Course Sequence

Overview

    The School requires that students complete their required Foundation classes (including practicum) prior to taking required Concentration classes (including practicum). Applicants should recognize that the graduate curriculum undergoes constant scrutiny and that the precise nature of that curriculum could change by the time that they enter the program.

    University of Oklahoma Graduate College Policy requires that masters students either: 1) complete a thesis or 2) pass the Comprehensive Exam. In social work, almost all students choose the Comprehensive Exam. For all non-thesis students, the MSW program has space for two electives. Though these electives are, formally, part of the Concentration, students may take these electives during their Foundation or Concentration coursework. 

The "Foundation" – first 30 credit hours of the MSW
Go to http://ou.edu/socialwork/graduate/programformats.htm for greater information on the different formats for the Foundation.

Foundation Objectives
At the conclusion of the Foundation, MSW students will:

1. Apply critical thinking skills within the context of professional social work practice.
2. Understand the value base of the profession and its ethical standards and principles, and practice accordingly.
3. 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.
4. Understand the forms and mechanisms of oppression and discrimination and apply strategies of advocacy and social change that advance social and economic justice.
5. Understand and interpret the history of the social work profession and its contemporary structures and issues.
6. Apply the knowledge and skills of a generalist social work perspective to practice with systems of all sizes.
7. 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.
8. Analyze, formulate, and influence social policies.
9. Evaluate research studies, apply research findings to practice, and evaluate their own practice interventions. 
10. Use communication skills differentially across client populations, colleagues, and communities. 
11. Use supervision and consultation appropriate to social work practice.
12. Function within the structure of organizations and service delivery systems and seek necessary organizational change. 
    

Foundation Courses
The courses that comprise the Foundation curriculum are:

SWK 5083     Social Work Research Methods I
SWK 5103     Generalist Practice with Individuals, Families, and Groups
SWK 5233     Human Behavior: Individuals and Families
SWK 5333     Human Diversity and Societal Oppression
SWK 5413     Social Work Practicum I
SWK 5093     Social Work Research Methods II
SWK 5113     Generalist Practice with Groups, Organizations and Communities 
SWK 5243     Human Behavior: Groups, Organizations and Communities 
SWK 5313     Social Welfare in a Changing World
SWK 5423     Social Work Practicum II

Completing the Foundation on a Full-time Basis
    At present, the Foundation may be taken on a full-time basis at the Norman campus only. Classroom courses are offered during the day on two days (at present Tuesday and Thursday). In addition to classroom courses, most students in the full-time Foundation take practicum on the days of the week during which they are not in class. Taken in this fashion, students are in practicum about 20 hours per week. As the practicum commences close to the beginning of fall classes, students in the full-time practicum should recognize that they will be required to engage in some practicum-related activities (obtaining insurance, planning, etc.) prior to the beginning of class. The School’s Practicum Coordinators provide this information.

    Students taking the full-time Foundation have the option of delaying their practicum until the summer after their first year. This is a particularly good option (and, indeed, may be required) for students whose first language is other than English. The following presents a sample curriculum sequence for students in the full-time Foundation:

Fall Semester: Foundation
SWK 5083     Social Work Research Methods I
SWK 5103     Generalist Practice with Individuals, Families, and Groups
SWK 5233     Human Behavior: Individuals and Families
SWK 5333     Human Diversity and Societal Oppression
SWK 5413     Social Work Practicum I*

Spring Semester: Foundation
SWK 5093     Social Work Research Methods II
SWK 5113     Generalist Practice with Groups, Organizations, and Communities
SWK 5243     Human Behavior: Groups, Organizations, and Communities
SWK 5313     Social Welfare in a Changing World
SWK 5423     Social Work Practicum II*

* Students in full-time Foundation have the option of taking these practica together in the summer following their first year. 

Completing the Foundation on a Part-time Basis
Students may complete the Foundation part-time in both Norman and Tulsa. The current “typical” sequencing of the courses follows.

Note: This sequence applies to both the Norman and Tulsa part-time programs (the exact sequence could change prior to an applicant’s entry into the School) Students may take electives at times other than those listed here.

