Additional Information
Child Welfare Stipend
Social Workers assume primary roles in providing intake, assessment, case planning, and ongoing services in all areas of child welfare. The child welfare stipend is designed for students interested in pursuing a career as a caseworker or supervisor in child welfare services. Since 1995 the Colorado Department of Human Services has awarded over $1,500,000 in Child Welfare Caseworker stipends to MSU Denver social work majors who have completed the child welfare courses. Students must apply through the Department of Social Work and compete for the Child Welfare Stipend program. The stipend program is an excellent way for students to gain knowledge and experience in this subspecialty and to secure an entry-level position with the Department of Human Services. Stipends in amounts ranging from $8,000-$14,000 are awarded to selected recipients. Recipients are required to complete their professional field experience in a public child welfare agency, and after graduation, they are required to work for one year as paid caseworkers in public child welfare. This work must be completed prior to starting an MSW program. Additional information about the Child Welfare Stipend program can be found on the Department of Social Work website.
Required Social Work Professional Foundation Courses for the Child Welfare Stipend
Professional Field Experience
Social Work Field Experience takes place during the fall and spring semesters of the student’s senior year. In order to integrate classroom knowledge with practice and to experience the role and requirements of a professional social worker, the student is placed in an approved social work agency for approximately 16 hours per week for 240 hours a semester (a total of 480 hours over both semesters). The student remains in the same agency for both semesters, progressing from orientation to beginning professional competence. Additional information about field experience, including eligibility, application, and securing a field site, can be found on the Department of Social Work website.
Application to the Major
Students who wish to pursue the BSSW should declare Social Work as their major with the Office of Admissions when they apply to MSU Denver. Admission to the BSSW Program is not guaranteed. To be considered for the major, students must meet the admission criteria and submit a BSSW Program application to the Department of Social Work in order to determine acceptance into the major. When applying to the BSSW Program, students should have the prerequisite liberal arts perspective courses and the introductory social work courses completed or they should be enrolled with the intent to complete them before the program begins. Students are accepted into the BSSW Program once a year. Applications are accepted during the Spring semester for a proceeding Fall start. Students will be notified of their acceptance status by email. For complete application instructions and admission process information, please visit the Department of Social Work website at www.msudenver.edu/socialwork.
Credit for Life Experience
No credit is given for learning gained through life experience and no life experience credit may be used toward the BSSW Major.
Sequencing of Courses
Prior to entering the program, students are required to take specified prerequisites in the liberal arts and social work. Upon entering the program, students are required to take courses in a specified order. This course sequencing is mandatory and ensures necessary preparation for students to successfully complete courses throughout the program. Please note: Students who fail to follow the required course sequencing may delay their graduation by a year or more. In addition, students who take courses out of order may not receive credit for those courses and may be required to retake those courses.
A Grade of “D” or “F” in a Social Work Course
Students must receive a “C-” or better in all social work courses. Students earning a grade of less than “C-” must meet with their social work advisor before the start of the next semester. Please see the Department of Social Work website for further information.
Minimum GPA
A student must maintain a 2.67 overall GPA to stay in good standing in the Social Work program. Please see the Department of Social Work website for further information.
Transfer Students
Students transferring to Metropolitan State University of Denver must first apply as a transfer student through the Office of Admissions. Once they have been accepted into MSU Denver and have had their transcripts evaluated, they will be advised regarding remaining General Studies and other prerequisite requirements that must be fulfilled. Transfer students are also expected to meet the BSSW Program’s prerequisite requirements.
Social Work Course Transfer Policy
Incoming students who have taken Social Work courses at another college or university may have the coursework reviewed to apply for Social Work credit for the courses. To be considered, coursework must have been completed at a college or university accredited by a regional accreditation body (see MSU Denver website for additional information). In addition, certain coursework must have been completed within a program accredited by the Council on Social Work Education to be considered for transfer into the BSSW Program. There is a limit to the number of courses and the types of courses that may transfer in as Social Work credit. To be considered for credit, students must provide documentation that includes the course description, course syllabus, and requirements. For a full description of the transfer requirements and of the process for consideration of credit, please see the Department of Social Work website.
Online Program Orientation
All students accepted into the BSSW Program are required to successfully complete an online Program Orientation within a specified timeframe announced at the time of admission. Students who do not successfully complete the online Program Orientation will be dropped from their core Social Work courses and must wait until the following academic year to take the orientation and to begin the BSSW program.
Advising Appointments
The Department of Social Work’s Office of Social Work Student Services provides academic advising for social work majors from application to the program through graduation. Students who are accepted to the major will be assigned a faculty advisor for professional related advising and general academic support. For more information and to schedule an advising appointment, visit www.msudenver.edu/socialwork.
Advanced Standing in Graduate School
Students who graduate with a bachelor’s degree from an accredited social work program may apply for advanced standing (where available) in Masters-level social work graduate programs. Depending upon the graduate program, advanced standing students are able to complete their MSW in an accelerated course of study. Students are urged to contact graduate programs for their policies on advanced standing.
