Master of Social Work
Admission Requirements | Degree Requirements | Faculty | Course Descriptions
The University of Wisconsin-Green Bay and the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh have established a Collaborative MSW Program that prepares social workers for advanced practice as facilitators, partners and leaders in planned change activities with service users and community service providers. The program's goal is to educate professionals ready to assume direct practice leadership roles within this region's increasingly diverse and transforming rural and metropolitan environments.
The program aims to prepare practitioners who can work to strengthen families through services, and policies supportive of family and community well being; who can engage in interdisciplinary learning and coordinated interprofessional practice; who can provide leadership in the community and in civic life; and who can encourage and guide the inclusion and representation of Native Americans and members of other cultures in the region.
Program graduates provide leadership in the social work field:
- through their expertise in the use of skills associated with "best practice" models, particularly those that are family-focused and that serve diverse clientele;
- by taking action to improve services, particularly in the public and tribal practice sectors and in rural social work practice;
- by regularly utilizing research to critically analyze, improve and develop services within their areas of expertise;
- by developing and refining services through collaborative efforts with diverse clientele;
- by developing ongoing and innovative strategies for support of professional peers.
The program offers a full-time curriculum which can be completed in two calendar years. A part-time program is also available, which can be completed in nine semesters for students entering at the foundation level or five semesters for students entering at the advanced level. To meet the needs of working students, most courses in the program are offered on evenings and Saturday. Students also integrate and apply their classroom learning in a sixteen-hour-a-week field experience. Most social work courses are offered at the UW Fox Valley campus in Menasha, a central location for most students from Northeastern Wisconsin. Some additional elective and interdisciplinary courses will be available on either the UW-Oshkosh or UW-Green Bay campuses. Other Appleton locations may be used when space needs cannot be met at UWFV. Please check the semester schedule of classes for specific information on course offerings.
Areas of Emphasis
In addition to requiring a common foundation of courses, the Collaborative MSW Program offers an Advanced Direct Practice curriculum. This curriculum prepares students for leadership in the field through their work with and on behalf of individuals, groups and families. Work with vulnerable families who face multiple life challenges is emphasized.
Students may also concentrate their studies in social work administration and management. This concentration is offered when there is sufficient student interest to provide the SW Administration and Management practice course (SW 722). Students interested in this concentration are directed to the Collaborative MSW Program Coordinator.
Students are required to take four courses in the Advanced Curriculum and two elective courses relevant to their practice area focus.
Admission Requirements
To be admitted to the Collaborative MSW Program, applicants must meet the following requirements:
- Had a cumulative undergraduate gpa of 2.75, with 3.0 in the last two years of study;
- Have an academic background in the liberal arts and have completed a minimum of 18 credits in the social sciences from among courses in at least three of the following disciplines: psychology, sociology, anthropology, economics, and political science (BSW students meet this criterion);
- Through a written statement, three letters of reference (including one academic reference), and a relevant professional work/volunteer background, provide evidence of interest in and ability to work with social work clientele and in social work settings; documentation of breadth and depth of professional and/or volunteer experience (usually includes post-baccalaureate experience) that has prepared the applicant for advanced level practice;
- Have completed course work in: human biology, statistics, research methods, and life span development or submit plans for completing this work prior to taking the Advanced Curriculum in the program;
- For advanced standing, have graduated from an accredited baccalaureate social work program within the last eight years.
The program has a two-stage admissions process. Applicants complete a Pre-Admissions process by submitting: a Pre-Admissions Application Packet, Personal Essay, Work Resume, and contact information for three references to the Collaborative MSW Program. These materials are available at: www.uwosh.edu/social_work/collaborativemswprogram/Home.htm.
Applicants who are recommended for acceptance by the Collaborative MSW Program then go on to complete additional application procedures at either the UW-Green Bay or UW-Oshkosh campus.
Degree Requirements
For program applicants who do not have a BSW degree completed within the last eight years, 58 credits are required for graduation. This includes a 28-credit two-semester foundation curriculum (fall and spring), and a 30-credit three-semester advanced curriculum (fall, spring, and summer). Applicants who have completed a BSW degree within the last eight years receive advanced standing for all foundation requirements.
Foundation Curriculum Requirements, 28 credits
Foundation Courses:
A 28-credit set of foundation courses is required for all non-BSW students and for BSW students who received their degree more than eight years before entering the program. Eight credits of the foundation curriculum involve a field practicum in which students practice as social workers in a supervised field setting, carrying out a variety of generalist practice responsibilities.
Soc Work 701 Ethical Issues in Contemporary Social Work, 3 cr.
