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Graduate College of Social Work - Academic Programs

M.S.W. Degree Requirements

1. Satisfactory completion of a minimum of 63 semester credit hours in class and field instruction in social work;

2. At least a 3.0 (B) cumulative grade point average for all classroom courses, plus grades of Satisfactory (S) in all field practicum courses;

3. Faculty recommendation for award of the Master of Social Work degree;

4. A nonrefundable fee is required when the student applies for graduation through the university's Graduation Office.

The GSCW Curriculum

The GCSW offers an intensive first semester organized around content on the foundation of professional social work, human behavior, policy, practice and research. A practice skills lab and a foundation field practicum (120 clock hours) are also required. The foundation semester totals 15 credit hours and each component is graded as satisfactory/unsatisfactory. Students must satisfactorily complete 15 credit hours in the foundation before enrolling in any advanced courses.

How the foundation is structured:

All incoming students meet together for two days of the first week of the semester, from 9:00 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. After the first week, students can continue in day classes, or choose the flex option, with evening and weekend (Saturday) classes. For the first week only, students with employment and/or family obligations must make arrangements to attend the t wo days of daytime classes – no exceptions.

Foundation Purpose and Learning Objectives:

The M.S.W. program is rooted in the liberal arts and includes an integrated, professional foundation upon which the advanced curriculum is built. Upon completion of the foundation curriculum, students will be able to:

• Apply critical thinking skills within the context of professional social work practice;

• Understand the value base of the profession and its ethical standards and principles, and practice accordingly;

• Practice without discrimination with respect and with knowledge and skills related to age, class, color, culture, disability, ethnicity, family structure, gender, marital status, national origin, race, religion, sex, and sexual orientation;

• Understand the forms and mechanisms of oppression and discrimination and delineate strategies of advocacy and social change that advance social and economic justice;

• Understand and interpret the history of the social work profession and its contemporary structures and issues;

• Apply the knowledge and skills of an integrated and contextualized social work perspective to practice with systems of all sizes;

• Use theoretical frameworks supported by empirical evidence to understand individual development and behavior across the life span and the interactions among individuals and between individuals and families, groups, organizations, and communities;

• Analyze and influence social policies;

• Use critical thinking to evaluate research studies, apply research findings to practice, and evaluate their own practice interventions;

• Use communication skills differentially across client populations, colleagues, and communities;

• Use supervision and consultation appropriate to social work practice;

• Function within the structure of organizations and service delivery systems.

Advanced Curriculum – Clinical Practice or Leadership, Administration, and Advocacy

*Students who have successfully completed the foundation semester select an advanced track in either Clinical Social Work Practice, or Leadership, Administration, and Advocacy. There are nine credit hours of required courses for each track.

Clinical Practice is the application of theories, methods, skills, values and ethics needed to enhance the cognitive, mental, emotional, behavioral, physical and social well-being of individuals, couples, families, groups and communities.

Clinical practice requires leadership in promoting social, economic and political justice. Its methods are relationship-centered, contextualized, culturally sensitive and strengths focused. It includes knowledge about biopsychosocial functioning - and - evidence based interventions. Clinical practice includes, but is not limited to: assessment and intervention, diagnosis and treatment, education and prevention, advocacy, counseling and psychotherapy, and supervision and consultation.

Students in the Clinical track are required to take these three courses:

• Contextualized Strengths Based Practice (a combination human behavior and practice course)

• Transtheoretical Clinical Practice (theory & practice course)

• Clinical Applications of DSM (practice).

Leadership, Administration, and Advocacy prepares students for practice in urban settings where the needs of diverse, vulnerable populations require highly skilled professional leaders. Work in communities, in public and private organizations is designed to promote progressive social change that contributes to the growth and empowerment of individuals, agencies and communities.

Core concepts and practice skills are developed for work at the community, organizational, societal, and global levels. Students are prepared to assume leadership positions as advocates, managers, program planners, researchers, policy analysts, and agency and community capacity builders.

