Social Work, M.S.W.
Program Description
The Master of Social Work Program is designed to prepare and train social workers as direct practitioners, ready to enhance the problem solving capacities of individuals, families, groups, comm.-unities, organizations, and social institutions.
The Kean University MSW Program, which is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education, follows a curriculum with set standards of competency guided by practice behaviors as articulated in the 2015 EPAS to ensure that students are prepared for practice as professional social workers. In addition, the curriculum prepares students for state licensure exams, and for a commitment to lifelong learning.
Coursework within the program prepares students to initiate and/or enhance their participation as knowledgeable, well-informed citizens who are committed to the principles of multiculturalism and to the tenet of social and economic justice. Lastly, it inspires students to make professional and social contributions in keeping with the Code of Ethics. The courses within the program will further provide students with the knowledge, values and skills to engage in evidence-based practice with individuals, families, groups, organizations and communities.
Field education is defined by the Council on Social Work Education as the signature pedagogy of the MSW program, providing all students with the opportunity to practically apply the skills developed in the classroom. Working under the supervision of an experienced MSW field instructor, students will complete internships in selected social service agencies that have affiliations with the program.
Prerequisite Coursework
16 credits of liberal arts courses which must include Statistics. The program does not give credit for work, life experience or graduate course work from other disciplines.
Advanced Standing
BSW students may have the first year of courses waived, entering the second year of the MSW program, providing they have an undergraduate GPA of 3.25 in addition to meeting other requirements for admission.
Degree Requirements
- Four semesters of Field Experience
Program Sequence
First Semester 15
Second Semester 15
Third Semester 15
| SW 6101 | CLINICAL SOCIAL WORK PRACTICE | 3 |
| SW 6201 | FIELD EXPERIENCE III | 6 |
| SW 6602 | RESEARCH II-EVAL RESEARCH | 3 |
| SW 6701 | PSYCHOPATHOLOGY FOR CLINICAL SOCIAL WORK PRACTICE | 3 |
Fourth Semester 15
| SW 6102 | ADV CLINICAL SOCIAL WORK PRACTICE II | 3 |
| SW 6202 | FIELD EXPERIENCE IV | 6 |
| SW 6302 | SOCIAL WELFARE POLICY II | 3 |
| Elective | 3 |
Free Electives
Should be chosen from the following courses:
| SW 6703 | ISSUES CONFRONTING CONTEM FAM | 3 |
| SW 6704 | ISSUES OF AGING | 3 |
| SW 6706 | COMFORT CARE:A NEW APPROACH TO END OF LIFE CARE | 3 |
| SW 6707 | INTERNATIONAL ISSUES IN SOCIAL WORK | 3 |
| SW 6801 | TRAUMA FOR CLINICAL SOCIAL WORK PRACTICE | 3 |
Total Credit Hours: 60
Extended Program Sequence
*An extended three-year full-time program is offered to students who are eligible for admission into the full-time two-year program. This option is specifically designed for those students who either must work or who have family responsibilities that make it impossible for them to complete 15 credits of coursework per semester. However, in the second year of study, students will have to make adjustments to their work schedule to accommodate the 16 hours of field experience (2 full-days per week) in the 2 year and the 24 hours of field experience( 3 full-days per week) in their third and last year of study. The MSW program is willing to adjust student credit hours in order to accommodate circumstances, however it is the responsibility of students to assure they have completed all degree requirements.
First Semester 9
Second Semester 9
Third Semester 9
Fourth Semester 9
Fifth Semester 12
| SW 6101 | CLINICAL SOCIAL WORK PRACTICE | 3 |
| SW 6201 | FIELD EXPERIENCE III | 6 |
| SW 6701 | PSYCHOPATHOLOGY FOR CLINICAL SOCIAL WORK PRACTICE | 3 |
Sixth Semester 9
| SW 6102 | ADV CLINICAL SOCIAL WORK PRACTICE II | 3 |
| SW 6202 | FIELD EXPERIENCE IV | 6 |
Electives 3
Select one with advisement:
| SW 6703 | ISSUES CONFRONTING CONTEM FAM | 3 |
| SW 6706 | COMFORT CARE:A NEW APPROACH TO END OF LIFE CARE | 3 |
| SW 6801 | TRAUMA FOR CLINICAL SOCIAL WORK PRACTICE | 3 |
| SW 6702 | ISSUES OF SOC AND ECO JUSTICE | 3 |
| SW 6707 | INTERNATIONAL ISSUES IN SOCIAL WORK | 3 |
Total Credit Hours: 60