The Policy & Political Social Work pathway prepares students to use the political system to create social change. Students learn theories and principles behind socially just policies, develop methods and skills to analyze policy, and study how politics impact the lives of those that they serve, on both a micro and macro level. They advocate on behalf of people from underserved, underrepresented and marginalized groups, addressing policies that impact communities and empower others to become politically engaged to further social justice. Students will develop the skills to run and hold public office.
“Social workers bring important perspectives to elected office. We center justice and equity in our policymaking, having seen firsthand how laws impact vulnerable communities.”
Careers
Political social workers are employed by nonprofit organizations and government agencies to enact large-scale social change. Political social workers are also elected officials. Political social workers accomplish social change through legislation, education and other interventions.
Potential careers include:
- Elected Official
- Campaign Manager
- Legislative Aide
- Constituent Services Specialist
- Lobbyist
- Civil Servant
- Policy Analyst
- Government Relations Specialist
Field Experience
In the MSW program, some of the most important learning occurs outside of the classroom. Field placement is a supervised internship at an organization that provides the hands-on, real-world training portion of the curriculum. Field placements might include:
Field placements might include:
- Political Offices
- Professional Associations
- Advocacy Groups
- Legal Offices
- Government Agencies
- Community Organizations
Program Details
Course Requirements
Policy & Political Social Work Pathway Course Requirements
Essentials
- SW505 : Engaging Social Justice, Diversity, and Oppression in Social Work, 3 credits
- SW506 : Essentials of Interpersonal Practice, 4 credits
- SW507 : Research Basics for Social Work Practice, 1 credits
- SW508 : Essentials of Social Welfare Policy, 3 credits
- SW509 : Essentials of Community and Organizational Practice, 3 credits
- SW590 : Introduction to Social Work Practice, 1 credits
- SW649 : Practicing Policy with Current Events, 1 credits
- SW678 : Program Evaluation and Applied Research, 3 credits
- SW699 : Social Work Capstone, 1 credits
Pathway Requirement
- SW638 : Theories and Principles of Socially Just Policies, 3 credits
- SW639 : Methods for Socially Just Policy Analysis, 3 credits
- SW640 : Political Social Work, 3 credits
Please see course planning worksheets for a full list of courses associated with this pathway.
Competencies
Competencies for Policy & Political Social Work
University of Michigan's School of Social Work (U-M SSW) is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation (COA), of the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE). Accreditation is a system of recognizing educational programs as having a level of performance and quality that gain them the confidence of the educational community and the public. You can read more about the Educational Policy and Accreditation Standards here.
At U-M SSW, each pathway has specialized competencies that describe the knowledge, values, skills, and cognitive and affective processes that comprise the competency in each pathway area.
1. Demonstrate Ethical and Professional Behavior
Social workers demonstrate the ability to apply ethical social work principles and critical thinking to products and work produced. Social workers understand the role of emotional intelligence and professional resilience in professional and ethical practice. Social workers understand the role of other professionals when engaged in interprofessional teams within their areas of specialization. Social workers recognize the importance of life-long learning and ways that supervision and consultation can support continued development.
Practice Behaviors:
- Utilize supervision and consultation to guide professional decision-making
- Demonstrate emotional intelligence in practice and professional situations
- Utilize effective communication strategies appropriate to context
2. Advance Human Rights and Social, Racial, Economic, and Environmental Justice
Social workers understand the role of policy in advancing and restricting fundamental human rights such as freedom, safety, privacy, an adequate standard of living, health care, and education. Social workers understand the global interconnections of oppression and human rights violations, and are knowledgeable about theories of human need and social justice and strategies to promote social, racial, economic and environmental justice and human rights through engagement in policy and political work. Social workers understand how engagement in policy advocacy can support strategies aimed at eliminating oppressive structural barriers to ensure that social goods, rights, and responsibilities are distributed equitably and that civil, political, environmental, economic, social, racial and cultural human rights are protected.
Practice Behaviors:
- Apply skills for understanding social, racial, economic, and environmental justice to advocate for human rights at the individual, community, and policy levels
- Engage in practices that advance social, racial, economic, and environmental justice
3. Engage Anti-Racism, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (ADEI) in Practice
Social workers understand the role of policy and politics in promoting anti-racist, diverse, equitable and inclusive society. Students in this specialization will learn to assess policies for their impact on marginalized populations and advance policies that ensure equitable access to resources, opportunities, and services. Social workers also learn skills to promote the political engagement of those that they work with and serve to strengthen community voice in decision-making processes.
Practice Behaviors:
- Develop skills for identifying potential intended and unintended consequences of policies on various populations, including marginalized groups
- Develop skills to engage various populations and communities in political and decision-making processes
4. Engage in Practice-informed Research and Research-informed Practice
Social workers understand the importance of utilizing research to guide their practice and the value of engaging in research through contributing their practice experience. Social workers explore theoretical frameworks that inform policy development, policy advocacy, policy analysis, and political engagement to inform their practice as well as effectively consume relevant research. Through this specialization, students will develop competence in both qualitative and quantitative research methods necessary to engage in professional practice.
