Curriculum

  View CSUDH MSW 2022-2024 Course Sequence

  View CSUDH MSW 2021-2023 Course Sequence

There are two enrollment options: A 2-year-full-time option, and a 3-year part-time program option.

The first thirty (30) credit hours are considered the generalist practice year. The intent of the generalist practice experience is to:

  • Provide grounding in the social work profession;
  • Teach assessment, practice and research models for practice at all levels;
  • Teach about the social welfare institution and its many facets;
  • Engage in practice opportunities utilizing the full range of social work roles in working with the breadth and scope of social work client systems; and
  • Introduce advanced theory in preparation for the specializations.

The program prepares students for specialized practice in one of three (3) areas: Community Mental Health (CMH); Community Capacity Building (CCB); or Children, Youth, and Families (CYF). Full time students may choose from among all three (3) areas of specialized practice. The part-time program offers one area of specialized practice: Community Mental Health. In the specialized practice year, students are offered the same set of courses with the exception of a Specialized Practice Seminar course in the Fall Semester; a Specialized Policy course in Spring semester; in addition to choices of elective courses. Each area of specialized practice augments and extends the generalist curriculum to:

  • Expand students’ ability to hone their critical thinking, self-reflection, and awareness capacities;
  • Deepen their abilities in the core skills needed to effectively practice as specialized social workers;
  • Reinforce their commitment to the core social work values and professional behaviors to which they were introduced in the generalist curriculum;
  • Equip them to be stronger advocates alongside and on behalf of their clients and constituents.

The area of specialized practice selected by a student drives the choice of practice setting in which the student completes their second year internship. As with our generalist curriculum, our concurrent model of education requires that an area of specialization class be taken with the specialized year of practicum. At the conclusion of their study, students will complete a culminating experience; a requirement of all graduate students. The culminating experience should reflect their knowledge, skills and values as a professional social worker.

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MSW Specializations

Part-time students have the following specialization:

⏹ Community Mental Health

Full-time students choose among three specializations:

1️⃣ Children, Youth, and Families (CYF)

CYF is available to individuals interested in working in traditional and non-traditional child welfare services, family service agencies, adolescent services, family preservation services, etc. Students enrolled in this specialization will take a set of courses and a supporting practicum site in their second or advanced year of study. Learning during this year will be focused on applying theoretically sound and contextually competent practice while interning in relevant agencies. 

2️⃣ Community Mental Health (CMH)

CMH is available for individuals interested in working in community health and mental health agencies, engaging in practices to enhance access to quality mental health services, crisis intervention services, case management with the chronically and persistently mentally ill and other mental health services. Students enrolled in this specialization will take a set of courses and a supporting placement in their second or advanced year of study. Learning during this year will be focused on applying theoretically sound and contextually competent practice while interning in relevant agencies. 

3️⃣ Community Capacity Building (CCB)

Individuals planning to work in community agencies designing services, administrating service delivery, conducting community needs assessment and research, and organizing groups for empowerment purposes will learn the multiple ways in which social workers provide effective services in the community. The program works with the premise of inherent community strength and that disenfranchised and poor communities are best equipped to define obstacles they confront, their needs and plan for change.