Credits: 38
CIP Code: 440701

Student Learning Outcomes

Students pursuing the Master of Social Work Degree will:

1. Demonstrate Ethical and Professional Behavior.
2. Engage Diversity and Difference in Practice.
3. Advance Human Rights and Social, Economic, and Environmental Justice.
4. Engage in Practice-informed Research and Research-informed Practice.
5. Engage in Policy Practice.
6. Engage with Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities.
7. Assess Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations and Communities.
8. Intervene with Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations and Communities.
9. Evaluate Practice with Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations and Communities.
10. Demonstrate and apply the concepts of the Afrocentric Perspective in Practice with Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations and Communities.

The degree, Master of Social Work, is conferred by Clark Atlanta University upon those students who have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or better.

Degree Requirements

In addition to the General Degree Requirements as published in this Catalog, students pursuing the Master of Arts Degree in Social Work One-Year, Full-Time Advanced Standing Option must complete the following Plan of Study and fulfill all the requisite academic and field practicum requirements:

Full-time status requires all graduate students to enroll for a minimum of nine (9) credits per semester.

Field Education

Students must take field instruction courses concurrently with the foundation and concentration practice courses and field seminars. Students enrolled in a practice course must also be enrolled in the appropriate field instruction and seminar course simultaneously, and vice versa. Students taking the Two-Year and Three-Year Program Options must complete a minimum of 900 field education hours in the course of the program (400 for the foundation year, 500 for the concentration year). Students taking One-Year, Full-Time Advanced Standing Program Option are required to complete 400 hours during their concentration year.

The field placement process begins with the student completing the Application for Field Practicum, which is submitted to the Director of Field Practicum and Placement Activities, and discussing the field interests with the academic advisor. Students also must have a signed Field Placement Confirmation Form. Placement options and recommendations for field placement are consistent with students’ learning needs and interests, special personal and professional considerations, and the curriculum.

The Director of Field Practicum and Placement Activities has ultimate responsibility for approving all field internships. Once the completed and signed “Field Placement Confirmation” form is signed by both the assigned Field Supervisor and the Director of Field Practicum and Placement Activities, students may register for field education credit hours. A field agency must be approved by the Director of Field Practicum and Placement Activities prior to the student’s acceptance of a placement site.

Under no circumstances may a student begin a new field internship until the first day of the first academic semester in which he or she is enrolled in that internship and until the “Field Placement Confirmation” form is received in the Field Office.

Refer to the MSW Program Field Practicum Manual for more information on field placement.

Evaluation of Field Performance

All MSW students must earn a grade of “B” or above in all field courses. When the grade “C” is earned in a field course, the course must be repeated. (See Master of Social Work Field Practicum Handbook for details regarding the evaluation of field performance).

Study Abroad Program

All students who have completed at least one academic year at Clark Atlanta University as either two-year full-time or three-year part-time who are at the end of their second year (after completion of one year of fieldwork) and are in good academic standing are eligible to participate in the CAU Study Abroad Program.

Students who desire to study abroad must undergo an internal review and clearance procedures required by the Office of Study Abroad. The Director of Study Abroad is the only person on campus authorized to register a student for Study Abroad. MSW students are required to meet with their academic advisor and the MSW Program Chair to initiate the process for application through the Whitney M. Young, Jr., School of Social Work and must have final approval from the School’s Dean.

The following courses are approved as substitutions for the MSW Study Abroad Program:

One-Year, Full-Time Advanced Standing Option

Full-time status requires graduate students to enroll for a minimum of nine (9) credits per semester.

Students are required to take three (3) electives.