Social Work (Two-Year, Full-Time Option and Three-Year, Part-Time Option)
Credits: 59
CIP Code: 440701
Student Learning Outcomes
Students pursuing the Master of Social Work Degree will:
- Demonstrate Ethical and Professional Behavior.
- Advance Human Rights and Social, Racial, Economic, and Environmental Justice.
- Engage Anti-Racism, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (ADEI) in Practice.
- Engage in Practice-Informed Research and Research-Informed Practice.
- Engage in Policy Practice.
- Engage with Individuals, Families, and Groups.
- Assess Individuals, Families, and Groups.
- Intervene with Individuals, Families, and Groups.
- Evaluate Practice with Individuals, Families, and Groups.
- Engage in Clinical Practice using the Afrocentric Perspective.
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 Social Work Degree Two-Year and Three-Year Part-Time Options must complete the following Plans of Study for the respective option and fulfill all the requisite academic and practicum requirements. Full-time status requires graduate students to enroll for a minimum of nine (9) credits per semester
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Course Requirements Core Courses | ||
| CSSW 500A | Social Work Practice I | 3 |
| CSSW 500B | Social Work Practice II | 3 |
| CSSW 501A | Concurrent Practicum I | 3 |
| CSSW 501B | Concurrent Practicum II | 3 |
| CSSW 502A | Concurrent Practicum III | 3 |
| CSSW 502B | Concurrent Field Practicum IV | 3 |
| CSSW 503 | Clinical Social Work Practice and Theory | 3 |
| CSSW 504A | Clinical Social Work Practice: Child and Family | 3 |
| or CSSW 504B | Clinical Practice: Behavioral Health | |
| CSSW 505 | Social Work Practice with Diverse Populations | 3 |
| CSSW 585 | Research Methods I | 3 |
| CSSW 586 | Research Methods II: Evaluation of Practice | 3 |
| CSSW 600A | Human Behavior and the Social Environment I | 3 |
| CSSW 600B | Human Behavior & the Social Environment II | 3 |
| CSSW 611 | Psychopathology | 3 |
| CSSW 700 | Social Welfare Policy and Services | 3 |
| CSSW 709 | Differential Policy Analysis | 3 |
| CSSW 801 | Integrative Seminar | 2 |
| Electives | ||
| Select three of the following: | 9 | |
| Program and Organizational Development for Direct Social Work Practice | ||
| Brief Interventive Methods | ||
CSSW 510 | ||
| Intervention Strategies with Children and Adolescents | ||
| Helping Older Adults Thrive: Social Work Practice with Older Adults | ||
| Child Abuse & Neglect | ||
| Group Interventions & Dynamics | ||
| Community-Based Health Care | ||
| Community Health Promotion and Disease Prevention | ||
| Family Therapy | ||
| Supervision and Consultation in Direct Social Work Practice | ||
| Public Health Social Work | ||
| Research Methods III: Scientific Writing | ||
| African American Families | ||
| Addictions, Alcoholism & Substance Use Disorders | ||
| Emotional Disorder Child & Ado | ||
| Independent Study | ||
| Total Hours | 59 | |
Practice Education
Students must take practicum instruction courses concurrently with the foundation and concentration practice courses and practicum seminar. Students enrolled in a practice course must also be enrolled simultaneously in the appropriate practicum instruction and seminar course, and vice versa. Students in the Two-Year and Three-Year Program Options must complete at least 900 practicum education hours during the program (400 in the foundation year and 500 in the concentration year). Students taking the One-Year, Full-Time Advanced Standing Program Option are required to complete 400 hours during their concentration year.
The practicum placement process begins with the student completing the Application for Practicum, which is submitted to the Director of Practice Education and Practicum Activities, and discussing the practicum interests with the academic advisor. Students also must have a signed Practicum Placement Confirmation Form. Placement options and recommendations for practicum placement are consistent with students’ learning needs and interests, special personal and professional considerations, and the curriculum.
The Director of Practice Education and Practicum Activities has ultimate responsibility for approving all practicum internships. Once the completed and signed “Practicum Placement Confirmation” form is signed by both the assigned Practicum Supervisor and the Director of Practice Education and Practicum Activities, students may register for practicum education credit hours. A practicum agency must be approved by the Director of Practice Education and Practicum Activities before the student accepts a placement site.
