Contents > College of Public Programs > Social Work
Master’s and Doctoral Programs
Mary Rogers Gillmore, Director, School of Social Work
Ashford, Gillmore, LeCroy, Leighninger, MacEachron, Marsiglia, Martinez-Brawley, Moroney, Segal
Brzuzy, Gerdes, Gustavsson, Krysik, Montero, Napoli, Nichols, Paz, Risley-Curtiss, Robles, Steiner, Stromwall, Waller
Bacchus, Holley, Kang, Larson, Niles, Roe-Sepowitz
Senior Instructional Professional
The faculty in the School of Social Work offer programs leading to the Master of Social Work degree and the PhD degree in Social Work.
The professional program leading to the Master of Social Work (MSW) degree prepares social workers for advanced direct practice or planning, administration, and community practice. The program is designed to prepare social workers to be capable of responding effectively to the needs of special populations in the Southwest. The MSW degree program is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education.
The advanced standing program is a full-time, 36-semester-hour program.
Students must start the program in summer (beginning with the first summer session) and complete a total of three semester hours in each summer session for a total of six hours. The six semester hours of summer courses are not offered in Tucson. Students also complete one internship and select one of two concentrations: advanced direct practice or planning, administration, and community practice. The planning, administration, and community practice courses are generally not offered in Tucson.
D SWG 598 ST: Advanced Standing Bridge Seminar (3)
D SWG 598 ST: Advanced Standing Bridge Seminar (3)
The following concentration courses are required:
Advanced Direct Practice (ADP)
D SWG 606 Assessment of Mental Disorders (3)
D SWG 611 Social Work with Families (3)
D SWG 619 Practice-Oriented Research (3)
D SWG 621 Integrative Seminar (3)
D SWG 632 Social Policy and Services II (3)
D SWG 641 Advanced Practicum: Direct Practice I (3)
D SWG 642 Advanced Practicum: Direct Practice II (3)
One of the following approved advanced courses (3)
D SWG 613 Advanced Social Work Practice in Behavioral Health (3)
D SWG 616 Social Work with Chemically Dependent Families (3)
D SWG 617 Advanced Social Work Practice with Children and Adolescents (3)
D SWG 618 Domestic Violence (3)
Planning, Administration, and Community Practice (PAC)
D SWG 623 Agency and Community-Based Research in Social Work (3)
D SWG 632 Social Policy and Services II (3)
D SWG 643 Advanced Practicum: Planning, Social Work Administration, and Community Practice I (3)
D SWG 644 Advanced Practicum: Planning, Social Work Administration, and Community Practice II (3)
D SWG 680 P: Program Planning in Social Services (3)
D SWG 681 Social Work Administration (3)
D SWG 682 Community Participation Strategies (3)
Electives may be selected from offerings at the School of Social Work or courses offered through other departments with the approval of the MSW program coordinator.
Applicants must follow the procedures for admission to the Graduate College (see Admission to the Graduate College). Advanced Standing Program applicants must have a BSW degree from a Council on Social Work Education–accredited program with at least a 3.50 GPA (on a 4.00 scale) in required upper-division social work courses. A GPA of at least 3.00 (on a 4.00 scale) for the last two years of work leading to the BSW degree is also required. In addition, all applicants are required to successfully complete a course in human biology and statistics before enrolling in the advanced standing program. Applications to the advanced standing program are accepted from November 1 to January 2 preceding the summer session to which the applicant is seeking admission. Applicants admitted to the advanced standing program begin classes in the summer.
All advanced standing program applicants must submit the following to the School of Social Work:
1. a School of Social Work MSW application form;
2. an MSW advanced standing application;
3. a statement of educational and career goals;
4. a professional résumé that includes volunteer and paid work experience;
5. a written case example covering areas specified in the advanced standing application; and
6. three letters of reference.
A combination of academic and professional references is desirable. References from friends, family members, or personal therapists are not accepted.
At least one of the three required references must be from the applicant’s BSW field instructor, or if employed in a social work-related job for two or more years, a recommendation from the applicant’s supervisor. Applicants must have received their BSW degree no more than five years before the date of admission. In addition, all applicants must submit the following to the Graduate College:
1. a completed Graduate College application form;
3. an official transcript of all academic work completed or in progress.
All students must pass a comprehensive examination administered by the school or complete a thesis before graduation.
Academic Standing and Curriculum Sequencing
To remain in good academic standing, the student must maintain an overall GPA of 3.00 at the end of each semester. Most courses in the program are sequential; successful completion of the prior course in the sequence is required to enroll in the following course.
The standard program consists of 60 hours, including both classroom instruction and field practicum. It is divided into a foundation year (core curriculum) and a concentration year. During both years, students spend two days a week in a practicum setting.
The foundation curriculum is the same for all students and must be completed before entering the concentration year. The following are the required foundation courses:
D SWG 501 Human Behavior in the Social Environment I (3)
D SWG 502 Human Behavior in the Social Environment II (3)
D SWG 510 Foundation Practice I (3)
D SWG 511 Foundation Practice II (3)
D SWG 519 Research Methods in Social Work (3)
D SWG 531 Social Policy and Services I (3)
D SWG 533 Diversity and Oppression in a Social Work Context (3)
D SWG 541 Field Practicum I (3)
D SWG 542 Field Practicum II (3)
D SWG 580 P: Community and Organizational Change (3)
In the second year, students pursue a concentration in either (1) advanced direct practice or (2) planning, administration, and community practice. Six to nine hours of electives are required for students either to take additional course work in their concentration or to increase knowledge and skills in such areas as health and mental health, family and child welfare, or aging.
The following are required concentration courses:
Advanced Direct Practice (ADP)
D SWG 606 Assessment of Mental Disorders (3)
D SWG 611 Social Work with Families (3)
D SWG 619 Practice-Oriented Research (3)
D SWG 621 Integrative Seminar (3)
D SWG 632 Social Policy and Services II (3)
D SWG 641 Advanced Practicum: Direct Practice I (3)
D SWG 642 Advanced Practicum: Direct Practice II (3)
One of the following approved advanced courses (3)
D SWG 613 Advanced Social Work Practice in Behavioral Health (3)
D SWG 616 Social Work with Chemically Dependent Families (3)
D SWG 617 Advanced Social Work Practice with Children and Adolescents (3)
D SWG 618 Domestic Violence (3)
Planning, Administration, and Community Practice (PAC)
D SWG 623 Agency and Community-Based Research in Social Work (3)
D SWG 632 Social Policy and Services II (3)
D SWG 643 Advanced Practicum: Planning, Social Work Administration, and Community Practice I (3)
D SWG 644 Advanced Practicum: Planning, Social Work Administration, and Community Practice II (3)
D SWG 680 P: Program Planning in Social Services (3)
D SWG 681 Social Work Administration (3)
D SWG 682 Community Participation Strategies (3)
Electives may be selected from offerings at the School of Social Work or courses offered through other departments with the approval of the MSW program coordinator. The total semester hours for each concentration equals 30.
Applicants must follow the procedures for admission to the Graduate College (see Admission to the Graduate College). Applications to the standard MSW program are accepted from November 1 to March 1, or for priority review by February 1, preceding the fall semester to which the applicant is seeking admission. Applicants admitted to the standard MSW program begin classes in the fall.
All applicants for the standard MSW program must submit to the School of Social Work the following:
1. a School of Social Work MSW application form;
2. a statement of educational and career goals;
3. a professional résumé that includes volunteer and paid work experience; and
4. three letters of reference.
A combination of academic and professional references is desirable. References from friends, family members, or personal therapists are not accepted.
Test scores from either the Graduate Record Exam or the Miller Analogies Test are required only if the applicant’s GPA was below 3.00 (on a 4.00 scale) during his or her junior and senior years. In addition, all applicants must submit to the Graduate College the following:
1. a completed Graduate College application form;
3. an official transcript of all academic work completed or in progress.
The school requires one of the following:
1. a liberal arts undergraduate degree;
2. a BSW from a Council on Social Work Education–accredited school of social work; or
3. another undergraduate degree, with 30 semester hours in liberal arts courses at the undergraduate or graduate level.
The 30 semester hours described in item 3 above must include course work from the social/behavioral sciences, natural sciences, and humanities. The distribution should approximate the current curriculum for the BSW program: 18 hours in social and behavioral sciences, six hours in natural sciences with at least one course in human biology, and six hours in humanities.
All students are required to successfully complete a course in human biology before enrollment in the graduate program. Additionally, all students must have successfully completed a course in statistics before admission. If the statistics requirement has not been met, then an equivalent course must be successfully completed either by December 31 or before registering for D SWG 519.
Applicants with lower test scores or grades below minimal levels may be considered for provisional admission if there is counterbalancing evidence suggesting the potential of outstanding performance in the MSW program. Normally, final determination of the removal of provision status is made by the time the student has completed 12 hours of approved graduate study. The provisional student does not complete field work until this status has been changed. However, the student carries the same academic load as a regularly admitted student and is expected to meet the same standards for continuation in the program.
Students are admitted each fall to a planned part-time program. Students interested in this option must specifically apply to the part-time program and complete it in accordance with the plan developed to finish the degree in three years.
