M.S.W. (Master of Social Work) Program
The School of Social Work is committed to:
- the enhancement of the individual and society;
- a dedication to social change;
- the attainment of social justice for all peoples;
- the eradication of poverty;
- the empowerment of oppressed peoples;
- the right of all individuals and groups to determine their own destinies;
- and the opportunity to live in harmony and cooperation.
While the School maintains a special commitment to these values, it recognizes the need for joining with others in society who are working toward this same purpose.
Three goals of the M.S.W. program are:
- to provide foundation knowledge in the core areas of social work values and ethics, diversity, social and economic justice, populations-at-risk, human behavior and the social environment, social welfare policy and services, research, generalist practice, and field practicum;
- to provide advanced preparation in one area of social work practice: Direct Human Services, Community-Based Practice, or Social Service Administration and Leadership;
- to provide students with advanced elective coursework in selected fields of service, such as mental health services; services to children, youth, and their families; health care services; services to older adults and services to at risk populations.
Some key points about the M.S.W program:
- The MSW program offers educational sites in several regions of the state.
- The program has a student body of over 475.
- More than 3,500 M.S.W. degrees have been granted since the School was established.
- The program received over 500 applications last year. The average number of students admitted annually is 150 to the Portland site. Each distance site admits approximately 25 students. A waiting list of approximately 70 qualified applicants is maintained through the summer.
- The program has an active minority recruitment program with 15% of the 2007 incoming class represented by students of color.
- More than 300 social service agencies and governmental offices provide supervised field instruction for M.S.W. students throughout Oregon and southwestern Washington and northern California.
Students concentrate in one of the following areas: Direct Human Services; Community-Based Practice; or Social Service Administration-Leadership and select the two-year option, three-year option, and a limited number of students are admitted to a four-year option. The curriculum combines concurrent on-campus course work and practica in a range of public and non-profit human and social service organizations. Before entering the School, all students have obtained paid, volunteer, or practicum experience in the human or social services. Students work closely with members of the faculty, and there is ample opportunity for students to pursue particular intellectual and professional interests. More than 30 full-time and 25 part-time faculty teach in the M.S.W. program.
Requirements
Satisfactory completion of a minimum of 78 quarter credit hours distributed as follows:
- Human behavior in the social environment -- 6 credit hours
- Social welfare policy -- 4 credit hours class
- Diversity and Social Justice -- 3 credit hours
- Research -- 6 credit hours
- Generalist social work practice -- 11 credit hours
- Advanced social work practice -- 9 credit hours
- Practicum -- 24 credit hours
- Electives -- 15 credit hours
- A cumulative grade point average of 3.00 in all courses numbered 500 or above and a grade of Pass in all practicum courses.
- Completion of all course work, including transferred credits, within the seven calendar years prior to the awarding of the degree.
- Completion of the final 45 quarter credit hours of course work at Portland State University.
