Master of Social Work

Courses

DePaul MSW Graduate's Testimony in Springfield

The program’s curriculum is divided between foundation, advanced and select bridge courses (which will be developed when the program creates an advanced standing option for baccalaureate social work graduates). The foundation curriculum is designed to prepare students for beginning-level social work practice and is expressive of the unique and special mission of DePaul as well as the practice needs of the region’s professional community. Most MSW courses are 4.0 credit hours.

The foundation of the MSW curriculum consists of the following required courses:

    MSW 401: Professional Writing and Development
    MSW 411: Human Behavior and the Social Environment I
    MSW 412: Human Behavior and the Social Environment II
    MSW 421: Introduction to Social Work Research
    MSW 422: Social Work Research II
    MSW 431: Social Welfare Policy I
    MSW 481: Foundation Practice I
    MSW 482: Foundation Practice II
    MSW 483: Foundation Practice III
    MSW 491: Foundation Field Education I
    MSW 492: Foundation Field Education II
    MSW 493: Foundation Field Education III

The core values of professional social work, the program mission and goals, as well as the University’s special mission gird the design of the MSW program curriculum. The curriculum is organized as a whole, consisting of foundation and concentration content ultimately grounded in the liberal arts (which is generally mastered at the baccalaureate level). The program’s foundation curriculum strives to facilitate knowledge, skill and value acquisition consistent with the aims of high-quality, beginning-level practice. Infused throughout the foundation curriculum is attention to social work values and ethics as well as content on human diversity and attention to social and economic justice and historically-marginalized groups or populations at risk and the profession’s unique role in addressing each of these considerations.

The advanced component of the MSW curriculum consists of the following courses:

    MSW 432: Social Welfare Policy II
    MSW 501: Program Evaluation
    MSW 521: Fund Development and Management I
    MSW 522: Fund Development and Management II
    MSW 581: Community Practice I
    MSW 582: Community Practice II
    MSW 583: Community Practice III
    MSW 591: Advanced Field Education I
    MSW 592: Advanced Field Education II
    MSW 593: Advanced Field Education III

In addition, 4 credit hours of graduate study (400 level and above) as an elective is required for the degree. The aims of the advanced component of the curriculum speak to a macro generalist social work practice with special attention or emphasis in practicing within communities and community-based organizations and agencies. The curriculum is designed to provide a unique career trajectory in social work; providing skills in the practice areas that lead to agency administration, advanced policy practice, collaborative leadership, and working for social and economic justice from the vantage of program and organizational management.

For Course Descriptions, please click here.