Professors: Barkdull (Graduate Coordinator), Bruno, Haga, Heitkamp (Chair), Kraft, Quinn and Woehle

Program Description

The mission of the Department of Social Work at the University of North Dakota is to prepare entry-level and advanced generalist Social Workers within the region to advance practice knowledge, values and skills consistent with the highest ideals of the profession by:

• empowering vulnerable, oppressed, disadvantaged, and rural populations;
  
• maximizing opportunities for every individual to realize his or her highest potential; and
  
• promoting respect, awareness, and appreciation for culture and social justice at every level of society.

The Master of Social Work program at the University of North Dakota is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education. The Council on Social Work Education (2002) states, “The purposes of social work education are to prepare competent and effective professionals, to develop social work knowledge, and to provide leadership in the development of service delivery systems. Social work education is grounded in the profession’s history, purposes, and philosophy and is based on a body of knowledge, values, and skills. Social work education enables students to integrate the knowledge, values, and skills of the social work profession for competent practice.”

All MSW students must complete foundation and advanced generalist concentration social work courses. Foundation courses may be completed either through a CSWE accredited Bachelor of Social Work program or the UND MSW part-time distance program. Advanced generalist concentration courses may be completed through the full-time on-campus program or the part-time distance program. The full-time program can be completed in a maximum of two years and the part-time program can be completed in a maximum of four years.

Admission

Admission Requirements for Foundation and Concentration Program

Admission requirements for the foundation courses offered through the part-time distance degree program are:

1. Satisfactory completion of a bachelors degree from a regionally accredited institution.
   
   
2. At least 30 credit hours of liberal arts courses in such fields as biology, music, languages, anthropology, economics, political science, history, literature, sociology, psychology, and philosophy.
   
   
3. A course wiith human biology content.
   
   
4. A grade of C or higher in a statistics course prior to entering the Advanced Generalist Concentration portion of the MSW program.
   
   
5. Willingness to abide by the National Association of Social Worker’s Code of Ethics and the University of North Dakota Code of Student Conduct.
   
   
6. An undergraduate GPA of 2.75 overall or a GPA of 3.00 in the last two years of the undergraduate program.

Admission Requirements for Advanced Standing

Applicants for advanced standing must meet the following standards:

1. BSW from a CSWE accredited program.
   
   
2. An undergraduate GPA of 2.75 overall or a GPA of 3.00 in
   the last two years of the undergraduate program.
   
   
3. A course with human biology content.
   
   
4. A grade of C or higher in a statistics course.
   
   
5. Willingness to abide by the National Association of Social
   Worker’s Code of Ethics and the University of North Da-
   kota Code of Student Conduct.

Admission Process

Applicants complete the Graduate School application and obtain three references. The forms are available online at: www.graduateschool.und.edu. Applicants submit a 3-5 page personal statement (the essay described in the Graduate School application) covering:

1. Motivation for being a social worker.
   
   
2. Values and beliefs regarding social work.
   
   
3. Experience with diversity.
   
   
4. Qualities the applicant brings to the profession.
   
   
5. Professional goals.

Applicants also submit a resume. Finally, the Graduate School requires submission of two official copies of all academic transcripts, including undergraduate and graduate coursework. They must arrive in envelopes sealed by the registrar.

All materials are submitted to the Graduate School, which then transmits the materials to the Department of Social Work.

Admission Schedule

MSW Generalist Foundation Part-Time Distance Degree, September 15 of the previous year.

MSW Advanced Generalist Concentration Full-time On Campus, January 15.

MSW Advanced Generalist Concentration Part-Time Distance Degree, November 15 of the previous year.

After the review process is complete, the Department of Social Work will continue to accept applications if the cohort is not full.

Program Requirements for Students Completing Both Foundation and Concentration Courses

1. Successful completion of 60 credit hours of courses approved by the social work faculty with at least a 3.00 grade point average. The number of electives required is dependent on whether a student selects the independent study or the thesis option.
   
