• A cumulative undergraduate GPA of 2.75, with 3.0 in the last 60 credits of study;
• Have an academic background in the liberal arts and have completed a minimum of 18 credits in social sciences among courses in at least three of the following disciplines: psychology, sociology, anthropology, economics, and political science (BSW students meet the criterion);
• Submit personal essays which address the following (these are submit as part of the supplemental application; we recommend that you draft your responses in a word processing document):
• Examples of how you apply social work values and principles
• Explanation of how your skills, knowledge and abilities support a career in Social Work
• Description of your career goals;
• Three completed electronic reference questionnaires (one academic, one work, and one professional reference; see supplemental MSW application for more details);
• Demonstrate relevant professional work/volunteer experiences (submit via the supplemental application):
• Report number of hours of relevant work experience
• Report number of hours of relevant volunteer experience;
• Have completed course work in: Biological Life Sciences, Statistics, Research Methods, and Life Span Development or submit plans for completing this work prior to taking the Advanced Curriculum in the Program. Those with a BSW from an accredited program are considered to have met these criteria. At least two of these prerequisites must be completed before entering the program.
• Advanced standing, applicants are required to have graduated from an accredited baccalaureate social work program within the last eight years or have successfully completed the Foundation Curriculum at a CSWE accredited MSW program.
• Applicants who completed their degrees at foreign universities may be required to complete the TOEFL. For applicants who are Registered Aliens of the United States who have lived in the United States for more than one year or who have completed academic work in English, the TOEFL is not required. Registered Aliens who do not meet these criteria will enter the program on probation and give evidence of their English proficiency through satisfactory performance in their first-semester course work.
• The GRE is not required.

Keeping with the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) Accreditation Standard 3.2.5 (EPAS 2008), the Program does not grant social work course credit for life experience or previous work experience.

Applicants are reminded that when submitting the supplemental application, please report work and volunteer hours in number form, even if an estimate.

Graduates of the UWO Master of Social Work Program will be able to:

1: Display ethical and professional behavior

1.1 Demonstrate leadership and professionalism in social service practice settings.

1.2 Demonstrate initiative in professional growth and development.

1.3 Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of interdisciplinary ethical practice within mental health (clinical) and/or advanced direct practice settings.

1.4 Successfully resolve ethical dilemmas encountered in mental health (clinical) and/or advanced direct practice settings.

1.5 Demonstrate professional, accurate and effective written and oral communication appropriate to the practice setting.

2: Engage diversity and difference in practice

2.1 Effectively employ social work knowledge and skills with diverse client systems, especially those who are vulnerable and oppressed.

2.2 Demonstrate cultural competency in all social work contexts.

3: Advance human rights and social, economic, and environmental justice

3.1 Identify and attend to resource gaps in relevant practice settings.

3.2 Demonstrate ability to work collaboratively with other professionals on behalf of client systems.

4: Engage in research-informed practice and practice-informed research

4.1 Demonstrate understanding and knowledge of qualitative and quantitative research methodologies and their application within the mental health (clinical)/advanced direct practice setting.

4.2 Critically evaluate practice interventions to determine if theory-based, best/evidence-based practices are being employed in the practice setting and suggest improvements when warranted.

5: Engage in policy practice

5.1 Actively engage in policy practice to improve client system outcomes for mental health (clinical)/advanced direct practice services.

5.2 Advocate for and on behalf of client systems.

6: Engage with individuals, families, groups, organizations and communities.

6.1 Demonstrate initiative and effective skills in engaging with client systems.

6.2 Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the variety of technologies employed in mental health/health care practice, critically examine these in relation to social work values, and suggest improvements when warranted.

7: Assess individuals, families, groups, organizations and communities.

7.1 Effectively, systematically, and collaboratively assess client system needs and professionally articulate/document these findings to clients and relevant co-workers.

7.2 Demonstrate knowledge, and skill in the application of a wide range of assessment and intervention models relevant to mental health (clinical)/advanced direct practice, including the Person in Environment and the DSM.

8: Intervene with individuals, families, groups, organizations and communities.

