Social Work Departmental Policies and Procedures
Changing from the Social Work Minor or Certificate to the Social Work Major
Family Support in Social Work Minors and Certificate of Completion students who wish to continue into the social work major may count 13 of the 24 required credits courses toward the major: SWK 1010, SWK 1020, SWK 3000, SWK 3020, and the concentration course(s). The remaining 11 credits would count toward the 120 credits required of all students graduating from MSU Denver.
Changing from the Social Work Major to the Family Support in Social Work Minor
Social Work majors who are not successful in the major for reasons such as, but not limited to: failing out of the program, being fired from a field placement, being denied from the program, or being counseled out of the program, etc, will no longer be accepted into the Social Work Minor/Certificate Program.
Credit for Life Experience
There is no credit given for college level learning gained through life experience that may be used toward the social work minor.
A Grade of “D” or “F” in a Social Work Course
A student receiving a grade of “D” or “F” must see their social work advisor immediately to discuss their plan for improving their grade. Students must receive a C or better in all social work courses. Students are allowed to repeat a social work course once. Students who fail to obtain a C or better after two attempts will automatically be terminated from the Social Work Department.
Departmental Student Listserv
At time of enrollment into the Social Work Minor/Certificate of Completion students are added to the student listserv with their ConnectU MSU Denver email account. It is your responsibility to ask for assistance if you notice you are not receiving these emails and to contact the MSU Denver helpdesk if you are having technical problems accessing your email.
Criminal Background
A student who has a criminal record should be aware that he/she may not be able to obtain a field placement.
ConnectU
ConnectU email is the official means of communication at MSU Denver and within the Social Work Department. Students are responsible for the information sent to their MSU Denver email account.
Computer Technology Requirements
Social Work Department website: mscd.edu/socialwork
The Social Work Department values computer technology for the enhancement and delivery of its courses. This will require student ability to utilize computer-mediated courses, databases, assignments, and interaction with peers and instructors.
Therefore,
1. As a student at Metropolitan State University of Denver, you will have an opportunity to explore the use of information technology in our ever-changing world. Each student has a free email account with the college. Social Work students are required to activate their MSU Denver email accounts and provide the email address to the student list serve at the time of application into the certificate minor.
2. Distance education course opportunities are available. The social work department has developed courses for delivery online and/or videobroadcast. Please contact the department for more specific details regarding course availability and structure. Distance education courses require a different set of skills and role demands for the learner. Students in online courses become seekers of knowledge, not just receptacles. The “luxury” of lectures is replaced with the student’s own effort to make logical connections, interpret facts, devise arguments, and synthesize knowledge. Distance education learners will write more often, which can be more challenging than oral discussion. In addition, students will need organization, time management, and intrinsic motivation to progress through courses.
Department of Social Work Standards of Professional and Ethical Behavior
The Department of Social Work at the Metropolitan State University of Denver is mandated by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) to foster and evaluate professional behavioral development for all students in the social work program. The Department of Social Work also bears a responsibility to the community at large to produce fully trained professional social workers who consciously exhibit the competencies, values, and skills of the profession of social work. The values of the profession are codified in the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) Code of Ethics and the Council on Social Work Education has ten core educational competencies that social workers must master. Given this context, the Social work Department has identified behaviors for the social work student to exhibit in the classroom, the online classroom, field placement, in the Social Work office, through email/phone conversations, and any other interaction in a professional/academic setting. This document does not include the complete NASW Code of Ethics or the CSWE Educational Policies, however it highlights particular ethics and competencies to serve as a framework of professional and ethical behaviors to abide by while a social work student at MSU Denver. Other aspects of the NASW Code of Ethics or the CSWE Educational Policies are evaluated academically throughout the program’s curriculum. All students in any social work course will adhere to the Social Work Standards of Professional and Ethical Behavior as indicated in each course syllabi. Visit www.mscd.edu/socialwork for a full version of the document.
Attendance Policy Values Statement
The Metropolitan State University of Denver’s (MSU Denver’s) Social Work Department adheres to the Council on Social Work Education’s (CSWE) Educational Policy and Accreditation Standards. In abiding by the standards of the national governing body, CSWE, the MSU Denver Social Work Department provides students and the surrounding communities a measure of confidence regarding competent, well-prepared professional social workers at the undergraduate level.
In addition to presentation of course content such as concepts and theories, social work education provides socialization into the profession-the development of an identity as a social work professional. Therefore, classroom sessions meet several learning objectives through the use of lecture, text review, guest speakers, interactive exercises, and student discussion. In order to ensure optimal development of professional identity, classroom attendance is vital. There is no substitute for transactions in the classroom among peers. Discussion includes the negotiation and consensus of terms (i.e., the language of the profession), values, provision of new insights and interpretations, and enhancement of both verbal and non-verbal communication skills. Most importantly, students learn from colleagues; absenteeism creates the void of missing voices.
While there are other opportunities for socialization into the profession (Student Association of Social Workers membership and involvement, participation in the department list serve, faculty advising), the most consistent occasion resides in the interaction among students in the classroom with the instructor serving as facilitator.
All students in any social work course will adhere to the Social Work Standards of Professional and Ethical Behavior as indicated in each course syllabi. Visit mscd.edu/socialwork for a full version of the document.
Social Work Department Late Paper Policy
Papers/assignments should be turned in at the beginning of the class session for which they are due. Late papers will lose one grade (i.e., an “A” paper can only earn a “B,” a “B” paper will earn a “C,” etc.). Students are responsible for letting the instructor know if papers will be late. Papers that are more than one week late will not be accepted, unless a revised due date was previously negotiated with the instructor. Documented emergencies are exceptions to this policy. If there is a late paper policy on your syllabus, that policy takes precedence over this statement.
Social Work APA Policy
All written communication in the classroom environment (online and on campus) will be in American Psychological Association (APA). Students must follow course syllabus for information on which APA edition format to employ.
Advising Appointments
Call (303) 556-3474 to set up Social Work advising appointments:
• If you are interested in the certificate of completion or thinking about doing social work as your minor, please make an appointment to see the certificate minor coordinator for advising.
• If you are seeking career advising, please make an appointment with any of the faculty members.
