MSW Program
The mission of the Master of Social Work Program at The University of Alabama School of Social Work is to prepare advanced scholar practitioners to improve the lives of individuals and families, enhance community well-being, and advocate for policies that support systemic change.
Graduates of the MSW Program will be able to:
- Deliver evidence-based social work practice to diverse client systems including children, adolescents and their families or adults and their families.
- Advocate for vulnerable populations to include children, adolescents and their families or adults and their families.
- Engage in culturally competent advanced social work practice with children, adolescents and their families or adults and their families.
- Analyze, formulate, and influence organizational and government policies that influence children, adolescents and their families or adults and their families.
- Apply social work values and ethics to practice with children, adolescents and their families or adults and their families.
Curriculum
The MSW Program is fully accredited by the Council on Social Work Education. The curriculum follows the curriculum policy requirements of the Council on Social Work Education and provides a balanced, integrated approach that includes a professional foundation and a choice of concentrations. The professional foundation curriculum taken the first year consists of coursework in the following:
- Social work practice. This area of the curriculum is designed to provide practice knowledge and competencies in working with individuals, groups, families, communities, and organizations.
- Human behavior and the social environment. This area of the curriculum helps the student to understand the whole person and the process of growth, change, adaptation, social functioning, and dysfunction of the environmental context, including family, groups, formal organizations, and communities. Courses in this area cover prenatal stages through the process of aging.
- Social welfare policy and services. This area of the curriculum is designed to help the student identify, appraise, analyze, and understand social change in its dynamic perspectives; the role and responsibility of social work as a profession in influencing social policy; and the delivery of service to individuals and society.
- Research methods. This area of the curriculum is designed to help the student understand social work and related research and the use of research for the improvement of services to individuals, groups, organizations, and communities.
- Field education. This area of the curriculum provides opportunities for students to integrate and apply knowledge, skills, and values in social work practice context.
MSW Curriculum Themes
The MSW Program emphasizes the following five themes underpinning the foundation and the concentration year objectives:
- Life Course Perspective: Social workers understand that the growth and development of individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities are influenced by a range of psychological, social, historical, political, and economic factors. The interaction of these factors with life events and life transitions contribute to the subsequent outcomes. This theme also serves as the conceptual framework for the entire MSW curriculum.
- Valuing Diversity: Social workers value and work respectfully with people who are different from themselves.
- Critical and Reflective Thinking: Critical and reflective thinking that challenges assumptions, and that is based on evidence to arrive at creative solutions, is the basis for competent social work practice.
- Evidence-Based Practice: Social workers favor interventions with demonstrated effectiveness. They are prepared to carefully evaluate practice and program outcomes.
- Services to the Poor and Underserved: Alabama’s poor and underserved receive social services primarily from public and non-profit social service agencies. Social workers must be prepared to practice in these contexts and to challenge social injustice.
MSW Program Foundation Objectives
Foundation Year MSW students will demonstrate the ability to:
- Apply critical thinking skills within the context of professional social work practice.
- Understand the value base of the profession and its ethical standards and principles, and practice accordingly.
- Practice without discrimination and with respect, knowledge, and skills related to clients’ age, class, color, culture, disability, ethnicity, family structure, gender, marital status, national origin, race, religion, sex, and sexual orientation.
- Understand the forms and mechanisms of oppression and discrimination and apply strategies of advocacy and social change that advance social and economic justice.
- Understand and interpret the history of the social work profession and its contemporary structures and issues.
- Apply the knowledge and skills of generalist social work perspective to practice with systems of all sizes.
- Use theoretical frameworks supported by empirical evidence to understand individual development and behavior across the life span and the interactions among individuals and between individuals and families, groups, organizations, and communities.
- Analyze, formulate, and influence social policies.
- Evaluate research studies, apply research findings to practice, and evaluate their own practice interventions.
- Use communications skills differentially across client populations, colleagues, and communities.
- Use supervision and consultation appropriate to social work practice.
