MSW PROGRAM BULLETIN

2023-2024

Change a Life. Start with Yours.

COLLEGE OF SOCIAL WORK

MSW BULLETIN | 32 | 2023-2024

TABLE OF CONTENTS

2 ADMINISTRATION & STAFF

2 CALENDAR

3 DEAN’S WELCOME

3 THE COLLEGE, UNIVERSITY &

COMMUNITY

4 MSW PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

6 MSW PROGRAM

CONCENTRATIONS

7 JOINT PATHWAY PROGRAMS

8 CURRICULUM

10 ADMISSIONS INFORMATION

12 CERTIFICATE PROGRAMS

13 INTERNATIONAL PROGRAM

OPPORTUNITIES

14 FIELD EDUCATION

15 ACADEMIC POLICIES

18 GRADUATION

19 RESOURCES & SERVICES

21 SOCIAL WORK

ORGANIZATIONS & SERVICES

22 FINANCIAL AID &

SCHOLARSHIPS

23 FACULTY

24 MSW COURSE DESCRIPTIONS

CALENDAR

2023-2024

FALL 2023

Classes Begin August 28

Semester Ends December 15

SPRING 2024

Classes Begin January 8

Spring Break March 9-17

Semester Ends May 3

SUMMER 2024

Classes Begin May 13

Session C ends August 2

This document is available in alternate

formats upon request. The publisher

has attempted to present information

that at the time of preparation for

printing most accurately describes

the course oerings, faculty listings,

policies, procedures, regulations, and

requirements of the University. However,

it does not establish contractual

relationships. The University reserves the

right to alter or change any statement

contained herein without prior notice.

ADMINISTRATION

AND STAFF

David W. Springer, PhD, LCSW

Dean, Professor, Guy & Delores Spearman

Professor of Social Work

dwspringer@fsu.edu

Craig Stanley, PhD, LCSW

Associate Dean of Academic Aairs

& Teaching Professor

cstanley@fsu.edu

Jennifer Farinella, EdD

Assistant Dean for Academic Programs

(850) 645-6932

jfarinella@fsu.edu

Fran Gomory, MSW

Director, MSW Program

fgomory@fsu.edu

Katrina Boone, MSW

Director, Field Education

kboone@fsu.edu

Rosalyn Deckerho, MSW

Director, Online Field Education

rdeckerho@fsu.edu

Neil Abell, PhD

Professor and

Director of International Programs

nabell@fsu.edu

Dana DeBoer

MSW Admissions Coordinator

(850) 644-9591

ddeboer2@admin.fsu.edu

Michael Robinson, MS, EdS

MSW Advisor

Main Campus & Panama City Campus

(850) 645-7965

merobinson@fsu.edu

Sydney Smith

MSW Online Academic Advisor

scsmith2@fsu.edu

MSW PROGRAM

OFFICE

For more information and program

materials, contact us at:

MSW Program Oce

University Center, Building C, Room

C-2500

College of Social Work

Florida State University

Tallahassee, FL 32306-2570

(850) 644- 4751

Fax (850) 644-9750

Email: msw@csw.fsu.edu

College of Social Work website:

csw.fsu.edu

Facebook: facebook.com/fsucsw

Instagram: instagram.com/fsu_csw

he profession of social work seeks to bring people

together to enhance human well-being and promote

social justice. You are joining a tradition of excellence here

at the College. FSU Social Work graduates are using their skills

daily to improve the world in which we live. As you complete

your degree, you will acquire knowledge and skills that will

enhance your abilities to be an eective agent of change.

FSU has the oldest and most highly ranked Social Work program

in the state of Florida. For this reason, we have an alumni base

of exceptional practitioners and scholars across the state

and throughout the nation. Our graduates and partnering

agencies and community organizations oer wonderful ﬁeld

placements with the highest quality supervision as well as a

large professional network to enhance career opportunities.

Whether you plan to work directly with individuals, families or

communities or you aspire to shape policy or administer programs,

you have come to the right place. Our faculty includes seasoned

clinicians, policy experts, and world-class researchers who are

interested in preparing you for a successful career. While much of

the teaching happens within the classroom, our instructors work

with students to apply their knowledge in real-world settings

and situations to see where the curriculum meets community.

Additionally, our sta and college community provide guidance

and support along the way. We are all committed to providing

you with an excellent learning experience where you feel valued.

