Program Change Request. New Program Proposal. Work. In Workflow. Viewing: TBD MS MS : Master of Social. Last approved: 10/29/15 11:27 am

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1 Program Change Request Date Submitted: 11/18/15 8:16 pm New Program Proposal Viewing: TBD MS MS : Master of Social Work Last approved: 10/29/15 11:27 am Last edit: 11/18/15 8:16 pm Changes proposed by: ZUGAZCB In Workflow 1. SOCY Chair 2. LA Graduate Curriculum Committee Chair 3. LA Editor 4. LA Associate Dean 5. Coordinator Curriculum Management 6. Graduate Council Curriculum Committee Chair 7. Coordinator Curriculum Management 8. Board of Trustees 9. Alabama Commission on Higher Education 10. Coordinator Curriculum Management Approval Path 1. 11/19/15 3:42 pm LAF0014: Approved for SOCY Chair History 1. Oct 29, 2015 by ZUGAZCB Proposed Implementation Date: Proposing College/School: Department: Program Level: Fall 2016 College of Liberal Arts Sociology, Anthro. & Soc. Wk. (SOCY) Graduate 1/10

2 Major Code: TBD (TBD ) Degree Code: Distance Certificate and/or Program? Program Title: CIP Code: Master of Science (MS) No Master of Social Work Social Work. Program Requirements and Description MSW Clinical Traditional Program For students who qualify for admission to the MSW Traditional Program, classes shall be taken in the full time format. Students typically take twelve (12) to sixteen (16) hours per semester (6 hours in summer). Students are required to complete two field experiences. The first internship is a generalist placement (consisting of 432 hours) focusing on the acquisition and development of generalist practice skills using a strengths perspective. The second internship is an advanced clinical placement (512 hours) focusing on the development of advanced clinical social work practice skills. Both the generalist and advanced clinical field placements are completed in a full time format, each placement being performed during one full semester. It typically takes a student 5 semesters (about 2 years) to complete the 61 credit hour program. The plan of study is attached. MSW Clinical Advanced Standing Program Students who have earned an undergraduate degree in Social Work from a program that is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education, qualify for admission to the MSW Advanced Standing Program. Classes shall be taken in the full time format. Students typically take twelve (12) to sixteen (16) hours per semester (6 hours in summer). These students will complete one internship, an advanced clinical placement (512 hours) that focuses on the development of advanced clinical social work practice skills. This internship will be completed in a part time format across two semesters. It typically takes a student 3 semesters (1 year) to complete the 39 credit hour program. The plan of study is attached. Electives Students will choose from 3 (Traditional Program) to 5 (Advanced Standing) electives. The list of electives is attached. Are new courses in support of this program being submitted concurrent to this proposal? Yes Relationship to the University s Mission Statement Land grant institutions have the privilege and responsibility to address state and national needs to benefit the public. Part of the University s mission is to provide high quality 2/10

3 graduate and professional programs in areas of need and importance to the state and beyond. A professional, practice based, direct service graduate program in Social Work (MSW) would further the university s mission with this regard. The proposed Master s of Social Work (MSW) program directly relates to the University s land grant mission and is in keeping with our increasing emphasis on fields related to healthcare. Relationship of Program to the Auburn University Mission Statement and Strategic Plan: MSW Program s Relationship to the University s Strategic Plan Strategic Priority 1: Enhance Student Success and Diversity Enrollment. The university has identified as a strategic goal to Strengthen the student experience and broaden its influence by serving new groups of students and emphasizing the academic importance of diversity. The MSW Program would appeal to many non traditional students (individuals presently in the workforce seeking to advance their education) as well as other underrepresented groups. Nationwide, 36% of students enrolled in MSW programs were non White (CSWE, 2013). The program would also support another University strategic goal to Maintain strong appeal to out of state students, while extending recruitment to promising new markets that are farther afield. The MSW Program will appeal to students from the western Georgia region as well as the central and southern parts of Alabama. The Council on Social Work Education (Accrediting body for Social Work programs) utilizes a competency based educational model for achieving successful student outcomes. Competency based education is an outcomesoriented approach to curriculum design. The goal of the outcomes approach is to ensure that students are able to demonstrate the integration and application of the following competencies in practice: Expected Program Outcomes and Assessment Methods: 1. Demonstrate Ethical and Professional Behavior 2. Engage Diversity and Difference in Practice 3. Advance Human Rights and Social, Economic, and Environmental Justice 4. Engage in Practice Informed Research and Research Informed Practice 5. Engage in Policy Practice 6. Engage with Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities 7. Assess Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities 8. Intervene with Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities 3/10

