Overview

The UNC Charlotte MSW Program is housed, along with a Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) Program, in the Department of Social Work which is situated in the College of Health and Human Services at UNC Charlotte. Both the MSW and BSW Programs are fully accredited by the Council on Social Work Education, the nationally recognized accrediting body for social work education.

The MSW Program is available in the following three formats:

1. Full-time: Students start the program in the Fall semester and complete 60 credit hours in four semesters.
2. Advanced Standing: Eligible students with BSWs start the program in the Summer and complete 40 credit hours over three semesters.
3. Extended 3-Year:  Students start in the Fall semester and complete 60 credit hours over a three year period.  These students take fewer credits per semester than the full-time students.

It is nearly impossible to work AND complete an MSW degree.  For a variety of reasons, classes cannot be scheduled to fit student work schedules (or other personal circumstances).  Internships are also demanding and include two full days a week for the first internship and three full days a week for the second.

Interpersonal Practice Concentration

The Master of Social Work (MSW) degree program at UNC Charlotte offers a concentration in Interpersonal Practice which focuses on advanced direct practice with individuals, families, and small groups. Interpersonal Practice is concerned with the transactions between people with each other and their environments with respect to individuals, families, and groups. Interpersonal practice also recognizes the impact of organizations and communities and the utility of interpersonal practice skills for work within organizations and communities. Interpersonal practice seeks to enhance the functioning of individuals, families, and groups through the prevention or amelioration of social problems. Emphasis is on advanced assessment and intervention—especially short term modalities—with attention to client strengths and coping capacities. Goal-oriented intervention and occurs within a context of professional social work values and ethics, social justice, and affirmation of the human rights of diverse groups of people, especially those groups historically oppressed related to race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, age, ability, and socioeconomic class.

Field of Practice Emphasis

Students will actualize their understanding of interpersonal social work practice with individuals, families, and groups within the context of a selected Field of Practice (FOP) emphasis. Content areas from which students may select their FOP emphasis include the following: aging, families and children (including school social work), and health/mental health. Students are encouraged to select their FOP emphasis by the end of their first semester in the program. They will develop in-depth knowledge and interpersonal practice skills within their FOP emphasis in the following ways: developing course assignments within a FOP context; selecting one or more electives to support the FOP; completing the second year internship within their FOP emphasis; and developing a capstone interpersonal practice paper within a FOP context.

State Licensure/Certification

Graduates of the MSW Program will have obtained the necessary academic degree to pursue state licensure or certification at the graduate level. Application for licensure or certification should be made with the state board in the state where the applicant intends to practice social work. The North Carolina Certification and Licensure Board for Social Work and may be accessed on the web by clicking here.  and by phone at 336-625-1679. MSW levels of licensure/certification in North Carolina include the following: Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), Certified Master Social Worker (CMSW), and Certified Social Work Manager (CSWM).

Mission

The mission of the Department of Social Work at UNC Charlotte is to prepare competent and effective social work professionals at both beginning generalist (BSW) and advanced practice (MSW) levels, to develop social work knowledge, and to provide leadership in the development and evaluation of service delivery systems. This mission is pursued with special attention to the region’s most vulnerable populations and with a commitment to, and vision of, a just and caring society, free of prejudice and oppression.

Master of Social Work Education Objectives

The educational objectives for the MSW Program are differentiated into two areas: foundation objectives which are emphasized during the first year of the curriculum and advanced practice objectives which are emphasized during the second year of the curriculum:

Foundation Objectives:

As a result of successfully completing coursework in the foundation practice curriculum, students are capable of demonstrating the ability to:

1. Apply critical thinking skills within the context of professional social work practice.
2. Understand the value base of the professional and its ethical standards and principles, and practice accordingly.
3. Practice without discrimination and with respect, knowledge, and skills related to clients’ age, class, color, culture, disability, ethnicity, family structure, gender, marital status, national origin, race, religion, sex, and sexual orientation.
4. Understand the forms and mechanisms of oppression and discrimination and apply strategies of advocacy and social change that advance social and economic justice.
5. Understand and interpret the history of the social work profession and its contemporary structures and issues.
6. Apply the knowledge and skills of a generalist social work perspective to practice with systems of all sizes.
7. Use theoretical frameworks supported by empirical evidence to understand individual development and behavior across the life span and the interactions among individuals and between individuals and families, groups, organizations, and communities.
8. Analyze, formulate, and influence social policies.
9. Evaluate research studies, apply research findings to practice, and evaluate their own practice interventions.
10. Use communication skills differentially across client populations, colleagues, and communities.
11. Use supervision and consultation appropriate to social work practice.
12. Function within the structure of organizations and service delivery systems and seek necessary organizational change.