Fall Semester of First Year
SWK 5333 Human Diversity and Societal Oppression (3 hours)
SWK 5233 Human Behavior: Individuals and Families (3 hours)

Spring Semester of First Year
SWK 5103 Generalist Practice with Individuals, Families, and Groups (3 hours)
SWK 5243 Human Behavior: Groups, Organizations, and Communities (3 hours) 

Summer Semester of First Year
SWK 5XXX Elective (0, 3, or 6 hours -- may delay until first semester of Concentration)

Fall Semester of Second Year
SWK 5113 Generalist Practice with Groups, Organizations and Communities (3)
SWK 5083 Social Work Research Methods I (3 hours)

Spring Semester of Second Year
SWK 5093 Social Work Research Methods II (3 hours)
SWK 5313 Social Welfare in a Changing World (3 hours)

Summer Semester of Second Year
SWK 5413 Social Work Practicum I (mid-May through mid-August) (3 hours)*
SWK 5423 Social Work Practicum II (mid-May through mid-August) (3 hours)*

* See below for options on the practicum.

*The course sequencing above shows the two Foundation practica as being taken in the summer following the second spring semester. This is the most common format for part-time Foundation students. There are two other options through which part-time Foundation students may complete the practicum. One option is for students to take the practica in the fall (5413) and spring (5423) of their second year second year. The other option is to take these same courses in fall (5413) and spring (5423) of the third year. Taking the practicum during the fall and spring opens up the second summer for electives if the student so chooses. 

In both Norman and Tulsa part-time, Foundation courses are offered through a weekend option. In Tulsa only, some of these courses are also offered on weekday nights. The format for part-time weekend courses in Tulsa is: Friday 1:00 – 5:30 and Saturday 9:00 – 5:00. Each class meets on four weekends, typically spread out over seven weeks. The format in Norman is similar, but is in the process of being finalized. As mentioned above, OU-Tulsa also offers weekday night courses. A typical a weekday night meets one night per week for approximately 3 hours through the course of the semester (about 15 meetings in all.) At OU-Tulsa, a student completing the Foundation through the part-time program may, due to enrollment limitations, need to take some courses on week nights and others on weekends. Students taking their Foundation courses on a part-time basis should recognize that the precise scheduling of courses can vary. 

A further issue to which students taking part-time Foundation classes should be alert is that assignments (both reading and actual work) can be due on the first day of class. This is particularly true for courses offered through the College of Continuing Education (CCE/Advanced Programs) in Norman. Students taking the Foundation part-time should recognize that, because most of the courses are offered in sequence, missing a single course can delay the student’s progress in their MSW program by a full year.

The "Concentration" – the final 30 hours of the MSW

Overview 
The Concentration comprises the final 30 credit hours. Students select one of two Concentrations: Direct Practice (emphasis on individuals, families, and small groups) or Administration and Community Practice (emphasis on larger groups, organizations, and communities). The Concentration work may be completed either full-time or part-time. Both Concentrations and both full-time and part-time program formats for the Concentration are available at Norman and Tulsa. Advanced Standing students advance directly to the Concentration based on their undergraduate social work degrees.

Selected Requirements and Comprehensive Exam
Students have the option of completing a Master’s thesis. Most students, however, choose not to do so. For all non-thesis students, the Concentration comprises 24 required hours – 12 hours of classroom courses plus 12 hours of practicum – and 6 hours of elective courses. (Some students may substitute a Directed Readings for an elective.) Requirements for thesis students are presented below in the “Master’s Thesis Option” section.

In the terminology of the OU Graduate College a graduate student’s final year is termed the Candidacy Year. MSW students are responsible for submitting a “candidacy form” in the semester prior to their planned semester of graduation. For students graduating in the spring, the form is due at the Graduate College by the first Monday in October. For students graduating in the summer the form is, formally, due by the first Monday in April. However, it is the case that the Graduate College requires completion of the candidacy form prior to the taking of the Comprehensive Exam. The School administers this exam in the final spring of the student’s program. Hence, even (non-thesis) students graduating in the summer must submit their candidacy form by the first Monday in October. The School’s Graduate Coordinators in Norman and in Tulsa provide guidance to students on the form. The form requires a signature by the Graduate Coordinator. 

