Students admitted to the MSW (advanced standing) program must complete 48 credit hours in one of three MSW concentrations.
- Outcome 1 Observe the profession’s ethics and value base in the practice of social work.\\n\\n
- Outcome 2 Practice within the context of striving for justice and therefore practice antidiscrimination, especially with respect to clients from historically oppressed groups (e.g., women, children, the poor, people of color, people with disabilities, the aged, gay, lesbian, and trans-gendered people, people from various ethno- cultural backgrounds, people with diverse religious beliefs, recently-arrived immigrants, and people for whom English is a second language).
- Outcome 3 Apply select advocacy and social change strategies while working for justice.
- Outcome 4 Apply the knowledge and skills of an advanced study professional perspective to practice with client systems of all sizes.
- Outcome 5 Apply select theoretical frameworks to understand human development and behaviors across the lifespan and interactions among and between individuals, families, groups, communities, organizations and institutions.
- Outcome 6 Analyze and influence social policies and their impacts.
- Outcome 7 Communicate effectively with multiple audiences, using various media.
- Outcome 8 Evaluate Practice with Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations,\\nand Communities
If the full-time applicant receives an admit from the MSW admissions committee, the student will select one of three MSW concentrations-Community Practice, Forensic Social Work Practice, or School Social work.
All MSW (advanced standing) students, regardless of concentration, must take two electives (MSW 450), MSW 501-Program Evaluation, MSW 521-Fund Development and Management, and MSW 432-Advanced Social Welfare Policy II
Course to be Waived for incoming students who qualify for the advanced standing program option, provided that they have a Bachelor's in Social Work degree:
| Course | Title | Quarter Hours |
|---|---|---|
| MSW 401 | PROFESSIONAL WRITING AND DEVELOPMENT | 4 |
| MSW 411 | HUMAN BEHAVIOR AND THE SOCIAL ENVIRONMENT I | 4 |
| MSW 412 | HUMAN BEHAVIOR AND THE SOCIAL ENVIRONMENT II | 4 |
| MSW 421 | INTRODUCTION TO SOCIAL WORK RESEARCH | 4 |
| MSW 431 | SOCIAL WELFARE POLICY I | 4 |
| MSW 481 | FOUNDATION PRACTICE I | 4 |
| MSW 482 | FOUNDATION PRACTICE II | 4 |
| MSW 483 | FOUNDATION PRACTICE III | 4 |
| MSW 491 | FOUNDATION FIELD EDUCATION I | 4 |
| MSW 492 | FOUNDATION FIELD EDUCATION II | 4 |
| MSW 493 | FOUNDATION FIELD EDUCATION III | 4 |
Required Courses for the Advanced Standing Option:
| Course | Title | Quarter Hours |
|---|---|---|
| MSW 501 | PROGRAM EVALUATION | 4 |
| MSW 521 | FUND DEVELOPMENT AND MANAGEMENT | 4 |
| MSW 432 | ADVANCED SOCIAL WELFARE POLICY II | 4 |
| Total Hours | 12 | |
Three Graduate level electives:
| Course | Title | Quarter Hours |
|---|---|---|
| 3 Graduate-level electives from MSW or allied field | 12 | |
Select one concentration:
School Social Work Concentration:
| Course | Title | Quarter Hours |
|---|---|---|
| MSW 541 | SCHOOL SOCIAL WORK POLICY AND PRACTICE I | 4 |
| MSW 542 | SCHOOL SOCIAL WORK POLICY AND PRACTICE II | 4 |
| MSW 543 | SCHOOL SOCIAL WORK POLICY AND PRACTICE III | 4 |
| MSW 551 | SCHOOL SOCIAL WORK FIELD EDUCATION I | 4 |
| MSW 552 | SCHOOL SOCIAL WORK FIELD EDUCATION II | 4 |
| MSW 553 | SCHOOL SOCIAL WORK FIELD EDUCATION III | 4 |
| Total Hours | 24 | |
Forensic Social Work Concentration:
| Course | Title | Quarter Hours |
|---|---|---|
| MSW 561 | FORENSIC SOCIAL WORK PRACTICE I | 4 |
| MSW 562 | FORENSIC SOCIAL WORK PRACTICE II | 4 |
| MSW 563 | FORENSIC SOCIAL WORK PRACTICE III | 4 |
| MSW 571 | FORENSIC FIELD I | 4 |
| MSW 572 | FORENSIC FIELD II | 4 |
| MSW 573 | FORENSIC FIELD III | 4 |
| Total Hours | 24 | |
Community Practice Concentration:
| Course | Title | Quarter Hours |
|---|---|---|
| MSW 581 | COMMUNITY PRACTICE I | 4 |
| MSW 582 | COMMUNITY PRACTICE II | 4 |
| MSW 583 | COMMUNITY PRACTICE III | 4 |
| MSW 591 | COMMUNITY FIELD EDUCATION I | 4 |
| MSW 592 | COMMUNITY FIELD EDUCATION II | 4 |
| MSW 593 | COMMUNITY FIELD EDUCATION III | 4 |
| Total Hours | 24 | |
Concentrations, tracks and specializations provide focus to the degree. In addition to any degree requirements, students are required to choose one of the following:
Student Handbook
Mission Statement
The DePaul University Master of Social Work extends the university's global Vincentian mission of service to marginalized groups, particularly those in the Chicago urban community. The program offers rigorous, personalized, and responsive education, through collaboration with university and community partners in pursuit of social and economic justice. The DePaul University Master of Social Work Program is designed to foster excellence in community-based practice with an emphasis on ethics, leadership, and scholarship. Below are terms and/or academic designations which support the admissions, academic, and matriculation components.
