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Texas State > The Graduate College > Graduate Catalogs > 2007-2009 > College of Health Professions > School of Social Work

School of Social Work

School of Social Work Home Page

Majors and Degree Offered
The M.S.W. Program
Degree Requirements
Field Practicum
Admissions
Courses Offered
Graduate Faculty

Majors and Degrees Offered:
       Social Work-Administrative Leadership, M.S.W.
         Social Work-Direct Practice, M.S.W.

Major Programs
    The School of Social Work offers two degree programs: the Bachelor of Social Work (B.S.W.), which prepares students for beginning-level generalist practice, and the Master of Social Work (M.S.W.) degree, which prepares students for advanced specialized practice. Both degrees are fully accredited by the Council on Social Work Education. Social work practice at both the B.S.W. and M.S.W. level share a common core of knowledge, values, and skills. Throughout the curriculum, the School emphasizes social justice and professional ethics. The M.S.W. degree prepares graduates for a wide variety of positions in many diverse, interesting fields that address human needs.

The M.S.W. Program
    The M.S.W. degree program aims to prepare graduates for advanced specialized professional social work practice, particularly in public services. The M.S.W. degree program offers regular and advanced standing tracks, as well as full and part-time study.
    The regular track for full-time students, which begins in the fall semester, encompasses a two-year (five semesters) program of study with 62 hours of coursework. The priority date for submitting application materials for the regular track program is February 1st for the following fall semester; thereafter, applications are considered on a rolling basis. The advanced standing program (which enrolls students directly into second year content) consists of 36 hours of coursework organized across one calendar year of three semesters; students enter this program in summer I session. The priority date for submitting application materials for the advanced standing track is December 1st for the following summer; thereafter, applications are considered on a rolling basis. Students committed to part-time study should expect to spend four years to complete the regular track or two years to complete the advanced standing track.
    The first (foundation) year curriculum focuses on the generic foundation knowledge and skills necessary for general social work practice, while the second (advanced) year focuses on specialized practice. Regular track students in their second year of coursework, as well as advanced standing students, select a concentration of study in either a) direct practice with individuals, families, or groups, or b) administrative leadership practice.
    Courses may be offered face-to-face, on-line, by web-casting by interactive television, or using a combination of these teaching methods.

Degree Requirements
Regular admission students must complete 62 credit hours to earn the M.S.W. degree. Advanced standing students must complete 36 credit hours.

Field Practicum
Field practicum (internship) involves the student intern working in a social service agency under the intensive supervision of a licensed master social worker. All regular track students (full and part-time) must complete 20 semester credit hours of field practicum, while advanced standing students must complete 12 semester credit hours of field practicum. Regular track students complete a first-year field practicum (which incorporates a seminar) while concurrently enrolled in other classes. In the second year, for both full-time regular track and advanced standing students, field practicum occurs during the spring semester. Part-time students may spread second-year field practicum across the fall and spring semesters.

Admissions
Applicants must meet all Graduate College admissions requirements to be admitted unconditionally to the M.S.W. degree program. Students who have received a degree from a Bachelor of Social Work program accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) may be eligible for advanced standing. All other students enroll in the first year regular track program. Both regular and advanced standing students may enroll on either a part or full-time basis. Applicants are admitted to the M.S.W. degree program based on their performance on various criteria, including:

Minimum GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale from prior undergraduate hours and graduate work (if applicable);
Preferred score on the Graduate Record Examination (verbal and quantitative combined);
Paid and volunteer work history;
Letters of recommendation from individuals competent to assess the applicant’s capacity to pursue graduate social work education;
Demonstrated commitment to public sector social work;
Demonstrated successful completion of course content in a) statistics and b) human biology.

Applicants for the advanced standing program must meet all Graduate College admission criteria, and, in addition, must provide evidence of:

B.S.W. degree (or equivalent) from CSWE-accredited program;
Minimum GPA in undergraduate social work of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale;
Minimum overall GPA of 3.0 for the last two full academic years of study prior to application.

The School may require personal interviews of applicants.

Persons wishing to apply should contact the Office of the Graduate College and the School of Social Work for application forms and information. The Graduate College application, transcripts, test scores, and application fee should be submitted directly to the Office of the Graduate College. All other documents should be submitted to the M.S.W. Coordinator, School of Social Work.

Courses Offered

Health Professions (HP)
    5100 Teaching in the Health Professions. (1-0) This course is an introduction to curriculum, instruction, and assessment methods in teaching and covers topics related to instruction in lecture, laboratories, and clinical settings. This course is required for first year teaching assistants and graduate instructional assistants. This course does not earn graduate degree credit. Repeatable with different emphasis. Graded on a credit (CR), no-credit (F) basis.