- Function within the structure of organizations and service delivery systems and seek necessary organizational change.
Concentration Objectives
In professional social work intervention with children, youth, and their families, or adults and their families, students will demonstrate:
- The ability to effectively apply selected models and methods of advanced social work practice, consistent with social work values and ethics, with an emphasis in public and non-profit social services.
- The ability to use reflectively the theoretical approaches and knowledge bases underlying their practice with particular attention to the life course perspective.
- The ability to evaluate their own practice.
- The ability to analyze the impact of social welfare policies on clients and practice situations.
- The ability to practice in ways that are culturally and gender appropriate with low-income persons and with those who have experienced social and economic injustice.
Admissions
In addition to the minimum Graduate School admission requirements, to be considered for regular admission an application must include:
- Three letters of recommendation
- A resume
- 5-6 pages "Statement of Purpose"
Prospective students with a GPA less than 3.0 but greater than 2.5 will be considered for Admission with Permission to Continue for part-time enrollment.
Please note no academic credit, course waivers, or credit for field practicum shall be granted for life experience or previous work experience.
See the Admission Criteria section of this catalog for more information.
Curricular Requirements
MSW Program Tracks: Two formats, campus or primarily online
Advanced Standing (42 credit hour)
- Students holding a Bachelor of Social Work degree from a CSWE accredited institution.
- Admission requires a "B" average or better in all professional foundation Social Work courses including field education, with no more than one "C" in upper level Social Work courses.
- Offered Spring and Summer terms only
Two Year (60 credit hour)
- Students who hold a bachelors degree from a regionally accredited institution.
- Students who do not meet Advanced Standing criteria must apply to 60 hour program.
- Offered Summer and Fall terms only
MSW Program Requirements: Two formats, campus or primarily online
Advanced Standing (42 credit hour)
The Advanced-Standing Program is a 42-credit-hour program for only those who hold a CSWE-accredited BSW. It can be completed in one year when pursued full-time. Advanced-standing students fulfill professional foundation requirements by successfully completing 'bridge' courses typically offered in the spring or summer before beginning the concentration year.
Two Year (60 credit hour)
The 60-credit-hour program is for those who currently do not hold a CSWE-accredited BSW. It can be completed in two years when pursued full-time. Coursework is offered in two formats, campus or primarily online.
Note: The primarily online (distant learners) format requires face-to-face skills labs (2 in-person and 2 virtual sessions) held on selected Saturdays at regionally convenient locations in AL, GA, and MS.
MSW Program Concentrations
The MSW Program offers two concentrations
- Children, Adolescence and their Families (CAF)
- Adults and their Families (AF)
REVIEW SPECIFIC COURSES Under Concentration Options
Student must select one concentration to fulfill degree requirements for this program.
Field Education Practicum Requirements
Advanced Standing (42 credit hour)
- One supervised field placement
- Field practicum is taken in the spring
- A minimum of 500 clock hours
- In a field placement Monday-Friday for 32-40 hours per week for 15 weeks
- Optional: Two variable courses in the spring and summer for 16 hours per week (varies)
- Required: SW 595
Two Year (60 credit hour)
- Two supervised field placements
- Field practicum is taken in the fall and spring
- A minimum of 500 clock hours, respectively
- In field placements Monday-Friday for 20 hours per week for 25 weeks
- Required: SW 590, SW 591, SW 595, and SW 596
The MSW Program offers additional field placement opportunities unique to the Capstone experience.
