School of Social Work

Marcella Smith (Department Head)
Location: Henderson Hall, 903-468-8100
School of Social Work Web Site

Program of Graduate Work

Master of Social Work

The Master of Social Work program at East Texas A&M University is designed to meet the educational needs of advanced level social workers. The program is fully accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE). All MSW graduates are eligible to sit for the State of Texas LMSW licensure testing. The program follows an advanced generalist practice model.

Admission

Admission to a graduate program is granted by the Dean of the Graduate School upon the recommendation of the department. Applicants must meet the following requirements for admission in addition to meeting the general university requirements in social work.

In addition to the general requirements for admission to the Graduate School, those seeking admission to the MSW Program must submit a packet of admissions materials, available either by contacting the School of Social Work at 903-886-5029 or by going to https://dms.etamu.edu/Forms/Application-for-Admission-to-the-MSW-Program. The completed documents must be submitted to DeRene Sutton at Derene.Sutton@etamu.edu Components of the admissions materials include:

A professional narrative statement. A description of what would be contained in such a statement is included in the admissions packet.
A resume or vita of educational and occupational experiences.
Three references using the forms included in the admissions packet, preferably including one reference from an undergraduate professor or a former supervisor from a paid or volunteer social services agency.
Official bachelor's degree transcript if other than East Texas A&M University graduate.

The MSW program will admit students who show the greatest capacity to complete graduate-level work and become effective social work practitioners. To be admitted to the program, students must meet school criteria such as undergraduate grade point average, GRE scores, and writing ability. Other criteria include evidence of effective interpersonal skills, professional work experience, and values, ethics, and a fit with the social work profession and our program. The program is committed to recruiting students who represent a diverse population.

Depending on their undergraduate degree, students who are admitted to the MSW program will receive either Foundation Admission or Advanced Standing Admission. Advanced Standing is reserved for those who hold a Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) undergraduate degree from a CSWE-accredited institution. Fewer hours are required of students who receive advanced standing admission.

All students are expected to act in accordance with the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) Code of Ethics, the Texas State Board of Social Work Examiners Code of Conduct and the School's Student Code of Conduct.

If students do not conduct themselves in a manner befitting a professional social worker (as defined in the NASW Code of Ethics and the Code of Conduct), whether in the classroom, in the field setting, or in their interactions with other students, faculty, and staff they may be dismissed from the program. Such conduct is regarded as an academic expectation for the social work profession, regardless of classroom grades.

Social Work Admission Requirements

Successful completion of the Comprehensive Exam is required of all students.

Note: Individual departments may reserve the right to dismiss from their programs students who, in their judgment, would not meet the professional expectations of the field for which they are training.

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Social Work MSW

SWK 501 - Generalist Practice with Individuals, Families, and Small Groups
Hours: 3
This practice course provides students with an understanding of the history of the social work profession and experience with social work practice skills, values, and knowledge within the context of a strengths perspective. Students will learn problemsolving skills, empowerment-based practice skills, relationship building, and data gathering skills as they relate to all client systems, with a focus on individuals, families, and small groups. Prerequisites: Students must have been admitted to the MSW program.

SWK 503 - Generalist Practice with Groups, Organizations, and Communities
Hours: 3
The course emphasizes macro practice as a mechanism of social change fostered by ethical values and commitment to advancing human rights, social, political, cultural, economic, and environmental context. Students will recognize how macro, mezzo, and micro practices are interlinked. Students will self-reflect throughout the course on ideologies and social values towards different population groups and the common problems experienced in communities and accessing services. Knowledge of theoretical frameworks, models of intervention, and skills in engaging, assessing, and intervening with communities and organizations will be obtained, particularly in program development, implementation, evaluation, community organization, and empowerment. Prerequisite: Students must have been admitted to the MSW program.

SWK 505 - Advanced Generalist Practice with Individuals
Hours: 3
Advanced Generalist Practice with Individuals. Three semester hours. This advanced practice course provides students with theories and skills for working with individuals from an advanced generalist perspective. By the end of the course, students will be expected to demonstrate critical thinking, integration of theory with practice, and knowledge, values and skills appropriate for autonomous practice. Prerequisites: Students must have been admitted to the MSW program; completed all MSW foundation curriculum requirements; and be in good standing in the MSW program.