Social Work (SOWK)
Social Work Graduate Electives are marked with an asterisk (*).
    5310 Social Welfare Policy and Services. (3-0) This foundation course studies the United States’ social welfare system, emphasizing how social welfare policies affect diverse populations. Topics include social welfare history; and policy development, implementation, evaluation, and values. Prerequisite: Instructor approval.
    5311 Human Behavior and Social Environment: Birth Through Adolescence. (3-0) This foundation course focuses on human functioning from birth through adolescence, using eco-systems and development frameworks. It builds knowledge and values for practice with individuals, families, and organizations; develops analytical reasoning and assessment skills; and applies content to diverse populations. Prerequisite: Graduate standing or instructor approval.
    *5312 Social Work Intervention in Drug Addiction & Abuse. (3-0) This elective course focuses on commonly used and abused drugs as well as the dynamics and treatment of addiction. It emphasizes social work intervention aimed at addiction prevention and treatment. Prerequisite: Graduate standing or instructor approval.
    5313 Foundation Social Work Practice I. (3-0) This foundation course explores generalist social work theory and practice methodology in problem-solving with individuals, families, and groups, emphasizing data collection, assessment, intervention planning, and evaluation. Prerequisite: Admission to the M.S.W. degree program.
    5314 Foundation Social Work Practice II. (3-0) This foundation skill-development course emphasizes generalist social work practice with task groups, organizations, and communities. Prerequisite: Admission to the M.S.W. degree program.
    *5315 Social Work Intervention in Child Abuse & Neglect. (3-0) This elective course considers child welfare services available to abused and neglected children in their own homes, in substitute care, and through the community, emphasizing in social work intervention with children and their families. Prerequisite: Graduate standing or instructor approval.
    5316 Foundation Social Work Practice III. (3-0) This foundation course develops the student’s interpersonal and communication skills with clients and other professionals. Students must demonstrate competence in interviewing, assessment, and planning skills. Students learn to collect data to support assessment, plan intervention, and evaluate practice. Prerequisites: SOWK 5313 and 5314.
    5317 Social Work Research. (3-0) This foundation course builds introductory scientific research skills in critical thinking and knowledge of program and practice evaluation. It prepares students to read, interpret, and critique research with skepticism and rigor and to perform various research and social work practice activities. Prerequisite: Graduate standing or instructor approval.
    5318 Human Behavior and Social Environment: Adulthood to End of Life. (3-0) This foundation course focuses on human functioning from adulthood to end of life, using eco-systems and development frameworks. It builds knowledge and values for practice with individuals, families, and organizations; develops analytical reasoning and assessment skills; and applies content to diverse populations. Prerequisite: SOWK 5311 or instructor approval.
    5319 Diagnostic Assessment. (3-0) This advanced course examines how individuals, families, and groups interact with the social environment, emphasizing mental health and adaptive capacity, theories of the etiology and development of mental and emotional disorders, and how culture affects mental health. Prerequisites: Advanced standing, foundation coursework completion, or instructor approval.
    5320 Advanced Administrative Leadership Practice I: Introduction to Management. (3-0) This advanced skill-development course emphasizes social work practice in managing small and large organizations. Students develop knowledge and skills in social work management and supervision in non-profit and public organizations. Prerequisite: Advanced standing, foundation coursework completion, or instructor approval.
    5322 Advanced Social Policy and Social Justice. (3-0) This advanced course, a study of social legislation affecting disadvantaged persons, emphasizes policy analysis, values, and advocacy through studying social policy history; developing, implementing, and evaluating policy; and influencing social and economic justice. Prerequisite: Advanced standing, foundation coursework completion, or instructor approval.
    5323 Advanced Social Work Research. (3-0) This advanced course builds knowledge and skills for systematically evaluating programs and practice. It enhances effective and ethical social work practice by teaching skills necessary to design, implement, and empirically assess intervention with client and programs. Prerequisites: SOWK 5317, advanced standing, foundation coursework completion, or instructor approval.
    5324 Advanced Direct Practice with Families. (3-0) This advanced course focuses on theories, research, and models of practice with families. It emphasizes a systems orientation to assessment and intervention, and integrates issues of self-awareness and human diversity. Prerequisite: Advanced standing, foundation coursework completion, or instructor approval.
    5325 Advanced Administrative Leadership Practice III: Challenges and Innovations. (3-0) This advanced course expands knowledge and skills by exploring how theories, supervision and management interventions, and social work values are applied to diverse organizational environments. Prerequisite: Advanced standing, foundation coursework completion, or instructor approval.
    5326 Advanced Direct Practice with Individuals. (3-0) This advanced course examines intervention theories and builds specialized skills for effective, ethical practice with individuals. It examines how culture influences individuals, and discusses how to assess individuals from multiple perspectives. Prerequisite: Advanced standing, foundation coursework completion, or instructor approval.
    5327 Advanced Direct Practice with Groups. (3-0) This advanced course develops effective, ethical group practice skills, including assessment from multiple perspectives, facilitation of group process and intervention, evaluation, and addressing needs of diverse populations. Prerequisite: Advanced standing, foundation coursework completion, or instructor approval.
    5329 Organizational Development. (3-0) This advanced course examines organizational and inter-organizational social service delivery contexts; how funding, mandate, and organizational arrangements influence services; and factors to consider in modifying existing organizations. Prerequisite: Advanced standing, foundation coursework completion, or instructor approval.
    5333 Advanced Social Work Research: Program Evaluation. (3-0) This is a course designed to build knowledge and skills for the systematic evaluation of social welfare programs. It is designed to enhance the student’s ability to practice effectively as a social work administrator by teaching skills necessary to design, implement, and assess program evaluation activities. Prerequisites: SOWK 5317, advanced standing, or instructor approval.
    5334 Advanced Administrative Leadership Practice II: Resource Development. (3-0) This advanced course emphasizes grant-writing and marketing in non-profit organizations. It builds knowledge, roles, and skills to extend organizational resources for effective, ethical social work practice and programs. Prerequisite: Advanced standing, foundation coursework completion, or instructor approval.
    *5339 Selected Topics in Social Work. (3-0) Students study relevant social work topics in depth. Topics, such as social work in schools or in health care, are selected according to students’ needs and professional trends. Repeatable for credit. Prerequisite: Graduate standing or instructor approval.
    5360 Directed Study in Social Work. (3-0) This one-semester course highlights individualized reading, independent study and projects, and guided instruction. It is offered by invitation of the professor and with the consent of the MSW Coordinator. It may not be repeated for credit. Prerequisites: Graduate standing and the approval of the MSW Coordinator and School Director.
    5410 Foundation Field I (Concurrent). (1-20) This foundation course consists of supervised beginning generalist social work practice in agencies for a minimum of 250 clock hours, applying classroom knowledge to work with individuals, families, groups, and communities. Graded on credit/no credit basis. Prerequisites: Admission to MSW degree program and completed field application process.
    5411 Foundation Field II (Concurrent). (1-20) This second foundation course continues supervised generalist social work practice in agencies for a minimum of 250 clock hours, applying classroom knowledge to work with individuals, families, groups, and communities. Graded on credit/no-credit basis. Prerequisites: SOWK 5410 and Field Coordinator approval.
    5612 Direct Practice Field I. (1-20) This course offers supervised advanced direct social work practice opportunities to apply classroom knowledge to interventions with individuals, families, and groups in agencies for a total of 300 clock hours. Graded on credit/no-credit basis. Prerequisites: Completion of field application process and completion of MSW class work.
    5613 Direct Practice Field II. (1-20) This course continues supervised advanced direct social work practice opportunities to apply classroom knowledge to interventions with individuals, families, and groups in agencies for a total of 300 clock hours. Graded on credit/no-credit basis. Prerequisites: Field Coordinator approval.
    5622 Administrative Leadership Field I. (1-20) This course offers supervised advanced administrative leadership social work practice opportunities to apply classroom knowledge to interventions with public and non-profit social agencies for a total of 300 clock hours. Graded on credit/no-credit basis. Prerequisites: Completion of field application process and completion of MSW class work.
    5623 Administrative Leadership Field II. (1-20) This course continues supervised advanced administrative leadership social work practice opportunities to apply classroom knowledge to interventions with public and non-profit social agencies for a total of 300 clock hours. Graded on credit/no-credit basis. Prerequisites: Field Coordinator approval.

