MSW Program

Deborah Valentine, MSW Program Director

Peter Friedrichsen, MSW Admissions Coordinator

The dynamic quality of the MSW program is evidenced by the program's expansion of its initial focus on small towns, rural areas, and transitional communities to a more inclusive context. The current curriculum focuses on all areas of the state and region, including rural and urban characteristics. The MSW program is approved by the Colorado Department of Education for School Social Work licensure, and has Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education (WICHE) designation (meaning qualified residents in 14 participating western states may enroll at in-state tuition rates).[1]
 
The full-time program consists of two academic years, including 21 courses, equaling 62-64 credits, of which 21 credits are in field placement. Of these graduate courses, 11 are scheduled during the first year of study and provide foundation content. The remaining 10 courses are scheduled during the concentration year. Through learning experiences provided during the foundation and concentration years, students acquire a knowledge and skill base for intervention at multiple levels including direct practice with individuals, families and groups, and community practice. Emphasis is also placed on preparation for practice in communities that are underserved by existing social service programs.
 
The foundation or first year of the program consists of two semesters for all students, including core course content areas of social work practice, human behavior and the social environment, social welfare policy and services, social research, and field placement. Other required content for professional accreditation includes social work values and ethics, populations at risk, diversity, and social and economic justice. The concentration or final year of the MSW program incorporates and builds on the foundation. Course content includes:
  • Advanced content on individual, group, and family practice
  • Community practice
  • Organizational practice
  • Social welfare policy analysis
  • Research
The concentration year also includes a field placement. Students have two options for class attendance. They either return to campus 5 days per month for intensive course work, or they may attend classes in the evenings, two nights per week throughout the school year. Concentration year students also complete either a project that culminates in a paper of publishable quality, a program/practice evaluation, or a thesis.
 
The focus of the concentration year is to prepare graduate students for advanced generalist practice within social work in the context of community. This perspective recognizes that practice is informed by socio-behavioral and ecosystems knowledge based on ideologies that include democracy, humanism, and empowerment; it also prepares students for direct and indirect interventions that are client-centered, problem-focused, and research-based. The student should attain the following competencies:
  • increased knowledge of theories, concepts, and models to understand practice with individuals/families/groups/organizations/communities;
  • advanced practice skills to address complex direct practice situations including individual/family/group techniques;
  • increased skills to address more complex indirect practice situations including supervision/administration/policy/program evaluation techniques;
  • ability to conduct disciplined and systematic practice;
  • policy practice and advocacy skills.
[1] WICHE states include Alaska, Arizona, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming.