Courses

Sample MSW Program of Study 

The Council on Social Work Education mandates that all MSW requirements must be completed within four years of date of entrance into the program. The Full Program requires 63 graduate credits. Students admitted into the Advanced Standing Program complete the program with 35 credits.   All required courses are evening (after 5:30 pm) and/or Saturdays to accommodate working students.

For course descriptions and course information, please visit catalog.emich.edu

FOUNDATION COURSES (31 Credits)

SWRK 502

Profession and Services (3)

SWRK 506

HBSE: Individuals and Families (2)

SWRK 507

HBSE: Groups, Organizations, and Communities (2)

SWRK 510

Generalist Practice I (3)

SWRK 520

Generalist Practice II (3)

SWRK 521

Policy Analysis and Change (3)

SWRK 526

People of Color (2)

SWRK 528

Practice with Women (2)

SWRK 530

Social Work Research Methodology (3)

SWRK 588

Field Experience (4) (16 hrs. a week in field)

SWRK 589

Field Experience (4) (16 hrs. a week in field)

 

ADVANCED COURSES (15 Credits)

(enrollment based on successful completion of all Foundation courses)

SWRK610

Empowerment, Social Justice, and Social Change (2)

SWRK 630

Action Research (3)

SWRK 688

Field Experience III (4) (16 hrs. a week in field)

SWRK 689

Field Experience IV (4) (16 hrs. a week in field)

SWRK 690

Field Experience V (2) (16 hrs. a week in field)

Advanced Concentration Courses (9 Credits):
(Choose ONE Concentration Only)

Family and Children's Services

SWRK 540

Policies and Issues in Services to Families (3)

SWRK 644/644/1a

Family-Centered Practice (3)

SWRK 643

HBSE: Families and the Social Environment (3)

 

Mental Illness and Chemical Dependency

SWRK 650

Policy Issues in the Health Care Setting (3)

SWRK 652

Dynamics and Practice: Mental Illness Services (3)

SWRK 653

Dynamics and Practice: Chemical Dependency (3)

 

Services to the Aging

SWRK 550

Working with Aging People (3)

SWRK 552

Policy Issues and Older People (3)

GERT 512

Psychosocial Aspects of Aging (3)

Electives (8 - 11):

The requirement for electives can be fulfilled in multiple ways (e.g., SWRK elective courses, courses from other related EMU graduate programs, independent study projects,  or advisor-approved transfer credit from coursework at other accredited graduate schools.
Students are encouraged to broaden their perspective with a range of electives, and are not restricted to those related to their concentration.  Electives can also count simultaneously towards partial requirements for some EMU Graduate certificates (see Graduate Catalog for further details about certificate programs).

Social Work Electives

SWRK 541

Specialized Services for Families with Children in Placement (3)

SWRK 543

Practice with Children and Youth (3)

SWRK 546

Law and the Family (3)

SWRK 553

Ethnicity and Gender Issues Among the Aged (2)

SWRK 560

Case Management (3)

SWRK 570

Supervising Staff and Volunteers (3)

SWRK 590

Separation, Loss, and Grief (1)

SWRK 602

Community Building

SWRK 654

AIDS: Practice and Policy Issues (3)

SWRK 656

Crisis Intervention (2)

SWRK 658

Chemical Dependency (2)

SWRK 662

Grantwriting and Resource Development (3)

SWRK 675

Social Work Administartion (3)

SWRK 679

Family Continuity (1)

SWRK 680

Indian Child Welfare (2)

SWRK 680

Social Work Practice and Kinship (2)

SWRK 680

Housing and Homelessness (2)

SWRK 680

Children at Risk (2)

SWRK 681

Self-Help and Support Groups (3)

SWRK 681

Social Work with Groups (3)

SWRK 681

Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Practice Issues (3)

SWRK 694

Community Action Seminar

SWRK 699

Contemporary Mental Health Practice

 

Related Graduate Course Options

GERT 511

Generations & Age Cohorts (2)

GERT 512

Applied Psychosocial Aspects of Aging (3)

GERT 513

Elders and their Families (2)

GERT 514

Caregiving and the Elderly (2)

GERT 516

The Elderly and the Law (1)

GERT 518

Introduction to Dementia (2)

GERT 524

Dementia Caregiving (2)

GERT 528

Advanced Dementia (2)

GERT 530

Assessment of Persons with Dementia (2)

GERT 591

Sexuality and Aging (1)

GERT 509

Older Adults and Chemical Dependency (1)

GERT 513

Intergenerational Program and Services (2)

GERT 517

Developing Funding Proposals for Aging Programs (2)

GERT 523

Designing Programs for People with Dementia (2)

 

GERT 532

Aging Through the Eyes of the Old (2)

GERT 590

Responding to Behavioral Symptoms in Dementia (1)

 

GERT 590

Edna Gates Conference: Seminar on Dementia Care (1)

GERT 688-689

Gerontology Practicum (2-3)

 

GERT 697-699

Gerontology Independent Studies (1-3)

 

BIOL 591

Biological Aspects of Aging (2)

PSY 551

Psychology of Death and Dying (2)

PSY 542

Women and Mental Health Practice (2)

SOC 678

Social Program Evaluation (3)

IDE 503

Physical Environments and Aging

SPGN 591

Communication Issues and Strategies for Aging Clients (2)



Additional EMU Graduate Certificates

Students may elect to apply to a graduate certificate program while working toward their MSW degrees. Most certificate classes may be counted as electives toward the MSW degree. For further information on applying to a graduate certificate program, please visit:   http://www.emich.edu/admissions/graduatestudents/index.html

Below is a listing of graduate certificate programs that may be of interest to MSW students: 

Community Building
This certificate has a macro focus and is designed to develop competencies for understanding the community as a social system and improving the social bonds and leadership skills among members for the community. Competencies are developed in the areas of (1) community organizing and social action methods, (2) resource development, (3) legal and social environment, (4) research and program evaluation, and (5) networking, application and external relations. This is a five-course program of 12-15 credit hours with coursework in multiple disciplines. For further information, please visit: http://www.emich.edu/nonprofit/certificates.html

Gerontology
This certificate emphasizes positive aspects of aging and addresses realities and myths of growing old. The result is an education that enhances your ability to work with and care for older people effectively and compassionately. This is an 18 credit hour program with coursework in multiple disciplines. For further information, please visit: http://www.emich.edu/gerontology/graduatecert.html

Dementia
This certificate provides a theoretical framework and practical grounding in working with families and persons with dementia in the home, community-based programs, and 24-hour settings including: assisted living, adult foster home, nursing homes, and hospitals. This certificate is the first of its kind in the United States and is intended for health professionals and students who want to pursue a specialized career in working with persons with dementia. This is an 18 credit hour program. For further information, please visit: http://www.emich.edu/alzheimers/certIntro.html

Nonprofit Management
This certificate has an internal focus and is designed to develop competencies and practical skills for building management capacity of a nonprofit organization in the areas of (1) financial management, accountability, and legal issues; (2) budgeting and resource management; and (3) human resource management. This is a five-course (12-15 credit hours) curriculum with coursework in multiple disciplines. For further information, please visit: http://www.emich.edu/nonprofit/certificates.html

Health Administration
This certificate supports the ongoing need for trained, competent health professionals.  The program’s curriculum focuses on developing the management skills needed in today’s health care industry. The certificate provides specialized knowledge and includes a practicum option that will allow health professionals from a variety of fields to prepare themselves for management and administrative responsibilities.www.ce.emich.edu/documents/Health/HealthAdmin.pdf

Public Policy Analysis
This certificate is designed to meet the professional needs of state, local and nonprofit employees as well as private citizens with an interest in developing quantitative analytical skills for public policy issues. Students will learn about policy making process, impact, cost benefit and econometric analysis. The curriculum is designed to provide students with a solid foundation of knowledge in public policy analysis as well as offer enough flexibility for students to pursue individual interests. This is a six-course (16-17 credit hours) curriculum. For further information please visit: http://www.emich.edu/public/polisci/pubad/certificates.htm

Public Management
This certificate is designed to meet the professional needs of state, local and nonprofit employees with general management responsibilities. The curriculum is designed to provide students with a solid foundation of knowledge in public management as well as offer enough flexibility for students to pursue individual interests. This is a five-course (13-15 credit hours) curriculum. For further information, please visit: http://www.emich.edu/public/polisci/pubad/certificates.htm

Management of Public Healthcare Services
This certificate is designed to meet the professional needs of mangers working in the healthcare field including hospitals, public health departments, nursing homes, managed care agencies, insurance agencies, home healthcare systems, and private medical practices. The curriculum is designed to provide students with a solid foundation of knowledge in public healthcare services as well as offer enough flexibility for students to pursue individual interests. This is a five-course (14-15 credit hours) curriculum. For further information, please visit: http://www.emich.edu/public/polisci/pubad/certificates.htm