Graduate Faculty
    Brown, Karen D., Professor of Social Work. B.A., Southwestern University; M.S.S.W., University of Tennessee; Ph.D., The University of Texas at Austin.
    Biggs, Mary Jo Garcia, Assistant Professor of Social Work. B.S.W., Texas State University-San Marcos; M.S.W., Our Lady of the Lake University; Ph.D., Texas A&M University.
    Bullock, Glinda, Assistant Professor of Social Work. B.A., M.S.W., California State University-Fresno; Ed.D., University of Nevada-Las Vegas.
    Chavkin, Nancy F., Professor of Social Work. B.A., Dickinson College; M.S.W., University of Illinois; Ph.D., The University of Texas at Austin.
    Freeman, Dexter R., Assistant Professor of Social Work. B.A., Austin Peay State University; M.S.W., The University of Georgia; D.S.W., The Catholic University of America.
    Hawkins, Catherine, Professor of Social Work. B.A., M.S.S.W., Ph.D., The University of Texas at Austin.
    Henton, David, Clinical Assistant Professor of Social Work. B.A., M.S.S.W., The University of Texas at Austin.
    Jones, Sally Hill, Assistant Professor of Social Work and MSW Coordinator. B.A., Trinity College (Illinois); M.S.W., University of Chicago; Ph.D., Institute for Clinical Social Work (Chicago).
    Knox, Karen, Associate Professor of Social Work. B.A., M.S.S.W., Ph.D., The University of Texas at Austin.
    Noble, Dorinda N., Professor of Social Work and Director of the School of Social Work. B.A., Texas Tech University; M.S.W., Tulane University; Ph.D., The University of Texas at Austin.
    Pogue, Mary (Rene), Assistant Professor of Social Work. B.A., M.S.W., University of Alabama; Ph.D., Louisiana State University.
    Selber, Katherine, Professor of Social Work. B.A., Ph.D., The University of Texas at Austin; M.S.S.W., The University of Houston-Houston, Texas.
    Tijerina, Mary Sylvia, Associate Professor of Social Work and B.S.W. Director. B.A., Texas State University-San Marcos; M.S.S.W., Ph.D., The University of Texas at Austin.
    Yarbrough, David, Associate Professor of Social Work. B.A., M.S.W., University of Alabama; Ph.D., University of Tennessee.