The Department of Social Work

Master of Social Work (M.S.W.)

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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.


Interpersonal Practice Concentration


The Master of Social Work (MSW) degree program at UNC Charlotte offers a concentration in Interpersonal Practice which focuses on 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 at http://www.nccbsw.org/certification.htm 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:
9. Demonstrate an in-depth understanding of the historical foundation of social work and social work
practice in one field of practice emphasis.

10. Explicate the social welfare policies (local, state, and nation) that provide the framework for the
provision of services in one field of practice emphasis.

11. Explicate the major theories of human behavior in the social environment relevant to one field of
practice emphasis.

12. Demonstrate advanced knowledge of social work practice theories and methodologies relevant
to one field of practice emphasis.

13. Explain the research methodologies most useful and applicable to one field of practice emphasis.


Admission Requirements

General requirements for Master's students at UNC Charlotte can be found on the Graduate Admissions website. Students must meet all UNC Charlotte Graduate School requirements, including but not limited to:

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university reflective of a liberal arts education.
• Minimum GPA of 2.75 overall, and 3.0 for the past four semesters.
• Proficiency in English for applicants whose native language is not English.

International applicants must complete and return an International Student Application to the Office of International Admissions, an office within the Office of Graduate Admissions. All applications must be accompanied by the general admissions documents cited above as well as a Statement of Financial Responsibility signed by the student's sponsor or guarantor. The form must include a bank letter with an English translation verifying the amount of US dollars on account. All students transferring from a US institution must submit an International Student Advisor's Report.

In addition to the general requirements of the Graduate School, admission to this Master of Social Work program also requires the following:

1. Verbal and quantitative GRE scores in an acceptable range. Applicants are encouraged to take the GRE by early January prior to the application deadline. The analytical score is not considered for admission. The total quantitative and verbal scores should be in the range of 1000; previous years’ accepted scores averaged 960. Marginal GRE scores may be offset by other exceptionally strong components of the application. GRE scores are eligible for submission if the exam was taken within the past 5 years of the current application date.

2. A course of study in undergraduate or graduate work reflective of a liberal arts education including the humanities, social and behavioral sciences, physical sciences (specifically human biology), and mathematics (specifically statistics). Students are expected to have mastered general social science knowledge through course work in economics, sociology, psychology, or cultural anthropology classes despite the major. In some instances, transcripts are evaluated for liberal arts preparation prior to admission. Specific coursework may be a condition for admission to the program.

3. Basic Knowledge of diversity studies is expected; applicants may have taken electives in special populations such as the elderly, minorities in America, and gays/lesbians for instance. Two or more courses in Spanish are recommended. Some understanding of social justice and populations-at risk issues is expected from applicants; studies of this nature may have been accessed through the courses referenced above as well as gender studies, political science, economics or philosophy courses.

4. Specifications for completing the essay requirement. The applicant will write a four to five page typed, double-spaced essay to include the following:

o Your reasons for seeking graduate social work education at this time. If you are currently working in a
social service job, explain your reasons for pursuing further formal education. If you are changing fields,
discuss your reasons for doing so. Explain why you are making this change now.
o How your life experiences have led you to seek a graduate social work degree. How do you account for
your interest in social work?
o Your personal strengths and limitations for the practice of social work
o The particular aspects of social work that interest you most
o What you see yourself doing professionally five years in the future
o The Social Work Program values diversity in its student population.
Explain how your cultural experience, unique skills, and interest would contribute to this diversity.
o Your activities in social work organizations and any honors you have received
o Your signature and the date

 

An attachment to the essay should outline the applicant's educational, work and volunteer experience, and special skills or attributes. The attachment should total no more than two pages and should be in résumé format to include:

o Personal data:
• name, address, phone number, email address
o Educational experience:
• Institutions and the dates you attended
• Your academic degrees awarded, including majors and minors
o Work experience:
• A list of all positions listed in chronological order, beginning with the most recent, with a 2-3 line
job description for each
• All beginning and ending dates for each position
• Indication of whether an MSW or BSW level social worker supervised you
• Indication of whether the position was full-time or part-time
o Volunteer experience:
• A list of all positions listed in chronological order, beginning with the most recent, with a 2-3 line
job description for each
• All beginning and ending dates for each position
• Indication of whether an MSW or BSW level social worker supervised you
o Professional affiliations and honors from your school, profession, or community:
• List of any memberships in professional organizations and service groups
• List of any offices held in these organizations
• List of honors or special awards received