The College of Social Work experience oers so much more

than the curriculum. There are a number of dierent social work

clubs and organizations that will allow you to explore speciﬁc

interests while providing opportunities to engage in service. The

college also has ﬁve research centers and institutes that are

engaged in translational research as well as service provision,

oering frequent opportunities for student involvement.

Please take advantage of all we have to oer. We are looking

forward to getting to know you while we facilitate your

educational journey!

David W. Springer, PhD

Dean, Professor, Guy & Delores Spearman Professor

of Social Work

COLLEGE OF SOCIAL WORK

The College of Social Work’s tradition of excellence started

with the introduction of social welfare into FSU’s curriculum

in 1926 by Dr. Raymond Bellamy, professor of sociology.

Our fully-accredited program was the ﬁrst in Florida and

remains one of the longest standing in the Southeast. U.S.

News and World Report ranks the FSU College of Social

Work as among the top in the country. The College of Social

Work adheres to accreditation standards established by the

Council on Social Work Education.

OUR MISSION

It is the mission of the Florida State University College of

Social Work to provide quality educational services at the

baccalaureate, master, and doctoral levels that prepare

professional social workers to enhance human well-being

and help meet the basic needs of diverse populations

with particular attention to the empowerment of people

who are vulnerable or oppressed or living in poverty. The

College of Social Work also has as its purpose to contribute

to the knowledge base that supports social work practice

and social policy development and to provide leadership

through community service at the local, state, national, and

international levels.

THE UNIVERSITY

AND COMMUNITY

The Florida State University is a major research and

teaching university comprised of 18 colleges, serving a

student population of more than 40,000 and the people

of Florida. The University maintains an intellectual climate

of learning and strives for excellence and distinction in all

pursuits. In the last few years, the University has reached a

high level of distinction, thanks to its dedication to graduate

study and research, and to its superior teaching faculty and

student bodies.

Nestled in Tallahassee, Florida’s state capital, the University

enjoys the extraordinarily rich cultural climate created by

the presence of state and local government, a community

college and a second major university. Along with the beauty

of the “Big Bend” area, Tallahassee is in close proximity to a

wealth of Florida’s resources including the Gulf of Mexico,

the Apalachicola National Forest and natural recreation

areas.

THE COLLEGE, THE UNIVERSITY AND COMMUNITY

DEAN’S

WELCOME

Welcome to the

Florida State

University College

of Social Work!

MSW BULLETIN | 54 | 2023-2024

The MSW program, nationally accredited by the Council on

Social Work Education (CSWE), oers a broad professional

education based on a systems perspective, which stresses

how individuals live in their environment and how the

environment aects them.

The goal of the MSW Program at Florida State University is

to provide quality preparation for advanced practitioners

who will work with diverse client systems and problems. We

emphasize empirically-based practice which focuses on

preventing problems as well as treating them.

PROGRAM STRUCTURE

The Master of Social Work degree program is designed

to enable students to develop advanced professional

competence by providing a curriculum that includes ﬁve

sequence areas: social work practice; social policy; human

behavior and the social environment; social work research;

and ﬁeld education. The curriculum has been developed to

emphasize the common elements in all social work practice

areas so that persons receiving the professional degree will

be able to practice in a variety of community agencies and

settings.

At the master’s level, students choose one of two advanced

concentrations: Clinical Social Work, which focuses on

theories, research and practice with individuals, families,

groups, and communities; or Social Leadership, which

focuses on the theory, research and practice of social work in

organizations, administrations, policy-making and program

evaluation. While the curriculum is structured in this two

concentration format, students are welcome to take courses

in either concentration or customize their program of study

by applying for our joint pathway and certiﬁcate programs.

The Tallahassee main campus oers students an opportunity

to pursue either the Clinical Concentration, Social Leadership

Concentration or a joint pathway program, while the Panama

City campus and online program solely oers the Clinical

Concentration.

Note: Students must complete the MSW within seven years of

beginning the program.

