• 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 (including one academic reference, see supplemental MSW application);
• 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 and/or health care settings.

1.4 Successfully resolve ethical dilemmas encountered in mental health and/or physical health care 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/health care 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/health care 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/health care 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/health care 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/health care 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.

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

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

Part time Advanced students complete the program in 2 years.

Clinical & Mental Health 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

Health Care Concentration

Health care Social Workers provide individuals, families and groups with the psycho-social support needed to cope with chronic, acute or terminal illnesses. Services include advising family care givers, providing patient education and counseling, and making referrals for other services. They may also provide care and case management or interventions designed to promote health, prevent disease and address barriers to access to health care (from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics).

Health care Social Workers can find employment in many different types of institutions, including:

• Hospitals
• Nursing homes
• Assisted living centers
• Emergency clinics
• Rehabilitation centers
• Insurance Agencies
  
• Government offices

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.

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.