Full-Time Curriculum - campus and distance learner (spring or summer start)
| Bridge Courses | Hours |
| SW 570 | Research-Informed Practice | 3 |
| SW 577 | Human Develop & Social Systems | 3 |
| SW 578 | Social Welfare Policy | 3 |
| SW 579 | Social Work Practice * | 3 |
| Total Hours | 12 |
* course is taken with skills labs
Concentration Year
| Concentration Year - Fall | Hours |
| SW 532 or | SW Pract w/Adults Mental Hlth * | 3 |
| SW 564 | Sw Prac Child Adol Ment Hlth |
| SW 533 or | Mod/Meth Gerontologl SW Pract * | 3 |
| SW 565 | SW Prac Child Welfare Fam Serv |
| SW 525 | Evaluation Research | 3 |
| 3 |
| 3 |
| Total Hours | 15 |
* courses are taken with skills labs
- SW 532/533 both courses are taken in sequence with labs
- SW 564/565 both courses are taken in sequence with labs
| Spring | Hours |
| SW 501 | Soc Welfare Adv Pol Analysis | 3 |
| SW 595 | Field Education II-A | 9 |
| 3 |
| Total Hours | 15 |
| Social Work Electives | Hours |
| Planning & Prog Development | |
| SW Practice in Health Care | |
| Chem Depend Knowledge Interven | |
| Psychopathology | |
| Family Preservation | |
| Spirituality In SW Practice | |
| Adv Clinical Social Work Prac | |
| Social Service Prog Agency Adm | |
| Crisis Intervention | |
| |
Full-Time Curriculum - campus and distance learner (summer or fall start)
| Foundation Year - Summer | Hours |
| SW 500 | Social Welfare Policy | 3 |
| SW 510 | Human Behav Social Envir I | 3 |
| Total Hours | 6 |
| Foundation Year - Fall | Hours |
| SW 511 | Human Behav Social Envir II | 2 |
| SW 540 | SW Practice with Indiv & Famly * | 3 |
| SW 534 | Integrative Seminar I-A | 1 |
| SW 590 | Field Education I-A | 3 |
| Total Hours | 9 |
* course is taken with skills labs
Students that enter the program in the Fall semester, SW 500 and SW 510, will be added to the course load for a total of 15 hours instead of 9 hours.
| Foundation Year - Spring | Hours |
| SW 541 | SW Practice with Groups * | 3 |
| SW 542 | Practice w/Communities & Orgs * | 3 |
| SW 570 | Research-Informed Practice | 3 |
| SW 535 | Integrative Seminar I-B | 1 |
| SW 591 | Field Education I-B | 5 |
| Total Hours | 15 |
* courses are taken with skills labs
Concentration Year
| Concentration Year - Fall | Hours |
| SW 532 or | SW Pract w/Adults Mental Hlth * | 3 |
| SW 564 | Sw Prac Child Adol Ment Hlth |
| SW 533 or | Mod/Meth Gerontologl SW Pract * | 3 |
| SW 565 | SW Prac Child Welfare Fam Serv |
| 3 |
| 3 |
| SW 595 | Field Education II-A | 3 |
| Total Hours | 15 |
* courses are taken with skills labs
- SW 532/533 both courses are taken in sequence with labs
- SW 564/565 both courses are taken in sequence with labs
| Concentration Year - Spring | Hours |
| SW 525 | Evaluation Research | 3 |
| SW 501 | Soc Welfare Adv Pol Analysis | 3 |
| 3 |
| SW 596 | Field Education II-B | 6 |
| Total Hours | 15 |
| Social Work Electives | Hours |
| Planning & Prog Development | |
| SW Practice in Health Care | |
| Chem Depend Knowledge Interven | |
| Psychopathology | |
| Family Preservation | |
| Spirituality In SW Practice | |
| Adv Clinical Social Work Prac | |
| Social Service Prog Agency Adm | |
| Crisis Intervention | |
| |
Please note that courses are subject to change.
The University of Alabama School of Social Work in Tuscaloosa and The University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Public Health jointly offer an MSW/MPH coordinated degree program designed for people with career goals in community-oriented health services for families and children.
Students who are interested in this coordinated degree should separately apply to UA’s MSW Program and to the Department of Health Care Organization and Policy at The University of Alabama-Birmingham School of Public Health for admission to the MPH Program.
For UAB curriculum guides and admission requirements, please visit the University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Public Health website.