   
2. Satisfactory completion of foundation courses (24 credit hours).
   
   
3. Satisfactory completion of the advanced generalist concentration courses (36 credit hours).
   
   
4. Completion of SWk 997, an independent study and comprehensive exam, or SWk 998, a thesis.
   
   
5. Completion of at least 24 semester credits with UND. Transfer credits must be obtained in a CSWE accredited program, and a maximum of 15 credits will be allowed for transfer.
   
   
6. The development of a program of study in the semester in which the full-time student first enrolls in concentration courses, or the second semester in which the part-time student enrolls in concentration courses.
   
   
7. Part-time students will meet the residency requirement by enrolling in a minimum of 18 credits in a two-year period, including at least one summer with a minimum of a six-credit enrollment on campus in Grand Forks and participation in field seminars near the end of their program.

Program Requirements for Advanced Standing Students

1. Successful completion of 36 credit hours of courses approved by the social work faculty with at least a 3.00 grade point average. The number of electives required is dependent on whether a student selects the independent study or the thesis option.
   
   
2. Satisfactory completion of the advanced generalist concentration courses (36 credit hours).
   
   
3. Completion of SWk 997, an independent study and comprehensive exam, or SWk 998, a thesis.
   
   
4. Completion of at least 24 semester credits with UND. Transfer credits must be obtained in a CSWE accredited program, and a maximum of 15 credits will be allowed for transfer.
   
   
5. The development of a program of study in the semester in which the full-time student first enrolls in concentration courses, or the second semester in which the part-time student enrolls in concentration courses.
   
   
6. Part-time students will meet the residency requirement by enrolling in a minimum of 18 credits in a two-year period, including at least one summer with a minimum of a six-credit enrollment on campus in Grand Forks and participation in field seminars near the end of their program.

Thesis Option

1. Full-time students select a Faculty Advisory Committee by the end of the first semester of enrollment in concentration courses. Part-time students select a Faculty Advisory Committee during the second semester of enrollment in concentration courses.
   
   
2. A proposal must be submitted no later than the semester prior to the student’s final semester.

Non-Thesis Option

1. Full-time students select a faculty adviser by the end of the first semester in concentration course. Part-time students select a faculty adviser by the second semester they are enrolled in concentration courses.
   
   
2. A proposal must be submitted no later than the semester prior to the student’s final semester.
   
   
3. The final comprehensive examination is completed in the last semester of enrollment.

Candidacy for the Degree. Please see descriptions of the requirements for candidacy for both thesis and independent study options.

Social Work Organizations. For information regarding licensing and professional organizations and student organizations, check the Department of Social Work web page.

Courses

501. HBSE I. 2 credits. Prerequisite: Admission to the MSW program. Prerequisite or corequisite: SWk 507. Social work theory and research, with ecological/social systems theory as the conceptual framework. Bio-psycho-socio-cultural aspects of individual and family development.

502. HBSE II. 2 credits. Prerequisite: Admission to the MSW program. Prerequisite or corequisite: SWk 507. Social work theory and research, with ecological/social systems theory as the conceptual framework. Psycho-socio-cultural aspects of group, community, and organizational development.

503. GP with Individuals and Families. 2 credits. Prerequisite: Admission to the MSW program. Prerequisite or corequisite: SWk 501. Generalist social work practice with individuals and families, in the context of the ecological systems perspective, using the problem solving process with a strengths perspective. Evaluation of practice.

504. GP with Treatment and Task Groups. 2 credits. Prerequisites or corequisites: SWk 501, SWk 502. Generalist social work practice with treatment and task groups, in the context of ecological systems perspective, using the problem solving process with a strengths perspective. Evaluation of practice.

505. GP with Communities and Organizations. 2 credits. Prerequisite or corequisite: SWk 502. Generalist social work practice with communities and organizations, in the context of ecological systems perspective, using the problem solving process with a strengths perspective. Evaluation of practice.