Practice Behaviors:
- Use and translate research to inform practice
- Apply critical thinking to policy analysis and political engagement
- Use, translate, and critique political and economic frameworks when developing and analyzing policy and engaging in the political process
5. Engage in Policy Practice
Social workers understand how to analyze, formulate, and advocate for policies that advance human rights and social, economic, and/or environmental justice through the application of critical thinking skills. Social workers are able to identify how current events are linked to policy issues, how to critically analyze and understand policy implications, and apply strategies to engage in policy practice that effect change and advocate for clients.
Practice Behaviors:
- Identify how current events are linked to policy issues impacting clients and client systems
- Analyze the implications of policy across service systems
- Identify strategies to engage with policy to advocate for clients and client systems
6. Engage with Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities
Social workers understand how social workers as practitioners in policy and political settings engage with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities. Social workers are knowledgeable about the role of intersectional identity and diversity among constituent groups and the impact of this diversity in political organizing as well as the development and implementation of social policy.
Practice Behaviors:
- Develop strategies for effective engagement across diverse groups and settings
- Apply knowledge about intersectional identity and diversity to policy analysis and development and political engagement
7. Assess Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities
Social workers understand how social workers as practitioners in policy and political settings assess individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities in ways that are socially just and anti-oppressive. Social workers understand how to locate, identify, and apply relevant research, theories, and policies to inform their practice. Social workers are knowledgeable about the role of intersectional identity and diversity among constituent groups, and the impact of this diversity in political organizing as well as the development and implementation of social policy.
Practice Behaviors:
- Develop skills for using and interpreting assessment and research to develop policy and political strategies that reflect the goals of individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities
8. Intervene with Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities
Social workers understand how social workers as practitioners in policy and political settings intervene with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities. Social workers understand how to locate, identify, and apply relevant research, theories, and policies to inform their practice. Social workers are knowledgeable about the role of intersectional identity and diversity among constituent groups, and the impact of this diversity in political organizing as well as the development and implementation of social policy.
Practice Behaviors:
- Develop skills to formulate policy and political strategies that reflect the goals of individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities
9. Evaluate Practice with Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities
Social workers understand how social workers as practitioners in policy and political settings evaluate practice with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities. Social workers understand how to locate, identify, and apply relevant research, theories, and policies to inform their practice. Social workers are knowledgeable about the role of intersectional identity and diversity among constituent groups, and the impact of this diversity in political organizing as well as the development and implementation of social policy.
Practice Behaviors:
- Develop skills to evaluate policy and political strategies so that they reflect the goals of individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities
- Critically analyze, monitor, and evaluate policies and political strategies to improve practice
Learn More About Social Work
Student Profiles
Emily Hopkins
Emily Hopkins is a second-year master’s Social Policy and Political Social Work student with a focus on Children and Youth in Families. Originally from Albuquerque, NM, Emily received her Bachelor’s degree in Child Development from Texas Christian University in 2018. Emily chose to attend Michigan’s School of Social Work because she thought it would be challenging and help her grow both personally and professionally. She is passionate about serving others and giving voice to vulnerable populations, specifically children within the child welfare system. When not studying, Emily can usually be found putting the ‘social’ in social work, baking desserts for friends, or boxing. At Michigan, Emily discovered her passion for policy and political social work. Throughout her time in the program, Emily has had multiple opportunities to further develop her passions and career interests such as: attending Student Advocacy Day on the Hill in Washington D.C. and lobbying to Michigan Representatives; conducting research for a State Representative to support a proposed bill; working on a local political campaign as a Campaign Researcher and Communications Coordinator. After graduation, Emily hopes to work as a Legislative Aide for a few years before going to Law School. In the future, Emily hopes to become a Judge or a Prosecutor.
Sarah Leder
Sarah Leder is a Presidential Management Fellow Finalist (PMF) and is currently applying to various federal agencies. She earned her Master of Social Work from the University of Michigan in December 2019. During her time in the MSW program, Sarah focused on policy and politics, earning a Certificate in Political Social Work. She interned with two different organizations. First, she worked with the Michigan State Appellate Defender Office’s Juvenile Lifer Unit. There, Sarah created Comprehensive Reentry Plans for clients who were receiving a new sentence. Additionally, she conducted mitigation and casework for individual clients. Her second field placement was with The Justice Policy Institute (JPI) in Washington, D.C. Working as a Research and Policy Graduate Intern, Sarah contributed to reports (e.g. An Analysis of Youth in the Adult System Charged with Violent Crimes) and attended community-based meetings with Baltimore-area organizations and in Maryland prisons. Sarah believes her time working in the federal government will further her ability to advocate with and for incarcerated individuals and promote criminal justice reform in the US.