5. Three Letter of Recommendation Forms.
For applicants receiving degrees within the past five years, at least two letters of recommendation must be from faculty members. For applicants who have been out of the education system for some time, letters should be from someone who can comment on their suitability for graduate education. It is recommended that at least one reference be from a professional working in the applicant's field of interest. Note that letters of recommendation are part of the online application and are secured directly from the reference by UNC Charlotte via the reference's email address.

6. Upon acceptance to the program, students will be asked to complete an Intent to Enroll form and a Field Application Form. Because some field placement agencies serving vulnerable populations exclude personnel with criminal convictions, students entering the program may be subject to a criminal history inquiry. Many agencies require drug testing as well.


MSW Student Transfers

Only courses from another CSWE accredited MSW program can be considered for transfer. Transfer credits are evaluated for consistency with the UNC Charlotte MSW curriculum. Transfer credit is limited to only 6 credits. Transferring students must meet all of the admissions requirements and submit an application in order to be considered for admission to the program.


Course Waivers

BSW graduates who qualify may omit selected courses from the first year of study. The student replaces the credits with electives in their chosen field of practice. The course waiver does not reduce the sixty hour requirement for the MSW degree.
 

Graduate Certificates

Students may want to supplement their MSW by earning a graduate certificate in their chosen field of practice. The program offering the certificate may be contacted for details. Examples are:

Certificate in Substance Abuse Counseling
Graduate Certificate in Gerontology: Director
Graduate Certificate in Non-Profit Management

 

MSW Information workshops for potential applicants are held during Spring and Fall semesters. Check the Social Work Department web page at www.socialwork.uncc.edu for announcements of the workshops for prospective Master of Social Work (M.S.W.) students.

Application Instructions

Dates: A completed online application and nonrefundable application fee of $55.00 must be received by the UNC Charlotte Office of Graduate Admissions (OGA) by February 1 for admission the following fall. Applications received after that date will be reviewed on a space available basis. There are no spring admissions. Applicants may submit their application to the OGA earlier than the deadline for consideration for admission.

Process: The OGA has online admissions information supplemented by additional materials from the respective graduate departments. The website includes general information about the university, student services, international admissions, residency requirements, fees, financial aid, and procedures for admission to the university. The online application and information may be accessed here . Review the Admissions Requirements section of this page for specific MSW application requirements.

Applicants' completed applications with Letter of Recommendation Forms contacts, payment, essay, and resume attachment are submitted online to the OGA; only the transcripts are mailed to OGA. No materials are mailed directly to the Social Work Department. The OGA holds all received materials until the packet is complete. When all components are received, the application is processed, GPA's are calculated, and the application is forwarded to the Social Work Department for evaluation for admission to the program. The Social Work Department notifies the OGA of its recommendation and the official letter of acceptance for admission to UNC Charlotte is sent online to the applicant from the Dean of the Graduate School.

The applicant may determine the status of his application by contacting the OGA or by accessing his file via Internet site where any outstanding components of the application are cited, dates of receipt are noted and the file disposition is available to the applicant. The Admissions Committee, chaired by Ms. Jordan and its membership consists of two additional faculty members and additional faculty reviewers. The Admissions Committee Chair assigns faculty applications to review, evaluate, and score. The admissions scoring equation consists of five components: (1) GRE scores (2) Undergraduate preparation including GPA (3) References, (4) The four to five page essay and attached resume (5) Relevant experience, volunteer and professional.

Faculty evaluate each applicant and submit the completed evaluation form to the Admissions Coordinator. Interviews are not routine for admissions decisions but will be initiated at the request of the Admissions Committee. The Admissions Committee meets as needed to discuss and finalize admissions decisions.

