Mar 28, 2024  
2010-2011 Undergraduate Catalog 
    
2010-2011 Undergraduate Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Social Work Major, B.S.


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Liberal Arts Perspective Prerequisite Courses:


Social Work majors are required to take the following courses outside the Social Work Department in preparation for the major. All courses must be completed with a grade of “C” or better. Students must have completed or must indicate at the time of admission, the plan to complete these courses prior to the fall semester for which students have been accepted:

Note:


Many of the above courses will also fulfill General Studies requirements for graduation.

Foundation (Core) Curriculum:


Required Courses:


Introductory Social Work Courses:


(Required before the Fall semester in which student begins the Social Work Program)

Professional Foundation Courses:


(Required after students have been accepted into the Social Work Major.  Courses must be taken in the correct sequence.  Non-majors must have permission of the Social Work Department Chair before enrolling in these courses.)

Subtotal: 35


Areas of Career Concentration for Social Work Majors:


Social Work majors may select one area of concentration to further prepare them for their career goals. The areas of concentration relate to groups identified in the Social Work Department’s mission statement: women and children, gays and lesbians, the aging and the developmentally disabled.

All Social Work majors must complete the required introductory and professional foundation courses for the major as previously listed. To complete a career concentration, students must complete the elective credits as listed for each concentration area and must complete their senior field experience in an agency serving the concentration population. The total credits for all career concentration areas are 19, nine social work elective credits and 10 professional field experience credits as listed below. Students may complete only one concentration area.

No Area of Concentration:


Social Work majors who do not wish to select a concentration to focus their career must select a minimum of nine credit hours from any of the social work major, 3000 or upper-division elective courses listed below for the concentrations. Students who do not select a concentration should register for all courses using the number 0 as the fourth digit of the course rather than a letter A-G.

Required Course:


Total: 54

Child Welfare Concentration:


Social Workers assume primary roles in providing intake and ongoing services in all areas of child welfare. The child welfare concentration is designed for students choosing a career as a caseworker and/or supervisor in child welfare services. (Non-majors must have permission of the Social Work Department Chair before enrolling in these courses.)

Total: 54


Note:


*Must be completed in an approved county Department of Human Services B child protection unit to be eligible for the Child Welfare Stipend.  See Additional Information below.

Additional Information:


Since 1995 over $1,000,000 in Child Welfare Caseworker stipends through the Colorado Department of Human Services have been awarded to MSCD seniors who are social work majors and who have completed the child welfare career concentration courses. Stipends in amounts ranging from $8,000-$14,000 are awarded to select recipients who are required to complete their professional field experience in a public child welfare agency. A required work pay-back of one year as a paid caseworker in public child welfare must be completed following graduation as a social work major.

Developmental Disabilities Concentration:


Families with children and/or parents with developmental disabilities are often in need of ongoing family supports. Family support, family-centered service planning and coordination are needed as families negotiate a complex and fragmented service delivery system. This career concentration is designed for students choosing a career in the area of developmental disabilities services.

Early Intervention Concentration:


This concentration recognizes the importance of providing, safe, nurturing and stimulating environments during the early, crucial phases of child development from birth through five years of age and the key role social workers have in assisting families in achieving these goals. This concentration is designed for students choosing a career in the area of infant stimulation, early intervention and early education services.

Child and Adolescent Mental Health Concentration:


Social workers often support families and provide services to children and adolescents with an array of emotional and behavioral problems. Mental health policies and practices including assessment, diagnosis, intervention and evaluation of mental health services for children and their families will be presented from a social work perspective. This concentration is designed for students choosing a career in the area of mental health services for children and adolescents.

Gay and Lesbian Concentration:


There are many challenges facing gay and lesbian individuals, families and groups in today’s society. The strengths, stresses and life style choices of this population at risk and the role of social workers with individuals, families, groups, organizations and communities are the major themes of this area. The gay and lesbian career concentration is designed for students choosing a career in gay and lesbian health, mental health and community services.

Women Concentration:


In today’s society, there is an increasing awareness of the need for specialized generalist social work training and commitment to assisting women in overcoming barriers, identifying strengths and supporting goal attainment in a patriarchal society. Social policies and common issues facing women today are explored. Current social work strategies are evaluated from a feminist social work perspective. This concentration is designed for students choosing a career in the area of women’s health, mental health and welfare services.

Aging Concentration:


Social Workers provide a variety of supports and services to elderly individuals and their families. Individual needs, strengths, family supports, use of community resources and knowledge of social policies that impact this population are the major themes. This concentration is designed for students choosing a career in aging, health, mental health, home health, and long term care services.

Multicultural Requirement:


Social work majors are required to take two multicultural classes outside the Social Work Department. Both classes must focus on one specific ethnic minority (African American, Hispanic, Native American, or Asian American). One must be upper division. For a list of approved multicultural courses, please contact the Social Work Department at 303-556-3474.

Admission of Social Work Majors:


Students should declare social work as their major when they enter MSCD. To complete the major, students must apply to the Social Work Department for acceptance into the major. Students should have completed or be enrolled in the liberal arts perspective courses and the introductory social work courses when applying for the social work major. Students are accepted once a year. Applications are available February 1 and are due March 1 of each year. Students begin the required professional foundation courses in the fall semester only. Students may not begin the professional foundation courses in the spring semester.

Life Experience Credit–Social Work Major:


There is no credit given for college level learning gained through life experience that may be used toward the social work major.

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