The MSW advanced standing program is available to students who hold a bachelor’s degree in social work (BSW) from a Council of Social Work Education (CSWE) accredited institution. The program prepares graduates for advanced ethical and professional social work practice and licensure, emphasizing commitment to service, social justice, integrity, competence, and scientific inquiry.

Total Credits

35

Finish in as Few as

15 months

Courses

• Advanced Social Work Practice III (SOWK700)

  Assessment of diverse factors when making ethical, justice-informed practice decisions to attend to complex personal and systemic injustice factors which impact well-being. Application of evidenced-based, justice-informed social work theories and modalities in manners that are culturally appropriate and utilize critical thinking to inform and communicate professional judgments. Development of advanced engagement, assessment, intervention, and evaluation skills with individuals, families, groups, communities and organizations with application of justice promoting practices.

  3 credits

• Mental Health, Diagnosis, and Advanced Social Work Practice (SOWK705)

  Development of knowledge and skills necessary for working with individuals with an SPMI diagnosis (serious mental illness) using recovery-oriented, evidence-based practices. Identification of appropriate treatment outcomes that reflect effective, quality mental health practice with diverse groups. Examination of clinical work through case consultation, review, and presentation.

  3 credits

• Trauma and Crisis in Social Work Practice (SOWK710)

  Exploration of the nature of trauma/ crises, current practice trends and related theories associated with conceptualizing trauma informed practice.

  3 credits

• Theology, Justice and Human Rights (Advanced Standing) (SOWK715)

  Discussion of contemporary issues related to theology and praxis around the central biblical concept of justice, integrated into a social work perspective. Reflective exploration of lived human experience and how theology shapes approaches to justice in these contexts.

  3 credits

• Advanced Social Work Methods and Design II (SOWK720)

  Examination of diverse scholarship and literature with a justice-informed perspective. Development of justice-informed research used to advance human rights by informing policy and empowering vulnerable populations.

  2 credits

• Advanced Social Work Field Seminar III (SOWK725)

  Continuation of the field experience in a community-based practice setting. Application and integration of advanced justice-informed knowledge, values, skills, cognitive and affective processes for ethical generalist social work practice with an emphasis diversity, human rights, and justice under supervision of a qualified field instructor.

  2 credits

• Advancing Social Policy, Justice Issues and Human Rights in our Communities (SOWK730)

  Exploration of advanced justice-informed models of policy analysis applied to social welfare issues and challenges from a socio-cultural/political viewpoint. Identification of the significance of policy analysis and advocacy in justice-informed social work. Advanced justice-informed analysis of major US social policies and discussion of how policies impact marginalized communities. Advanced development of justice-informed social policy advocacy skills.

  3 credits

• Advanced Social Work Field Seminar IV (SOWK735)

  Continuation of the field experience in a community-based practice setting. Application and integration of advanced, justice-informed knowledge, values, skills, cognitive and affective processes for ethical generalist social work practice with an emphasis on diversity, human rights, and justice, under the supervision of a qualified field instructor. Students practice a minimum of 250 hours in field.

  2 credits

• Advanced Applied Theory in Community and Global Contexts (SOWK740)

  Analysis of complex ethical issues facing local and global communities. Application of a rights-based discourse analysis to develop community and capacity building strategies in local and global contexts from a social work practice perspective.

  2 credits

• Advanced Social Work Research Methods and Design III (SOWK745)

  Application of current justice-informed research methods to develop an agency-based research project. Engagement of key stakeholders in the research process to develop community action skills.

  2 credits

• Professional Field Symposium (SOWK750)

  Culminating field sequence course. Summary of evidence-based practice in professional social work. Description of psychopharmacology and psychoeducation to social work practice. Application of cognitive behavioral therapeutic (CBT) interventions, motivational interviewing skills, solution-focused intervention strategies in simulated practice contexts, and a specific intervention to impact client outcome in case study/simulated practice.

  2 credits

• Justice-Informed Clinical Practice with Marginalized Populations (SOWK765)

  Explore and equip clinical social work students with the knowledge base and skills to work with BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, and other historically marginalized populations in clinical settings.

  2 credits

• Environmental Justice, Health Disparities and Community Health (SOWK770)

  Evaluation of a critical, decolonizing, anti-oppressive and ecological framework in social work practice. Engagement in professional practice which incorporates critical theory to investigate the impact of colonialism from a systems perspective. Identification of key issues about health, social determinants for health, and disparities in health across marginalized communities. Analysis of connections among social disparities, faith perspectives, power, health and ethics related to assumptions and actions in social work practice.

  2 credits

• Diversity, Oppression and Decolonization in Social Work (SOWK780)

  Examination of assumptions underlying theory and research methodologies from which basic constructs of human behavior are drawn to understand how power and other dynamics manage and sustain oppression at the individual and institutional levels. An interest in how oppression affects service delivery at the micro and macro levels, particularly social policies and strategic planning. Examination through the synthesis of contemporary writings, social theory, and diverse voices with an eye to continued decolonization of social work practice.

  2 credits

• Capstone Integrative Seminar (SOWK790)

  Integration of research and presentation skills to demonstrate readiness to practice professional, justice-informed social work practice at an advanced level. Preparation for professional licensure exam. Reflective integration of faith, social work practice and justice.

  2 credits

Professional Licensure

The MSW at Bethel prepares students to sit for the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) professional licensure exam.

Field Work

Two field seminars throughout the program provide practical experience and the opportunity to integrate knowledge, skills, values, critical thinking, and applied ethics for social work practice. Students in the advanced standing program will complete 500 field work hours. Field work offers a progression of learning, including:

• Experience in a multi-service community-based agency serving diverse populations
• Emphasis on diversity, human rights, and justice
• Development of a professional identity
• Social work experience in a professional setting under the supervision of a qualified field instructor

Program Objectives

Graduates of the Master of Social Work at Bethel University will:

• Address complex social issues such as poverty, systemic violence, human neglect, trafficking, child welfare, trauma, mental health, health disparities, environmental racism, and social systems reform
• Explore concepts of theology, race, and equity to address social, economic, racial, and environmental injustice
• Apply critical concepts related to trauma and mental health to social work practice
• Apply learning in all contexts, micro to macro
• Seek justice in innovative ways—in wide-based, diverse, professional field settings
• Apply research and evidence-based practice to social work contexts and diverse community settings to impact sustainable change
• Integrate inclusive and bias-free language into scholarly work and professional practice