Advising for Social Work Majors
Social Work Majors Must Apply to the Program by March 1st
The Department of Social Work requires all incoming Social Work Majors to complete university advising with the Academic Advising Center and to attend a Social Work Major Advising/Information Session. Please contact the Academic Advising Center by calling 303-556-3680 or sending an email to advising@msudenver.edu. The Social Work Advising/Information Sessions are held once per month. To register for one of the next sessions please return to our Home page.
If you are a Junior or Senior student who has been accepted into the Social Work Department, please make an appointment with your assigned faculty advisor by calling 303-556-3474.
If you are seeking career advising, please make an appointment with one of our faculty by calling 303-556.3474.
If you are a Transfer Student with Sophomore, Junior, or Senior standing, please make an appointment with a Transfer Student Advisor by calling 303-556-3474.
If you have just completed advising, please complete our Advising Survey.
Advising Handouts - Note: We are updating our advising handouts. They will be updated shortly.
The following information reflects department curriculum implemented in the Fall 2011-12 academic year, and General Studies requirements implemented in the 2012-13 academic year. If you are under a previous Social Work curriculum or General Studies catalog year, please be certain to inform your department advisor.
A Career in Social Work (
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Advising Chart 2013-14 ( 153 KB)
MSU Denver General Studies and BSW Program Course Requirements
These include General Studies courses that will meet General Studies requirements of MSU Denver.
The Program requires MANDATORY Completion of all prerequisites before the Fall semester in which the student starts the program.
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General Studies Prerequisites |
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| Course | Title | Credits |
| ENG1010 | Freshman Composition: The Essay | 3 |
| ENG1020 | Freshman Composition: Research, Analysis and Documentation | 3 |
| SPE1010 | Public Speaking OR SPE1710 Interpersonal Communications | 3 |
| Math | MTH 1080, Mathematical Modes of Thought or a above | 3 |
| BIO1000 0r BIO 2310 | Human Biology OR BIO2310 Human Anatomy and Physiology (BIO 105 or BIO1080 AND BIO 1090 at a community college are the equivalent) | 3 |
| PSC 1010 | Intro to American National Government | 3 |
| ANT1310 | Intro to Cultural Anthropology | 3 |
| SOC1010 | Intro to Sociology | 3 |
| PSY1001 | Intro to Psychology (PSY101 AND PSY102 at community college are the equivalent of this course) | 3 |
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Social Work Prerequisites |
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| Course | Title | Credits |
| SWK1010 | Intro to Social Work and Social Welfare | 3 |
| SWK1020* | Intro to Agency Experience | 1 |
| SWK2010* | Quantitative Thinking | 2 |
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*SWK1020: 30 hours of Volunteer Work are required to be completed in this course. The Program Prerequisite is 60 hours of volunteer experience, which must be completed prior to entering the program in the Fall. *SWK2010: Quantitative Thinking was formerly SWK390X and will be substituted for SWK2010 on CAPP reports. If you have already taken PSY2310 or MTH1210, the department will waive SWK2010 for you. However, you will need to take an additional 2 credits of Social Work elective credits to meet the 54 credit requirement of the major. |
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TOTAL Program Required Prerequisites
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33 | |
Program Additional Requirements
These courses do not need to be completed prior to entering the Social Work Program, but are required to earn the Social Work B.S. Degree and to graduate from MSU Denver.
Visit the current Catalog to choose courses that meet these requirements.
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Course |
Credits |
|---|---|
|
History |
3 |
|
Global Diversity* |
3 |
|
Natural Science |
3 |
|
Arts and Letters 1 |
3 |
|
Arts and Letters 2 |
3 |
| Multicultural, Lower Division | 3 |
| Multicultural, Upper Division | 3 |
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TOTAL Program Additional Requirements |
21 |
*Global Diversity: Beginning with the Fall 2012 Catalog Year, this university requirement may be fulfilled by taking an approved course within one of the following categories: Arts and Humanities, Historical, Natural and Physical Science, Social and Behavioral Sciences I, or Social and Behavioral Sciences II. Thus, you may meet this requirement by fulfilling on of the other additional requirements above.
Multicultural Courses
Social work majors are required to take two multicultural classes outside the Social Work Department. Student should consider focus on one specific ethnic minority when possible (African American, Hispanic, Native American, or Asian American). One must be upper division. Students should make sure that at least one of the two multicultural courses they chose counts towards the multicultural credit for the University. Approved courses to meet the Social Work requirement are as follows:
Take one of the following lower division multicultural courses:
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Course |
|
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AAS1010 Intro to African American Studies |
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Take one of the following upper division multicultural courses: |
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Course |
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AAS3300 The Black Community |
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Course and Credit Requirements Summary
All MSU Denver degree seeking students must have 120 credits to graduate.
Most students need to take approximately 21 credits of general electives to reach this requirement. Social Work does not require a minor.
| TOTAL Program Prerequisites | 33 credits |
| TOTAL Program Additional Requirements | 21 credits |
| TOTAL General Electives | 18 credits |
| TOTAL Social Work Program Coursework | 48 credits |
|
TOTAL |
120 credits |
Social Work Program Coursework
The following courses must be completed in the correct sequence. Social Work Program course sequence ONLY begins in the Fall semester and students MUST have written acceptance from the Social Work Department to begin taking these courses.