4 9. Evaluate Practice with Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities Associated with these 9 Competencies are 31 Practice Behaviors that will be measured as part of our assessment model. Students will complete a self efficacy measure towards the end of the program, indicating how well the Program has prepared them to meet each practice behavior. Additionally, at the middle and end of their internships, students will be assessed on each practice behavior by their Field Instructor. Data from these two measures (self efficacy, Field Evaluation) will be utilized by the program to make changes as needed to ensure the production of competent social work practitioners. Justification for request: The MSW program will prepare students for advanced direct social work practice. Advanced practice will focus in the areas of health and mental health and will include a focus on health disparities. This program would provide advanced training for our students in a growing field that has a practical and positive impact on the lives of the people of the state of Alabama and our region. The healthcare field is going through a significant transformation. The model is changing from a medically based model to one that recognizes the importance of social and emotional issues to healing and good health. The demand for masters prepared social workers is growing both regionally and nationally and will continue to grow in the future. AU MSW Admissions Requirements 1. A bachelor s degree from a regionally accredited institution 2. A GPA of 3.0 based on a 4.0 scale overall or a 3.0 average for the last 60 semester hours of coursework in a degree program. 3. If a student has a GPA less than 3.0 overall based on a 4.0 system they must take the Graduate Record Exam and score at least 300 (combined quantitative and verbal sections) to be considered for admission. The analytical writing sections of the GRE will be evaluated along with the applicant s application. 4. Three letters of recommendation (to be sent directly to the program). 5. One official transcript of all undergraduate and any graduate credits from each school previously attended. 6. A completed MSW application and a completed Auburn University Graduate School Application. 4/10

5 7. A Personal Statement. The Personal Statement should be 4 5 typed, double spaced pages and address the 4 items listed below. Your content, critical thinking, and writing style will provide important information about your understanding of the goals and values of the social work profession and your ability to engage in graduate level education. : Specific Admission and/or Continuation Requirements: Motivation for social service and/or social change, interest in a social work education and career in the profession. Explain why you want to pursue professional social work education and your reasons for applying to Auburn University. Address your social work interests and career goals. Capacity for professional social work education. Comment on the nature and circumstance of any strengths and/or problems, including emotional or social, that might enhance or limit your study Professional Ethics Statement. Utilizing the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) Code of Ethics discuss how your personal values and beliefs are or are not compatible with the professional standards. How will you reconcile any conflicts between your personal values and the requirements of the profession? Social Concern Analytical Essay. Concisely describe what you consider to be a major social problem. Address the following areas in your essay: 1. Key societal and other factors that contribute to the problem 2. Plausible strategies to solve the problem, including leadership roles that you might use 3. Challenges, including ethical dilemmas, which might arise in seeking to solve the problem. 4. If relevant, personal experiences that have contributed to your interest in this social problem. For Advanced Standing Students: 1. A Bachelor of Social Work degree from an institution accredited by the Council on Social Work Education. 2. A 3.0 average or better in all undergraduate social work courses, with no more than one 'C' in upper division/professional social work courses and grades of 'B' or better in field education courses. Relationship of Proposed Program to Will the program support or be supported by other program(s) at No 5/10

6 Other Auburn University Programs: Auburn University? Will this program replace any existing program(s), or specializations / options / concentrations within existing program(s) at Auburn University No New or Additional Resources / Resource Shifting Required: Will additional faculty lines be required? Yes Explain: We have requested a minimum of 3 additional faculty lines to implement the program. Will new or additional space be required? Yes Explain: Office space for the new hires will be needed. Will additional library resources be required? Yes No Explain: Additional Social Work journal subscriptions will be required. Some suggestions include: Journal of Human Behavior in the Social Environment Disability and Society Journal of Social Work in Disability & Rehabilitation Trauma, Violence, & Abuse Qualitative Social Work Journal of Community Practice Administration in Social Work Generations for Aging Social Work in Mental Health Research on Social Work Practice Journal of the Society for Social Work Research Journal of Applied Social Sciences Journal of Baccalaureate Social Work Journal of Evidence Based Social Work Advances in Social Work Affilia The Journal of Women and Social Work Arete Journal of Ethnic and Cultural Diversity in Social Work Advances in Social Work Global Social Policy 6/10