Concentration Objectives
The objectives of the Direct Practice Concentration are:

Building on a generalist foundation, students completing the Direct Practice Concentration shall possess values, knowledge, and skills to function competently in social work direct practice roles. As evidence of successful accomplishment of the objectives of this concentration, students will be able to:

1. Apply the knowledge & skills of Advanced Direct social work practice to work with individuals, families and or groups.
2. Critically analyze & evaluate research studies relevant to advanced direct practice with individuals, families and or groups.
3. Demonstrate skills in use & understanding of quantitative & qualitative research and its application to direct social work practice knowledge.
4. Incorporate evaluations from their own social work practice to move toward a higher level of practice competence.
5. Use supervision & consultation to protect clients & to advance toward a higher degree of autonomy & proficiency.
6. Function within the structure of organizations & service delivery systems offering Advanced direct & culturally competent practice services to individuals, families & groups in the context of the values & Ethics of the profession. 

The objectives of the Administration and Community Practice Concentration are:

Building on a generalist foundation, students completing the School’s Administration and Community Practice Concentration shall possess values, knowledge, and skills to function competently in social work administrative and community practice roles. Specifically, each student shall be able to:

1. Apply advanced knowledge and skills relevant to administration and community practice.
2. Evaluate and critically analyze research studies relevant to administration and community practice and demonstrate skills in quantitative and qualitative research design, data, analysis, and knowledge dissemination.
3. Conduct evaluations of their own practice interventions and those of other systems.
4. Use supervision and consultation relevant to administration and community practice.
5. Function as administrators and/or community practitioners within the structure of organizations and service-delivery systems and when indicated, seek necessary organizational change. 

Concentration Courses:
Direct Practice Required Courses:

SWK 5503     Advanced Direct Practice with Populations at Risk (3 hours)
SWK 5613     Advanced Group Work (3 hours) 
SWK 5623     Advanced Social Work Practice with Families (3 hours)
SWK 5973     Advanced Integrative Seminar for Direct Social Work Practice (3 hours)
SWK 5820     Practicum III (12 hours)

Administration and Community Practice Required Courses:
SWK 5553     Administration in Social Work (3 hours)
SWK 5763     Community Analysis and Organization (3 hours)
SWK 5633     Program Planning and Implementation (3 hours)
SWK 5983     Social Service Monitoring and Evaluation (3 hours)
SWK 5820     Practicum III (Block) (12 hours)

In both Concentrations, the required courses sum to 24 hours. Non-thesis students take 6 hours of electives to bring the total for the Concentration to 30 hours. Thesis students take 2—6 hours of thesis credits and additional elective hours (if any) to bring the total to 30 hours. For ACP students taking the thesis option, SWK 5983 is not required (see Masters Thesis Option section).

Typical Full-time Concentration Format for Non-thesis students

Full-time Direct Practice Concentration Format 

Summer Semester
SWK 5XXX     Elective (summer elective is optional; may take one or both electives in fall)

Fall Semester
SWK 5503     Advanced Direct Practice with Populations at Risk(3 hours)
SWK 5613     Advanced Group Work (3 hours) 
SWK 5623     Advanced Social Work Practice with Families (3 hours)
SWK 5XXX     Elective (fall elective is optional; may take one or both electives in summer)

Spring Semester
SWK 5820     Practicum III (12 hours: *see note below)
SWK 5973     Advanced Integrative Seminar for Direct Social Work Practice (3 hours)

Full-time Administration and Community Practice Concentration Format 

Summer Semester
SWK 5XXX     Elective (summer elective is optional; may take one or both electives in fall)

Fall Semester
SWK 5553     Administration in Social Work (3 hours)
SWK 5763     Community Analysis and Organization (3 hours)
SWK 5633     Program Planning and Implementation (3 hours)
SWK 5XXX     Elective (fall elective is optional; may take one or both electives in summer)

Spring Semester
SWK 5820     Practicum III (“Block”) (12 hours: *see note below)
SWK 5983     Social Service Monitoring and Evaluation (3 hours) 

*Note on Concentration Practicum: When taken as a “block” practicum in the spring (the most common format for the Concentration practicum), the practicum comprises about 36 hours per week. The practicum may also be taken approximately 18-20 hours per week beginning in the spring and extending through the summer. Taken in this format, students earn six credits in each semester. The total hours spent in the practicum setting are the same whether it is taken in the block format or in the format that extends through the summer.