Prerequisites

 As a student in a professional program in the College of Health and Human Services, you may be asked by a field agency to undergo health screening, drug testing, and/or have a criminal background check before being allowed to participate in a field placement experience at that facility. All costs associated with health screening, drug testing and background checks are the responsibility of the student.
Visit our Frequently Asked Questions page for more information.


Curriculum

The MSW Program requires 60 hours of course work beyond the bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university. The full-time program takes two years to complete and the extended program takes three years (including required summer course work) to complete.

Courses in the two-year full-time program are taken in sequence over four academic semesters (optional: electives may be taken during the summer). Courses in the two-year program are typically scheduled on Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays.

Courses in the three-year extended program are taken and over six academic semesters and two summers. Courses in this program are typically scheduled all day on Thursdays.


Full-Time Curriculum Plan (Two Years)

Year 1: Fall (15 credits)
SOWK 6101 HBSE I (3 cr.)
SOWK 6111 Social Welfare Policy I (3 cr.)
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 1: Spring (15 credits)
SOWK 6202 HBSE II (3 cr.)
SOWK 6112 Social Welfare Policy II (3 cr.)
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: Fall (13 credits)
SOWK 7103 HBSE III (3 cr.)
SOWK 7123 Advanced Interpersonal Practice with Individuals (3 cr.)
SOWK 7125 Advanced Interpersonal Practice with Groups (3 cr.)
SOWK 7443 Social Work Practicum III (4 cr./24 hrs. per week in field)

Year 2: Spring (17 credits)
SOWK 7124 Advanced Interpersonal Practice with Families (3 cr.)
SOWK 7651 Field of Practice Seminar (3 cr.)
*Elective (3 cr.)
*Elective (3 cr.)
SOWK 7444 Social Work Practicum IV (5 cr./24 hrs. per week in field)
Total Credits = 60

* Electives may also be taken during the summer between the first and second year of study. 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.


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)
Total Credits = 60

* 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).


Field Practicum

The field practicum component of the MSW program is an educational experience that occurs in coordination with the university, a director of field education, a faculty liaison, an agency, and a field instructor. The Director of Field Education is responsible for coordinating the entire field education aspect of the curriculum, including certifying agencies as field education sites, approving agency staff to serve as field instructors, and matching students with agencies for foundation and specialization year placements. The field instructor is the agency employee who provides day-to-day supervision for a student assigned to his or her agency. This person is an employee of the agency, but a volunteer in the Social Work Department. The faculty liaison is a faculty member at UNC Charlotte who is responsible for coordinating, monitoring, and evaluating the experience of the student in the field placement agency. The field instructor recommends a grade, but it is the faculty liaison that has the responsibility and authority to actually assign a grade for the field placement and the seminar class.

Field placement agencies are selected from a variety of agencies and practice settings that serve diverse groups and have the potential for adding to the students’ learning experiences around practice in diverse setting. These field placement agencies are approved by the UNC Charlotte Social Work Program. Field Instructors, selected by the program, guide the student through learning experiences, coordinating field experiences with the concurrent classroom coursework. Students are in a field placement every semester of the full time program and in years two and four of the part-time program.

The field practicum is an essential curriculum component in the foundation and specialization years of the MSW program. During this concurrent educational segment, students will have the opportunity to integrate and apply social work knowledge, skills, and values discussed in the classroom to actual practice situations. In addition, students have the opportunity to share activities and learning that occur in the placement setting in their classes. Students will have at least one hour of individual supervision each week with an MSW level supervisor in the placement agency.

The field practicum in the foundation year provides students with a generalist practice foundation. Students are in an approved placement agency for two days a week (Mondays and Tuesdays) for a total of 460 hours for the academic year. Each practicum course is a three-hour credit course that focuses on the application of foundation knowledge, values, and skills to the practice setting. The foundation field experience seeks to provide the student with a broad range of generalist practice situations such as: interviewing, case-planning, shadowing professional staff, developing reports, attending policy meetings, conducting research, and participating in professional supervision.

