PROGRAM OBJECTIVES

The MSW program at Southern University at New Orleans has the following objectives:

1. To serve the metropolitan area, the state and the region by preparing students to fill the changing social welfare human resource needs of public and private agencies for master's level social work practitioners.
2. To provide an educational experience for students which facilitates the acquisition of knowledge, values and skills essential for advanced professional competence in social work practice.
3. To provide students with knowledge and understanding of general systems theory and an ecological theoretical
   perspective as an integrating framework, and its application, with emphasis on strengths and ecological social work practice at both micro, mezzo, and macro levels.
4. To prepare students to apply research knowledge and skills which reflect social work values and ethics in evaluating their own practice and in generating knowledge for practice.
5. To prepare students for competent practice with diverse populations by ensuring that all areas of the curriculum, including field experience include content relative to understanding and acting upon: (a) women's issues, (b) people of color--with particular focus on, but not limited to, African Americans, (c) acceptance of diverse life styles and sexual orientation as among gay and lesbian persons, populations at risk (i.e., children, seniors, the poor, the physical or mentally challenged, persons with HIV or AIDS), (d) institutional racism, classism, sexism, heterosexism, ageism, and (e) social and economic justice issues.
6. To provide an adult learning approach which increases the ability of students to integrate cognitive and affective
   experiences.
7. To provide opportunities for professional social work practitioners to acquire special knowledge and skills appropriate to specific roles and fields of practice.

Program of Study:  Advanced Standing, Full-Time, Part- TIme

The School of Social Work MSW program is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education. The foundation year or first year of the MSW program includes 32 hours of generalist social work courses. The second year is the specialization year which includes 31 hours of courses. Three plans of study are offered: Full-time, Part-time, and Advanced Standing. Each plan has a structured curriculum which must be followed. The full-time and part-time plans begin in the fall semester. The advanced standing plan begins in the spring or summer semester.

Advanced Standing

Applicants seeking advanced standing status must have received a Bachelor of Social Work Degree from an undergraduate social work program accredited by the Council on Social Work Education. Applicants considered for this course of study, in addition to meeting the general requirements for admission, must have achieved a minimum GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale. In addition a minimum grade of “B” must be earned in all professional foundation courses which would give them an exemption status. The advanced standing program is structured to allow students to complete their course work in approximately three semesters beginning in the spring or summer semester of an academic year.

Full-Time

The full-time plan consists of a planned, structured curriculum which extends over four semesters. Students participate in a field practicum which includes a minimum of sixteen (16) hours per week. Semester hours for full-time students vary from 14-17 hours per semester.

Part-Time

The part-time plan consists of a structured curriculum which permits students to complete their academic requirements within six (6) semesters plus two (2) summers. In the part-time plan, the foundation year is divided into four (4) semesters plus two (2) summers. During the first two years, students enroll in a field practicum which includes a minimum of ten (10) hours per week. The field practicum begins the summer of the first year. During the third year (specialization year), students must increase their course load and field practicum hours to meet full-time status.

Transfer Students

Students with prior graduate education in the field of social work are allowed to request a transfer of credits. Only courses completed at a MSW program accredited by the Council on Social Work Education with a “B” or above will be accepted, and field courses must receive a special review. All courses accepted for transfer may not meet the criteria as substitutions for courses in our curriculum. Courses requested for transfer must have been completed within five (5) years prior to the semester for which the student is requesting enrollment. In addition to the usual application material, course syllabi, course descriptions and a Statement of Good Standing from the Dean or Program Director must be submitted. The University residence requirements require a student to complete the last 18 hours of course credit at SUNO in order to receive a degree.

International Student Applicants – Please refer to Graduate Program requirements

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Admissions Criteria

Admission decisions for the MSW program are based on a review of past academic performance, relevant work and/or volunteer experience, reference evaluations, personal interest statement, and, if needed, a personal interview. Preference is given to applicants who have received a BSW degree or completed a major in social work or social science. The minimum criteria for admission to the MSW program are as follows:

1. An earned bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university or a degree which will be awarded by the end of the semester, prior to entry.
2. Successfully completion of the following 12 hours in liberal arts courses with a minimum grade of “C”: American Government (or Political Science), Sociology, Psychology and at least one course from the following group (Economics, History, Philosophy, Humanities, Anthropology), and successful completion with a grade of “C” of a Biology course.
3. An overall 2.5 grade point average on a 4.0 scale.
4. Evidence of written skills at the level of a graduate student.
5. Evidence of values, ethics and commitment congruent with those of the social work profession.
6. Demonstrated sensitivity to racial, ethnic, and other cultural diversity and a commitment to equal opportunity.
7. Commitment to Advocacy, Empowerment, and Transformation.

Grading Criteria

The following system of grading is employed at the graduate level:

A = Excellent
B = Very Good
C = Minimal Passing
F = Failing
I = Incomplete
W = Withdrawal
 

In addition:

1.  Students must receive a grade of B or better in all field courses. Students may move to an advanced field level after completing all prerequisite field courses with a grade of B or better.

2. Students cannot graduate with a “F” grade and more than two C's as final grades in course work.

3. Students must have at least an overall 3.00 GPA to graduate.

4. A graduate student will be placed on probation if:

a. The student's cumulative graduate grade point average is below 2.5 at the time of admission.

b. The student's cumulative graduate grade point average in the MSW program is below 3.0 at the end of any  term.

 

MSW Field Practicum

First-year students are expected to have at least one practice experience in each practice interventive mode. Second and third year students, on the other hand, devote most of their practicum experience to tasks which support their selected concentration. All Direct Service (DS) students, however, will have at least one practice experience in some aspect of management such as program development, supervision, consultation, or administration. Similarly, students selecting Administration, Planning, and Organizing (APO) will have the opportunity to refine direct service skills by working with small groups.

Full-time students are required to complete a field practicum each semester for four semesters. The field experience is concurrent with course work. For the first three (3) semesters, students are assigned to the selected field setting for two (2) days per week. In the final semester, students participate in the field practicum two and a half days per week. The additional day in the final semester allows for additional exposure in their concentration area and enhances professional identification as the student is making the transition from student to professional.

Part-time students are required to participate in a field practicum experience beginning in the summer semester one year following their enrollment in the graduate program. During the first year, students will complete ten (10) hours a week in the field. After completion of the first year, students are required to participate in a full-time field practicum assignment.

The MSW Curriculum