MSW Program - Curriculum |
CSU-Fort Collins Campus MSW Program |
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Foundation Curriculum |
Fall Semester |
| SOWK 500 | Principles & Philosophy of Social Work | 3 |
| SOWK 510 | Theoretical Analysis of Small Client Systems | 3 |
| SOWK 511 | Generalist Practice, Small Client Systems | 3 |
| SOWK 512 | Small Client Systems Skills Lab | 1 |
| SOWK 520 | Social Welfare Policy Analysis | 3 |
| SOWK 600 | 600 Methods of Research I | 3 |
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Spring Semester |
| SOWK 588 | Field Placement | 6 |
| SOWK 601 | Methods of Research II | 3 |
| SOWK 610 | Theoretical Analysis of Large Client Systems | 3 |
| SOWK 611 | Generalist Practice, Large Client Systems | 3 |
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Concentration Curriculum |
Fall Semester |
| SOWK 630A | Advanced Generalist Practice: Individuals | 2 |
| SOWK 631 | Advanced Community Practice | 2 |
| SOWK 630C | Advanced Generalist Practice: Groups | 2 |
| SOWK 688V | Field Placement | 7 |
| SOWK 602A | Macro-Level Practice Research
-- or -- | 2 |
| SOWK 603A | Direct Service Assessment and Evaluation
-- or -- | 2 |
| SOWK 699V | Thesis | 3 |
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Spring Semester |
| SOWK 630B | Advanced Generalist Practice - Families | 2 |
| SOWK 632 | Advanced Organizational Practice | 2 |
| SOWK 633 | Advanced Social Welfare Policy Analysis | 2 |
| SOWK 688V | Field Placement | 8 |
| SOWK 602B | Macro-Level Practice Research
-- or -- | 2 |
| SOWK 603B | Direct Service Assessment and Evaluation
-- or -- | 2 |
| SOWK 699V | Thesis | 3 |
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CSU-Fort Collins Advanced Standing Curriculum |
Summer Semester |
| SOWK 601 | Methods of Research II | 3 |
| SOWK 610 | Theoretical Analysis of Large Client Systems | 3 |
| SOWK 611 | Generalist Practice, Large Client Systems | 3 |
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Fall Semester |
| SOWK 630A | Advanced Generalist Practice - Individuals | 2 |
| SOWK 631 | Advanced Community Practice | 2 |
| SOWK 630C | Advanced Generalist Practice: Groups | 2 |
| SOWK 632 | Advanced Organizational Practice | 2 |
| SOWK 688V | Field Placement | 7 |
| SOWK 602A | Macro-Level Practice Research
-- or -- | 2 |
| SOWK 603A | Direct Service Assessment and Evaluation
-- or -- | 2 |
| SOWK 699V | Thesis | 3 |
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Spring Semester |
| SOWK 630B | Advanced Generalist Practice - Families | 2 |
| SOWK 632 | Advanced Community Practice | 2 |
| SOWK 633 | Advanced Social Welfare Policy Analysis | 2 |
| SOWK 688V | Field Placement | 8 |
| SOWK 602B | Macro-Level Practice Research
-- or -- | 2 |
| SOWK 603B | Direct Service Assessment and Evaluation
-- or -- | 2 |
| SOWK 699V | Thesis | 3 |
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| For additional information contact: Peter Friedrichsen Peter.Friedrichsen@ColoState.EDU |
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Foundation Generalist Role |
| Foundation generalist social work is the focus of the first 32 credit hours of the MSW program. This practice model is problem solving center, rather than methods driven and uses the ecological or person-in-environment perspective for assessment and intervention. The foundation is informed by bio-psycho-social-behavioral and ecosystems knowledge, requires students to be theoretically and methodologically open, involves intervention at all system levels, and takes into account context of practice. Six foundation generalist social work practice roles mastered by MSW students in their foundation learning include: advocate, broker, community change agent, counselor, mediator, and researcher. Carrying out these roles at the foundation level requires paying constant attention and adherence to the ethical standards stated in the NASW Code of Ethics; sensitivity to human differences and cultural competence; social and economic justice especially as it applies to vulnerable populations; and research affirmed practice. |
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| Advocate: In the advocate role, the social worker champions the rights of others with the goal of empowering the client system being served. A social worker in the role of advocate speaks on behalf of clients when others will not listen or when clients are unable to do so. Social workers have a particular responsibility to advocate on behalf of those disempowered by society. |
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| Broker: In the role of broker a social worker is a professional agent responsible for identifying, locating, and linking client systems to needed resources in a timely fashion. Once the client’s needs are assessed and potential services identified, the broker assists the client in choosing the most appropriate service option and assists in negotiating the terms of service delivery. In the role of broker the social worker is also concerned with the quality, quantity, and accessibility of services. |
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| Community change agent: A community change agent participates as part of a group or organization seeking to improve or restructure some aspect of community service provision. A change agent, working with others, uses a problem-solving model to identify the problem, solicit community input, and plan for change. A community change agent acts in a coordinated manner to achieve planned change at multiple levels that helps to shift the focus of institutional resources to meet identified goals. |
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| Counselor: The role of the professional counselor focuses on improving social functioning. In the role of counselor, the social worker helps client systems articulate their needs, clarify their problems, explore resolution strategies, and applies intervention strategies to develop and expand the capacities of client systems to deal with their problems more effectively. A key function of this role is to empower people by affirming their personal strengths and their capacities to deal with their problems more effectively. |
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| Mediator: When dispute resolution is needed in order to accomplish goals, the professional social worker will carry out the role of mediator. In the mediator role, the social worker intervenes in disputes between parties to help them find compromises, reconcile differences, and reach mutually satisfying agreements. The mediator takes a neutral stance among the involved parties. |
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| Researcher: In the researcher role, a social worker evaluates practice interventions and with others evaluates program outcomes. The researcher seeks to critically analyze the literature on relevant topics of interest and uses this information to inform practice. A researcher extends and disseminates knowledge, and seeks to enhance the effectiveness of social work practice. |
