Social Work, M.S.W.

Program Description

The Department of Social Work offers graduate study leading to the degree Master of Social Work (M.S.W.). This degree program is designed to train social workers for leadership and direct practice positions in social work, and is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education. The program has a multicultural focus which prepares social work students to work in both non-profit and public agencies and to be proficient in working with diverse multicultural populations in urban and suburban communities.

The M.S.W. program is a full-time two year program for students who have recently completed a baccalaureate program, as well as for those who have been working in social work agencies and want to upgrade their skills and professional preparation.

The objective of the M.S.W. program is to address the growing need for social workers to work with individuals, families, groups, and organizations charged with responding to societal problems such as poverty, family instability, mental illness, child welfare, aging, and urban renewal. An additional focus is to work with underserved populations in ways that enable and empower them to participate in the social work change process. The program will also prepare individuals to be agents for change and to work effectively in an increasingly complex, culturally and racially diverse society and to understand and respond to racism, sexism, homophobia, and other forms of oppression that create and maintain barriers to an individual’s well-being and effective participation in American society.

Students in the M.S.W. program will develop the analytical skills needed to explore new models of social work service delivery and organizational design. In addition, they will have an extensive field experience in which they will work with skilled professional social workers and apply the analytical and social work skills learned in the classroom.

Student Learning Outcomes

Students graduating with an M.S.W. from Cal State East Bay will be able to:

1. Uphold the core values and ethical principles and standards of the social work profession as codified in the National Association of Social Workers’ Code of Ethics. Values and Ethics.
2. Conduct oneself autonomously in the professional social work role, including understanding personal values and biases and knowing their impact on clients, engaging in ongoing development of professional knowledge and skills, and exercising use of self in order to engage and collaborate effectively. Professional Use of Self.
3. Use critical thinking skills in the analysis and synthesis of information, including in the application of evidence-based practice and theoretical material and in modifying intervention plans as needed. Critical Thinking and Theory for Practice.
4. Advocate for clients, groups and communities in complex cultural, social and political situations. Advocacy.
5. Act with self-awareness and knowledge of diverse populations, with the commitment of providing culturally competent service (cultural humility). Diversity.
6. Communicate effectively orally and in writing across diverse client and social services systems. Communication.

Career Opportunities

Graduates of the M.S.W. program are prepared to work with individuals, families, groups, and organizations in both public and non-profit practice. The State of California is experiencing an acute shortage of individuals prepared for leadership roles in social work practice. The State also has a critical shortage of social workers trained at the master’s level and the demand for Master level social workers is expected to increase. Other areas that need social workers include mental health services, agencies dealing with the aged, and in the juvenile justice system dealing with dual diagnosis.

Admission

The M.S.W. degree program is open to students planning a career in social work who have a baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution and who have earned an overall grade point average of 2.8 (on a 4.0 scale) in their last 90 quarter units (60 semester units) of undergraduate work. Students with a GPA below 2.8 may be admitted based on an evaluation of their student profile, including work experience, resume, letters of recommendation, and personal statement (see below).

In addition to the “University Graduate and Post-baccalaureate Application,” all applicants should submit:

1. A completed departmental application form;
2. A personal statement (2-3 pages) with their application stating their reasons for pursuing the M.S.W. degree, describing their relevant work experience, and explaining their past academic performance;
3. Three letters of recommendation (letters from prior instructors preferred); and
4. A resume. Successful experience in social work or social work-related positions will be considered in evaluating applications.

Admission to the university and admission to the M.S.W. degree program are separate steps. It is suggested that application for admission to the university (Part A of the application) be filed together with the form for entry into the degree program (Part B of the application).

Advising

Students who are accepted into the department will normally be admitted in “Conditionally Classified Graduate” status until satisfaction of all prerequisites and the University Writing Skills Requirement is documented for the Social Work office, at which time a change to “Classified Graduate” status will be requested by the department. The student is assigned an official advisor from the faculty of the department and must consult his or her advisor prior to registration for each quarter. The student should maintain close contact at all times with the advisor for advice and information.

Student Standing and Progress toward the Degree

1. There are three categories of student status that reflect your progress toward the degree. You are in “Conditionally Classified Graduate” status when you have been admitted to the M.S.W. degree program, but have not yet completed the prerequisites for the “Classified Graduate” status in the M.S.W. degree program.
2. You achieve “Classified Graduate” status when you have satisfactorily completed all the prerequisites for the M.S.W. degree program and satisfied the University Writing Skills Requirement. (See “Prerequisites for ‘Classified Graduate’ Status” below.)
3. You are “Advanced to Candidacy” when you have completed the core courses with a 3.0 GPA or better.

Note: If you fail to maintain progress by falling below a 3.0 GPA in your graduate courses for two or more consecutive quarters, you will be academically disqualified from the university.

Prerequisites for “Classified Graduate” Status

As prerequisites to “Classified Graduate” status, you must satisfy the University Writing Skills Requirement and have satisfactorily completed STAT 1000  or equivalent, and a course in human biology or anatomy and physiology with a grade of “C” or better. These courses must be taken before you attempt the core graduate courses. For information on meeting the University Writing Skills Requirement, see the Testing Office website at www.csueastbay.edu/testing or call 510.885.3661.

Advancement to Candidacy

Formal Advancement to Candidacy for the master’s degree requires prior completion of the following steps:

1. Successful completion of the HBSE, Generalist Practice Sequence, and Field Practicum sequences, as well as the Social Policy and Introduction to Social Work Research courses.
2. Successful completion of all required departmental prerequisites.
3. Maintenance of a 3.0 or better GPA in all departmental coursework and overall coursework.
4. Recommendation by the student’s advisor who has reviewed the student’s record and affirmed that the student has met academic and professional conduct standards.

Cause for Dismissal from Program

Students may be dismissed from the program at any time “for cause.” “For cause” includes, but is not limited to, poor academic or fieldwork performance, as well as behavior that is destructive to students or faculty, and/or interferes with the educational environment, and/or represents a threat to potential clients. “For cause” also includes student behaviors that are inconsistent with the legal, ethical, and/or personal responsibilities of professional social workers.

Degree Requirements

The M.S.W. degree program requires completion of 88-89 quarter units, distributed among core courses, concentration courses, elective courses, and the integrative seminar or graduate thesis. Of these, at least 75-77 units must be completed in residence after being admitted to the program (transfer units are limited to 13 quarter units). No course numbered 1000 to 2999 (or equivalent if taken elsewhere) may be used as part of the 88-89 unit graduate degree program.

A grade point average of 3.0 must be maintained in the courses taken to satisfy the degree requirements. All graduate degree requirements must be completed within the five (5) years prior to graduation.