Under no circumstances may a student begin a new practicum internship until the first day of the first academic semester in which he or she is enrolled in that internship and until the “Practicum Placement Confirmation” form is received in the Practicum Office.
Refer to the MSW Program Practicum Manual for more information on practicum placement.
Evaluation of Practicum Performance
All MSW students must earn a grade of “B” or above in all practicum courses. When a grade of “C” is earned in a practicum course, the course must be repeated. (See Master of Social Work Practicum Handbook for details regarding evaluation of practicum performance).
Study Abroad Program
All students who have completed at least one academic year at Clark Atlanta University as either a two-year full-time or a three-year part-time student, who are at the end of their second year (after completion of one year of practicum work), 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 Director 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 MSW Program Director will review and approve all course substitutions for study abroad.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| CSSW 510 | 3 | |
| CSSW 517 | Community-Based Health Care | 3 |
| CSSW 518 | Community Health Promotion and Disease Prevention | 3 |
| CSSW 522 | Public Health Social Work | 3 |
| CSSW 603 | African American Families | 3 |
| CSSW 606 | Addictions, Alcoholism & Substance Use Disorders | 3 |
Two-Year Option
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| First Semester | Hours | |
| CSSW 500A | Social Work Practice I | 3 |
| CSSW 501A | Concurrent Practicum I | 3 |
| CSSW 505 | Social Work Practice with Diverse Populations | 3 |
| CSSW 600A | Human Behavior and the Social Environment I | 3 |
| CSSW 700 | Social Welfare Policy and Services | 3 |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Second Semester | ||
| CSSW 500B | Social Work Practice II | 3 |
| CSSW 501B | Concurrent Practicum II | 3 |
| CSSW 585 | Research Methods I | 3 |
| CSSW 600B | Human Behavior & the Social Environment II | 3 |
| CSSW 709 | Differential Policy Analysis | 3 |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Second Year | ||
| First Semester | ||
| CSSW 502A | Concurrent Practicum III | 3 |
| CSSW 503 | Clinical Social Work Practice and Theory | 3 |
| CSSW 590A | Research Methods III: Scientific Writing | 3 |
| CSSW 611 | Psychopathology | 3 |
| CSSW XXX | Graduate Elective | 3 |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Second Semester | ||
| CSSW 502B | Concurrent Field Practicum IV | 3 |
| CSSW 504A or CSSW 504B |
Clinical Social Work Practice: Child and Family or Clinical Practice: Behavioral Health |
3 |
| CSSW 801 | Integrative Seminar | 2 |
| CSSW XXX | Graduate Elective | 3 |
| CSSW XXX | Graduate Elective | 3 |
| Hours | 14 | |
| Total Hours | 59 | |
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.
TWO-YEAR OPTION B (DELETE TWO-YEAR OPTION B)
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| First Semester | Hours | |
| CSSW 600A | Human Behavior and the Social Environment I | 3 |
| CSSW 700 | Social Welfare Policy and Services | 3 |
| CSSW 505 | Social Work Practice with Diverse Populations | 3 |
| Hours | 9 | |
| Second Semester | ||
| CSSW 600B | Human Behavior & the Social Environment II | 3 |
| CSSW 709 | Differential Policy Analysis | 3 |
| CSSW 585 | Research Methods I | 3 |
| Hours | 9 | |
| Third Semester | ||
| CSSW 500A | Social Work Practice I | 3 |
| CSSW 501A | Concurrent Practicum I | 3 |
| CSSW 500B | Social Work Practice II | 3 |
| CSSW 501B | Concurrent Practicum II | 3 |
| Hours | 12 | |
| Fourth Semester | ||