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Advanced Generalist Role |
| Advanced generalist social work is the focus of the final 32 credit hours of the MSW program. The advanced generalist concentration curriculum builds on the knowledge, values, skills and roles mastered at the foundation generalist social work level. Preparation for advanced generalist social work practice provides the knowledge and skills for effective and autonomous practice with systems of all types and sizes. The concentration curriculum requires that students have greater theoretical and methodological sophistication, as well as a wider selection of practitioner roles. Advanced generalist social work practice roles include: administrator/manager, clinician, community expert, consultant/evaluator, and supervisor. These additional roles provide the students with an increased ability to integrate research into practice, analyze value and ethical dilemmas, add greater depth to the provision of services, and the skills to function as administrators, supervisors, policy analysts and social planners. |
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Administrator/Manager: Among the responsibilities of the administrator/manager are determination of organizational goals; acquisition and allocation of resources to carry out program objectives; and coordination of activities towards achievement of selected goals. In addition the administrator/manager assesses processes and structures to improve effectiveness and efficiency. The social work administrator is informed by professional values and ethics in designing and providing effective and humane service to clients. Related tasks of the social work administrator may include:
- Assessing and evaluating programs and policies in regards to need, funding, staffing, effectiveness, efficiency, and quality.
- Planning for acquisition, management, and allocation of funding.
- Staffing for program and agency development based on assessed needs and organizational goals.
- Designing, monitoring, and directing organization processes/structures including service delivery systems and quality control systems.
- Assessing, planning, and evaluating staff education and development.
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Clinician: The social work clinician engages in a systematic process that utilizes specialized knowledge and sophisticated practice theories, techniques, and resources in preventing and/or remedying bio-psycho-social problems primarily in interpersonal interactions and/or intrapsychic processes. The context of these problems is often systemically and transitionally complex requiring nuanced assessments and refined interventions, as well as intervention directed at meeting basic human needs. Tasks of the clinician role may include:
- Conducting a bio-psycho-social assessment with consideration of cultural and interpersonal factors that may be contributing to clients’ developmental history and presenting problem
- Reviewing and considering all pertinent data in formulating a diagnostic impression
- Completing a written intake assessment, including a mental status evaluation a psychosocial history, and a diagnostic impression of psychopathology
- Case formulation, recommended treatment goals and modalities including appropriateness and role of psychotropic medications
- Utilize the client’s unique sense of self, worldview, values, spiritual/religious views, and concepts of wellness as well as of pathology as factors in designing interventions
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Community Expert: The community expert provides leadership in a systematic process designed to assess needs, set goals, determine outcomes and implement changes in community service provision, and public policy. The community expert solicits input and participation from all community levels and systems as part of the planned change process. Knowledge about group, organizational and community behavior girds the efforts to include stakeholders in community needs assessment, program planning and program development. Successful community change efforts include continuous evaluation to inform both the process and outcomes of the change being addressed. Tasks for a community expert may include:
- Utilizing appropriate research methods to assess need
- Providing coordination and encouragement to community members seeking to improve the service environment.
- Facilitating consideration of all relevant alternatives among decision makers
- Maintaining awareness of practical considerations that may dictate incremental decision making.
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Consultant/evaluator: The consultant/evaluator is an advisor who provides information, suggestions, ideas and feedback as well as provides research leadership to undertake practice evaluation. The purpose of this role is to offer guidance in making practice decisions based upon research expertise. The consultant/evaluator has specialized knowledge and skills that can be provided to an individual, a group, a program, an agency or community. Evaluation is a crucial feature of all aspects of practice and a required feature of grants and program planning and implementation. The consultant/evaluator role assists with better use of resources needed to improve the lives of clients at all system levels. In the role of consultant/evaluator, a professional social worker engages in systematic efforts designed to assess needs, set goals, implement plans and /or determine outcomes. Tasks associated with this role may include:
- Soliciting input from the client system (s)
- Assisting with the development or refinement of program objectives.
- Developing means to assess if objectives are met.
- Examining, in so far as possible, relevant alternatives as means to a desired end
- Encouraging continuous evaluation to inform practice.
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Supervisor: In the supervisor role, a social worker provides guidance and skills enhancement to service providers. A supervisor teaches and enforces both professional and agency roles, policies and procedures. The supervisor acts as a gatekeeper, resource person, expediter, coordinator and work manager. The supervisor assists administrators in implementation of policies and programs. Tasks associated with this role may include:
- Educating and guiding the practice of staff
- Delegating program assignments and tasks to staff
- Evaluating the practice performance of staff
- Mediating conflicts or disputes with staff, clients and other personnel
- Facilitating staff professional development
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