Degree Requirements & Curriculum

MSW Class in Blake Hall

Advanced Standing Degree Requirements

The one year Advanced Standing plan of study requires a bachelor’s of social work degree to apply. It is offered at all campus locations. Both the clinical specialization and the macro specialization are offered to all students.

The Advanced Standing program requires an enrollment of 38 credit hours, as follows:

  • A summer enrollment in 6 credit hours:
    • SW 712, a social work practice class organized around the school’s major curriculum themes
      • Students must earn a minimum grade of B in SW 712 to continue
    • An elective course selected by the student to broaden the base of knowledge. Electives are offered in various locations.
  • The advanced level of the Advanced Standing Plan of Study (32 credit hours)
    • 18 credit hours of classroom work maintaining a grade-point average of 3.0 (B)
    • 14 credit hours of field practicum with an S grade for satisfactory performance

Important Links

Advanced Standing Curriculum

At the advanced level, MSW students choose a specialization in clinical social work practice with a focus in a particular field of practice - child and family, health/mental health, aging - or social work administrative and advocacy practice. The clinical specialization and the macro specialization are offered to students at all locations.

Summer 

  • SW 712 Social Work Practice Seminar (3 credit hours)

One Elective (not all electives offered every term):

  • SW 860 Loss and Grief (3 credit hours)
  • SW 866 Social Work Practice with Children and Adolescents (3 credit hours)
  • SW 868 Crisis Intervention and Suicide Risk Reduction (3 credit hours)

Fall

  • SW 801 Advanced Field Practicum-Clinical Practice (7 credit hours)
  • SW 810 Clinical Social Work Practice (3 credit hours)
  • SW 863 Mental Health and Psychopathology (3 credit hours)

One Integrative Seminar that complements field practicum:

  • SW 830 Social Work in Child and Family Settings (3 credit hours)
  • SW 832 Social Work in Health Care and Mental Health Settings (3 credit hours)
  • SW 833 Social Work and Aging (3 credit hours)

Spring

  • SW 801 Advanced Field Practicum-Clinical Practice (3 credit hours)
  • SW 811 Topics in Advanced Clinical Social Work: _____ (3 credit hours)

One Diversity Selective (A social welfare study abroad fulfills the diversity selective requirement. Study abroad programs only offered in the summer or during winter break):

  • SW 870 Spiritual Diversity in Social Work Practice (3 credit hours)
  • SW 872 Cultural Diversity in Social Work Practice (3 credit hours)
  • SW 873 Sexuality and Gender Diversity (3 credit hours)
  • SW 874 Social Work Practice with Women (3 credit hours)
  • SW 878 Social Work with African American Families (3 credit hours)

One Elective (not all electives offered every term):

  • SW 834 Social Work in Schools (3 credit hours)
  • SW 852 Social Work with Groups (3 credit hours)
  • SW 860 Loss and Grief (3 credit hours)
  • SW 861 Intimate Partner Violence (1.5 credit hours) - students must also enroll in SW 862
  • SW 862 Intrafamilial Sexual Abuse (1.5 credit hours) - students must also enroll in SW 861
  • SW 866 Social Work Practice with Children and Adolescents (3 credit hours)
  • SW 868 Crisis Intervention and Suicide Risk Reduction (3 credit hours)
  • SW 869 Social Work with Clients with Alcohol and Drug-Related Problems (3 credit hours)
  • SW 875 Readings and Investigations: _____ (3 credit hours)

*All macro classes are taught in Zoom blended format. The Zoom blended course format combines "real time"/live class instruction via a virtual platform such as Zoom, Microsoft Teams, etc. and online learning. Live virtual class attendance is required every other Tuesday. 

Fall

  • SW 804 Advanced Field Practicum - Macro Practice (7 credit hours)
  • SW 840 Program Design and Grant Writing (3 credit hours)
  • SW 841 Advanced Policy and Programs (3 credit hours)
  • SW 849 Managing Financial Resources (3 credit hours)

Spring

  • SW 804 Advanced Field Practicum - Macro Practice (7 credit hours)
  • SW 842 Assessing and Managing Outcomes (3 credit hours)
  • SW 843 Program Management and Supervision (3 credit hours)
  • SW 846 Advanced Community and Advocacy Practice (3 credit hours)
 

Summer 

  • SW 712 Social Work Practice Seminar (3 credit hours)

One Elective (not all electives offered every term):

  • SW 860 Loss and Grief (3 credit hours)
  • SW 866 Social Work Practice with Children and Adolescents (3 credit hours)
  • SW 868 Crisis Intervention and Suicide Risk Reduction (3 credit hours)