| CSSW 611 | Psychopathology | 3 |
| CSSW 501B | Concurrent Practicum II | 3 |
| CSSW XXX | Graduate Elective | 3 |
| Hours | 9 | |
| Third Year | ||
| First Semester | ||
| CSSW 802 | Clinical Leadership and Professional Development | 2 |
| CSSW XXX | Graduate Elective | 3 |
| CSSW XXX | Graduate Elective | 3 |
| Hours | 8 | |
| Second Semester | ||
| CSSW 502A | Concurrent Practicum III | 3 |
| CSSW 503 | Clinical Social Work Practice and Theory | 3 |
| CSSW 502B | Concurrent Field Practicum IV | 3 |
| CSSW 504A or CSSW 504B |
Clinical Social Work Practice: Child and Family or Clinical Practice: Behavioral Health |
3 |
| Hours | 12 | |
| Total Hours | 59 | |
Students are required to take three (3) electives
Two-Year Option C (Delete Two-Year Option C)
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| First Semester | Hours | |
| CSSW XXX | Graduate Elective | 3 |
| CSSW XXX | Graduate Elective | 3 |
| CSSW 505 | Social Work Practice with Diverse Populations | 3 |
| Hours | 9 | |
| Second Semester | ||
| CSSW 600A | Human Behavior and the Social Environment I | 3 |
| CSSW 700 | Social Welfare Policy and Services | 3 |
| CSSW XXX | Graduate Elective | 3 |
| Hours | 9 | |
| Third Semester | ||
| CSSW 585 | Research Methods I | 3 |
| CSSW 600B | Human Behavior & the Social Environment II | 3 |
| CSSW 709 | Differential Policy Analysis | 3 |
| Hours | 9 | |
| Fourth Semester | ||
| CSSW 500A | Social Work Practice I | 3 |
| CSSW 501A | Concurrent Practicum I | 3 |
| CSSW 500B | Social Work Practice II | 3 |
| CSSW 501B | Concurrent Practicum II | 3 |
| Hours | 12 | |
| Second Year | ||
| First Semester | ||
| CSSW 502A | Concurrent Practicum III | 3 |
| CSSW 503 | Clinical Social Work Practice and Theory | 3 |
| CSSW 611 | Psychopathology | 3 |
| CSSW 586 | Research Methods II: Evaluation of Practice | 3 |
| Hours | 12 | |
| Second Semester | ||
| CSSW 502B | Concurrent Field Practicum IV | 3 |
| CSSW 504A or CSSW 504B |
Clinical Social Work Practice: Child and Family or Clinical Practice: Behavioral Health |
3 |
| CSSW 802 | Clinical Leadership and Professional Development | 2 |
| Hours | 8 | |
| Total Hours | 59 | |
Students are required to take three (3) electives.
Three-Year Option
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| First Semester | Hours | |
| CSSW 600A | Human Behavior and the Social Environment I | 3 |
| CSSW 700 | Social Welfare Policy and Services | 3 |
| CSSW 505 | Social Work Practice with Diverse Populations | 3 |
| Hours | 9 | |
| Second Semester | ||
| CSSW 600B | Human Behavior & the Social Environment II | 3 |
| CSSW 709 | Differential Policy Analysis | 3 |
| CSSW 585 | Research Methods I | 3 |
| Hours | 9 | |
| Second Year | ||
| First Semester | ||
| CSSW 500A | Social Work Practice I | 3 |
| CSSW 501A | Concurrent Practicum I | 3 |
| CSSW 586 | Research Methods II: Evaluation of Practice | 3 |
| CSSW XXX | Graduate Elective | 3 |
| Hours | 12 | |
| Second Semester | ||
| CSSW 500B | Social Work Practice II | 3 |
| CSSW 501B | Concurrent Practicum II | 3 |
| CSSW XXX | Graduate Elective | 3 |
| Hours | 9 | |
| Third Year | ||
| First Semester | ||
| CSSW 502A | Concurrent Practicum III | 3 |
| CSSW 503 | Clinical Social Work Practice and Theory | 3 |
| CSSW 611 | Psychopathology | 3 |
| Hours | 9 | |
| Second Semester | ||
| CSSW 502B | Concurrent Field Practicum IV | 3 |
| CSSW 504A or CSSW 504B |
Clinical Social Work Practice: Child and Family or Clinical Practice: Behavioral Health |
3 |
| CSSW 801 | Integrative Seminar | 2 |
| CSSW XXX | Graduate Elective | 3 |
| Hours | 11 | |
| Total Hours | 59 | |
Students are required to take three (3) electives.