TRADITIONAL MSW

CURRICULUM

The College oers full-time and part-time Master of Social

Work programs comprised of sixty-one (61) credit hours of

required social work courses and electives. Students bring

to their graduate studies a liberal arts perspective and build

on this background during the ﬁrst year of the program

which consists of a foundation curriculum that covers the

professional body of knowledge required by the social work

profession. Courses are divided by sequence areas that

include: practice, policy, research, human behavior and a 10

credit hour ﬁeld internship (approximately 432 ﬁeld hours). A

variety of elective courses are available and may strengthen

MSW PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

preparation in substantive areas of practice. The second year

of the curriculum focuses on advanced courses in either

the Clinical Social Work concentration or Social Leadership

concentration. The curriculum culminates with a ﬁnal 12

credit hour internship (approximately 512 ﬁeld hours) along

with a 3 credit hour Advanced Seminar course that serves

to integrate the curriculum with the ﬁeld experiences. These

internship locations are available in Tallahassee, around the

state of Florida and in speciﬁed international locations.

Students are highly encouraged to track their program of

study by consulting with our MSW Graduate Advisors who

can assist in assuring that students will graduate in the

planned time frame. Students should follow the approved

curriculum plan outlined in this bulletin for the concentration

selected in order to complete the MSW degree in a timely

manner. A listing and description of graduate courses is found

at the end of this bulletin.

ADVANCED STANDING

MSW PROGRAM

The College also oers an Advanced Standing Master of

Social Work program for applicants who have completed a

BSW degree from a program accredited by the Council on

Social Work Education (CSWE). Students in the Advanced

Standing program complete 39 credit hours of required

social work courses and electives, choosing either the

Clinical Social Work concentration or the Social Leadership

concentration. At the completion of all course work, the

curriculum concludes with a ﬁnal internship of 12 credit hours

(approximately 512 ﬁeld hours) and an Advanced Integrative

Seminar (3 credits).

ONLINE MSW

CURRICULUM

The College of Social Work oers an Online MSW program

for students who reside outside the following counties: Leon,

Gadsden, Wakulla, and Jeerson to complete a graduate

degree through part-time, online study. The program is

designed for those who cannot set aside full-time jobs and

family responsibilities for full-time graduate study, but who

are willing to make the commitment to a part-time program.

Applicants to these programs must meet the same standards

for admission as students in the main campus program and

follow a structured schedule of coursework, enrolling in two

courses per semester.

Florida State University’s College of Social Work became the

ﬁrst program to oer an online, CSWE accredited Advanced

Standing MSW program in the fall of 2002. In Spring 2015, the

College began oering the Traditional MSW Online program

as well. For both programs, most of the coursework is

asynchronous and uses a web-based format. The Traditional

MSW Online program requires that students participate in

two face-to-face weekend workshops during their studies.

Additionally, all students enrolled in SOW5807 Advanced

Clinical Practice are required to participate in a mandatory

Zoom session.

PANAMA CITY MSW

CURRICULUM

Our Panama City campus oers face-to-face Advanced

Standing and Traditional MSW programs for individuals who

reside in the following counties: Walton, Holmes, Washington,

Bay, Jackson, Calhoun and Gulf.

MSW BULLETIN | 76 | 2023-2024

CLINICAL SOCIAL WORK

CONCENTRATION

This concentration prepares students for evidence-based

clinical social work practice with a variety of clients in

numerous community settings. Overall, this curriculum

emphasizes professional services to clients experiencing

stressful situations which impair, or threaten to impair,

psychological and social functioning. Clinical social work

students develop knowledge and skills to enable them to

assess, diagnose, and treat persons with social, emotional

and/or behavioral disorders. The curriculum includes courses

and seminars focusing on theory, research, policy, practice

knowledge and skills deemed essential for clinical work with

diverse populations of individuals, families, groups, and

communities. Course work focuses on at risk and vulnerable

populations. Field education provides hands-on opportunities

for the application and integration of knowledge and skills.

The Clinical concentration curriculum enables

students to meet the following objectives:

1. Assess and/or diagnose and intervene with

client psychosocial problems through individual,

couple, family, and/or group modalities. Analyze

how policies impact clinical practice.

2. Conduct autonomous empirical evaluations of

their own practice interventions, incorporating

valid and reliable measures.

3. Critically evaluate, synthesize, and articulate empirical

and conceptual literature related to an applied clinical

context.

SOCIAL LEADERSHIP

CONCENTRATION

The goal of the Social Leadership concentration is to prepare

students for advanced, evidence-based social work practice

in organizational and community settings to:

1. Provide leadership in organizations and communities

within the public and private sectors.

2. Synthesize and apply theories and methods of policy

analysis to advance social and economic justice.

