Advising for Social Work Minor/Certificate Students

Call (303) 556-3474 to set up Social Work advising appointments. 

The Family Support in Social Work Minor/Certificate of Completion provides knowledge and understanding of family systems theory and family life developmental models. It provides the basis for supporting traditional and non-traditional families, including case management and service coordination in a variety of service delivery areas. An approved agency field experience of 150 hours is required and may be completed in the student's work setting or as a volunteer.   

The minor/certificate of completion recognizes the completion of a selected set of courses that focus on a particular career interest in supporting families through beginning social work principles and practices.  These courses are open to other MSU Denver minors, majors and non-degree seeking students wishing to supplement their education.  In addition, an approved agency field experience is required for minors and certificate of completion students and may be completed in the student’s work setting or as a volunteer.

The minor and certificate of completion is designed for professionals and beginning professionals wishing to enter the field or to enhance their family social work support skills.  Minor and certificate of completion students are referred to as family support workers.  Social work majors are referred to as social workers.  (By Colorado law, only individuals with a bachelor or master degree in social work who pass a state examination may call themselves a social worker.)  

Family Support in Social Work Minor/Certificate

Certificate/Minor Information Packet (Acrobat Icon 137 KB)Certificate/Minor Enrollment Form (Acrobat Icon 70 KB)Minor Agreement of Completion (Acrobat Icon 69 KB)Certificate Letter of Recommendation (Acrobat Icon 70 KB)        

Required Courses 

SWK1010 Introduction to Social Work and Social Welfare Offered Fall, Spring & Summer 3
SWK1020 Introduction to Agency Experience  Offered Fall, Spring & Summer 1
SWK2100 Introduction to Family Social Work Offered Fall & Spring 3
SWK2150 Social Work: The Helping Process Offered Fall & Spring 3
SWK2160 Record Keeping Offered Fall & Spring 1
SWK3000 Applied Legal Issues in Social Work  Offered Fall, Spring & some summers 1
SWK3020 Case Management  Offered Fall & Spring 4
SWK3999 Social Work and Service Learning* Offered Spring Only 4
Choose one Area of Career Emphasis and complete the required elective(s)  Offered Spring Only 4
 

Total Required Hours 

 24

*Social Work and Service Learning is an agency field experience in an approved public or private agency.  Students must complete 150 hours of supervised field experience to complete SWK 3999 Social Work and Service Learning.

Areas of Career Emphasis

Family Preservation Career Emphasis

Family preservation philosophy and practice offers support to families in the child welfare system.  Family support workers provide in-home services for traditional and non-traditional families.  Populations that may require specialized services will be discussed, including parents with developmental disabilities and children with behavior problems.

Case Aid Child Welfare stipends through the Colorado Department of Human Services have been awarded since 2000 to current public child welfare employees who are enrolled in the Family Support in Social Work Minor/Certificate of Completion Program.  Stipends in the amount of $3,000 are awarded to select recipients who are required to complete the Family Preservation Career Emphasis.  A required work payback of one year as a paid worker in public child welfare must be completed following completion of the Family Support in Social Work Minor/Certificate of Completion Program.

Required Elective Courses:

SWK3300 Parents with Developmental Disabilities (1)
SWK3800 Family Preservation in Social Work (3)

Developmental Disabilities Services Career Emphasis

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 area of emphasis is designed for students choosing a career in the area of developmental disabilities services.

Required Elective Courses:

SWK3300 Parents with Developmental Disabilities (1)
SWK3250 Social Work and Developmental Disabilities (3)

Early Intervention Services Career Emphasis

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

Required Elective Courses:

SWK3700 Social Work and Early Intervention: Birth – Five (4)

Child and Adolescent Mental Health Career Emphasis

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

Required Elective Courses:

SWK3010 Social Work with Children and Adolescents (4)

Gender and Sexuality Career Emphasis

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:

SWK3500 Social Work with Contemporary Gender and Sexuality Issues (4)

Women's Services Career Emphasis

In today's society, there is an increasing awareness of the need for specialized 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 family support and social work strategies are evaluated from a feminist social work perspective. This career emphasis is designed for students choosing a career in the area of women's mental health and welfare services.

Required Elective Courses:

SWK3600 Social Work with Women (4)

Aging Career Emphasis

Family support 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 career emphasis is designed for students choosing a career in aging, health, mental health, home health, and long term care services.

Required Elective Courses:

SWK3030 Social Work with the Aging (4)

Relationship 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 minor credits toward the major:  SWK1010, SWK1020, SWK3000, SWK3020 and the Emphasis course(s).   The remaining 11 credits will count toward the 120 credits required of all students graduating from MSU Denver.

Certificate/Minor Enrollment Form (Acrobat Icon 70 KB)is Required for the Social Work Certificate/Minor Program

Please be aware that you will need to seek additional information (Acrobat Icon 17 KB) if you are a Certificate of Completion student who is not currently enrolled at MSU Denver.

Effective March 16, 2009:   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. 

Past students who have been in this position, and are already accepted into the minor, are not affected by this policy as long as they remain in good standing in the minor program.