Program at a Glance
The University of Montana’s School of Social Work offers a two-year program of graduate study leading to a Master of Social Work (MSW) degree. The program is designed to meet national accreditation standards issued by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) for MSW programs.
The program implements an intensive two-day course schedule to accommodate the needs of students across the state who prefer to:
1) Maintain their current residence and career;
2) Minimize travel and lodging expenses required of a full-time Missoula resident; and
3) Avoid family disruption caused by relocating to Missoula.
The MSW program is designed as an integrated model of direct social work practice by offering a broad-based or 'generalist' focus during its first year and specific emphasis areas (e.g., Interpersonal practice, Community and Organizational Practice, Social and Political Change) in the second. The applied focus will prepare students to utilize a range of interventions, assume a variety of practice roles, and work within a variety of organizational or practice settings.
Students complete elective courses from within and outside the school that complement the emphasis and their practicum experience. Consequently, student emphases and course offerings can range from such emphasis areas as:
- Interpersonal practice The interpersonal practice emphasis encourages you to further develop your counseling and interpersonal skills allowing for possible employment in residential or outpatient settings, or in dispute resolution and mediation centers. Although the skills are typically categorized as “clinical”, they are ones that are also typically used in the areas of administration, supervision and community organizing. The following elective courses are available in the school of social work (e.g., SW 423 Addiction Studies (spring/summer), SW 495 Rural Mental Health (fall), SW 495 Grief and Loss (summer), SW 595 Psychological Assessment (spring), SW 595 Advanced Clinical Interventions (fall), SW 595 Marital & Family Therapy (spring)). Extra departmental courses can also be taken in the psychology and counseling departments.
- Community and Organizational Practice The community and organizational practice emphasis is tailored for those students who are interested in pursuing careers that emphasize program planning and development, organizational administration and management, and community organizing and leadership. Possible elective courses might be considered in social work, (SW 495 Rural Mental Health (fall), SW 594 Assessing the Food System (fall)), sociology, political science, and environmental studies.
- Social and Political Change The social and political change emphasis focuses on creating systemic change at the state, national and international by formulating social policies that consider the political, social, and economic forces that shape human well-being. Courses offered in the school of social work include: SW 595 Integrated Practice in an International Context (spring) and SW 594 Assessing the Food System (fall)). Extra-departmental courses in the fields of sociology, political science, and environmental studies complement the emphasis.
The School also offers a number of courses that could be considered for any of the emphasis areas and include: SW 410 Ethics (spring), SW 434 Social Work and the Law (spring), SW 495 Professional Development in Child Welfare (spring), SW 495 Domestic Violence (summer), SW 495 Spirituality and Faith in Social Work Practice (winter) and Whole Person Healing: An Expressive Arts Approach (winter).
Graphics, Design, and Layout by Carrie Phillips at Spectral Fusion
Copyright© The University of Montana, 2007. All Rights Reserved.