www.unomaha.edu/graduate www.facebook.com/unograduatestudies 402-554-2341 gradschool@unomaha.edu Master of Social Work: Grace Abbott School of Social Work, College of Public Affairs & Community Service Vision Statement The mission of the Grace Abbott School of Social Work at the University of Nebraska at Omaha is to educate students to become highly qualified social workers who serve people of all ages and influence the systems that affect them; to advance knowledge through teaching and research; and to engage with diverse communities to promote socially just societies. The primary purpose of the social work profession is to enhance human well-being. Social workers help to meet the basic human needs of all people and empower those who are vulnerable, oppressed, or affected by poverty. The social work profession was founded on a set of core principles that still guide its unique purpose and perspective today: Service Social justice Dignity and worth of the person Importance of human relationships Integrity Competence Social Work maintains a dual focus on individual well-being in a social context and on the betterment of society. Social workers seek to enhance the capacity of people to address their own needs, helping people to identify and address the environmental forces that create and contribute to problems in living. For over 100 years, social workers have worked to promote social justice and social change with and on behalf of individuals, families, groups, organizations and communities, helping millions of people to challenge their circumstances and change their lives, and promoting the responsiveness of organizations, communities, and other social institutions to individuals' needs and social problems. Social workers are sensitive to cultural and ethnic diversity and strive to end discrimination, oppression, poverty, and other forms of social injustice. These activities may be in the form of direct practice, community organizing, supervision, consultation, administration, advocacy, social and political action, policy development and implementation, education, research and evaluation. Program Contact Information: (Social Work) Dr. Peter Szto, Graduate Program Chair (GPC) College of Public Affairs & Community Service (CB) 205 402-554-2330 pszto@unomaha.edu Program Website http://www.unomaha.edu/socialwork/graduate.php#advanced
Master of Social Work Application Deadlines: Fall: January 15 Spring: NA Summer: NA Application Requirements: Online Application One official copy of transcripts for ALL institutions previously attended Application Fee If English is not the language of nurture, official test scores from the TOEFL, IELTS, or PTE exam are required 500 on the written TOEFL 173 on the computer-based TOEFL 61 on the internet-based TOEFL 5.5 on the IELTS 44 on the PTE Minimum GPA of at least 3.0 in undergraduate courses related to proposed major Program-Specific Requirements: Undergraduate GPA of 3.0 (if your cumulative GPA is between 2.75 and 2.99, a GRE or MAT score may be submitted). Three (3) Letters of Recommendation Statement of Purpose: Please answer the following statements/questions in a total of five (5) double-spaced, typewritten pages (12-point font). Your application is considered incomplete if these instructions are not followed. A brief autobiographical statement that discusses who you are and the experiences that led you to social work. Trace the development of your interest in social work. Why have you chosen social work as a profession? Describe the key motivating figure(s), role model(s), or experience(s) important to your decision to become involved in social work. Discuss your career objectives as a professional social worker as you now conceive them. What do you see yourself doing immediately after receiving your MSW? Discuss a contemporary social problem. Include possible causes and potential solutions in your response. What contribution do you want to make to the pursuit of social and economic justice? In the School s criteria for admission, we assert our commitment in having students that represent diverse backgrounds. Diversity is defined by virtue of: personal characteristics such as race, gender, age, sexual orientation, disability, and geography, as well as life experiences such as career history, experience dealing with a significant personal challenge, belonging to or working in or among another culture, economic disadvantage, knowledge of more than one language, and/or deep broad life experiences. What evidence can you present to demonstrate your capacity to work with human diversity? Resume Completion of these prerequisite courses is required before entry into the program: An undergraduate human biology course or equivalent An undergraduate research methods course An undergraduate statistics course [MSW Degree Requirements]
MSW Foundation Program Required Courses (24 hours): SOWK 8070 Human Behavior and the Social Environment I SOWK 8080 Human Behavior and the Social Environment II SOWK 8090 Social Welfare Policy SOWK 8110 Institutional Oppression SOWK 8130 Generalist Practice I SOWK 8150 Generalist Practice II SOWK 8160 Generalist Social Work Practicum I SOWK 8170 Generalist Social Work Practicum II Waiver examinations are available for SOWK 8070 and 8090. See Academic Policies & Standards for more information on deficiencies, waivers, and transfers of credit: www.unomaha.edu/socialwork/documents/academic_policies.pdf. MSW Advanced Standing Concentrations: MSW Advanced Standing-Advanced Generalist Social Work Practice Concentration: Required Courses (39 hours) SOWK 8190 Research & Computer Applications SOWK 8220 Clinical Social Work with Individuals SOWK 8250 Social Work Practice with Families SOWK 8510 Supervision and Personnel Administration SOWK 8540 Social Welfare Planning SOWK 8560 Advanced Community Practice A social work advanced macro practice course: SOWK 8550 Social Justice and Social Advocacy SOWK 8570 Administration of Social Welfare Agencies A social work advanced research course: SOWK 8940 Evaluation of Social Programs SOWK 8950 Research Methods in Clinical Practice SOWK 8960 Research Other than Thesis SOWK 8990 Master s Thesis SOWK 8400 Advanced Social Work Practicum I SOWK 8410 Advanced Social Work Practicum II Three social work electives; up to two (2) can be graduate/undergraduate joint courses (ending in -6): SOWK 8230 Clinical Social Work with Groups SOWK 8240 Social Work Practice with Children SOWK 8260 Social Work Practice with Older Adults SOWK 8270 Social Work Practice with Sexual Concerns SOWK 8280 Social Work Practice with Couple and Changing Family Structures SOWK 8290 Social Work Practice in Health and Mental Health SOWK 8420 Advanced Social Work Practicum III SOWK/COUN 8516 Chemical Treatment Issues in Chemical Dependency SOWK 8550 Social Justice and Social Advocacy (if not taken for the advanced macro practice course) SOWK 8600 Permanence for Children SOWK 8610 Family and Community Violence SOWK 8650 Health/Mental Health Policy for Social Work SOWK/COUN 8696 Alcohol and Drugs in Society SOWK/COUN 8696 Assessment and Case Management in Substance Abuse SOWK 8806 Social Work and the Law SOWK 8816 Spirituality and Social Work Practice