7 International Social Work Gerontological Social Work The Gerontologist Journal of Applied Gerontology Will additional GTA support be required? No Potential Duplication of Other Programs in the State: The proposed MSW program at Auburn University will build upon the strengths of our 40 year old BSW program and the well established tradition of excellence in education of the Social Work Program and Auburn University as a whole. The Auburn MSW program, while potentially serving the entire state of Alabama, will primarily attract students in the eastern central and southern part of our state (as well as the western Georgia area) where the closest MSW program is well over 100 miles away (Troy University, Dothan campus). There currently are two fully accredited, longstanding MSW programs within the state of Alabama. The University of Alabama has an MSW program housed in Tuscaloosa that focuses on child welfare and gerontology. Alabama A&M has an MSW program in northernmost Alabama with a primary focus of family & child welfare, community mental health, and policy, planning & administration. In addition to these two fully accredited programs, there are two MSW programs in candidacy, or working towards initial accreditation. Troy University (Dothan Campus) program focuses on direct services with a focus on military and administration, while Samford University is working on a program focusing on faith based service delivery. Over the past year there has been increased interest in establishing MSW programs within the state with Jacksonville State University proposing an MSW program with a focus on aging, disabilities, public health, and crisis intervention. The University of Alabama at Birmingham is proposing a program with a focus on health and behavioral health. The program proposed by AU will focus on health and mental health with a focus on health disparities, prevention and policy. While similarities exist between the UAB MSW program and the Auburn University MSW Program, our program will focus on health and mental health in a broader sense, from direct practice to policy advocacy, with a focus on health disparities found in our state (i.e. cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, HIV/AIDS, infant mortality and mental health) and across the nation. Collaboration With Other Institutions: At this time, collaboration with other postsecondary institutions is not anticipated. Auburn University has sufficient resources and infrastructure to establish a robust graduate program in social work. 7/10

8 Will a significant portion of this program be available for delivery by distance education? No Enrollment in MSW programs is growing. From the full time enrollment of master s students increased by 17.4% while the part time enrollment of master s students increased by 7.3% (CSWE, 2014). In Alabama, currently there are 15 accredited BSW programs (Bachelor s Degree in Social Work), however only 2 fully accredited MSW programs. Nationwide, more master s degrees than bachelor s degrees are conferred each year. A total of 40,237 social work degrees were awarded for the academic year; 43% were baccalaureate degrees and 57% were master s degrees. The Auburn MSW proposes to focus our program in the areas of health and mental health. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration estimates that professional Social Workers comprise the largest group of mental health service providers (over 200,000 nationally), which is more than psychiatrists, psychologists, and psychiatric nurses combined. In addition, a recent study by the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) found that nearly half of all Social Work positions are employed in mental health (37%) or health settings (13%). Documented Need for Proposed Program: Workforce data from the state of Alabama demonstrates that health and behavioral health constitutes about 47% of public social work positions. The Alabama Department of Labor has projected that occupations for Medical and Public Health Social Workers will increase 43% from 2010 to In fact, Medical Social Work has been identified as an Alabama Hot 40 Demand Occupation, appearing 9 th on the list of occupations that require a master s, doctoral, or professional degree. Most positions within the medical field require the MSW degree. A January 2015 BSW student survey found that 87% of our students were interested in pursuing an MSW degree. Of these students, 81% would prefer to earn the MSW degree at Auburn, opposed to any other universities. Additionally, the MSW degree will also appeal to students with undergraduate degrees in areas such as psychology, sociology, counseling, and human development and family studies. We also conducted a short survey of regional field agencies and found that 100% of responding agencies felt there was a need for MSWs in their community. Further, 78% reported a need for MSWs in their agencies. The top three 8/10

9 areas of need for social workers identified by the agencies were health, mental health, and children & families. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics shows that overall employment of social workers is projected to grow 19% from 2012 to 2022, faster than the average (11%) for all occupations. The proposed areas of concentration for the AU MSW program health and mental health are both projected to see larger than average increases in demand (27% and 23% respectively). Employment Opportunities: Graduates of the proposed MSW program will find a diverse field of employment opportunities both regionally and nationally. Graduates are immediately eligible for licensure. Opportunities (settings) for employment include inpatient hospital (both adult and pediatric), outpatient medical clinics, Veteran s Administration (currently employs over 10,000 social workers), active duty (or civilian service) military (regionally Ft. Ruker, Maxwell AFB, Ft. Benning), nursing homes and rehabilitation centers, home health care, Hospice, Dialysis centers, mental health clinics (inpatient/outpatient), substance abuse treatment centers, public health, policy advocacy, and disaster services to name a few. Additionally, in Alabama, growth has also been projected for mental health and substance abuse social workers (21%) and child, family, and school social workers (17%) [both areas classified by the BLS as National Bright Outlook Occupations in addition to medical social work (43% growth)]. Supporting Documents: Course reviewer comments Social Work Electives.docx Program of Studies Advanced Standing Revised 11_18_15.docx Program of Studies Traditional Revised 11_18_15.docx ISRAECA (11/18/15 2:46 pm): Rollback: as requested by program Key: /10

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