The School of Social Work offers the full foundation year (30 semester hours of credit) at its Tucson component. Advanced direct practice students may complete their professional degree entirely in Tucson while planning, administration, and community practice students take 12 semester hours at ASU. For more information, or to request an application to the Tucson component, call 520/884-5507.
Upon recommendation of the admissions committee, the first year of graduate study (up to 30 graduate semester hours) earned at another CSWE-accredited school of social work may be transferred and applied toward the MSW degree at ASU. Under these circumstances, the student must complete the second full year of graduate study (at least 30 semester hours of graduate work) at ASU, resulting in a 60-hour program composed of the work from both schools. A full report from the school at which the intended transfer credit was obtained is required.
In other cases, with the approval of the MSW program coordinator, up to six semester hours of graduate work completed at another university may be transferred as elective credit.
Consideration for acceptance of prior graduate credits must be applied for at the time of admission. The grades of all transfer credit must be a “B” (3.00) or higher.
A maximum of nine graduate semester hours earned as a nondegree student in the ASU School of Social Work or six semester hours earned at another graduate degree program at ASU may be applied toward the program of study. A combination of credit earned as a nondegree student—at ASU or transferred from another university—may not exceed nine hours, and of those nine hours, no more than six hours may be electives.
Course work toward a master’s degree must be completed within six consecutive years. The six-year period begins with the first course included on the student’s approved program of study.
Consideration for acceptance of nondegree work must be applied for at the time of admission.
Exemptions and Waiver Examinations
The number of hours required to complete the standard MSW degree ranges from 45 to 60 semester hours, with 60 hours representing the standard program. In addition to transferring credit (see policy on transfer credit), admitted students may meet requirements of up to 15 hours of credit toward the degree by (1) exempting up to 15 hours of foundation course work without examination or (2) successfully completing examinations in any of the following foundation courses: D SWG 501, 502, or 519.
Only students from BSW programs accredited by the CSWE can be considered for exemptions. To be eligible for an exemption from any course, students must have received their BSW degree no more than five years before the date of admission. Admitted BSW students from ASU are exempted from the courses listed below without examination if they meet the stated GPA requirements. BSW students from other accredited programs may also be exempted from the same courses, but must submit their course content material (course description, syllabus, and outline) for review by the MSW program coordinator for an equivalency review to determine exemption. BSW students may be exempted from the following courses:
1. D SWG 501, if the student has an “A” (4.00) in D SWU 301 or an equivalent social work course;
2. D SWG 502, if the student has an “A” (4.00) in D SWU 340 or an equivalent social work course;
3. D SWG 519, if the student has an “A” (4.00) in D SWU 320 or an equivalent social work course;
4. D SWG 531, if the student has an “A” (4.00) in D SWU 171 and 332 or equivalent social work courses;
5. D SWG 533, if the student has an “A” (4.00) in D SWU 374 or an equivalent social work course.
Students who believe they have successfully completed equivalent undergraduate courses or have related work experience covering content taught in these courses can take a written waiver examination, before starting the MSW program in the fall, for the following courses:
D SWG 501 Human Behavior in the Social Environment I (3)
D SWG 502 Human Behavior in the Social Environment II (3)
D SWG 519 Research Methods in Social Work (3)
ASU requires a comprehensive examination or thesis for graduation in all professional master’s programs. All Social Work students must pass a comprehensive examination, administered by the school, or complete a thesis before graduation.
Academic Standing and Curriculum Sequencing
In order to remain in good academic standing, the student must maintain an overall GPA of 3.00 at the end of each semester. Most courses in the program are sequential; successful completion of the prior course in the sequence is required to enroll in the following course. Students may not enroll in any second-year required courses until all foundation courses, including the foundation field (D SWG 541 and 542), have been successfully completed.
Recent federal reductions in support of human services and educational programs have severely limited the resources available for stipends. Therefore, it is important that applicants have a sound financial plan to cover expenses for the duration of the degree program.
For financial assistance information visit the Student Financial Assistance Office, SSV second floor, call 480/965-3355, or access asu.edu/fa.
The program seeks to prepare future social work scholars who are involved in the development and application of theories in social work practice, and who plan to enhance social work knowledge through classroom and field settings.
The program introduces students to the range of roles and responsibilities of faculty leadership, to the challenging expectations of critical thinking and creativity in research and teaching, and to the multiple ways of integrating research, teaching, and service in the social work profession.
The Social Work faculty advocate for and support the human potential in the distinct experiences and perspectives of the Southwest region. The cultural and economic diversity of the Southwest makes it possible for faculty and students to engage in many issues in their community-based research and practice.
Applicants must hold an MSW degree from an accredited school of social work, preferably have a minimum of two years of post-MSW professional social work paid employment, and apply to both the ASU Graduate College and the School of Social Work.