Go to http://ou.edu/socialwork/graduate/programformats.htm for greater information on the different formats for the Concentration.

Typical Part-time Concentration Format for Non-thesis students
Just as is the case for the Foundation, students may complete the Concentration on a part-time basis. Taken in this fashion, the Concentration takes about two years to complete. The following presents a typical part-time format that is applicable to both Direct Practice and to Administration and Community Practice.

Part-time Concentration Format for both DP and ACP students
First Year
    Summer
        Elective if desired and available
    Fall 
        One (or possibly two) required Concentration Course(s) (may not be           Concentration seminar)
        Elective if desired and available
    Spring
        Elective(s) as desired and available
Second Year
    Summer 
        Elective(s) as desired and available
    Fall 
        Remaining required Concentration courses (other than seminar)
    Spring
        Concentration “Seminar” (DP = 5973; ACP = 5983) 
        Concentration Practicum (36 hours per week, 6 credit hours) * 
        Concentration Practicum (18-20 hours per week; 6 credit hours) * 

*Note on Concentration practicum: The just-presented format for part-time Concentration students shows the practicum extending over two semesters (2nd spring, and 3rd summer). Part-time Concentration students may elect to take their practicum as a 36 hour per week practicum in their second spring. Doing so, would, in essence, make their 2nd spring a full-time semester (see the full-time Concentration formats above). 

Master’s Thesis Option 
The candidacy year schedule for thesis-option students differs slightly from those just presented for non-thesis students. Thesis-option students must earn from two to six hours of credit in SWK 5980, Research for Master’s Thesis. The number of elective courses taken will vary according to the number of hours of SWK 5980 that a student takes. Students taking six hours of credit in SWK 5980 typically sign up for three hours of 5980 in the fall and three more in the spring .Students taking, for instance, three credits in 5980 typically sign up for thesis hours in the spring semester. 

MSW students have the option of completing a master’s thesis. A master’s thesis is the product of individual research. It must represent an original contribution to the academic field of knowledge and must represent original research by the student. Students who complete a master’s thesis are not required to take the Comprehensive Exam. Important information on the thesis option includes:

• A student in a thesis track program must work with the graduate coordinator to select both a thesis topic and a thesis committee.
• The thesis topic and committee must be chosen no later than the semester in which the student is required to submit the Admission to Candidacy form, or following the procedures established by the academic unit, if earlier. For almost all social work students the required semester is the Fall semester prior to (Spring) graduation.
• The thesis committee must consist of a major professor and at least two other members of the graduate faculty. The graduate dean must approve the committee members. 
• Thesis option students must apply from 2-6 hours to their MSW degree. 
  

For additional information on the thesis option, contact the School of Social Work Graduate Program Coordinator (Dr. Antony Natatle in Norman, (405) 325-1408; anatale@ou.edu or Dr. Julie Miller-Cribbs in Tulsa (918) 660-3378; jmcribbs@ou.edu). 

The exact requirements for thesis students differ for students in the two concentrations. In particular, students selecting ACP are not required to take the Concentration seminar (5983). Thus, the Concentration requirements for these students consist of 21 credits of required coursework -- the three required courses offered in the fall (9 credits) plus practicum (12 credits.) Two to six thesis credits plus elective credits bring the total of Concentration credits up to 30. 

Direct Practice students who choose the thesis option are required to take the Concentration seminar (5973). Hence, their Concentration work consists of 24 credits of required course work, 12 credits for required classroom courses and 12 credits for practicum. Two to six thesis credits plus elective credits bring the total of Concentration credits to 30.

Students in the 60 hour MSW program who want to do a thesis may want to begin the thesis process prior to beginning their Concentration work.