3. Synthesize and apply theories of change and

methods of program evaluation to assess

the eectiveness of social programs.

4. Develop, provide, and assess eective

administrative policies and practices.

5. Critically evaluate, synthesize, and articulate empirical

and conceptual literature related to practice in social

policy, program, and administrative contexts.

This concentration equips students to work in policy and/

or administrative positions in governmental and non-

governmental social agencies serving diverse individuals,

groups, and communities. In the ﬁrst year, our Traditional

MSW Social Leadership students complete foundation

courses and an internship (which requires direct client

contact). They then begin advanced practice courses

learning about organizational and community systems,

advanced policy analysis, program evaluation, and personnel

administration. Advanced electives allow students to focus

their studies on a substantive area of interest. In the ﬁnal

semester, a policy/administration-advanced internship is

completed along with an Integrative Seminar. Advanced

Standing MSW Social Leadership students enter the

program with their BSW and begin with advanced courses

learning about organizational and community systems,

advanced policy analysis, program evaluation, and personnel

administration.

MSW PROGRAM CONCENTRATIONS

JOINT MSW/JD PATHWAY

This program is for students interested in combining an

MSW with a degree in law. Persons graduating with this

pathway go into areas such as family law, child advocacy,

domestic violence, public policy, and public defense.

Students interested in this joint pathway must be admitted

simultaneously and independently to both FSU’s College of

Social Work and College of Law.

JOINT MSW/MPA PATHWAY

FSU’s Reuben O’D. Askew School of Public Administration

& Policy and the College of Social Work oer a joint pathway

program leading to the degrees of Master of Social Work

and Master of Public Administration. This is one of the few

joint pathway programs in these ﬁelds oered in the U.S.

that prepares MSW Social Leadership and MPA students

for positions in public, private and nonproﬁt human service

organizations by gaining knowledge in social work and public

administration. Students must be admitted to both graduate

programs independently.

JOINT MSW/MS IN

CRIMINOLOGY AND

CRIMINAL JUSTICE

PATHWAY

The MSW/MS is a joint collaboration between the College

of Social Work and the School of Criminology & Criminal

Justice. The joint pathway will be for graduate students in

both programs who wish to expand their understanding of

the connection between these two ﬁelds of study and gain

expertise in work with forensic clients. Students must be

admitted to both graduate programs independently.

JOINT MSW/MBA

PATHWAY

The MSW/MBA is a joint collaboration between the College of

Social Work and the College of Business. The joint graduate

pathway is designed for students in both programs who wish

to expand their understanding of the connection between

these two ﬁelds of study and gain expertise working in social

services agencies.

JOINT PATHWAY PROGRAMS

MSW BULLETIN | 98 | 2023-2024

CURRICULUM

CORE CLASSES

SOW5034 e Social Work Profession 3 Credits

SOW5105 Human Behavior and the Social Environment 3 Credits

SOW5308 Social Work Practice 3 Credits

SOW5235 Social Welfare Policy and Services 3 Credits

SOW5324 Social Work Practice with Groups and Communities 3 Credits

SOW5404 Introduction to Social Work Research 3 Credits

SOW5532 Graduate Field Instruction I 10 Credits

UPPER LEVEL CLASSES

SOW5334 Organizational and Community System Change

(Organizational Development)

3 Credits

SOW5238 Advanced Policy Analysis 3 Credits

SOW5377 Personnel Administration in the Social Services

(Social Work Administration)

3 Credits

SOW5XXX Elective 3 Credits

SOW5369 Integrative Seminar in Advanced Social Work Practice 3 Credits

SOW5535 Graduate Field Instruction II 12 Credits

Speciﬁc programs of study for part-time and full-time students can be found on the College’s website: csw.fsu.edu.

Please note: all coursework must be completed the semester before beginning SOW5535 and SOW 5369.

