Social Work Department



Advising for Social Work Minor/Certificate Students
Call (303) 556-3474 to set up Social Work advising appointments.
Click here for a printable version of the Minor/Certificate Program Information Packet

The Family Support in Social Work Minor and 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. The knowledge and skills of family support workers will enable them to perform important agency roles such as case aides, paraprofessionals, service coordinators, parent educators, advocates, home visitation specialists, etc…

The minor and 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 MSCD 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

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 Only	3
SWK2150	Social Work: The Helping Process	Offered Fall Only	3
SWK2160	Record Keeping	Offered Fall Only	1
SWK3000	Applied Legal Issues in Social Work	Offered Fall, Spring & some summers	1
SWK3020	Case Management	Offered Fall Only	4
SWK3990 (A-G)*	Agency Experience II**	Offered Spring Only	4
Choose one Area of Emphasis and complete the course(s): Offered Spring Only			4
	Total Required Hours		24
Letter denotes area of emphasis. *Agency Experience II is an agency field experience in an approved public or private agency. Students must complete 135 hours of supervised field experience to complete SWK 3990 Agency Experience II.

Acceptance Into the Minor/Certificate Program

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 MSCD.

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