SOWK 8856/GERO 8856 Hospice and Other Services for the Dying Patient/Family SOWK 8866 Women s Issues and Sexism SOWK 8886 Topical Seminar in Social Work SOWK 8900 Special Studies in Social Welfare MSW Advanced Standing-Clinical Social Work Concentration (39 hours) SOWK 8190 Research & Computer Applications SOWK 8220 Clinical Social Work with Individuals SOWK 8230 Clinical Social Work with Groups SOWK 8250 Social Work Practice with Families SOWK 8290 Social Work Practice in Health/Mental Health SOWK 8510 Supervision and Personnel Administration SOWK 8650 Health/Mental Health Policy for Social Work A social work advanced clinical practice course: SOWK 8240 Social Work Practice with Children SOWK 8260 Social Work Practice with Older Adults SOWK 8270 Social Work Practice with Sexual Concerns SOWK 8280 Social Work Practice with Couples and Changing Family Structures A social work advanced research course: SOWK 8940 Evaluation of Social Programs SOWK 8950 Research Methods in Clinical Practice SOWK 8960 Research Other than Thesis SOWK 8990 Master s Thesis SOWK 8400 Advanced Social Work Practicum I SOWK 8410 Advanced Social Work Practicum II Two social work electives (one can be graduate/undergraduate [ending in -6]): SOWK 8230 Clinical Social Work with Groups SOWK 8240 Social Work Practice with Children (if not taken for the advanced clinical practice course) SOWK 8260 Social Work Practice with Older Adults (if not taken for the advanced clinical practice course) SOWK 8270 Social Work Practice with Sexual Concerns (if not taken for the advanced clinical practice course) SOWK 8280 Social Work Practice with Couple and Changing Family Structures (if not taken for the advanced clinical practice course) SOWK 8290 Social Work Practice in Health and Mental Health SOWK 8420 Advanced Social Work Practicum III SOWK/COUN 8516 Chemical Treatment Issues in Chemical Dependency SOWK 8540 Social Welfare Planning SOWK 8550 Social Justice and Social Advocacy SOWK 8560 Advanced Community Practice SOWK 8600 Permanence for Children SOWK 8610 Family and Community Violence SOWK 8650 Health/Mental Health Policy for Social Work SOWK/COUN 8696 Alcohol and Drugs in Society SOWK/COUN 8696 Assessment and Case Management in Substance Abuse SOWK 8806 Social Work and the Law SOWK 8816 Spirituality and Social Work Practice SOWK 8856/GERO 8856 Hospice and Other Services for the Dying Patient/Family SOWK 8866 Women s Issues and Sexism
SOWK 8886 Topical Seminar in Social Work SOWK 8900 Special Studies in Social Welfare MSW Exit Requirements: Comprehensive Examination The comprehensive examination is offered twice each academic year, during the Fall and Spring semesters. It is recommended that students take the exam during the semester of graduation, but they may take it earlier provided no more than 12 semester hours are remaining to complete after the semester in which the comprehensive exam is taken. Students must enroll in a minimum of two courses (6 hours) per semester, excluding summer semesters. Students must seek prior approval from the director of the Grace Abbott School of Social Work if they wish to take more than 12 hours of coursework in a semester. Program requirements must be completed within four years. Exceptions can be requested from the Director. Academic Policies and Standards A student must maintain a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or higher in all graduate work taken as part of the MSW program, including courses taken for a certificate. Additionally, a student must receive a grade of B or higher in practicum courses (SOWK 8160, 8170, 8400, 8410, and 8420). A student whose cumulative GPA drops below 3.0 or who receives a grade of C+ (2.33 on a 4.0 scale) or below in nine (9) or more hours will be considered in academic difficulty and will receive a Student Review. If a student receives a grade in a practicum that is lower than a B, he or she will receive Level 2 or 3 Review, depending on whether the student has had a previous Review. If a student is on academic probation and receives a grade of B- or lower, the School will recommend that the Office of Graduate Studies dismiss the student from the program. (Probation means that a grade of B [3.0 on a 4.0 scale] or higher is required for all courses taken.) When a student is dismissed from the MSW program by the Office of Graduate Studies, a student may request reinstatement, if the student was in good standing prior to the incident leading to dismissal. The Academic Policies and Standards can be found at: www.unomaha.edu/socialwork/documents/academic_policies.pdf. MSW Total: 63 hours (Foundation Program + Advanced Standing Program) 39 hours (Advanced Standing Program only) MSW-Other Program-Related Information: The Master of Social Work (MSW) program prepares students for advanced social work practice. Master s level social workers are employed in public and private agencies, including medical settings, schools, residential treatment centers, court and correctional agencies, and community planning and development agencies. Their activities and interventions are designed to promote a more effectivelyfunctioning society as it struggles to provide for the general welfare, as well as to help people, families, groups and institutions within that society achieve selffulfillment. The MSW degree at the Grace Abbott School of Social Work is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE), the national accrediting body for all social work education.
Information on certification and licensure is available on the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services website: www.unomaha.edu/socialwork/certification.php.