Fall

  • SW 801 Advanced Field Practicum-Clinical Practice (7 credit hours)
  • SW 810 Clinical Social Work Practice (3 credit hours)
  • SW 863 Mental Health and Psychopathology (3 credit hours)

One Integrative Seminar that complements field practicum:

  • SW 830 Social Work in Child and Family Settings (3 credit hours)
  • SW 832 Social Work in Health Care and Mental Health Settings (3 credit hours)
  • SW 833 Social Work and Aging (3 credit hours)

Spring

  • SW 801 Advanced Field Practicum-Clinical Practice (3 credit hours)
  • SW 811 Topics in Advanced Clinical Social Work: _____ (3 credit hours)

One Diversity Selective (A social welfare study abroad fulfills the diversity selective requirement. Study abroad programs only offered in the summer or during winter break):

  • SW 870 Spiritual Diversity in Social Work Practice (3 credit hours)
  • SW 872 Cultural Diversity in Social Work Practice (3 credit hours)
  • SW 873 Sexuality and Gender Diversity (3 credit hours)
  • SW 874 Social Work Practice with Women (3 credit hours)
  • SW 878 Social Work with African American Families (3 credit hours)

One Elective (not all electives offered every term):

  • SW 834 Social Work in Schools (3 credit hours)
  • SW 852 Social Work with Groups (3 credit hours)
  • SW 860 Loss and Grief (3 credit hours)
  • SW 861 Intimate Partner Violence (1.5 credit hours) - students must also enroll in SW 862
  • SW 862 Intrafamilial Sexual Abuse (1.5 credit hours) - students must also enroll in SW 861
  • SW 866 Social Work Practice with Children and Adolescents (3 credit hours)
  • SW 868 Crisis Intervention and Suicide Risk Reduction (3 credit hours)
  • SW 869 Social Work with Clients with Alcohol and Drug-Related Problems (3 credit hours)
  • SW 875 Readings and Investigations: _____ (3 credit hours)

*All macro classes are taught in Zoom blended format. The Zoom blended course format combines "real time"/live class instruction via a virtual platform such as Zoom, Microsoft Teams, etc. and online learning. Live virtual class attendance is required every other Tuesday. 

Fall

  • SW 804 Advanced Field Practicum - Macro Practice (7 credit hours)
  • SW 840 Program Design and Grant Writing (3 credit hours)
  • SW 841 Advanced Policy and Programs (3 credit hours)
  • SW 849 Managing Financial Resources (3 credit hours)

Spring

  • SW 804 Advanced Field Practicum - Macro Practice (7 credit hours)
  • SW 842 Assessing and Managing Outcomes (3 credit hours)
  • SW 843 Program Management and Supervision (3 credit hours)
  • SW 846 Advanced Community and Advocacy Practice (3 credit hours)
 

Traditional Degree Requirements

The two year Traditional plan of study requires a bachelor’s degree, of any major other than social work, from an accredited university or college to apply. It is offered on at all campus locations. The clinical specialization and the macro specialization are offered to all students.

The School of Social Welfare requires a total of 64 credit hours for the M.S.W. degree, consisting of:

  • 38 credit hours of classroom work
  • 26 credit hours of field practicum

 

Important Links

Traditional Curriculum

The Traditional Plan of Study takes two years to complete. The Traditional plan of study at the Pittsburg Partnership Site first year is taught in-person, on-campus by Pittsburg State University faculty* and the second year is taught in blended format by KU faculty with Saturday in-person, on-campus classes held at Pittsburg State University.

The curriculum listed below is for students with an admit term of summer 2021 or fall 2021. For students admitted prior to these terms, please contact your academic advisor.

Fall 2021

  • SW 700 Field Prep & Seminar (1 credit hour)
  • SW 701 Basic Field Practicum (5 credit hours)
  • SW 710 Engagement & Assessment (3 credit hours)
  • SW 730 Theory, Values & Ethics (3 credit hours)
  • SW 755 Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

Spring 2022

  • SW 700 Field Prep & Seminar (1 credit hour)
  • SW 701 Basic Field Practicum (5 credit hours)
  • SW 708 Human Rights and Social, Economic and Environmental Justice (2 credit hours)
  • SW 711 Multi-Level Intervention & Evaluation (3 credit hours)
  • SW 720 - Policy, Analysis & Advocacy

Summer 2022

  • SW 740 Social Work Research (3 credit hours)

*Pittsburg Partnership Site Traditional plan of study first year curriculum is offered through Pittsburg State University.