TRADITIONAL MSW - SOCIAL LEADERSHIP CONCENTRATION (MAIN CAMPUS ONLY)

CORE CLASSES

SOW5034 e Social Work Profession 3 Credits

SOW5105 Human Behavior and the Social Environment 3 Credits

SOW5308 Social Work Practice 3 Credits

SOW5235 Social Welfare Policy and Services 3 Credits

SOW5324 Social Work Practice with Groups and Communities 3 Credits

SOW5404 Introduction to Social Work Research 3 Credits

SOW5532 Graduate Field Instruction I 10 Credits

UPPER LEVEL CLASSES

SOW5125 Psychopathology in Clinical Practice 3 Credits

SOW5432 Evaluation of Social Work Practice 3 Credits

SOW5807 Clinical Practice 3 Credits

SOW5XXX Elective 3 Credits

SOW5369 Integrative Seminar in Advanced Social Work Practice 3 Credits

SOW5535 Graduate Field Instruction II 12 Credits

TRADITIONAL MSW – CLINICAL CONCENTRATION

SOW5334 Organizational and Community Systems Change

(Organizational Development)

3 Credits

SOW5238 Advanced Policy Analysis 3 Credits

SOW5377 Personnel Administration in the Social Services

(Social Work Administration)

3 Credits

SOW5XXX Elective 3 Credits

SOW5369 Integrative Seminar in Advanced Social Work Practice 3 Credits

SOW5535 Graduate Field Instruction II 12 Credits

SOW5807 Clinical Practice 3 Credits

SOW5125 Psychopathology in Clinical Practice 3 Credits

SOW5432 Evaluation of Social Work Practice 3 Credits

SOW5XXX Elective 3 Credits

SOW5369 Integrative Seminar in Advanced Social Work Practice 3 Credits

SOW5535 Graduate Field Instruction II 12 Credits

ADVANCED STANDING MSW - SOCIAL LEADERSHIP CONCENTRATION (MAIN CAMPUS ONLY)

ADVANCED STANDING MSW - CLINICAL SOCIAL WORK CONCENTRATION

MSW BULLETIN | 1110 | 2023-2024

ADMISSIONS INFORMATION

The Master’s Program in the College of Social Work seeks

to enroll students who are intellectually and emotionally

capable of completing graduate education and practicing at

the advanced level in the profession of social work. Criteria

for admission are established in conformity with standards

derived from the National Association of Social Workers and

the Council on Social Work Education. Assessment of this

potential is made on the basis of academic achievement,

social service experience, personal strengths, references

and indications of the applicant’s commitment to the

profession. Proper completion of admission requirements

ensures consideration, but does not guarantee admission.

Full application directions can be found on the College of Social

Work website: csw.fsu.edu.

All applicants for graduate admission must submit the

following information to the FSU Graduate Admissions

Oce:

1. One ocial transcript of ALL undergraduate

and graduate work courses. Applicants still in an

ongoing degree program must submit a second

set of ocial transcripts with degree posted.

2. The GRE requirement has been waived through the 2026

admissions cycle.

In addition, applicants must:

1. Have a baccalaureate degree from a regionally

accredited college or university.

2. Be in good standing at the institution of higher

learning last attended (if applicable).

3. Complete the College of Social Work application.

4. Submit a statement of purpose.

5. Provide the College of Social Work with three references:

a combination of employment and academic references.

6. Submit a current resume.

7. Present evidence of a grade point average of at least

3.0 for all hours earned past their ﬁrst 60 semester

hours or 90 quarter hours for the baccalaureate

degree OR an earned graduate degree from a

regionally accredited U.S. institution or a comparable

degree from an international institution.

8. Have a liberal arts foundation, demonstrated by a liberal

arts degree or 36 hours of course work in the following

curriculum areas:

Area I: Mathematics (6 hours)

Area II: English (6 hours)

Area III: History/ Social Sciences (6-12 hours)

Area IV: Humanities/ Fine Arts (5-11 hours)

Area V: Natural Science (7 hours)

All oers of admission are conditional upon

the completion of these prerequisites.

9. Evidence of paid social services work or volunteer

experience may strengthen one’s application.

Meeting these requirements only assures consideration of an

application. There is no single factor, by itself, which will either

assure or bar admission. Untruthful or misleading responses

will disqualify an application and if detected after enrollment,

will automatically void an application and admission to

the program along with being grounds for dismissal.

EXCEPTION POLICY

Applicants with an upper division GPA below 3.0 must submit

a “Petition for Exceptional Consideration” for their application

to be evaluated. The outline for this petition is attached to

the application. A very limited number of exceptions to the

minimum GPA requirements can be made for applicants who

demonstrate exceptional qualities or experience. The total

application process must be completed before exceptional

consideration decisions can be made. Those admitted under

the Exception Policy must meet the same performance

standards in the program as a student who meets regular

admission requirements.

