AL / MS Conference
Curriculum Plans
Social Work Curriculum Detail
New Curriculum Plan (pdf) - Full time student, fall start
MSW Specializations
After the first year* of the MSW program, students will choose one of two specializations within the program. The first specialization is Micro Level Practice, sometimes referred to as a clinical tract. Within this specialization students in their second year of the MSW program take courses enhancing their clinical skills in working with individual, families and groups. This tract prepares students to be competent entry level, masters prepared practitioners in the field of direct practice. The second specialization is Macro Level Practice, sometimes referred to as a community tract. Within this specialization students in their second year of the MSW program take courses enhancing their skills in working with organizations and communities. This tract prepares students to become competent community advocates, organizers and skillful policy analysts.
* This assumes the student is in the 60 credit hour, full-time course option. Advanced standing students will immediately enter one of the two specializations within the program.
Field Instruction
Quality hands-on field instruction is the capstone educational expectation of the MSW program, and it is vital to competent graduate social work education. Students in the 60 credit hour MSW program will complete 900 hours of field instruction during their MSW program. Students admitted to the advanced standing program will complete 450 hours of field instruction during their MSW program.
Program Requirements and Information
The School of Social Work at the University of Southern Mississippi is one school, with courses offered on both our Hattiesburg campus and our Gulf Coast campus. Students must select which campus they wish to attend. Student may take courses on either campus, dependent on course availability and advisor approval. Course offerings and duration of the program varies from campus to campus. It is unlikely students will be allowed to transfer from a part-time model to a full-time model. Please make application to the program that you will be able to complete. For additional information, please meet with the MSW Program Coordinator for specifics about campus course offerings.
The School of Social Work primarily offers three MSW program models:
- The Full-Time, two year, 60 credit-hour model. Click Here
- The Part-Time, three year, extended 60 credit-hour model Click Here
- The Advanced standing, one calendar year, 30 credit-hour model, for highly qualified MSW applicants, from a CSWE accredited social work program. Click Here
Are you interested in a career in social work but would like to learn more about the field. Click to view video on the everyday life of a social worker.
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