Master of Social Work

Program Description

The Master of Social Work (MSW) Program is designed to train students for advanced social work practice with systems of any size (micro, mezzo, and macro). In the foundation year of the master of social work curriculum, students are taught the basics of generalist social work practice. The concentration year focuses on the development of clinical practice skills such as using the DSM-V, managing crisis, applying advanced clinical techniques, demonstrating competency in a clinical practicum that emphasizes children and families, and students will  focus on the clinical needs of other marginalized groups. After the completion of this program,students are encouraged to sit for licensure at the LMSW (Licensed Master of Social Work) or LCSW (Licensed Clinical Social Worker) levels.

The two year MSW program is a 60 credit hour program and the one year Advanced Standing MSW Program is a 30-33 credit hour program. Students are required to complete a minimum number of clock hours in field education.

Mission Statement

Daemen College’s MSW Program instills in its students the knowledge, values, and skills necessary to become exceptional social work practitioners who advance the well-being of children and families and the communities they live in. Our graduates promote all forms of diversity and justice by contributing — individually and collectively — to the profession and the world through state of the art practice, research, advocacy, and activism.

Program Goals

In accordance with its mission, the Daemen College MSW Program seeks to:

  • Prepare students with the knowledge and skills necessary for effective social work practice at the generalist and advanced (clinical) level;
  • Ensure that students are able to work with diverse populations and in various settings – integrating research, empirically informed practice, knowledge of human behavior and environment, understanding of context, and awareness of social policy;
  • Promote social work values and ethics emphasizing a commitment to community, diversity, social and economic justice, and social change; and
  • Enrich the community through research, field education, advocacy, and professional development opportunities.

Program Objectives

Daemen College MSW graduates will demonstrate the ability to:

  1. Identify as a professional social worker and conduct oneself accordingly;
  2. Apply social work ethical principles to guide professional practice;
  3. Apply critical thinking to inform and communicate professional judgments;
  4. Engage diversity and difference in practice;
  5. Advance human rights and social and economic justice;
  6. Engage in research-informed practice and practice-informed research;
  7. Apply knowledge of human behavior and the social environment;
  8. Engage in policy practice to advance social and economic well-being and to deliver effective social work services;
  9. Respond to contexts that shape practice;
  10. Engage, assess, intervene, and evaluate interventions with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities.

 

Master of Social Work Programs:

Advanced Standing MSW

Admission Requirements:

Earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work (BA, BS or BSW) within the last five years from a CSWE accredited program.

Submit ALL official transcripts from colleges and universities attended (Regionally accredited colleges and universities only).

Complete and submit a Daemen College graduate school application (Application fee $25.00) and fulfill the admission requirements of the Graduate School at Daemen College.

Complete and submit a 3-4 page typed personal statement that focuses on the following points:

      • Your experience in social work, including volunteer experience.
      • The life experiences that impacted your interest in social work.
      • Your personal qualities that will be useful in serving others as a social work professional.
      • Your values that will be useful in serving others as a social worker.
      • Your career goals and how social work education will help you achieve these goals.

Have an overall GPA of 3.0 and GPA of 3.2 or higher in major courses such as

      • Social Work Methods I/II
      • Research Methods I
      • Human Behavior in the Social Environment I/II
      • Field Instruction I/II

Provide three letters of reference: 1 letter from the BSW Program Chair; 1 letter from an academic source and 1 letter from volunteer/community source.

      • Provide a copy of final evaluations (Field Instruction I and II)
      • Have completed courses in Human Biology and Statistics with a grade of “C” or better
      • A minimum combined, verbal and quantitative, score of 285 or higher (800 on GRE Scores prior to 2012) on Graduate Record Examination (GRE) taken within five years prior to application for admission

REQUIRED COURSES

  • SW514 Applied Research and Data Analysis (3)*
  • SW611 Crisis Management w/ Evidenced Based Interventions (3)
  • SW612 Advanced Clinical Practice w/ Evidence Based Interventions (3)
  • SW617 Psychopathology (3)
  • SW619 Field Instruction III and Seminar (3)
  • SW620 Field Instruction IV and Seminar (3)
  • SW652 Concentration: Children and Families I** (3)
  • SW653 Concentration: Children and Families II** (3)
  • SW680 Social Work Licensure Preparation (0)
  • SW682 Clinical Practice w/ Children (3)
  • Elective Credit (3)

*Entering Advanced Standing students without a second research course, must take this course.

**Concentration: Children and Families I and II

TOTAL PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS = 30-33 CREDITS

Traditional MSW

Admission Requirements:

A baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university.

Submit ALL official transcripts from colleges and universities attended (Regionally accredited colleges and universities only).

Complete and submit a Daemen College graduate school application (Application fee: $25.00) and fulfill the graduate admissions requirements of Daemen College.

Complete and submit a 3-4 page typed personal statement that focuses on the following points:

      • Your experience in social work, including volunteer experience.
      • The life experiences that impacted your interest in social work.
      • Your personal qualities that will be useful in serving others as a social work professional.
      • Your values that will be useful in serving others as a social worker.
      • Your career goals and how social work education will help you achieve these goals.

Provide three letters of reference: 2 from an academic source and 1 from a volunteer experience.

A minimum combined, verbal and quantitative, score of 285 or higher (800 on GRE Scores prior to 2012) on Graduate Record Examination (GRE) taken within five years prior to application for admission.

Have an overall GPA of 2.7 or higher.

Have completed courses in Human Biology and Statistics with a grade of “C” or better.

REQUIRED COURSES

  • SW511 Foundations of Micro/Mezzo Practice (3)
  • SW512 Foundations of Macro Practice (3)
  • SW513 Social Work Research (3)
  • SW514 Applied Research and Data Analysis (3)
  • SW515 Oppression, Power and Change (3)
  • SW516 Social Welfare History, Policy and Services (3)
  • SW517 Human Behavior in the Social Environment I(3)
  • SW518 Human Behavior in the Social Environment II (3)
  • SW519 Field Instruction I and Seminar (3)
  • SW520 Field Instruction II and Seminar (3)
  • SW611 Crisis Management w/ Evidenced Based Interventions (3)
  • SW612 Advanced Clinical Practice w/ Evidence Based Interventions (3)
  • SW617 Psychopathology (3)
  • SW619 Field Instruction III and Seminar (3)
  • SW620 Field Instruction IV and Seminar (3)
  • SW652 Concentration: Children and Families I* (3)
  • SW653 Concentration: Children and Families II* (3)
  • SW680 Social Work Licensure Preparation (0)
  • SW682 Clinical Practice w/ Children (3)
  • Elective Credit (6)

*Concentration: Children and Families I and II

TOTAL PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS = 60 CREDITS

 

Practice Concentration:

  • Children and Families

Time Limitation for Degree Completion

Excluding an approved leave of absence, all requirements for the MSW, Social Work and MSW, Advanced Social Work must be completed within a period of four (4) calendar years, effective from the first date of matriculation in the program.

The Master of Social Work Program at Daemen College does not award credit for life experience.

Requirements for Graduation

  • Application for Degree: All graduate students are required to file an Application for Degree form with the Registrar’s Office at the onset of the final term of study.  The application is accessible on the Registrar’s web page.
  • Minimum grade point average (GPA) of 3.00.