.
• Many required classes will have at least one section scheduled during evening hours.
• Social Work students earn academic credit for professionally supervised field experience in a human service agency. The practicum is two to three days per week.
• All BA and MSW students receive academic and career planning advisement. Employment information for students is updated continuously.
• Graduate and undergraduate Social Work students maintain active student organizations including a chapter of Phi Alpha, a national honor society for Social Work.
• Undergraduate students who want to know more about major social welfare issues and alternative proposals for solving social problems but who do not plan to prepare for professional Social Work practice may enroll in the 21-unit minor in Social Welfare.
• The MSW degree fulfills most of the educational requirements for California licensure as Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) and the Pupil Personnel Services Credential for School Social Work.

UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAM

The Bachelor of Arts in Social Work is a 48-unit program that prepares students for beginning, generalist Social Work practice. All lower division general education courses must be completed prior to beginning the Social Work major. The curriculum consists of 39 units in professional foundation/beginning generalist requirement, 6 units of Social Work electives, and 3 units of social science options. Grades of "C" or better are required in all 48 units of the major. The student must agree to abide by the Code of Ethics of the National Association of Social Workers and engage in ethical practice in conformity with the Professional Code of Ethics.

Undergraduate students enroll in one academic year of field instruction (internship) during their senior year after successfully completing all prerequisites in their junior year. Field instruction is 16 hours per week for 32 weeks during two semesters for a total of 512 hours. Field instruction takes place between the hours of 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. on either Mondays/Wednesdays or Wednesdays/Fridays. Placements only begin in the fall semester and are arranged by the Director of Field Education during the preceding spring semester through an application and interview process. Students are placed in a social services agency and practice under the supervision of an experienced MSW Social Worker. Since Social Work is an applied profession, the student is expected to be able to put into practice the knowledge gained in the classroom in order to receive the BA degree in Social Work.

Students must be capable of meeting field site/organization eligibility requirements which normally include obtaining a Department of Justice clearance (passing a criminal background), being free of communicable diseases, having a valid driver's license, and automobile insurance. In addition to the prerequisites and corequisites noted below, other eligibility requirements are delineated in the Field Curriculum and Policy Guide which is accessible from the Division's field Web page (www.hhs.csus.edu/swrk/field). Declaration of Social Work as the student's major does not guarantee enrollment in field instruction.

Requirements - Bachelor of Arts Degree

Units required for Major: 48
Minimum total units required for the BA: 120

Courses in parentheses are prerequisites.

A. Recommended Lower Division Preparation

Completion of all lower division General Education requirements is a prerequisite for taking courses in the Social Work major. Lower division courses in the following areas are strongly recommended and most can be taken as part of completing GE requirements. These courses provide the basis for a Liberal Arts Perspective which is required by the Council on Social Work Education, the accrediting organization for the professional Social Work degree: written communication; critical thinking; physical science; a biology course with human anatomy content; quantitative reasoning; world civilizations; introduction to the arts; humanities; psychology; sociology; cultural diversity; American Institutions; and foundations in social and behavioral sciences. Community college transfer students should consult a counselor to identify courses which qualify for General Education transfer credit.

B. Required Upper Division Courses (48 units)

Professional Foundation/Beginning Generalist (39 units)

(3)	SWRK 102	Crosscultural Theory and Practice: Issues of Race, Gender and Class
(3)	SWRK 110	Statistics and Research for Social Workers
(3)	SWRK 111	Research Methods and Program Evaluation (SWRK 110; Corequisite: SWRK 140B or SWRK 140C)
(3)	SWRK 125A	Human Behavior/Social Environment: Infancy through Adolescence
(3)	SWRK 125B	Human Behavior/Social Environment: Adulthood through Aging (SWRK 125A)
(3)	SWRK 140A	Social Work Practice
(3)	SWRK 140B	Social Work Practice (SWRK 140A; Corequisite: SWRK 195A)
(3)	SWRK 140C	Social Work Practice (SWRK 140B; Corequisite: SWRK 195B)
(3)	SWRK 150	Welfare in America
(6)	SWRK 195A	Field Instruction (SWRK 102, SWRK 125A, SWRK 125B, SWRK 140A and SWRK 150 and permission of the Field Director (or designee); Corequisite: SWRK 140C)
(6)	SWRK 195B	Field Instruction (SWRK 195A and permission of the Field Director (or designee); Corequisite: SWRK 140C)

Social Welfare Policy and Human Behavior (6 units)

(6) Select two of the following:
	SWRK 126	Theories of Criminal Behavior (GWAR Certification before Fall 09, or WPJ score of 80+, or C or higher grade in ENGL 109M/W, or C- grade in ENGL 109M/W or WPJ score 70/71 and ENGL 109X co-requisite)
	SWRK 129	Human Sexuality in Social Work Perspectives
	SWRK 134	Crimes Without Victims
	SWRK 136	Poverty and Homelessness in America
	SWRK 137	The Child and the Law
	SWRK 151	Health Services and Systems
	SWRK 153	Child Welfare Services

Social Science (3 units)

(3) Select one of the following:
	ETHN 100	Ethnic America (GWAR Certification before Fall 09, or WPJ score of 80+, or C or higher grade in ENGL 109M/W, or C- grade in ENGL 109M/W or WPJ score 70/71 and ENGL 109X co-requisite)
	ETHN 110	The Asian American Experience
	ETHN 132	La Mujer Chicana
	ETHN 172	Black Women in America
	ETHN 173	The Black Family in the United States
	WOMS 110	Introduction to the Women's Movement in Contemporary Society
	WOMS 120	Mother/Woman/Person
	WOMS 137	Women of Color

Note: Grade ''C'' or better required in Section B courses above.