Advanced Standing MSW/MPH (spring or summer start)
| Bridge Courses | Hours |
| SW 570 | Research-Informed Practice | 3 |
| SW 577 | Human Develop & Social Systems | 3 |
| SW 578 | Social Welfare Policy | 3 |
| SW 579 | Social Work Practice * | 3 |
| Total Hours | 12 |
* course is taken with skills labs
Concentration Year
| Concentration Year - Fall | Hours |
| SW 532 or | SW Pract w/Adults Mental Hlth * | 3 |
| SW 564 | Sw Prac Child Adol Ment Hlth |
| SW 533 or | Mod/Meth Gerontologl SW Pract * | 3 |
| SW 565 | SW Prac Child Welfare Fam Serv |
| SW 501 | Soc Welfare Adv Pol Analysis | 3 |
| 3 |
| Total Hours | 12 |
| Spring | Hours |
| SW 595 | Field Education II-A | 9 |
| UAB (MPH) Core Requirements that transfer to UA | Hours |
| 3 |
| 3 |
| 3 |
| Social Work Electives | Hours |
| Planning & Prog Development | |
| SW Practice in Health Care | |
| Chem Depend Knowledge Interven | |
| Psychopathology | |
| Family Preservation | |
| Spirituality In SW Practice | |
| Adv Clinical Social Work Prac | |
| Social Service Prog Agency Adm | |
| Crisis Intervention | |
| |
60 Credit Hour MSW/MPH (summer and fall start)
| Foundation Year - Fall | Hours |
| SW 500 | Social Welfare Policy | 3 |
| SW 510 | Human Behav Social Envir I | 3 |
| SW 511 | Human Behav Social Envir II | 2 |
| SW 540 | SW Practice with Indiv & Famly * | 3 |
| SW 534 | Integrative Seminar I-A | 1 |
| SW 590 | Field Education I-A | 3 |
| Total Hours | 15 |
* course is taken with skills labs
| Foundation Year - Spring | Hours |
| SW 541 | SW Practice with Groups * | 3 |
| SW 542 | Practice w/Communities & Orgs * | 3 |
| SW 570 | Research-Informed Practice | 3 |
| SW 535 | Integrative Seminar I-B | 1 |
| SW 591 | Field Education I-B | 5 |
| Total Hours | 15 |
* courses are with skills labs
Concentration Year
| Concentration Year - Fall | Hours |
| SW 532 or | SW Pract w/Adults Mental Hlth * | 3 |
| SW 564 | Sw Prac Child Adol Ment Hlth |
| SW 533 or | Mod/Meth Gerontologl SW Pract * | 3 |
| SW 565 | SW Prac Child Welfare Fam Serv |
| SW 595 | Field Education II-A | 3 |
| Total Hours | 9 |
* courses are taken with skills labs
- SW 532/533 both courses are taken in sequence with labs
- SW 564/565 both courses are taken in sequence with labs
| Spring | Hours |
| SW 501 | Soc Welfare Adv Pol Analysis | 3 |
| SW 596 | Field Education II-B | 6 |
| Total Hours | 9 |
| UAB (MPH) Core requirements that transfer to UA | Hours |
| 3 |
| 3 |
| 3 |
| 3 |
| Social Work Electives | Hours |
| Planning & Prog Development | |
| SW Practice in Health Care | |
| Chem Depend Knowledge Interven | |
| Psychopathology | |
| Family Preservation | |
| Spirituality In SW Practice | |
| Adv Clinical Social Work Prac | |
| Social Service Prog Agency Adm | |
| Crisis Intervention | |
| |
The Master of Social Work/Juris Doctorate Degree Program is coordinated between the School of Social Work and The University of Alabama School of Law.
Before being classified as a MSW/JD coordinated degree student, applicants must be accepted in the School of Law and then the MSW program. Separate admission to each program is required. Admission requirements for the coordinated degree program are exactly the same as those currently established for the MSW Program and the JD Program separately. All prerequisites for both programs must be met.