506. Social Policy. 2 credits. Prerequisite: Admission to the MSW program. The history of social work and social policy. Foundation social policy analysis.

507. SW Research Methods/Analysis. 2 credits. Prerequisite: Admission to the MSW program. Qualitative and quantitative social work research methods.

515. GP Field Instruction I. 3 credits. Prerequisites or corequisites: Admission to field, SWk 516. Application of foundation coursework in field practicum placement, focusing on entry into organizations and beginning work with individuals and families. S/U grading only.

516. GP Field Seminar I. 1 credit. Corequisite: SWk 515. Integration of foundation coursework with field practicum placement.

517. GP Field Instruction II. 5 credits. Prerequisites or corequisites: SWk 515, SWk 518. Application of foundation coursework into field practicum placement, focusing on generalist practice with the problem solving process with all system levels and evaluation of practice. S/U grading only.

518. GP Field Seminar II. 1 credit. Corequisite: SWk 517. Integration of foundation coursework with field practicum placement. Regular grading.

527. AG HBSE I. 2 credits. Prerequisite: Admission to the Advanced Generalist Concentration. Theories and research regarding complex situations to guide advanced generalist practice with individuals and families. Building on systems and complexity theory, with a strengths perspective.

528. AG HBSE II. 2 credits. Prerequisite: Admission to the Advanced Generalist Concentration. Theories and research regarding complex situations to guide advanced practice with groups, communities, and organizations, building on systems and complexity theory, with a strengths perspective.

529. AG Research Methods and Analysis. 2 credits. Prerequisite: Admission to the Advanced Generalist Concentration. Qualitative and quantitative research analysis and communication of results.

530. AGP with Individuals. 2 credits. Prerequisite or corequisite: Admission to the Advanced Generalist Concentration, SWk 527, SWk 529. Advanced generalist social work practice with individuals, regarding complex situations, using evidence based practice.

533. AGP with Families. 2 credits. Prerequisites or corequisites: Admission to the Advanced Generalist Concentration, SWk 527, SWk 529. Advanced generalist social work practice with families regarding complex situations, using evidence based practice.

534. AGP with Treatment Groups. 2 credits. Prerequisites or corequisites: Admission to the Advanced Generalist Concentration, SWk 527, SWk 528, SWk 529. Advanced generalist social work practice with treatment groups regarding complex situations, using evidence based practice.

535. AGP with Communities. 2 credits. Prerequisites or corequisites: Admission to the Advanced Generalist Concentration, SWk 528, SWk 529. Advanced generalist social work practice with communities regarding complex situations, using evidence based practice.

536. AGP with Organizations. 2 credits. Prerequisites or corequisites: Admission to the Advanced Generalist Concentration, SWk 528, SWk 529. Advanced generalist social work practice with organizations regarding complex situations, using evidence based practice.

580. AGP Field Instruction I. 5 credits. Prerequisites or corequisites: Admission to field, SWk 581. Advanced generalist field practicum placement in human service organization, focusing on application of advanced level knowledge, values, and skills in the context of an organization, development of professional self, and evaluation of practice. S/U grading only.

581. AGP Field Seminar I. 1 credit. Corequisite: SWk 580. Integration of other coursework into field practice.

582. AGP Field Instruction II. 5 credits. Prerequisites or corequisites: SWk 580, SWk 583. Advanced generalist field practicum placement with more independent practice, demonstrating leadership. S/U grading only.

583. AGP Field Seminar II. 1 credit. Corequisite: SWk 582. Integration of other courswork into field practice.

593. Individual Study. 1-2 credits, repeatable for a maximum of 4 credits. Prerequisites: Consent of instructor. Variable topics in social work related areas carried out individually or in small groups under the supervision of the instructor.

997. Independent Study. 2 credits.

998. Thesis. 1-4 credits, total of 4 credits required in thesis option.