The Master of Social Work program is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) and prepares students for advanced level social work practice. Students become knowledgeable about the generalist foundations of social work and develop the unique skills and abilities required to promote human and social well-being through specializations in Direct Practice, Macro Practice, and School Social Work. The program is committed to the promotion of reflective leadership across diverse populations and systems using a trauma informed lens in addition to advocacy, professional ethics, and social justice.
Master of Social Work (MSW) Degree Program: School Social Work
The school social work specialization builds on the elements of generalist practice to prepare students to engage, assess, intervene, and evaluate practice with individuals, families, and communities in school-based practice settings. Students learn best practices to engage in research-informed practice and be proactive in promoting human and social well-being as it relates to social work practice working with individuals, families, and communities. The school social work curriculum is grounded in the person-in-the-environment framework, trauma-informed approaches, human rights, and social and economic justice. This specialization is designed for social workers seeking careers within schools, across larger educational programs and systems, and in policy practice as it related to public and private preschool, elementary, and secondary schools. Students who successfully complete the school social work specialization will be eligible for Pennsylvania’s School Social Worker Educational Specialist Certification. Pennsylvania requires any social worker seeking the Pennsylvania School Social Worker Educational Specialist Certification to be a Licensed Social Worker (LSW) in the State of Pennsylvania before this certificate is issued.
Required Specialization Courses
- MSW-741 Social Work in Schools
- ED-778 Designed for Difference
- Choose one (1) course: SPED-770 Meeting the Needs of Mild/Moderate OR SPED-773 Positive Behavior Supports K-12 OR SPED-778 Autism Spectrum Disorders
Credits Required: Minimum degree requirements are 60 credits for traditional MSW students and 39 credits for advanced standing MSW students.
Delivery: Online or In-person/Hybrid
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Post-Master’s Certificate in School Social Work
The 15-credit School Social Work Certificate program adheres to the mission of the MSW Program as it educates and prepares graduate-level social workers for Pennsylvania’s School Social Worker Educational Specialist Certification. This program provides postmasters social workers to practice with individuals, families, and communities in school-based practice settings to become qualified for careers within schools, across larger educational programs and systems, and in policy practice as it related to public and private preschool, elementary, and secondary schools. Students who successfully complete the school social work specialization will be eligible for Pennsylvania’s School Social Worker Educational Specialist Certification. Pennsylvania requires any social worker seeking the Pennsylvania School Social Worker Educational Specialist Certification to be a Licensed Social Worker (LSW) in the State of Pennsylvania before this certificate is issued.
**At least 3 credits of field placement will need to be completed in a school or school-based setting. This requirement may be waived for professionals seeking a post-graduate certificate who are currently working in a school-based setting. A waiver is dependent on the approval of the MSW Field Director.
Required Courses
- MSW727 OR MSW752 Complex Trauma OR Trauma Informed Practice – 3 credits
- SPED770 OR SPED773 Meeting the Needs of Mild/moderate OR Positive Behavior Supports PreK-12 – 3 credits
- MSWXXX School-Based Field Placement – 3 credits
- MSW741 Social work in Schools – 3 credits
- ED778 Designed for Difference – 3 credits
Credits Required: 15 credits
Delivery: Online or In-person/Hybrid
Scholarships Available
The School Social Work program is a part of a larger training program which provides scholarships to eligible students.
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Questions: Contact the Social Work Program at clstott@carlow.edu.