Students in the MSW/JD Coordinated Degree Program must complete all the required MSW courses necessary for the degree; students have the option to complete their elective requirements (currently nine credit hours) in the Law School.
Advanced Standing and 2-year MSW/JD (only offered on-campus)
| Law electives approved to count towards the MSW | Hours |
| Gender And The Law | |
| Children's Rights | |
| Immigration Law | |
| Clinical Program | |
| Family Law I | |
| Administrative Law | |
| Health Care Law | |
| Civil Rights Actions | |
| Special Topics in Law | |
| Poverty Law | |
| Juvenile Justice Jurisprudence | |
| International Human Rights Law | |
| Public Interest Lawyering | |
| Spanish for Lawyers | |
| Mental Health Law | |
| Lawyers & Social Change Prctcm | |
The JD program currently requires at least 90 hours of coursework, of which six hours may be fulfilled with approved courses offered outside of the Law School. The JD is a cohort-based program completed over 3-4 years. Students in the coordinated degree program are required to complete 9 hours of MSW courses as part of the 90 hours constituting study for the JD. The following MSW courses will count towards the JD, contingent upon the student having first completed a year of the JD program. MSW courses taken before that year will not count toward the JD degree. Courses taken in an online or primary online format will not count towards the JD degree.
| MSW courses approved to count towards the JD | Hours |
| Social Welfare Policy | |
| Soc Welfare Adv Pol Analysis | |
| Social Welfare Policy | |
| SW Pract w/Adults Mental Hlth | |
| Mod/Meth Gerontologl SW Pract | |
| Sw Prac Child Adol Ment Hlth | |
| SW Prac Child Welfare Fam Serv | |
The coordinated degree program requires 114 credit hours for students admitted as MSW advanced standing 42 credit hour program and 132 credit hours for students admitted as MSW 60 credit hour program.
Required Courses for Social Work with Children, Adolescents, and Their Families
| Code and Title | Hours |
| SW 564 | Sw Prac Child Adol Ment Hlth | 3 |
| SW 565 | SW Prac Child Welfare Fam Serv | 3 |
| SW 595 | Field Education II-A | 9 |
| Total Hours | 15 |
Required Courses for Social Work with Adults, and their Families
| Code and Title | Hours |
| SW 532 | SW Pract w/Adults Mental Hlth | 3 |
| SW 533 | Mod/Meth Gerontologl SW Pract | 3 |
| Total Hours | 6 |
Transfer Credit
Applicants interested in transferring graduate credit to the MSW program from another institution or graduate program must make a formal request after admission to the program. The proposal is initiated in the Graduate School with the Request for Transfer Credit Form form. Review the master's degree transfer credit details provided by the Graduate School.
Please note the School of Social Work allows a maximum of 9 hours of transfer work for the 42 credit hour program and a maximum of 12 hours of transfer work for the 60 credit hour program upon approval by the program director.
Time Limits for Degree Completion Requirements
All requirements for a master's degree must follow the Graduate School's time limit guideline.
Academic Misconduct Information
MSW students are subject to the academic performance criteria of the Graduate School.
Withdrawals & Leave of Absence Information
A graduate student may withdraw from the University. It is the student responsibility to initiate a withdrawal online.
Discontinuation of One of the degrees
If a student enrolled in the coordinated degree program were to discontinue enrollment in the program and continue seeking only one degree (MSW or JD), the student would have to meet the full requirements of that degree.
Academic Grievances Information
The School of Social Work follows the University-wide Academic Grievance Procedures.
Scholastic Requirements
The School of Social Work follows the University-wide Scholastic Requirements.
Graduate School Deadline Information
REVIEW IMPORTANT DEADLINES
Application for Graduation Information
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Coordinated Degrees Conferred in same Commencement
Both degrees are conferred during a single commencement exercise, once all degree requirements have been met. Neither degree will be granted until both degrees are earned, except in cases in which a student formally withdraws from the coordinated degree program.
