MSW DEGREE REQUIREMENTS

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Degree Requirements

Students are responsible for meeting all requirements for the MSW degree -- completing required and elective courses, meeting unit requirements, and maintaining a 3.0 (B) grade point average.

The course of study for the MSW degree includes the following:

1. Academic Courses. Students in the MSW program must complete at least 29 academic (100-200 level) units, including all specific course requirements for their program.
   
   
2. Transfer Credit. Up to four semester units taken in graduate standing at another college or university prior to beginning the MSW program at Berkeley, and not credited to another degree, may be applied toward the MSW degree with the approval of the Dean of the Graduate Division.
   
   While at Berkeley, graduate students in good standing can participate in approved exchange programs. These enable students to take advantage of research facilities, courses, and faculty expertise at other universities. Registration in exchange programs during the Fall and Spring terms.

Exchange Programs include:


a) University of California Intercampus Exchange Program

b) Stanford-California Exchange Program

c) Cross-registration programs with local institutions:


California State University, Hayward, San Francisco, and Sonoma; and Dominican, Holy Names, Mills, and St. Mary's College and John F. Kennedy University, with the approval of the Graduate Division and the School of Social Welfare

d) Graduate Theological Union, Berkeley.

3. Field Work. Students receive approximately 2 units of field work credit per semester for each full day per week spent in the field. A total of 19 practicum and field work units are required for graduation, the equivalent of approximately 142 days of field work.

First semester MSW students must enroll in an introductory field seminar (SW 400 for 1 unit) and a field work placement (SW 401 for 2 units). First semester field work begins in the middle of October. Students spend a considerable portion of their second, third, and fourth semesters in the field, working under supervision in one or more social agencies. In the second semester, students generally devote 2 days per week to their field assignments. In the third and fourth semesters, students are in the field three days each week.

4. Research. The six-unit research requirement is generally met through a three semester sequence of lecture-seminar courses (SW 280, SW 282 AB). An individual thesis option is available for students with significant research skills.

A grade point average no lower than 3.0 (B) must be maintained in all upper division and graduate academic courses undertaken in graduate residence at the University of California.

Program Specializations

The School requires all MSW students to pursue courses and field work in one of five specialization areas:

• Direct Practice in Child and Family Services,
• Direct Practice in Community Mental Health,
• Direct Practice in Health Services,
• Direct Practice in Gerontology, and
• Management and Planning.

Child and Family Specialization. The goal of the Child and Family program is to prepare students for leadership and direct practice roles in programs serving disadvantaged children, adolescents, and families, primarily through governmental and nonprofit agencies and allied settings. Students study the full range of intervention strategies and practice skills used on behalf of children and families. Field work is provided in public and private child welfare agencies, schools, residential treatment centers, family shelters, and family and child counseling services.

Community Mental Health Specialization. The mission of the CMH program is to prepare students for leadership and direct practice on behalf of mentally ill and emotionally disturbed children and adults, their families and caretakers, and those at risk of developing mental illness. The program prepares professionals to address the needs of disadvantaged groups and to improve basic systems of care and treatment. Students are educated to plan, implement, and assess services addressing the needs of the mentally ill and emotionally disabled for basic resources and life supports, social rehabilitation, and clinical treatment, and to apply methods such as assessment, case management, group work, individual counseling and crisis intervention, social skills training, and client advocacy. Students acquire an understanding of the organization and financing of mental health services, governing laws and requirements, and the interrelationships among service providers, natural helping networks, and clients.

Health Specialization. The direct services specialization in Health is designed for students who have an interest in health care services and the psychosocial impact of illness and disability. Students become familiar with social work interventions with individuals, families, and communities in a variety of health promotion and health care settings including prevention programs, public health and community health agencies, hospitals and clinics, and non-profit and for-profit health agencies. Students are educated to understand the needs of broad target populations and are taught to apply methods such as assessment, counseling, group work, and case work. Common activities in hospital settings include discharge planning and interdisciplinary case management. Students in the specialization may pursue the MPH degree in conjunction with the dual degree program with the School of Public Health.

Gerontology Specialization. The Gerontology specialization prepares students for direct practice careers in social services to older adults and their families. Through specialized gerontology courses and variety of supervised field placements, students learn to address the complex psychosocial issues of aging. Gerontology courses provide students with state-of-the-art knowledge regarding the aging process, health and mental health issues, the aging network, and social policies that affect the elderly and their families. Students develop skills in case management, interdisciplinary practice, advocacy, and intervention methods with older adults and their families.

Management and Planning Specialization. Students in Management and Planning study the techniques needed to create, maintain, and enhance client-serving institutions. They are educated to plan, implement, and evaluate social welfare policies and programs and to manage social service institutions and agencies in public and voluntary non-profit settings. All students acquire an understanding of the organization and financing of services, the policy and regulatory context of services, and the interrelationships among service providers, natural helping networks, and clients. Students also develop skills in advocacy, planning and evaluation, program development, legislative and policy analysis, and financial and information systems management. On graduation, alumni pursue careers in government and non-profit organizations as program managers, agency directors, policy analysts, program evaluators, and community organizers.

Changing Specializations

First year students may petition to change their specialization in the first three weeks of the Fall Semester. If you are contemplating a change, please discuss the matter with your adviser and field work consultant. Your petition will be reviewed by Paul Terrell (Coordinator of Academic Programs), Bart Grossman (Director of Field Work), and Rafael Herrera (Director of Admissions). All petitions will be reviewed in terms of the rationale provided and the availability of class and field opportunities.

You may obtain the Petition to Change MSW Specialization from Barbara Haden. The deadline for submission is Friday, September 14.

Courses

Several required courses offer a number of sections, often scheduled on different days and at different times. SW 200, Human Behavior and the Social Environment, SW 241 AB, Foundations of Social Work Practice, and SW 275, Diversity in Social Welfare, for example, all have four or five sections each. While students may select any section offered through Tele-BEARS, please check the course section descriptions offered each semester to determine if particular sections are recommended for particular specializations.

While electives may be taken any time during the program, students will generally find more flexibility in their second year. Electives are offered every semester. Descriptions are available prior to the enrollment process.

Individual Study Courses (SW 296)

Individual study allows graduate students to pursue special study areas of their own choosing. It may be used toward completion of elective unit requirements. Students decide on the area of study and then obtain the consent of a faculty supervisor. The procedure for filing for an individual study is as follows:

1. Obtain an application form for SW 296 from Barbara Haden. Complete the form and have the supervising faculty member sign it, indicating the number of units.
   
   
2. Return the form to Barbara Haden no later than the end of the 3rd week of classes. You will receive a course control number for the individual study when the form is returned. This will allow you to enter the individual study to your class schedule through Tele-BEARS.

Course Evaluations

Students in every class complete evaluation questionnaires. The evaluation information for each course and instructor is available for review in the Social Welfare Library.

Curriculum Planning Guides

Curriculum Planning Guides distributed during Orientation and are included in the handbook as Appendix D; keep them handy. The planning guide outlines your academic program for the next two years; it shows the courses you are required to take each semester and the number of required elective units in your program. Planning Guides are also available on the School's web page: http://socialwelfare.berkeley.edu.