SWK 506 - Advanced Generalist Practice with Families
Hours: 3
Advanced Generalist Practice with Families. Three semester hours. This advanced practice course provides students with theories and skills for working with families which includes an advanced generalist approach. Students will be expected to demonstrate critical thinking and the use of evidence-based practices in working effectively with family systems. Prerequisites: Students must have been admitted to the MSW program, completed all MSW foundation curriculum requirements, and be in good standing in the MSW program.

SWK 507 - Organizations, Communities, and Social Policy
Hours: 3
This course utilizes the concepts of empowerment-based practice and the strengths perspective for macro work with client systems such as organizations and communities. Prerequisites: Students must have been admitted to the MSW program, completed all MSW foundation curriculum requirements, and be in good standing in the MSW program.

SWK 508 - Social Work Supervision and Administration
Hours: 3
Social Work Supervision and Administration. Three semester hours. This advanced practice course provides students with theories and skills needed for supervision of direct service staff and management skills in human service organizations. The course addresses relevant theories and models of supervision and administration. Key skills are identified which will enable students to effectively manage and create resources, develop and impact organizational policies, and serve as effective administrators and supervisors. Prerequisites: Students must have been admitted to the MSW program, completed all MSW foundation curriculum requirements, and be in good standing in the MSW program.

SWK 509 - Advanced Generalist Practice with Small Groups
Hours: 3
This Advanced Generalist Practice with Small Groups class provides students with advanced group work theory and skills necessary to lead and facilitate small groups work with social work interventions. Prerequisites: Students must have been admitted to the MSW program, completed all MSW foundation curriculum requirements, and be in good standing in the MSW program.

SWK 510 - Clinical Practice in Mental Health
Hours: 3
The purpose of this course is (1) to present the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (“DSM”) as a knowledge base for enhancing social workers’ understanding of individual biopsychosocial function and (2) to expand social workers’ ability to use the DSM-5 to work with at-risk populations across different settings and with various mental health professionals. Ethical dilemmas inherent in categorizing and labeling will be highlighted, along with concerns in using a homogenous system of diagnostic classes. Prerequisites: Students must have been admitted to the MSW program, completed all MSW foundation curriculum requirements, and be in good standing in the MSW program.

SWK 511 - Human Behavior in the Social Environment I
Hours: 3
This foundation course in Human Behavior in the Social Environment is designed to provide foundation students with an understanding of the bio-physical, psychological, and behavioral aspects of human development from before birth through adolescence. Content in this first course covers interactions between individuals, families, and their relationship to the social environment. Systems theory is the underlying context used to underpin all other major theories of individual and family development. Life stages will be considered in different frames of reference. In addition to theory, practical skills in parenting, communications, self-esteem, and relationship building will be explored to engage and assess individuals and families. Prerequisites: Students must have been admitted to the MSW program.

SWK 512 - Business Practices
Hours: 3
This course is the capstone course for The Business of Social Work Graduate certificate. This course is designed to provide students with instruction, resources, and skill building in a variety of business practice to promote successful creation of a non-profit, private practice or leading a non-profit agency.

SWK 513 - Human Behavior in the Social Environment II
Hours: 3
This course is designed to provide foundation students with knowledge and theoretical understanding of the bio-physical, psychological, and behavioral aspects of human development within a variety of social systems. In this course, we will study human development with attention to the interaction between individuals, families, and the changing social environment as it pertains to the phases of adulthood. The course will examine traditional approaches to life stages, along with additional factors that influence human development, including societal expectations, access to resources, physical and cognitive variation, and generational experiences. Prerequisites: SWK 511. Students must have been admitted to the MSW program.

SWK 514 - Social Work and the Law
Hours: 3
This elective introduces students to the intricacies of the United States legal system. Course content will delve into the connection between social work and the legal system, including constitutional rights, rights granted by law and other protections within administrative proceedings, civil proceedings, and the criminal justice system at the local, state and federal levels of government. Special attention will be paid to rights of community members under the U.S. Constitution, U.S. code and other laws that grant protections against violation of a person’s rights.

SWK 521 - Foundation of Social Welfare Policy
Hours: 3
This foundation course provides an overview of social welfare policies and programs, one of the social work practice arenas. The course emphasizes the role of social welfare policies in shaping social work ethical values and commitments, particularly in advancing human rights and promoting social, political, economic, and environmental well-being. Students are expected to become acquainted with the historical development of social policies in the U.S., the policy development processes, and the political philosophies and contexts that determine the policies adopted. The primary objective of the course is for students to examine social policies based on models of policy analysis, including their impact at micro, mezzo, and macro levels. Through interactive assignments, students will also develop advocacy skills to advocate for responsive, affordable, available, and accessible policies and programs. Prerequisites: Students must have been admitted to the MSW program and be in good standing in the MSW program.