The second year field placement provides students with the opportunity to specialize in a field of practice (i.e., aging; families and children [including school social work]; and, mental health) within the Interpersonal Practice concentration. Students are in an approved placement agency for three days a week (Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays) for a total of 600 hours for the academic year. Students are given a total of six graduate hours for successful completion of the fall placement and three credit hours for the spring placement. Each course focuses on developing advanced practice skills with a particular emphasis on services to individuals, families and small groups. The advanced placement experience seeks to provide the student with opportunities to demonstrate the ability to prepare advanced assessments, provide a range of intervention services, and critically evaluate his or her practice.

Students must pass each practicum course in order to continue to the next semester practicum course. In addition, students must pass the field practicum each semester in order to continue in the field placement agency. Students in the practicum setting, as in the classroom, must adhere to the UNC Charlotte Department of Social Work Professional Standards located in the Student and Field Handbooks, the UNC Charlotte Student Academic Integrity Code and the Codes of Student Responsibility, and the National Association of Social Workers Code of Ethics. Failure to do so may lead to dismissal from the program.


The Practicum Planning Process

The UNC Charlotte MSW program has identified field placement opportunities in over 100 agencies in Mecklenburg County and the surrounding region. The following procedures to secure a foundation placement are as follows:

1. A field application is mailed to the first year graduate students after receipt of the acceptance letter from
the student. The field application must be completed by the deadline established by the Director of Field Education
and returned to the Office of Field Education. A current resume should be returned with the field application.
2. The Director of Field Education reviews the application and begins contacts with field placement agencies.
3. Student participates in a face-to-face interview with the Director of Field Education to discuss the field placement
process and field placement options.
4. Student will interview with field instructor and/or appropriate agency personnel to discuss learning
opportunities in the field placement agency.
5. The Director of Field Education makes final assignment after receiving feedback from the field placement
agency and the student.
6. Student is notified by the Director of Field Education of the field placement site.
7. Student attends a mandatory field orientation meeting which will occur prior to the first day of
field placement. Student will receive notification from the Director of Field Education regarding time
and location. The purpose of the field orientation is to: clarify roles, assignments, including the
field learning agreement, and review policies on such matters as sexual harassment prevention and
safety issues in the field placement.
8. The field instructors also attend a mandatory field instructor training that is held prior to the first day
of field placement. The topics of this training are: Mission of Field Education, Conducting a
Successful Agency Orientation, Effective Field Supervision, Understanding Learning Styles, Integrating Theory
and Practice, Ethical Issues in Field Education, and Effective Feedback and Evaluation.

These procedures and other requirements of the field placement are in the UNC Charlotte MSW Student Field Placement Manual.


The Practicum Student Learning Agreement

Students will prepare in conjunction with their field instructor and faculty liaison, a learning agreement. This agreement will be used to focus agency activities toward the educational needs of the student. For the foundation placements, students will be expected to:

• Develop an understanding of the agency goals, objectives, structure, funding and history in the provision of
social services in the community.
• Demonstrate social work professional roles and responsibilities in the field agency.
• Understand and effectively use appropriate social work models in accordance with placement setting.
• Demonstrate the use of professional helping skills with clients, customers, and consumers during intake
and engagement, data collecting and assessment, contracting and monitoring, and termination
and evaluation.
• Understand policies at various levels and how these affect services to clients, customers and consumers.
• Adhere to NASW Code of Ethics and agency professional practices.
• Participate in a social or organizational change activity that affects the clients, customers,
and consumers served by the agency.
• Demonstrated appropriate use of professional supervision.
• Utilize research to effectively inform and evaluate interventions used in practice.
• Identify issues of diversity, oppression, social injustice, and discrimination toward the population served
by their agency.
• Critically reflect on their biases and engage in active self-awareness.

The foundation field experience enhances student identification of their own learning style, use of self, appropriate use of supervision, and movement toward specialization in the second year placement. The second year placement will provide students with the opportunities to build on the generalist social work skills developed during their foundation year. Focused within an interpersonal concentration, students are expected to demonstrate advanced social work skills in accordance with their specialized field of practice. A separate learning agreement is developed for the second year placements.