Requirements - Minor

Total units required for Minor: 21

Courses in parentheses are prerequisites.

(3)	SWRK 125A	Human Behavior/Social Environment: Infancy through Adolescence
(3)	SWRK 125B	Human Behavior/Social Environment: Adulthood through Aging (SWRK 125A)
(3)	SWRK 150	Welfare In America
(3)	SWRK 153	Child Welfare Services
(6) Two courses from SWRK 129, SWRK 136, SWRK 137, SWRK 151
(3) One upper division course from Anthropology, Economics, Government, Psychology, Sociology, Ethnic Studies, or Women's Studies.

GRADUATE PROGRAM

The Master of Social Work program is a 60-unit program that prepares students for advanced, autonomous Social Work practice. The curriculum is composed of two semesters of professional foundation and two semesters of a concentration curriculum. In the foundation part of the program, all students take a core of courses designed to provide them with the knowledge and skills expected of all professional Social Workers. The advanced curriculum prepares for multi-level practice with vulnerable life conditions. It consists of required advanced courses in Social Work practice and policy, and advanced electives. Through the use of elective units (9), there are opportunities for more specialized focus regarding practice with specific populations (e.g., the aged) or with particular conditions (e.g., substance abuse or mental disabilities).

Graduate students enroll for two years of field instruction. In the first year, they are assigned to a social service agency for two days a week (8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Thursday and Friday). First year students must be available Thursdays and Fridays (8 a.m. to 5 p.m.) for field instruction in order to complete the concurrent program. In the second year, they are assigned to an agency for three days a week (8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday). These field instruction requirements may only be fulfilled during regular working hours. Students are responsible for their own transportation to field instruction sites and for required professional liability insurance.

Students must be capable of meeting field site/organization eligibility requirements which include obtaining a Department of Justice clearance (passing a criminal background), being free of communicable diseases, having a valid driver's license, and automobile insurance. In addition to the prerequisites and corequisites noted below, other eligibility requirements are delineated in the Field Curriculum and Policy Guide which is accessible from the Division's field Web page hhs.csus.edu/swrk/field. Admission into the graduate program does not guarantee enrollment in field instruction.

Students should develop a realistic plan for financial support for the period of time they are in school. Information about Financial Aid is included in the University's Application for Admission booklet. The Division of Social Work cannot guarantee courses on days and times that will not conflict with employment hours. The program offers some courses on weekends and all required courses have at least one evening section. In addition to the two-year full time program, the division also offers a three-year program option, a weekend cohort program, and advanced placement.

Note: Please contact the Division of Social Work for a copy of the evaluation criteria for admission to the Master of Social Work program.

Admission Requirements

To be considered for admission to the Master of Social Work program, applicants must have:

• a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university;
• passed an approved course in statistics with a grade of ''C'' or better;
• completed a course with human biology content with a grade of "C" or better;
• a minimum GPA of 2.5 for the last 60 units of coursework;
• demonstrated writing proficiency; and
• completed the Liberal Arts foundation (GE requirements).

The Graduate Record Exam is not required.

All applications are reviewed by Faculty Reviewers. Previous academic work, experience in human services, personal development, and potential for successful professional practice are important considerations in the evaluation of applicants.

Admission Procedures

Application materials are available from the Division of Social Work's admissions office and our Web site at http://www.hhs.csus.edu/sw/MSWApplication.htm. Contact the Division of Social Work for the specific date. All applicants must complete an online university application for admission and a Sacramento State Division of Social Work Application.

All prospective graduate students, including Sacramento State graduates, must submit the following to the Division of Social Work Admissions Office:

• an application for admission and supplemental information needed by the Division of Social Work;
• an indication whether the application is for the two- or three-year program;
• a personal statement;
• three letters of recommendation from academic or employment references; and
• one set of official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended, other than Sacramento State.

Applicants must submit the following to the Sacramento State Office of Graduate Studies, River Front Center 206, (916) 278-6470:

• an online application for admission; and
• one set of official transcripts from all college and universities attended, other than Sacramento State.

Attendance at an advising session prior to the beginning of classes is required. Students unable to attend must make special arrangements for the initial advising prior to the beginning of courses.

