Practice Area Concentrations
All students in the School are required to complete a dual concentration in a practice method and practice area. A student's choice of the two concentrations determines which advanced courses are requirements for graduation. The practice method concentration focuses on theories and interventions related to practice with individuals, families, groups, organizations, communities, and/or society. The practice area concentration focuses on selected contexts and domains of practice, with particular attention given to specific policies, procedures, and practices.
Students complete nine credit hours of coursework in their practice area concentration. Students complete six credit hours in their practice method concentration. In addition, all students are required to complete Evaluation in Social Work (SW 683).
Choosing a Practice Area Concentration
All students must select a practice area concentration from one of the practice areas: aging in families and society, children and youth in families and society, community and social systems, health, and mental health. Students complete nine credit hours of coursework in their practice area concentration. In the practice area concentration courses and in the field placement, the curriculum provides a more intensive focus on issues of privilege, oppression, diversity, and social justice.
Aging in Families and Society
This practice area prepares students to work in settings that serve older people and their families, including hospitals and outpatient clinics, senior centers, nursing homes, and planning and advocacy settings and organizations. Practicing in this field involves working with individuals, families, groups, and communities on issues such as caregiving, retirement, coping with aging, social isolation and depression, substance abuse, death, and/or bereavement.
Students concentrating in aging in families and society are required to complete the following courses, each worth three credit-hours:
- SW 616 - Adulthood and Aging
- SW 644 - Policies and Services for the Elderly
- SW 694 - Social Work with the Elderly
Children and Youth in Families and Society
This practice area prepares students to work in settings that serve children and adolescents and their families, including schools, recreational programs, family service agencies, juvenile justice systems, neighborhood organizations, prenatal clinics, and/or family planning programs. Practicing in this field involves working with individuals, families, and groups and communities to provide education and interventions for prenatal care, infant and child development, adoption, foster care and family preservation services, child abuse and neglect, violence, substance abuse, family support, teen pregnancy, and/or youth employment.
Students concentrating in children and youth in families and society are required to complete the following courses, each worth three credit-hours:
- SW 633 - Children and Youth Services and Social Policies
- SW 696 - Social Work Practice with Children and Youth
Additionally, students concentrating in children and youth in families and society are required to complete one of the follwing courses, each worth three credit-hours:
Community and Social Systems
This practice area prepares students to work in settings that include grassroots, neighborhood, and faith-based organizations; federal and state legislative and political bodies and offices; local and international community development operations; and educational and socialization organizations. Practicing in this field involves working with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities to influence laws, legislation, and policies.
Students concentrating in community and social systems are required to complete the following courses, each worth three credit-hours:
- SW 647 - Policies and Services for Social Participation and Community Well-Being
- SW 697 - Social Work Practice with Community and Social Systems
Additionally, students concentrating in community and social systems are required to complete one of the following courses, each worth three credit-hours:
Health
This practice area prepares students to work in health care systems and settings, including public health and health promotion programs, primary care and long-term care settings, hospitals, health-related governmental agencies, community-based health services, and health advocacy groups. Practicing in this field involves working with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities on issues such as health promotion and disease prevention, health promotion in the workplace, health education, treatment and rehabilitation, building community partners and social support, and/or health reform promotion.
Students concentrating in health are required to complete the following courses, each worth three credit-hours:
- SW 613 - Behavioral, Psychosocial, and Ecological Aspects of Health and Disease
- SW 634 - Health Care Policies and Services
- SW 699 - Social Work Practice in Health Promotion and Disease Prevention
Mental Health
This practice area prepares students to work in settings such as inpatient psychiatric settings, residential facilities, and community mental health and psychosocial rehabilitation programs. Practicing in mental health settings involves working with individuals, families, groups, and communities on issues related to the prevention and treatment of mental disorders, rehabilitation of individuals with severe and persistent mental disorders, substance abuse, and/or victims and perpetrators of violence.
Students concentrating in mental health are required to complete the following courses, each worth three credit-hours:
Additionally, students concentrating in mental health are required to complete one of the following courses, each worth three credit-hours: