Boston College School of Social Work

Introduction to the Master of Social Work (M.S.W.)

The M.S.W. Program offers students a choice of specialized practice. Students select either Clinical Social Work Practice or Macro Social Work Practice.

Clinical Social Work is the process of working with individuals, families, and groups to help them deal with intrapersonal, interpersonal, and environmental problems. The process utilizes a bio-psychosocial assessment and intervention model to increase an individual’s well-being. Each person, family, or group has a unique story to share, one that is shaped by cherished beliefs, values, and traditions, one that is connected to the larger stories of communities and nations. The complex process of helping others is, fundamentally, one of empowerment. In practicing clinical social work, the aim is to strengthen, support, and accompany clients in their healthy efforts to repair their past and build a future that honors their uniqueness and brings into reality their personal dreams. Our challenging, dynamic, and contemporary program of professional formation transforms compassion into therapeutic empathy. We integrate social work’s enduring values, theories, and skills with bold and innovative ways of helping others. This fusion of old and new creates an environment where students learn that interventions, guided by evidence-based practice, become powerfully therapeutic when imbedded in a relationship of respect and authentic concern.

Macro Social Work Practice prepares students to develop and foster social innovation by understanding the process of innovation and through skill development related to assessment, strategic planning, organizational development, financial management, and administration. Students are prepared to develop innovative solutions to solve today’s complex problems, lead organizations that foster these solutions, and mobilize strategic partners, political resources, and community resources to initiate and sustain social change.

The M.S.W. Program is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education and is designed for completion in either two full-time academic years of concurrent class and field work or in a Three-Year or Four-Year Program. All degree requirements must be fulfilled within a period of five years.

The M.S.W. curriculum is divided into four overlapping components: Foundation, Specialized Practice, Field-of-Practice, and Electives. This configuration allows students to establish a solid foundation in social work practice, choose either Clinical or Macro Social Work Practice as their area of specialized practice, and then choose a Field-of-Practice to gain advanced practice skills in a particular area. The Field-of-Practice choices are: Children, Youth, and Families; Global Practice; Health; Latinx Communities; Mental Health; and Older Adults and Families.

Foundation Courses

Seven foundation courses provide the basis for the advanced curriculum. In compliance with the Council of Social Work Education (CSWE) Accreditation Standards, the foundation curriculum includes content on Social Work competencies: professional and ethical behavior, diversity, human rights and justice, research, policy, engagement, assessment, intervention, and evaluation.

The following courses comprise the Foundation curriculum:

• SCWK7701 The Social Welfare System
• SCWK7721 Human Behavior and the Social Environment
• SCWK7723 Re-thinking Diversity: Systems of Oppression and Privilege
• SCWK7747 Research Methods in Social Work Practice
• SCWK7762 Basic Skills in Clinical Social Work
• SCWK8800 Basic Skills in Macro Practice
• SCWK9921 Field Education I

Specialized Practice Courses

Students select one of two areas of specialized practice to focus their acquisition of practice skills: Clinical Social Work or Macro Social Work. Required Clinical courses include an advanced human behavior course, SCWK7722 Psychosocial Pathology, and two methods courses that focus on clinical assessment, practice theory, and evidence-based practice interventions for a variety of problem areas and populations utilizing various treatment modalities—individual, family, and group.

The required Clinical courses are as follows:

• SCWK7722 Psychosocial Pathology
• SCWK8855 Clinical Practice with Children and Families: Assessment, Intervention, and Evidenced-Based Practice
• SCWK8856 Clinical Practice with Adults: Assessment, Intervention, and Evidenced-Based Practice
• SCWK8841 Program Evaluation
• One Advanced Policy Course (SCWK8802 Policy Issues for an Aging Society, SCWK8805 Policy Issues in Family and Children, SCWK8806 Global Policy Issues, or SCWK8817 Health and Mental Health Policy)
• SCWK9932 Field Education II—Clinical Social Work
   

Required Macro courses include an advanced human behavior course, SCWK8833 Leadership and Social Transformation, and two methods courses that focus on organizational and leadership analysis, marketing, resource development and financial management, and the development of social innovation skills necessary to implement and sustain change.

The required Macro courses are as follows:

• SCWK8833 Leadership and Social Transformation
• SCWK8886 Financial Management and Resource Development
• SCWK8889 Social Innovation
• SCWK8841 Program Evaluation
• One Advanced Policy Course (SCWK8802 Policy Issues for an Aging Society, SCWK8805 Policy Issues in Family and Children, SCWK8806 Global Policy Issues, or SCWK8817 Health and Mental Health Policy)
• SCWK9942 Field Education II—Macro Social Work

Fields-of-Practice

Students entering their final full-time year will choose a Field-of-Practice. Each Field-of-Practice consists of an advanced practice course. All Fields-of-Practice require either SCWK9933–9934 Field Education III–IV—Clinical Social Work or SCWK9943–9944 Field Education III–IV—Macro Social Work.

Children, Youth, and Families

The Children, Youth, and Families Field-of-Practice prepares students for professional practice with children, adolescents, and families seen across multiple settings. Clinical students will be proficient in practice with child and adolescent mental health intervention, including individual, group, and family modalities. Macro students will develop competence in leadership and administration, including personnel management, grant writing, and financial management within the context of community-based nonprofit organizations and public systems. Required courses include:

Clinical Social Work

• SCWK8872 Advanced Clinical Practice with Children, Youth, and Families
   

Macro Social Work

• SCWK8885 Management of Organizations Serving Children, Youth, and Families
   

Global Practice

The Global Practice Field-of-Practice prepares students to become effective international social workers. Students learn how to collaborate with local partners around issues of humanitarian aid, social development, and capacity-building. Guiding principles are human rights, global justice, and diversity. Final year field placements will be managed in partnership with international organizations. Required course includes:

Clinical Social Work and Macro Social Work

• SCWK7797 Frameworks and Tools of Global Practice
   

Health

The Health Field-of-Practice prepares students for clinical or macro practice in healthcare settings by providing specialized knowledge and skills in assessment, interventions, and health and mental health policy.

Clinical Social Work students, with knowledge of diagnostic assessment and evidence-based interventions, will focus on treatment with individuals, couples, families, and small groups that are aimed at dealing with the impact of illness on the client system in culturally diverse environments within medical/healthcare settings.

Macro Social Work students, with knowledge of financial management, leadership, and social innovation, will focus on skills in planning, designing, and funding for innovating and sustaining current programs within medical/healthcare settings. Required courses include:

Clinical Social Work

• SCWK8873 Integration of Behavioral Health and Medical Care Practice
   

Macro Social Work

• SCWK8897 Planning for Health and Mental Health Services
   

Latinx Communities

The Latinx Communities Field-of-Practice trains MSW students to work with Latinx communities in the U.S. and around the world. Our innovative program includes: culturally-centered coursework and field placements, tailored mentoring, self-advocacy training, and career development guidance.

From an asset-based approach, students will develop a nuanced understanding of the barriers Latinx populations encounter in accessing equitable education, social services, and health care, as well as a deep understanding of how to implement evidence-based interventions that address systemic inequities.

Following a cohort model, students will take core classes taught in Spanish and intern at a field placement with one of our many partners in the Greater Boston area that serve the legal, medical, behavioral health, immigration, and educational needs of the Latinx community. Required course includes:

Clinical Social Work and Macro Social Work

• SCWK8837 Social Services with Latinx Populations in the U.S.
  
  

Mental Health

The Mental Health Field-of-Practice prepares students for clinical or macro practice in mental health settings by providing specialized knowledge and skills in assessment, interventions, and health and mental health policy.

Clinical Social Work students, with knowledge of diagnostic assessment and evidenced-based interventions, will focus on family systems work in culturally diverse environments within mental health settings and select from a broad range of elective courses in various practice modalities.

Macro Social Work students, with knowledge of financial management, leadership, and social innovation, will focus on skills in planning, designing, and funding for innovating and sustaining current programs within mental health settings. Required courses include:

Clinical Social Work

• SCWK8874 Adult Psychological Trauma
   

Macro Social Work

• SCWK8897 Planning for Health and Mental Health Services
   

Older Adults and Families

The Older Adults and Families Field-of-Practice prepares social work students for an integrated macro and clinical practice approach to working with older adults, their families, and the social policies and programs that affect their lives. Coursework for the Field-of-Practice encompasses the entire range of health and mental health services from those provided to older adults as they “age in place” in their homes and communities through policy and advocacy functions of the local, state, and national aging network. Required course includes:

Clinical Social Work and Macro Social Work

• SCWK8823 Practice in Health and Mental Health Settings with Older Adults
   

Field Education

Students complete a total of 1200 hours of field education (480 hours in Field Education I and II and 720 hours in Field Education III and IV). Students participate in Field Education 2 days per week in Field Education I and II and 3 days per week in Field Education III and IV.

Electives

Students take five electives to round out their knowledge and skill-building with courses that offer advanced training in a particular area or provide new knowledge and skills in an area of interest to the student. The required Field-of-Practice advanced policy and advanced practice courses may be taken as electives by students from other Fields-of-Practice on a space-available basis. Elective courses are offered pending sufficient enrollment. The following courses may be offered as Elective options:

• SCWK7724 Neurobiology of Stress and Resilience in the Life Course
• SCWK7725 Families Impacted by Military Service
• SCWK7726 Neuroscience of Human Relationships and Development
• SCWK7727 Substance Use Disorders
• SCWK7729 Public Health Social Work
• SCWK7733 Working with Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Questioning Youth, Families, and Adults
• SCWK7735 Social Determinants of Health and Mental Health
• SCWK7777 Services to Migrants: A Border Perspective
• SCWK7780 Community Based Systems Dynamics for Understanding Complex Social Problems
• SCWK7794 Immigrants and Refugee Issues
• SCWK8808 Legal Aspects of Social Work
• SCWK8820 Trauma Informed Psychological Perspectives in Settings of Adversity: Global and Domestic Perspectives
• SCWK8822 Child and Adolescent Trauma: Clinical Assessment and Treatment
• SCWK8824 Practice in Home and Community Settings with Older Adults
• SCWK8830 Social Work and Spirituality
• SCWK8831 Dying, Grief, and Bereavement
• SCWK8836 Psychodynamic Theories of Individual Development
• SCWK8837 Social Services with Latinx Populations in the U.S.
• SCWK8838 Dismantling Organizational Bias through Evidence-Based Practice
• SCWK8840 Climate Change and Environmental Justice: Implications for Social Work
• SCWK8847 Creating the Inclusive Workplace: Concepts in Organizational Justice
• SCWK8851 Policy Analysis Research for Social Reform
• SCWK8857 Group Therapy for Children and Adolescents
• SCWK8858 Clinical Social Work Practice in Schools
• SCWK8860 Couples Therapy
• SCWK8862 Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
• SCWK8864 Group Therapy
• SCWK8865 Family Therapy
• SCWK8867 Internal Family Systems Therapy
• SCWK8868 Dialectical Behavioral Therapy
• SCWK8875 Applied Community-Based System Dynamics: Engaging Communities to Inform Practice
• SCWK8876 Solution-Focused Therapy
• SCWK8877 Narrative Therapy
• SCWK8879 Advanced Trauma Theory and Treatment Modalities
• SCWK8880 Social Work Practice in Child Welfare
• SCWK8881 School Social Work: Program Development and Educational Policies
• SCWK8884 Strategic Planning for Public and Nonprofit Organizations
• SCWK8887 Global Child Protection
• SCWK8888 Community Organizing and Political Strategies

Dual Degree Programs

The Boston College School of Social Work has instituted three dual degree programs with other graduate departments of Boston College and one dual degree program with the undergraduate Morrissey College of Arts and Sciences and the Lynch School of Education and Human Development. A description of the programs is available from the respective admission offices. Candidates must apply to, and be accepted by, each of the relevant schools independently.

Established in 1980, the M.S.W./M.B.A. Program, in cooperation with the Carroll School of Management Graduate Programs, involves three full-time years—one each in the foundation years of both schools, and the third incorporating joint class and field education.

The four-year M.S.W./J.D. Program, inaugurated in 1988 with Boston College Law School, requires a foundation year in each school followed by two years of joint class and field instruction with selected emphasis on such areas as family law and services; child welfare and advocacy; and socio-legal aspects and interventions relating to poverty, homelessness, immigration, etc.

The three-year M.S.W./M.A. (Theology and Ministry), in conjunction with the Boston College’s School of Theology and Ministry, began in 1989. Three options for completing the M.S.W./M.A. include a foundation year in each curriculum with a third year of jointly administered class and field instruction; a program of summer courses taken in STM and a two-year academic program in the SSW; or an integrated program of study with courses taken in STM and the SSW during three years of study. Areas of focus include clinical work in hospitals and prisons, organizational services/administration, and parish social ministry.

In cooperation with the Morrissey College of Arts and Sciences and the Lynch School of Education and Human Development, the Boston College School of Social Work has instituted an Accelerated B.A./M.S.W. Program that enables Psychology, Sociology, and Applied Psychology and Human Development majors to complete the Social Work foundation courses during their junior and senior years. Students receive the B.A. at the end of four years, and then apply for admission to the School of Social Work for a final year of study in the M.S.W. Program. For sophomore prerequisites and application information, undergraduates should call the School of Social Work Assistant Dean of Enrollment Management at 617-552-4025.

The School also offers an upper-division introductory course that is not applicable to the M.S.W. degree: SCWK6600 Introduction to Social Work is cross-listed with the departments of Psychology and Sociology in the Morrissey College of Arts and Sciences.