Credits Required

Total credits: 60 

Credits at CSUMB: 60

Outcomes, Courses and Assessment

You officially begin the MSW program by enrolling in the SW 500: Master Seminar where you work with the instructor to draft your Individual Learning Plan (ILP). The ILP maps out how you will achieve each of the Social Work Learning Outcomes (SW LOs) designated below by successfully completing the listed courses. You conclude the program by completing an applied social work research project or thesis that culminates one’s knowledge base and practice. MSW students will present their research findings at the Field Forum that is open to the public.

SW LO 1 Professional Identity and Conduct ~ Social workers serve as representatives of the profession, its mission, and its core values. They know the profession’s history. Social workers commit themselves to the profession’s enhancement and to their own professional conduct and growth.

~ Complete all of the following:

SW 510: Foundations of SW Profession
SW 596A: GP Field Practicum & Sem I
SW 596B: GP Field Practicum & Sem II
SW 696A: AP Field Practicum & Sem I
SW 696B: AP Field Practicum & Sem II

SW LO 2 Ethics in Social Work ~ Social workers have an obligation to conduct themselves ethically and to engage in ethical decision-making. Social workers are knowledgeable about the value base of the profession, its ethical standards and relevant law.

~ Complete all of the following:

SW 510: Foundations of SW Profession
SW 520: SW GPI: Micro & Mezzo
SW 530: SW GPII: Macro
SW 570: Social Policy and Analysis
SW 650: Collaboration/Ethics/Ldrship

AND

Behavioral Health Concentration:

SW 610A: Intro to BH Policy & Svcs
SW 620A: Adv Clinical Prac I: BH
SW 630A: Adv Clinical Prac II: BH

OR

Children, Youth & Family Concentration: 

SW 610B: Intro to CYF Policy & Svcs
SW 620B: Adv Clinical Prac I: CYF
SW 630B: Adv Clinical Prac II: CYF

SW LO 3 Critical Thinking ~ Social workers are knowledgeable about the principles of logic, scientific inquiry, and reasoned discernment. They use critical thinking augmented by creativity and curiosity. Critical thinking also requires the synthesis, analysis and communication of relevant information.

~ Complete all of the following:

SW 520: SW GPI: Micro & Mezzo
SW 530: SW GPII: Macro
SW 550: Social Work Research
SW 600A: Appl SW Research Prj I and SW 600B: Appl SW Research Prj II or SW 520: SW GPI: Micro & Mezzo,
SW 530: SW GPII: Macro
SW 550: Social Work Research and SW 699

SW LO 4 Cultural Competence & Diverse Populations ~ Social workers understand how diversity characterizes and shapes the human experience and is critical to the formation of identity. The dimensions of diversity are understood as the intersectionality of multiple factors including age, class, color, culture, disability, race/ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, immigration status, veteran status, political ideology, and religion. Social workers appreciate that, as a consequence of difference, a person’s life experiences may include oppression, poverty, marginalization, and alienation as well as privilege, power, and acclaim.

~ Complete all of the following:

SW 520: SW GPI: Micro & Mezzo
SW 530: SW GPII: Macro
SW 540A: Cross-Cultural HBSE I
SW 540B: Cross-Cultural HBSE II

AND

Behavioral Health Concentration:

SW 610A: Intro to BH Policy & Svcs
SW 620A: Adv Clinical Prac I: BH
SW 630A: Adv Clinical Prac II: BH

OR

Children, Youth & Family Concentration: 

SW 610B: Intro to CYF Policy & Svcs
SW 620B: Adv Clinical Prac I: CYF
SW 630B: Adv Clinical Prac II: CYF

SW LO 5 Social Justice and Human Rights ~ Each person, regardless of position in society, has basic human rights such as freedom, safety, privacy, an adequate standard of living, health care and education. Social workers recognize the global interconnections of oppression and are knowledgeable about theories of justice and strategies to promote human and civil rights. Social workers incorporate social justice practices in organizations, institutions and society to ensure that these basic human rights are distributed equitably and without prejudice.

~ Complete all of the following:

SW 510: Foundations of SW Profession
SW 530: SW GPII: Macro
SW 600A: Appl SW Research Prj I
SW 600B: Appl SW Research Prj II

AND

Behavioral Health Concentration:

SW 610A: Intro to BH Policy & Svcs
SW 620A: Adv Clinical Prac I: BH

OR

Children, Youth & Family Concentration: 

SW 610B: Intro to CYF Policy & Svcs
SW 620B: Adv Clinical Prac I: CYF

SW LO 6  Research & Practice ~ Social workers use practice experience to inform research, employ evidence-based interventions, evaluate their own practice, and use research findings to improve practice, policy and social service delivery. Social workers comprehend quantitative and qualitative research and understand scientific and ethical approaches to building knowledge.