8.1 Effectively and collaboratively identify and employ best/evidence-based interventions to meet client system needs.

8.2 Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of a wide range of theoretical and practice frameworks relevant to mental health (clinical)/advanced direct practice settings, including ecological systems theories and the strengths perspective.

8.3 Effectively and collaboratively terminate client services when goals have been met.

9: Evaluate practice with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities.

9.1 Articulate and implement a vision for leadership regarding the promotion of best/evidence-based practice in mental health (clinical)/advanced direct practice policy.

9.2 Effectively and collaboratively evaluate client system outcomes and professionally articulate/document these findings with clients and relevant co-workers.

9.3 Demonstrate application of multiple methods of evaluation and assessment of service delivery.

This list indicates the current approved curriculum. Please note that the curriculum is in the process of being updated for the 2022-2023 academic year to reflect a new track (Advanced Direct Practice) and new courses. Courses will continue to be offered evenings. 

Courses marked with an asterisk* are hybrid courses; a portion of the course work is completed online.

When students complete the Foundation Curriculum, they move on to the Advanced Curriculum

All MSW Student are required to take one 3 credit elective at any point in the program

Consult MSW Advisor to develop a part time schedule

Mental Health (Clinical) Concentration

Clinical and mental health Social Workers assess, treat and prevent psychological, behavioral, emotional, social and environmental issues affecting patients of all ages in hopes to alleviate the major stresses that impact their daily life. This could include: helping employees within an organization with personal problems or workplace concerns, adjusting to life events, substance abuse treatment, and treatment of psychological disorders.

Examples of clinical and mental health care include:

• Community mental health programs
• Disaster relief programs
• Employee assistance programs
• Military and veteran services
• Private practice
• Hospital and skilled nursing facilities
• Schools
• Rehabilitation programs
• Correctional programs

Advanced Direct Practice

Advanced direct practice students will learn to critically apply central social work theoretical frameworks to make ecological assessments that include the biological, psychological, social, spiritual and environmental. They will learn that ecological interventions take the social work person-in-environment to its logical conclusion. They are interventions that work for the best outcome for both the individual and their environment in its most complete conceptualization with the understanding that the two are one. The health of both is directly proportionate. Ergo, the term “client system” refers to, for example, a family, the community they live in, and the natural environment in which the two are embedded.

Advanced direct practice may include interventions that address issues of environmental justice, food insecurity, disaster preparedness or recovery, ecosystem interventions, developing sustainable communities. At a minimum, practitioners will learn to recognize the larger concept of the person-in-environment relationship in its fullest sense and how to integrate ecological practice principles into every-day practice.

Electives in the MSW Program should be selected thoughtfully based on each students’ learning goals and any requirements needed for future licensure or certification. Electives within the Department of Social Work (Social Work 795) always meet the elective requirement but not necessarily the clinical requirement (See below). Any course selected must be at the graduate level. If an undergraduate course is desired, it must be adapted for graduate students. Consult with your academic advisor if you are unsure about a course meeting the qualifications. Each student must take 3 credits of electives to qualify for MSW graduation. 

Mental Health (Clinical)

Students who plan to eventually sit for the LCSW exam need to take at least one course beyond the required curriculum that meets one of the following criteria;

•  (a) Case management,
• (b) Clinical assessment and treatment of specific populations and problems, such as children, adolescent, elderly, alcohol and drug abuse, family or couples relationships.,
•  (c) Psychopharmacology,
• (d) Psychotherapeutic interventions,
• (e) Electives such as family therapy, social work with groups, sex- or gender-related issues, and topics. 

Mental Health- Non-Clinical

Mental Health courses that do not qualify for the clinical requirement can focus on issues such as predictors of mental health, community education efforts, administration, or history of mental health. Other topics can meet this requirement as well.

Advanced Direct Practice

Advanced Direct Practice students are planning for a wide variety of vocational paths. Selecting an elective, either within the department or external to it, varies too much to provide a definitive list. Consult with your academic advisor to select an appropriate course. Outside of Social Work electives in Psychology, Sociology, Nursing, and Public Administration are common but not an exclusive list.