Students in this track are required to take these three courses:

• Administrative Practice (practice course)

• Dynamics of Leadership (a combination human behavior & practice course)

• Strategies of Community Development (theory/practice)

*All students complete an advanced course in Social Welfare Policy Analysis, Multilevel Assessment, Evaluation of Practice (three credit hours each).

*All students complete an at least one “crossover elective course.” That is, Clinical students – will take at least one Leadership, Administration, and Advocacy course and Leadership, Administration, and Advocacy students – will take at least one elective Clinical course.

*All students complete 960 clock hours in advanced field practica ; this is in addition to the 120 clock hours of foundation field (total clock hours=1080, nine credit hours).

*In addition to the above courses, the advanced curriculum includes a minimum of 16 credit hours of free choice elective course

Course of Study and Enrollment Models

A minimum of 63 semester credit hours is required for the M.S.W. degree. All students are required to complete the 15 credit hour foundation semester plus 48 credit hours in the student's chosen concentration (track) and electives.

Students are admitted into full-time or flex option enrollment status. After the foundation semester in the Fall, GCSW students choose either Clinical Practice (CP), or Leadership, Administration & Advocacy (LAA) for their track. Optional certificates are available in Gerontological Social Work, Political Social Work, and Trabajo Social. Certificates do not require additional hours, but are earned by completing 9 credit hours in the chosen certificate area.

The degree program is flexible after the first semester and can be completed in a variety of ways within a four year time frame. Examples of enrollment models are shown below.

Full-Time Enrollment Plan
(21 months)

Year 1	Fall	Spring	Summer
	15 SCH	14 SCH	6 SCH
	Foundation Includes Field I (15 SCH)	Field II (2 SCH)	Elective (3SCH)
		Assessment (3 SCH)	Elective (3 SCH)
		Practice Evaluation or Elective (3 SCH)
		CP Track Course
		LAA Track Course

 

Year 2	Fall	Spring (Graduate in May)
	15 SCH	13 SCH
	Field III (Track) (2 SCH)	Field IV (Track) (4 SCH)
	Policy (3 SCH)	Track Course (3 SCH)
	Track Course (3 SCH)	HBSE Elective (3SCH)
	Elective or Practice Evaluation (3 SCH)	Elective (3 SCH)
	Elective (3 SCH)

Total credit hours = 63

 

Flex Option Enrollment Plan Enrollment Plan
(4 Year Plan)

Year 1	Fall	Spring	Summer
	15 SCH	6 SCH	3 SCH
	Foundation (15 SCH) Includes Field I	Field II (2 SCH)	Elective (3 SCH)
		Assessment (3 SCH)

Year 2	Fall	Spring	Summer
	6 SCH	6 SCH	3 SCH
	CP Track Course (3 SCH)	Track Course (3 SCH)	Elective (3 SCH)
	LAA Track Course (3 SCH)	Practice Evaluation (3 SCH)	Elective (3 SCH)

Year 3	Fall	Spring	Summer
	6 SCH	6 SCH	3 SCH
	Track Course (3 SCH)	Elective (3 SCH)	Elective (3 SCH)
	Policy (3 SCH)	HBSE Elective (3 SCH)

Year 4	Fall	Spring	Summer
	6 SCH	3 SCH
	Field III (Track) (3 SCH)	Field IV (Track) (3 SCH)
	Elective (3 SCH)	Graduate in May

 

Weekend College Option Enrollment Plan
(3 Year Plan)

Year 1	Fall	Spring	Summer
	15 SCH	6 SCH	6 SCH
	Foundation (15 SCH) Includes Field I	Field II (3 SCH)	Elective (3 SCH)
		Assessment (3 SCH)	Elective (3 SCH)

Year 2	Fall	Spring	Summer
	6 SCH	6 SCH	6 SCH
	CP Track Course (3 SCH)	Track Course (3 SCH)	Elective (3 SCH)
	LAA Track Course (3 SCH)	Policy (3 SCH)	HBSE Elective (3 SCH)

Year 3	Fall	Spring	Summer
	6 SCH	6 SCH	6 SCH
	Track Course (3 SCH)	Elective (3 SCH)	Field III (Track) (3 SCH)
	Evaluation of Practice (3 SCH)	Elective (3 SCH)	Field IV (Track) (3 SCH)

Total credit hours = 63

Enrollment and Scheduling Notes:

• A minimum of 63 credit hours is required for the M.S.W.
• The program can be completed totally in the evening or weekends only for Weekend College students
• Changing from one enrollment plan to another requires prior approval from the advisor
• The M.S.W. degree requires a total of 900 clock hours in field practicum courses.