Advanced placement is available to a limited number of students who have a baccalaureate degree in Social Work from a Social Work program accredited by the Council on Social Work Education. The minimum GPA is 3.3 in the Social Work major. Minimum grades of ''B+'' must have been earned in undergraduate professional foundation coursework. Students who have a GPA of 3.5 or higher but have ONE of their equivalent undergraduate courses with the grade of "B" may apply for advanced standing. The degree must have been awarded within five years prior to application for admission to the graduate program. Submission of a letter of recommendation from a field instructor and from a Social Work faculty member of the college from which graduated and an acceptable research prospectus for a thesis/research project is required before awarding advanced placement. Advanced placement students take 31 units in the second year of the MSW program. Advanced placement is determined only during the admissions process.

Advancement to Candidacy

Each student must file an application for Advancement to Candidacy indicating a proposed program of graduate study. This procedure should begin as soon as the classified graduate student has:

• removed any grade deficiencies;
• completed at least 28 units with a minimum 3.0 GPA;
• obtained approval of culminating experience; and
• taken the Writing Placement for Graduate Students (WPG) or taken a Graduate Writing Intensive (GWI) course in their discipline within the first two semesters of coursework at California State University, Sacramento or secured approval for a WPG waiver.

Advancement to Candidacy forms are available in the Office of Graduate Studies. The student fills out the form after planning a degree program in consultation with his/her Advisor. The completed form is approved by the Division of Social Work Graduate Coordinator and the Office of Graduate Studies.

Requirements - Master of Social Work Degree

Units required for the MSW: 60
Minimum required GPA: 3.0

Courses in parentheses are prerequisites.

Students must take all required courses in a prescribed, sequential order to advance to the next level of courses.

The program is normally completed in four semesters of full time study, beginning in the fall semester (a three-year program is also available; requirements are the same). The program consists of 28 units of professional foundation common courses that all students must take and 32 units of the concentration curriculum which consists of advanced content and nine units of electives.

Note: The faculty of the Division of Social Work may require a student to leave under specified terms, terminate a student's enrollment, or decline to award a degree if the Director of the Division, upon the recommendation of faculty, determines that this is in the best interests of the division or the community which it serves or that a student is not qualified for admission to the Social Work profession because of factors other than academic standing. Determination about factors other than academic standing are made in accordance with the NASW Code of Ethics and the Division of Social Work's Student Performance Standards.

A. Professional Foundation Requirements (28 units)

All professional Social Work programs are required to provide foundation content that consists of the knowledge, values, and skills that are basic for practice in any setting situation, and which prepare one for more advanced, specialized learning. Six areas of study are introduced in the foundation: Social Work research, Social Work practice, human behavior in the social environment, social welfare policy, multicultural theory, practice, and field instruction.

(3)	SWRK 202	Social Work and Diverse Populations
(3)	SWRK 204A	Social Work Practice I (Corequisite: SWRK 295A)
(3)	SWRK 204B	Social Work Practice II (SWRK 204A and SWRK 295A; Corequisite: SWRK 295B)
(3)	SWRK 210	Methods of Social Research (Undergraduate social statistics course)
(3)	SWRK 235A	Theoretical Bases of Social Behavior
(3)	SWRK 235B	Theoretical Bases of Social Behavior (SWRK 235A)
(3)	SWRK 250	Social Welfare Policy and Services
(3)	SWRK 295A	Field Instruction (Must be classified graduate Social Work student and approval of the Field Director or designee; Corequisite: SWRK 204A)
(4)	SWRK 295B	Field Instruction (Must be classified graduate Social Work student and approval of the Field Director or designee; Corequisite: SWRK 204B)

B. Multilevel Practice Concentration Requirements (23 units)

(3)	SWRK 204C	Multi-level Practice with Vulnerable Life Conditions (SWRK 204A, SWRK 204B, SWRK 295A, SWRK 295B; advanced to candidacy; Corequisite: SWRK 295C)
(3)	SWRK 204D	Multi-level Practice with Vulnerable Life Conditions (SWRK 204A, SWRK 204B, SWRK 204C, SWRK 295A, SWRK 295B, SWRK 295C; advanced to candidacy; Corequisite: SWRK 295D)
(3)	SWRK 251	Advanced Policy (SWRK 250, advanced to candidacy)
(5)	SWRK 295C	Field Instruction (Must be classified graduate Social Work student and approval of the Field Director or designee; Corequisite: SWRK 204C)
(5)	SWRK 295D	Field Instruction (Must be classified graduate Social Work student and approval of the Field Director or designee; Corequisite: SWRK 204D)
(4)	SWRK 500	Culminating Experience (Advanced to Candidacy, SWRK 210)

C. Electives (9 units)

(9) Select 9 units in consultation with an advisor.

Career Possibilities

Geriatric Social Worker · Forensic Social Worker · Medical Social Worker · Mental Health Social Worker · Social Planner · Substance Abuse Counselor . Social Service Administrator · Community Organizer · Child and Family Counselor · Child Protective Worker · Adult Protective Worker · Occupational/Industrial Social Worker · Employee Assistance Counselor · Adoptions Worker · School Social Worker · Agency Director Program Evaluator · Family Therapist

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