Advanced Practice Objectives:

As a result of successfully completing coursework in the advanced practice curriculum, students will be capable of demonstrating the ability to:

1. Use the interpersonal practice perspective in applying practice theories and methodologies in advanced social work practice with individuals, families, and small groups.
2. Apply advanced social work practice theories and methodologies in work with individuals, families, and groups while also taking into account the effect that organizations and communities have on these smaller systems.
3. Demonstrate in-depth knowledge and skills for assessment, intervention, and evaluation of practice relative to advanced practice with individuals, families, and small groups within a chosen field of practice emphasis [aging, health/mental health, and families and children (including school social work)].
4. Demonstrate knowledge and skills for applying a variety of practice theories and methodologies (especially those relative to time limited, solution focused approaches) in advanced social work practice with individuals, families, and small groups.
5. Demonstrate knowledge, skill, and discernment in appropriately modifying advanced practice methodologies relative to serving the needs of diverse groups of people, including those groups distinguished by ethnicity, race, gender, sexual orientation, class, age, and ability.
6. Demonstrate knowledge of, and commitment to, social justice in advanced social work practice, being especially concerned for groups that are vulnerable and socioeconomically marginalized.
7. Demonstrate a commitment to social work values and the NASW Code of Ethics in applying advanced practice knowledge and skills with individuals, families, and small groups.
8. Demonstrate the ability to conceptualize one’s own philosophy of theory and methodology for advanced social work practice with individuals, families, and small groups relative to a chosen field of practice emphasis. Field of practice emphases include aging, health/mental health, and families and children (including school social work).

The remaining objectives are targeted specifically to the Field of Practice emphasis within the advanced practice concentration in interpersonal practice with individuals, families, and small groups:

1. Demonstrate an in-depth understanding of the historical foundation of social work and social work practice in one field of practice emphasis.
2. Explicate the social welfare policies (local, state, and nation) that provide the framework for the provision of services in one field of practice emphasis.
3. Explicate the major theories of human behavior in the social environment relevant to one field of practice emphasis.
4. Demonstrate advanced knowledge of social work practice theories and methodologies relevant to one field of practice emphasis.
5. Explain the research methodologies most useful and applicable to one field of practice emphasis.

Curriculum

Extended Curriculum Plan (Three Years)

Year 1: Fall (6 credits)
SOWK 6101 HBSE I (3 cr.)
SOWK 6111 Social Welfare Policy I (3 cr.)

Year 1: Spring (6 credits)
SOWK 6202 HBSE II (3 cr.)
SOWK 6112 Social Welfare Policy II (3 cr.)

Year 1: Summer (3 credits)
*Social Work-Related Elective (3 cr.)

Year 2: Fall (9 credits)
SOWK 6121 Social Work Practice I (3 cr.)
SOWK 6131 Social Work Research I (3 cr.)
SOWK 6441 Practicum I (3 cr./16 hrs. per week in field)

Year 2: Spring (9 credits)
SOWK 6222 Social Work Practice II (3 cr.)
SOWK 6232 Social Work Research II (3 cr.)
SOWK 6442 Practicum II (3 cr./16 hrs. per week in field)

Year 2: Summer (6 credits)
*Field of Practice-Related Elective (3 cr.)

SOWK 7103 HBSE III (3 cr.)

SOWK 7445 Extended Social Work Practicum IIIa (3 cr./16hrs. per week in field)

Year 3: Fall (9 credits)
SOWK 7123 Advanced Interpersonal Practice with Individuals (3 cr.)
SOWK 7125 Advanced Interpersonal Practice with Groups (3 cr.)
SOWK 7446 Social Work Practicum IIIb (3 cr./16 hrs. per week in field)

Year 3: Spring (9 credits)
SOWK 7124 Advanced Interpersonal Practice with Families (3 cr.)
SOWK 7651 Field of Practice Seminar (3 cr.)
SOWK 7447 Social Work Practicum IV (3 cr./16 hrs. per week in field)

* Electives may be from outside the Department, but must have a social work relevance. At least one elective must relate to the Field of Practice emphasis.

Advanced Standing Option (12 months)

Upon successful completion of the summer term, Advanced Standing Program students will join the ongoing MSW class and enroll in the second year of the regular MSW program (see the MSW Program description for a list of second year courses and requirements).

The Advanced Standing Option in social work is designed to enable a small number of highly qualified students to earn the Masters in Social Work degree in one calendar year. To be considered for admission to the Advanced Standing Program a student must have earned a BSW degree from a program accredited by the Council on Social Work Education within the past five years, have a GPA of at least 3.5, have achieved an acceptable score on the Graduate Record Exam, provide at least three exceptional letters of reference, and demonstrate significant human services experience either as a volunteer or a paid employee.

The program begins in May and requires full-time study for the entire summer. During this term Advanced Standing Program students will complete 12 hours of graduate level work designed to bridge the gap between their BSW curriculum and the second year of the MSW curriculum. All students will enroll in the following courses:

SOWK 6313: Advanced Social Welfare Policy
SOWK 6323: Advanced Interpersonal Practice
SOWK 6343: Advanced Social Work Practicum and Seminar
SOWK 6232: Social Work Research II: Practice and Program Evaluation

Upon successful completion of the summer term, Advanced Standing Program students will join the ongoing MSW class and enroll in the second year of the regular MSW program (see the MSW Program description for a list of second year courses and requirements).

Handbooks and Manuals

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Frequently Asked Questions

Answers to Frequently Asked Questions are available by clicking here and also by visiting the college's Academic Advising Center website.

Contact Information

Tips on Paying for College and Your Credit

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Contact for Additional Information

For further information about the MSW Program, please email: unccmsw@uncc.edu.