Fall

  • SW 801 Advanced Field Practicum-Clinical Practice (7 credit hours)
  • SW 810 Clinical Practice Skills I (3 credit hours)
  • SW 863 Mental Health and Psychopathology (3 credit hours)

One diversity-focused elective (options vary by campus):

  • SW 855 Study Abroad (3 credit hours)
  • SW 833 Interdisciplinary Aging Practice (3 credit hours)
  • SW 871 Indigenous Families (3 credit hours)
  • SW 873 Sexuality & Gender Diversity (3 credit hours)
  • SW 874 Social Work with Womxn and Femmes (3 credit hours)

Spring

  • SW 801 Advanced Field Practicum-Clinical Practice (7 credit hours)
  • SW 811 Clinical Practice Skills II (3 credit hours)
  • SW 855 Professional Development Seminar (3 credit hours)

One clinical elective (options vary by campus):

  • SW 860 Loss and Grief Across the Life Course (3 credit hours)
  • SW 861 Global Gender-based Violence Prevention & Intervention (3 credit hours)
  • SW 869 Assessing and Treating Substance Misuse (3 credit hours)

*All macro classes are taught in Zoom blended format. The Zoom blended course format combines "real time"/live class instruction via a virtual platform such as Zoom, Microsoft Teams, etc. and online learning. Live virtual class attendance is required every other Tuesday. 

Fall

  • SW 804 Advanced Field Practicum - Macro Practice (7 credit hours)
  • SW 840 Multi-system Community-Engaged Program Design (3 credit hours)
  • SW 841 Advanced Policy Analysis (3 credit hours)
  • SW 843 Supervision & Mentoring (1.5 credit hours)
  • SW 849 Program Management (1.5 credit hours)

Spring

  • SW 804 Advanced Field Practicum - Macro Practice (7 credit hours)
  • SW 842 Agency-based Evaluation (3 credit hours)
  • SW 843 Advanced Justice-centered Community and Advocacy Practice (3 credit hours)
  • SW 855 Professional Development Seminar (3 credit hours)

The curriculum listed below is for students with an admit term of summer 2021 or fall 2021. For students admitted prior to these terms, please contact your academic advisor.

Fall 2021

  • SW 700 Field Prep & Seminar (1 credit hour)
  • SW 701 Basic Field Practicum (5 credit hours)
  • SW 710 Engagement & Assessment (3 credit hours)
  • SW 730 Theory, Values & Ethics (3 credit hours)
  • SW 755 Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

Spring 2022

  • SW 700 Field Prep & Seminar (1 credit hour)
  • SW 701 Basic Field Practicum (5 credit hours)
  • SW 708 Human Rights and Social, Economic and Environmental Justice (2 credit hours)
  • SW 711 Multi-Level Intervention & Evaluation (3 credit hours)
  • SW 720 - Policy, Analysis & Advocacy

Summer 2022

  • SW 740 Social Work Research (3 credit hours)

*Pittsburg Partnership Site Traditional plan of study first year curriculum is offered through Pittsburg State University.

Fall

  • SW 801 Advanced Field Practicum-Clinical Practice (7 credit hours)
  • SW 810 Clinical Practice Skills I (3 credit hours)
  • SW 863 Mental Health and Psychopathology (3 credit hours)

One diversity-focused elective (options vary by campus):

  • SW 855 Study Abroad (3 credit hours)
  • SW 833 Interdisciplinary Aging Practice (3 credit hours)
  • SW 871 Indigenous Families (3 credit hours)
  • SW 873 Sexuality & Gender Diversity (3 credit hours)
  • SW 874 Social Work with Womxn and Femmes (3 credit hours)

Spring

  • SW 801 Advanced Field Practicum-Clinical Practice (7 credit hours)
  • SW 811 Clinical Practice Skills II (3 credit hours)
  • SW 855 Professional Development Seminar (3 credit hours)

One clinical elective (options vary by campus):

  • SW 860 Loss and Grief Across the Life Course (3 credit hours)
  • SW 861 Global Gender-based Violence Prevention & Intervention (3 credit hours)
  • SW 869 Assessing and Treating Substance Misuse (3 credit hours)

*All macro classes are taught in Zoom blended format. The Zoom blended course format combines "real time"/live class instruction via a virtual platform such as Zoom, Microsoft Teams, etc. and online learning. Live virtual class attendance is required every other Tuesday. 

Fall

  • SW 804 Advanced Field Practicum - Macro Practice (7 credit hours)
  • SW 840 Multi-system Community-Engaged Program Design (3 credit hours)
  • SW 841 Advanced Policy Analysis (3 credit hours)
  • SW 843 Supervision & Mentoring (1.5 credit hours)
  • SW 849 Program Management (1.5 credit hours)

Spring

  • SW 804 Advanced Field Practicum - Macro Practice (7 credit hours)
  • SW 842 Agency-based Evaluation (3 credit hours)
  • SW 843 Advanced Justice-centered Community and Advocacy Practice (3 credit hours)
  • SW 855 Professional Development Seminar (3 credit hours)

Academic Advisors