Probation
Students enrolled in the MSW degree program will be placed on probation when their grade point average (GPA) falls below a 2.75, or when a student receives a rating of inadequate in one or more areas of the program’s professional comportment matrix. All students placed on probation will be required to take part in a continuance review to consider their plans for remediation and (possible) continuation in the MSW degree program. Students placed on probation will not be allowed to re-enroll in the program until the student has met all of the academic and professional conditions set forth in a formal continuance hearing. Students who elect not to participate in continuance reviews will be subject to dismissal from the program. Students who are dismissed can make a formal petition for reconsideration which should be addressed to the Dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences or their representative.
Dismissal
Students who fail to acquire a professional field placement after a minimum of three attempts by the program to facilitate internship arrangements, who receive failing grades in either practice (MSW courses 481-483, and either MSW courses 561-563 or 581-583) or field education (MSW courses 491-493, and either MSW courses 571-573 or 591-593), who are dismissed from field due to poor performance, or who fail to make sufficient progress towards degree completion, who are found to be inadequate in one or more areas of the program’s professional comportment matrix, and/or who are found in violation with one or more of the National Association of Social Worker's Code of Ethics, may be dismissed from the MSW degree program upon the completion of a continuance review. Students who elect not to participate in continuance reviews will be subject to dismissal from the program. Students who are dismissed can make a formal petition for reconsideration which should be addressed to the Dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences or their representative.
Readmission
Students requesting readmission into the program after probation and/or dismissal must make their request in writing, based on criteria set forth in the University’s Graduate Student Handbook, the MSW Student Handbook, and/or the conditions set forth in the letter of termination or dismissal from the program. In order to be readmitted to the program, students must be able to secure an approved professional internship placement under the auspices of the MSW program’s Office of Field Education.
Transfer Credit
Students who are accepted for admission into the MSW degree program can request that graduate course work done in other accredited institutions (or other graduate degree programs at DePaul University) be considered for academic credit in the MSW Program. The Transfer of Credit Request Form must be completed by students and can be found in the appendix of the MSW Student Handbook. Students may not apply for transfer credit if those courses were counted toward a previous, completed degree.
Students should make their request (in writing) either at the time of admission or before the end of their first academic quarter of enrollment. Students can request transfer credits for up to twenty-four (24) quarter credit hours of academic study in the MSW degree program. Student requests must be based on completed work and must be substantiated by transcripts (indicating grades earned) and other supporting documentation, including course syllabi, graded assignments, etc. (in addition to the form). Students must have received a grade of B or better in courses being considered for transfer credit.
Students will not be granted credit for field education, practice or concentration courses in the MSW degree program (MSW 481, MSW 482, MSW 483, MSW 491, MSW 492, MSW 493 or 500-level MSW course). Students may not apply for transfer credit if those courses were counted towards a previous, completed degree. Requests submitted after the conclusion of the student's first quarter of enrollment in the MSW program may not be reviewed. Students will be notified (in writing) of the program's decision regarding their transfer request.
Undergraduate Courses
The program does not currently accept any undergraduate level courses for credit in the graduate curriculum.
Graduation Requirements
Completion of the MSW degree requires a completion of a minimum of 88 quarter hours which can be met on a full-time or part-time basis and include two (academic) year-long, professional internships. All students must maintain an overall grade point average (GPA) of at least 2.75 (on a 4.0 scale) to remain in good standing in the MSW program and the university. While the minimum, overall GPA required to graduate from the program and university is 2.75, DePaul MSW students should note that other programs in social work generally carry the 3.0 GPA as a minimum and upon graduation, DePaul University MSW students are likely to be compared to graduates from programs that have higher grade point expectations. It is the value of the MSW program to provide all students with frequent and proactive feedback regarding their performance(s) in classes and field placement(s). To that end, faculty and staff are committed to ongoing communications regarding student performance to ascertain whether there are certain trends or preventable situations which may impede student learning and professional performance.
Graduation with Distinction
The MSW degree program requires an overall GPA of at least 3.9 (on a 4.0 scale) for the designation of graduation with distinction.
Time Limits
Graduate students must complete their degree requirements within six years of the date of matriculation in the program. In rare circumstances, the Program Director may grant extensions based on student’s written requests, which must be submitted before the end of the final year of enrollment eligibility.