SWK 531 - Research for Practice
Hours: 3
Research for Practice. Three semester hours. The scientific method in social work practice is presented. The methods of empirical research for knowledge building, the role of research in theory construction, research designs and data analysis, and methods of practice and program evaluation are introduced. Students learn to apply qualitative and quantitative research methods to the problems of social work practice. Prerequisites: Students must have been admitted to the MSW program and be in good standing in the MSW program.

SWK 541 - Practice with Social Work Populations
Hours: 3
This foundation course introduces students to social work practice with different populations and examines the social, economic, and institutional factors that contribute to disparities in access, opportunity, and well-being. Emphasis is placed on understanding how demographic factors influence client experiences and service delivery. Students will develop and explore culturally responsive strategies for engagement, advocacy, and empowerment at the micro, mezzo, and macro levels. The course also encourages critical reflection on personal and professional values, with the goal of promoting ethical and inclusive practice. Prerequisites: Students must have been admitted to the MSW program and be in good standing in the MSW program.

SWK 553 - Field Foundations Practicum
Hours: 3
This first field practicum builds on the experiences acquired in the pre-requisite classes, while it provides the students with the opportunity to learn theories, knowledge and skills required to engage individuals, families (or household), small groups, organizations and communities. Students enrolled in this educationally directed field practicum experience, which is under supervision in a social services agency must work towards developing skills which will merge into the AGP Field I requirements. Students must complete a total of 300 clock hours in the field agency, under the supervision of an MSW. Departmental approval required. Prerequisites: Students must have been admitted to the MSW program, completed all foundation courses or be concurrently enrolled in remaining foundation courses to enroll in SWK 553 and be in good standing with the MSW program. Students must complete this course and all foundation coursework before enrolling in advanced classes. Must receive grade of 'B' or above.

SWK 554 - Advanced Generalist Practice Field Practicum
Hours: 3-6
This advanced generalist field practicum provides students with experience opportunities to integrate knowledge and theories with advanced generalist practice skills across rural and urban environments. Students participate in an educationally directed field experience under supervision in an approved social services agency. They must complete 500 clock hours over two semesters (6 SCH). Departmental approval required. Prerequisites: Students must have been admitted to the MSW program, completed all MSW foundation curriculum requirements, and be in good standing in the MSW program.

SWK 589 - Independent Study
Hours: 3
Independent Study. One to three semester hours. Individualized instruction/research at an advanced level in a specialized content area under the direction of a faculty member. Prerequisites: Consent of department curriculum committee and department head.

SWK 590 - Research Methods in Advanced Social Work Practice
Hours: 3
This course provides students with information on advanced techniques of practice and program assessment. Both qualitative and quantitative research designs are taught. Evaluation research design, instrument selection and development and techniques of data analysis are addressed. Ethical and behavioral issues in evaluation research are presented with special emphasis within rural and urban environments and the intersection of the two. Prerequisites: Admission to the advanced standing program. Must be successfully completed in preparation for enrollment in SWK 595.

SWK 592 - Study Abroad
Hours: 3
The course explores the evolution and current development of social work practice in other countries through building knowledge links between political processes, economic constraints and the actual implementation of public policies. Focusing on how modern and evolving bureaucracies along with cultural and institutional frameworks of a given political system dictate the way in which governments work and interact with the public/private sector. As a requirement of this course students engage in an organized travel abroad opportunity with faculty instructors. In addition students may be required to engage in online activities including discussion groups and/or assignment preparation before and after the study abroad component. Prerequisites: Admission to the School of Social Work. Crosslisted with: SWK 492.

SWK 595 - Research Techniques in Data Analysis for Social Work
Hours: 3
This course provides instruction in data analysis using Microsoft Excel program. Students learn how to calculate descriptive statistics, t-Tests, ANOVA, and Chi-Square. Emphasis is placed on interpreting and reporting results of data for purposes of disseminating information and informing program/practice decisions. Departmental approval required. Prerequisites: SWK 595 is the second half of the research series for the AGP MSW program and students must take it sequentially in the semester immediately following their successful completion of SWK 590.

SWK 597 - Special Topics
Hours: 3
Special Topics. Three semester hours. Topics vary and have included the following: Rural Social Work with the Elderly, Progressive Practices in Developmental Disabilities, Spirituality and Social Work, Child Welfare and Issues in Addiction.