Admission to the PhD program requires completion of all admission requirements and procedures set forth by the Graduate College and test scores from the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) (verbal, quantitative, and analytical). Applications are accepted up to February 1 preceding the fall semester to which the applicant is seeking admission.
The following items should be submitted to
1. the application for admission to the Graduate College;
2. one official transcript from each institution the applicant has attended previously; and
The following items should be submitted to
411 N. Central Ave., Suite 800
1. an application to the PhD program in Social Work;
2. a writing sample—Social Problem Essay;
3. examples of written work (students may submit samples of their professional and/or academic writing);
4. three letters of reference that must use the reference letter form provided by the School of Social Work; and
5. a curriculum vitae or résumé.
Students must demonstrate scholarly competencies in several broad areas identified during the mentoring and advising process. These areas must include: micro/macro theories and perspectives on critical issues in social work and social welfare (24 semester hours), quantitative/qualitative research methodologies (12 semester hours), and professoriate training and mentoring in research, teaching, and service. The program requires a minimum of 36 semester hours of course work beyond the MSW degree and 84 semester hours beyond the baccalaureate degree. Because students must achieve competency requirements, they may need to take additional course work to achieve these competencies.
The program emphasizes enhancement of scholarship through:
1. applied social work research in diverse community settings and populations of the Southwest;
2. teaching, from syllabus development to classroom teaching across the professional continuum;
3. participation in collegial decision making; and
4. participation in field education and community services.
Students are expected to participate fully in research, teaching, and field liaison activities during their course of studies.
The individualized plan for becoming a social work scholar and for learning associated faculty roles is developed by students and their faculty advisors over time.
The minimum residency requirement for the PhD program is 18 semester hours in courses relating to the program of study, exclusive of dissertation. The residency must be completed in two consecutive semesters, not including summer sessions.
Students are given a qualifying examination in the semester following the completion of the first 18 semester hours of approved PhD course work. Students who fail the examination may retake it the following semester. Students failing the qualifying examination twice will be dropped from the program.
Upon completion of course work and the qualifying examination, but before beginning dissertation research, students are given a written examination covering research, theory, and methods in their substantive area. If students should fail one or more components of the examination, a reexamination may be administered no sooner than three months and no later than one year from the date of the original examination. Approval of the reexamination must be obtained from the supervisory committee and the dean of the Graduate College.
Each candidate must register for a minimum of 24 semester hours of credit for research and dissertation. The final copy of the dissertation must be received by the supervisory committee and dean of the Graduate College at least three weeks before the degree conferral date.
The final oral examination in defense of the dissertation is scheduled and conducted by the student’s dissertation committee. A candidate must pass the final examination within five years after completing the comprehensive examination.
Research within the School of Social Work is multifaceted. The faculty research agendas emphasize an understanding for the unique social, political, and cultural issues of importance to populations of the Southwest. For more details about the research interests of the faculty of the School of Social Work, access the school’s Web site at ssw.asu.edu.
Drug Resistance Strategies Project
This is a school-based substance abuse program funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse. Dr. Flavio Marsiglia is the principal investigator for the project. The program is uniquely designed to reflect students’ cultural norms and values. Presented to seventh-grade classes throughout the City of Phoenix, Drug Resistance Strategies (DRS) is impacting 50 schools and 5,500 students. Latino, non-Latino, and mixed versions of the drug prevention curriculum have been developed. This innovation enables students to recognize themselves in the prevention message and provides solutions that are sensitive to their unique cultural environment. The objective of DRS is to prevent and reduce substance abuse by teaching valuable communication and life skills.
Southwest Interdisciplinary Research Center
The mission of the Southwest Interdisciplinary Research Center (SIRC) is to develop a research infrastructure for conducting multidisciplinary, community-based social work research on family and youth drug use prevention and services. SIRC is funded through a five-year National Institutes of Health/National Institute on Drug Abuse research development grant. Interdisciplinary teams composed of faculty from the Schools of Social Work and Justice Studies; the Departments of Psychology and Sociology; and the Mary Lou Fulton College of Education, plus community-based partnerships, collaborate on state-of-the-art research projects. A Community Advisory Board, representing 22 community and government agencies, provides a forum for current research and identification of areas in need of study.
Understanding the Cultural Context: Working with American Indian Children and Their Families
The school’s Office of American Indian Projects is working to develop a competency-based training curriculum. The curriculum is intended to assist both state and tribal child welfare staff in developing the necessary cultural competence to work with American Indian families. This grant is a collaborative effort with the Inter Tribal Council of Arizona and Diné College, the only American Indian College in Arizona,
Courses
Information about all courses is available on the Web at ASU Interactive. For more information, see Classification of Courses.
Contents > Top of Page > College of Public Programs > Social Work