Soc Work 702 Generalist Practice I, 3 cr.
Soc Work 703 Skills Lab with Individuals, Families and Small Groups, 1 cr.
Soc Work 704 Generalist Practice II, 3 cr.
Soc Work 705 Skills Lab with Large Groups and Communities, 1 cr.
Soc Work 706 Social Welfare Institutions, 3 cr.
Soc Work 707 Human Behavior in the Social Environment, 3 cr.
Soc Work 708 Social Welfare Policy: Contemporary Approaches, 3 cr.
Soc Work 709 Field I: Foundations Social Work Field Practicum, 4 cr.
Soc Work 710 Field II: Foundations Social Work Field Practicum, 4 cr.
Advanced Curriculum Requirements, 30 credits
All students are required to take 10 credits of required advanced course work. In addition, Advanced Direct Practice students are required to take 14 credits of required course work and 6 credits of additional electives. Eight credits of the advanced curriculum are associated with a field practicum in which students practice as social workers in a supervised field setting, with either advanced direct practice or with administrative responsibilities.
Advanced Requirements: Required For All Students
SOC WORK 720 Practice Competence in a Diverse Community, 3 cr.
SOC WORK 728 Advanced Social Welfare Policy Analysis, 3 cr.
SOC WORK 731 Advanced Research Applications in Social Work Practice, 3 cr.
SOC WORK 732 Field Research Project, 1 cr.
Advanced Requirements: Direct Practice Concentration
SOC WORK 721 Multi-Level Family Intervention, 3 cr.
Advanced HBSE Selection, 3 credits
SOC WORK 729 Field III: Advanced Social Work Field Practicum and Integrative Seminar, 4 cr.
SOC WORK 733 Field IV: Advanced Social Work Field
Practicum and Integrative Seminar, 4 cr.
Electives, 6 credits
Advanced Requirement: Professional Project
Students in the program meet professional project requirements by completing a research project during their final semester in the program (SOC WORK 732). Students develop their project proposal in the Advanced Research Applications course (SOC WORK 731). This field-related research project is completed when students finish their two-semester Advanced Social Work Field Practica (SOC WORK 729 and 733).
Faculty
Altepeter, Donna, UW-OSHKOSH, Lecturer. BA Theology (1981), MSW(1983) St. Louis University, CICSW and ACSW.
Fields of interest: social work in health care and severe mental illness.
Ebert, Thomas G., UW-OSHKOSH, Associate Professor. BA (1973), MSSW (1974) University of Wisconsin-Madison; Ph.D. Urban Social Institutions (1998) University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.
Fields of interest: mental health, program evaluation research, scholarship of teaching, social welfare history.
Hand, Carol, Associate Professor. B.A. Social Work (1983); MSSW (1984); Ph.D. (2003) University of Wisconsin Madison.
Fields of interest: Macro-practice, gerontology, cultural diversity, policy analysis.
Martin, Judith A., Professor. B.S. Sociology (1968) University of Wisconsin-Madison; M.S.S.W. Social Welfare (1972) University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee; Ph.D. Social Work (1978) University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Fields of interest: child welfare service and policies, foster care and adoption, child abuse, family violence, attachment issues in child welfare.
Mattila, Matthew, Child Welfare Coordinator. B.S.W. (1977) Pacific Lutheran University; M.S.W. (1985) Puget Sound University.
Fields of interest: direct practice with children and families, family and divorce mediation, child welfare, forensic social work, and adult education.
Sallmann, Jolanda M., Assistant Professor. B.S.W. (1992), M.S.W. (1996) University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee; Ph.D. (2005) University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Fields of interest: violence against women across the life course, including its broader effects on mental health, substance use, criminal justice involvement, poverty and homelessness.
Staerkel, Fredi, UW-OSHKOSH, Assistant Professor. BA Social Welfare (1981) Pacific Lutheran University; MSW (1991), Ph.D. Social Welfare (2002) University of Washington Seattle.
Fields of interest: prevention science, child welfare, community-based program evaluation.
Sullivan, Quintin E., UW-OSHKOSH, Associate Professor and Program Chair. BA Social Welfare (1975) University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire; MSSW (1984), Ph.D. Social Welfare (1989) University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Fields of interest: administration, program evaluation, poverty, programs targeted at low income adolescents which aim to prevent welfare dependence.
Williams, Amy, UW-OSHKOSH Instructor and Undergraduate Field Coordinator. BA Psychology, Concordia University- St. Paul, MN; MSW, University of Minnesota.
Fields of interest: Micro-practice, social work history, HBSE and field.