Elective courses may be taken if you have not been accepted. However, students accepted to the program are given priority to register for social work electives.
JUNIOR YEAR Fall Semester
| SWK3050 Human Behavior and the Social Environment I | 3 credits |
| SWK3790 Research in Social Work | 3 credits |
| SWK Electives based on Area of Emphasis | 5/6 credits |
|
TOTAL |
11/12 credits |
JUNIOR YEAR Spring Semester |
|
| SWK3060 Human Behavior and the Social Environment II | 3 credits |
| SWK3780 Social Welfare Policy | 3 credits |
| SWK3410 Generalist Practice I | 4 credits |
| SWK Electives based on Area of Emphasis | 3/4 credits |
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TOTAL |
13/14 credits |
SENIOR YEAR Fall Semester |
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| SWK4010 Generalist Practice II | 4 credits |
| SWK4250 Exploring Current Social Work Issues | 3 credits |
| SWK4780 Applied Research I | 2 credits |
| SWK4790 Professional Field Experience I | 4 credits |
|
TOTAL |
13 credits |
SENIOR YEAR Spring Semester |
|
| SWK4410 Advanced Cross Cultural Issues | 4 credits |
| SWK4810 Professional Field Experience II | 4 credits |
| SWK4820 Applied Research II | 2 credits |
|
TOTAL |
10 credits |
Areas of Emphasis
Child Welfare
Social workers assume primary roles in providing intake and ongoing services in all areas of child welfare. The child welfare emphasis is designed for students choosing a career as a caseworker and/or supervisor in child welfare services.
Required Elective Courses:
SWK3100 Child Welfare and the Law 3
SWK3150 Child Maltreatment 3
SWK3200 Urban Families 3
Developmental Disabilities
Families with children and/or parents with developmental disabilities are often in need of ongoing family supports. Parents with developmental disabilities or who have children with developmental disabilities may come to the attention of social services because of a lack of ongoing supports. Family support, family-centered service planning and coordination are needed as families negotiate a complex and fragmented service delivery system. This emphasis is designed for students choosing a career in the area of developmental disabilities services.
Required Elective Courses:
SWK3000 Applied Legal Issues** 1
SWK3020 Case Management,** SWK3400 Macro Practice**, OR SWK3450 Mutual Aid Groups** 4
SWK3250 Social Work and Developmental Disabilities 3
SWK3300 Parents with Developmental Disabilities 1
** Major papers and/or assignments will reflect area of emphasis.
Early Intervention for Children: Birth - Five
This emphasis recognizes the importance of providing, safe, nurturing and stimulating environments during the early, crucial phases of child development and the key role social workers have in assisting families in achieving these goals. This emphasis is designed for students choosing a career in the area of infant stimulation, early intervention and early education services.
Required Elective Courses:
SWK3000 Applied Legal Issues** 1
SWK3020 Case Management,** SWK3400 Macro Practice**, OR SWK3450 Mutual Aid Groups** 4
SWK3700 Early Intervention for Children: Birth - Five 4
** Major papers and/or assignments will reflect area of emphasis.
Child and Adolescent Mental Health
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 emphasis is designed for students choosing a career in the area of mental health services for children and adolescents.
Required Elective Courses:
SWK3000 Applied Legal Issues** 1
SWK3020 Case Management,** SWK3400 Macro Practice**, OR SWK3450 Mutual Aid Groups** 4
SWK3010 Social Work Services for Children and Adolescents 4
** Major papers and/or assignments will reflect area of emphasis.
Gay and Lesbian
There are many challenges facing gay, lesbian, bi-sexual, transgender, questioning and inter-sex 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 emphasis is designed for students choosing a career in GLBTQI health, mental health and community services.
Required Elective Courses:
SWK3000 Applied Legal Issues** 1
SWK3020 Case Management,** SWK3400 Macro Practice**, OR SWK3450 Mutual Aid Groups** 4
SWK3500 Social Work with Contemporary Gender and Sexuality Issues 4
** Major papers and/or assignments will reflect area of emphasis.
Women
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 emphasis is designed for students choosing a career in the area of women's mental health and welfare services.
Required Elective Courses:
SWK3000 Applied Legal Issues** 1
SWK3020 Case Management,** SWK3400 Macro Practice**, OR SWK3450 Mutual Aid Groups** 4
SWK3600 Social Work with Women 4
** Major papers and/or assignments will reflect area of emphasis.
Aging
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 emphasis is designed for students choosing a career in aging, health, mental health, home health, and long term care services.
Required Elective Courses:
SWK3000 Applied Legal Issues** 1
SWK3020 Case Management,** SWK3400 Macro Practice**, OR SWK3450 Mutual Aid Groups** 4
SWK3030 Social Work w the Aging 4
** Major papers and/or assignments will reflect area of emphasis.
No Area
Students who cannot decide on an Area of Emphasis, or choose to design their own, have the option to choose a No Area of Emphasis. These students may select any upper-division Social Work electives to total at least nine credit hours.