~ Complete all of the following:
SW 550: Social Work Research
SW 560: Adv Res Methd: Needs Assess
SW 600A: Appl SW Research Prj I and SW 600B: Appl SW Research Prj II or SW 550: Social Work Research
SW 560: Adv Res Methd: Needs Assess
SW 699

SW LO 7  Human Behavior in the Social Environment ~ Social workers are knowledgeable about human behavior across the life course, the range of social systems in which people live, and the ways social systems promote or deter people in maintaining or achieving health and well-being. Social workers apply theories and knowledge from the liberal arts to understand biological, social, cultural, psychological and spiritual development.

~ Complete all of the following:
SW 540A: Cross-Cultural HBSE I
SW 540B: Cross-Cultural HBSE II

AND

Behavioral Health Concentration:

SW 610A: Intro to BH Policy & Svcs
SW 620A: Adv Clinical Prac I: BH

OR

Children, Youth & Family Concentration: 
SW 610B: Intro to CYF Policy & Svcs
SW 620B: Adv Clinical Prac I: CYF

SW LO 8  Policy Practice ~ Social work practitioners understand that policy affects service delivery, and they actively engage in policy practice. Social workers know the history and current structures of social policies and services, the role of policy in service delivery, and the role of practice in policy development.

~ Complete all of the following:
SW 510: Foundations of SW Profession
SW 530: SW GPII: Macro
SW 570: Social Policy and Analysis
SW 596B: GP Field Practicum & Sem II
SW 650: Collaboration/Ethics/Ldrship

AND

Behavioral Health Concentration: SW 610A: Intro to BH Policy & Svcs

OR

Children, Youth & Family Concentration:  SW 610B: Intro to CYF Policy & Svcs

SW LO 9  Collaboration, Ethics and Leadership ~ Social workers demonstrate the ability to involve community stakeholders and key decision-makers in developing, articulating and sustaining a program, practice or policy vision.  Social workers are informed, resourceful and proactive in responding to evolving organizational, community and societal contexts at all levels of practice. Social workers recognize that the context of practice is dynamic, and use knowledge and skill to respond proactively.

~ Complete all of the following:
SW 530: SW GPII: Macro
SW 560: Adv Res Methd: Needs Assess
SW 596A: GP Field Practicum & Sem I
SW 640: Adv Conflict Resolution
SW 650: Collaboration/Ethics/Ldrship

SW LO 10  Social Work Practice ~ Professional practice involves the dynamic and interactive processes of engagement, assessment, intervention and evaluation at multiple levels. Social workers have the knowledge and skills to practice with individuals, families, groups, organizations and communities (especially for regional populations of need in chronic mental illness, substance abuse/dependency, gang affiliation and violence, poverty, marginally housed and homeless, advanced age, death and dying, veterans of war, war experiences and physical and emotional trauma, incarcerated and paroled mentally ill, and adoptions/foster care).  Practice knowledge includes identifying, analyzing and implementing evidence-based interventions designed to achieve client goals; using research and technological advances; evaluating program outcomes and practice effectiveness; developing, analyzing, advocating and providing leadership for policies and services; and promoting social and economic justice.

~ Complete all of the following:
SW 510: Foundations of SW Profession
SW 520: SW GPI: Micro & Mezzo
SW 530: SW GPII: Macro
SW 596A: GP Field Practicum & Sem I
SW 596B: GP Field Practicum & Sem II
SW 640: Adv Conflict Resolution
SW 600A: Appl SW Research Prj I
SW 600B: Appl SW Research Prj II
SW 696A: AP Field Practicum & Sem I
SW 696B: AP Field Practicum & Sem II

AND

Behavioral Health Concentration:
SW 620A: Adv Clinical Prac I: BH

OR

Children, Youth & Family Concentration: 
SW 620B: Adv Clinical Prac I: CYF

SW LO 11  Professional Communication and Information Technology ~ Social workers demonstrate the ability to communicate in oral, written and electronic formats both basic and complex ideas to a variety of individuals and groups. Social workers are able to use information technologies to support human services practice, program implementation and policy development.

~ Complete all of the following:
SW 500: Master Seminar
SW 560: Adv Res Methd: Needs Assess
SW 596A: GP Field Practicum & Sem I
SW 596B: GP Field Practicum & Sem II
SW 650: Collaboration/Ethics/Ldrship
SW 600B: Appl SW Research Prj II
SW 699

SW LO 12  Conflict Resolution, Negotiation & Mediation ~ Social workers demonstrate the understanding of and ability to engage in the dynamics of conflict resolution, negotiation and mediation among interest groups and how to achieve mutual agreement. Social workers demonstrate an understanding of the characteristics of conflict and how it manifests itself in Interprofessional and organizational contexts. 

~ Complete all of the following:
SW 640: Adv Conflict Resolution
SW 650: Collaboration/Ethics/Ldrship

AND

Behavioral Health Concentration:
SW 610A: Intro to BH Policy & Svcs

OR

Children, Youth & Family Concentration: 
SW 610B: Intro to CYF Policy & Svcs