Evaluation of Students in Field Practicum

The learning agreement and the Field Placement Evaluation Form are the formal mechanisms used to evaluate student performance in the field placement. The learning agreement specifies the educational activities and expected outcomes for the student. This agreement is between the student, agency and university and is continuously monitored by all parties.

The Field Placement Evaluation Form is completed at the end of each semester. This information is shared with all involved parties.

The student’s progress will be evaluated weekly during supervision conferences in the field placement agency. These conferences, along with visits from the faculty liaison will also be integrated into the assessment of student progress. Evaluation of students is an ongoing and dynamic process. The student grade will be assigned by the faculty liaison at the end of each semester. Students will be encouraged to provide feedback to the field instructor through the completion of the Student Evaluation of Field Agency Form and Student Narrative Evaluation of the Field Practicum Form.

These evaluative tools, presented to the Field Instructor and the Director of Field Education provides students an opportunity to assess the learning environment in the agency. This information is used by the Field Education Office to address issues in the field placement agency, identify specialized training needs, and assess future field placement agencies.


Child Welfare Collaborative


North Carolina Child Welfare Education Collaborative

The North Carolina Child Welfare Education Collaborative was established in 1999 to improve public child welfare services in North Carolina. Administered by the Jordan Institute for Families at UNC Chapel Hill, the Collaborative is a joint effort of the NC Division of Social Services, the NC Association of County Directors of Social Services, the National Association of Social Workers NC Chapter, and the following social work education programs across North Carolina:

• Appalachian State University
• East Carolina University
• Joint Master of Social Work Program (NC A&T SU/UNC-Greensboro)
• North Carolina State University
• UNC Chapel Hill
• UNC Wilmington

The Collaborative seeks to increase the number of professionally educated social workers in public child welfare in North Carolina. The annual turnover rate for NC county child welfare workers is 44%, and only 30% of current NC child welfare staff has social work degrees. The University of North Carolina at Charlotte Department of Social Work began participating in the Collaborative during the fall 2002 as a “waiver” school. A “waiver school” is one which offers a specialized classroom and field instruction curriculum in public child welfare to BSW and MSW students to prepare for practice in public child welfare. Compared to the above social work education programs, “waiver” schools are not fully incorporated into the Collaborative in that they do not provide financial support to students. UNC Charlotte is one of seven “waiver schools” across the state:

• Fayetteville State University
• NC A&T SU
• NC Central University
• UNC Greensboro
• UNC Pembroke
• Western Carolina University

Upper Division BSW Social Work Majors and MSW students are eligible to apply to the Collaborative as a “waiver” student. The NC Pre-service Training competencies adopted by the NC Division of Social Services are integrated into a specialized curriculum consisting of (1) a Child Welfare course (SOWK 3090 or SOWK 7090) which must be completed with a grade of “B” or better and (2) a Field Placement experience at a NC county DSS working with Child and Protective Services. Upon successful completion of the Child Welfare course and Field Placement, “waiver” students receive a certificate indicating they have successfully completed the Pre-service Training competencies and may be hired at a NC county DSS with one year of social work experience. “Waiver” students are not obligated to work in a county DSS upon graduation.

Please contact Dr. A. Suzanne Boyd, Program Coordinator, for further information ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ; 704-687-6179).


Handbooks and Manuals

Click to download, print, or view handbooks and manuals.


Frequently Asked Questions

Answers to Frequently Asked Questions are available by clicking here and also by visiting the college's Office of Student Service website.

 

Contact Information

MSW Program Coordinator:
Diana Rowan, Ph.D.
Department of Social Work
704-687-7934
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Admissions Director:
Gay Jordan, MSW, LCSW
Department of Social Work
704-687-7937
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Tips on Paying for College and Your Credit

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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:
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To obtain an MSW Application package, please contact Graduate Admissions directly at 704-687-3366. The Graduate Admissions website is: www.uncc.edu/gradmiss.

 
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