The 15 semester credit hour foundation courses includes the following content areas:

• Foundations of the Profession
• Social Welfare Policy
• Human Behavior and the Social Environment
• Social Work Practice
• Practice Skills Lab
• Research and Knowledge Building
• Field Practicum

Before You Apply

The decision to enter a graduate, professional program leading to the M.S.W. is a significant one. The combination of course work and field practicum is demanding and requires careful planning in order to move through the program successfully. Prospective applicants are encouraged to consider the following information.

Course Scheduling: The GCSW strives to maintain a diverse student body with both full-time and part-time students. Many students are employed outside the home and have childcare responsibilities in addition to school. As a result, students must make numerous adjustments in their schedules in order to attend classes and to fulfill the clock hour requirements for field practicum. While we are aware of the multiple demands placed on our students, the program is highly structured and must be completed in sequence. Applicants are strongly encouraged to plan carefully to ensure successful completion of the program.

A Caution about Fulltime Employment: If you plan to enroll as a full-time student, we strongly advise against simultaneous fulltime employment. From past experience, we know that this heavy load creates problems in class attendance, generates significant barriers to the completion of field practicum courses, and has resulted in academic failure. The recommended balance of employment and graduate enrollment is:

Employment Hours per Week Semester Hours Enrolled
None		16 Credit Hours
Up to 10		14 - 15 Credit Hours
20 - 30		9 Credit Hours
More than 30		6 Credit Hours

Field Practicum: Part of the uniqueness of the M.S.W. degree is in its applied focus as reflected by required field practicum courses. In field courses, students are assigned as interns under the supervision of a social work field instructor in various practice settings. The GCSW has affiliation agreements with more than 500 agencies in the greater Houston area that have met our criteria as approved field practicum sites. Students are required to complete a total of 900 clock hours in field courses, starting in October of their first semester. Students should not expect to find field agencies available for night or weekend placements.

Academic and Professional Advising: The GSCW has a full-time academic advisor who plays a pivotal role in the student's academic life. Advising sessions are held each semester as part of an ongoing process to help students negotiate the curriculum, discuss academic progress, and ensure that all requirements are being met successfully.

Transfer Credit: Students admitted to the GCSW who have previous graduate course work may discuss transfer of credit with their academic advisor. Six hours of graduate course work may be applied to the M.S.W. degree with the advisor's recommendation and approval of the Director of Student Affairs. Course reviews for possible transfer credit are not initiated until the student's first semester of enrollment when they can be discussed with the advisor.

Tuition and Fees: Tuition and fees are based upon rates established by the State Legislature and/or the University of Houston Board of Regents and are determined by residence status and the number of hours taken.

For 2009, a Texas resident enrolled for 15 graduate credit hours paid approximately $5,000 in tuition and fees; a student enrolled in six graduate hours paid approximately $2,900. For out of state (i.e., non-Texas resident) students, these figures are about $9,200 and $4,500 respectively. Rates for international students are the same as non-resident students. Cost of tuition and fees for nine week, or twelve-week summer sessions are the same as Fall and Spring; six-week sessions are slightly lower. Check the university's web site for the latest tuition and fee rates (http://www.uh.edu/sfs/).

Note that these are minimum figures and that other fees may apply to a specific situation (e.g. off campus fees for courses taken at an off campus location, distance education fees for taped courses).

The university reserves the right to change tuition and other charges without notice as necessitated by university or legislative action.

Also See:


Academic and Professional Behavior Policies

• M.S.W. Student Standards Policy
• Enrollment Status
• Academic Probation and Suspension
• Three "C" Rule
• Incomplete Grades
• Continuous Enrollment
• Time Limitation
• Academic Honesty
• Disciplinary Action and Termination
• Grievance Policy and Procedures