PROVISIONAL POLICY

Students admitted under provisional status are required to

attain a 3.0 or better cumulative GPA with no grade below a

B-. Students are required to enroll in a minimum of 6 credit

hours* of social work courses during their ﬁrst semester

and must meet with an advisor prior to registration. Upon

successful completion of the ﬁrst semester, the student’s

provisional status changes to graduate status. Students who

do not meet the provision will not be permitted to continue in

the MSW program.

*If a campus-based student selects to take more than 6 hours,

the provisional requirement applies to all hours enrolled.

ADVANCED STANDING MSW

PROGRAM POLICY

Students who have earned a BSW degree from a Council

on Social Work Education (CSWE) accredited program may

be eligible for the Advanced Standing MSW program. To be

considered they must have met all the general requirements

listed above and have satisfactorily completed a minimum of

400 hours of educationally based ﬁeld education in generalist

practice with individuals, families, groups, and communities

under appropriate social work supervision.

Note: Students who have completed a course at the BSW level

may not repeat that course at the graduate level and have it

count for graduate credit.

INTERNATIONAL STUDENT POLICY

International students who wish to apply for admission

should contact the International Admissions Ocer, Oce of

Graduate Admissions, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL

32306-2400, for special information and application forms.

Only degree-seeking international students are generally

recommended for admission. Foreign nationals are required

to receive a satisfactory score of ‘80’ or higher on the Internet

based TOEFL exam.

RETURNING STUDENT POLICY

Students in good standing who leave the FSU College of

Social Work before completing requirements for the MSW

may reapply and will be given consideration for readmission.

Readmission can only be considered if the student will be able

to complete all requirements of the MSW degree within seven

years from the date of the initial enrollment, as required by

Florida State University.

NON-DEGREE SEEKING

STUDENT POLICY

The University allows non-degree-seeking students to enroll

in select courses IF they have not previously been denied

admission into the MSW Program. The primary purpose of

this status is for continuing education or for students who

are interested in obtaining a clearer understanding of a major.

Up to twelve (12) elective credit hours (with a grade of B or

better) may be accepted toward the degree if a student is later

accepted into the graduate program.

Students on the Tallahassee main campus must apply for non-

degree-seeking status via admissions.fsu.edu/nondegreeapp

and notify main campus advisor Michael Robinson

(merobinson@fsu.edu). Online non-degree students should

contact Sydney Smith (scsmith2@fsu.edu).

Non-degree seeking students can ONLY register for program

approved courses. Courses taken as a non-degree seeking

student do not automatically carry graduate credit nor does

this status constitute acceptance into the graduate program,

even if a student excels in course work. Non-degree seeking

students must still apply for the graduate program and meet

the standard admissions criteria. Performance in non-degree

seeking coursework will be a consideration in the evaluation of

applications.

Non-degree seeking students may be eligible for ﬁnancial aid;

however, College of Social Work policy requires a non-degree

seeking student to have an active MSW application on ﬁle with

all supplemental documents submitted. Please consult the

FSU Graduate Bulletin for further information regarding non-

degree seeking student status.

ADMISSIONS APPEALS PROCESS

Any student who meets the minimum requirements and is

denied admission to the College of Social Work has the right

to appeal this decision by contacting the Graduate School.

Decisions made after this appeal are ﬁnal. Please refer to the

appeals process in the FSU Graduate Bulletin

(registrar.fsu.edu/bulletin/grad/).

ADMISSION DATES

Please visit the College of Social Work website (csw.fsu.edu)

for application deadlines.

When considering applying, please note graduate school

necessitates a tremendous commitment of time and energy.

Therefore, students need to be fully aware of sacriﬁces

that may need to be made both personally and ﬁnancially

before making such a commitment. It is the student’s

responsibility to remain ﬂexible regarding class schedules

and internships. All students, even those attending part-time,

must be prepared to make adjustments to their schedule

to successfully complete the degree requirements. MSW

advisors are available for consultation.

APPLICATION PROCEDURE

All MSW applicants can apply to the College of Social Work

and Graduate Admissions using the Florida State University’s

Graduate Online Application admissions.fsu.edu/gradapp/.

TRANSFER STUDENTS

The College of Social Work accepts transfer students into

the program. These applicants must meet all the admission

requirements of the College described previously. A student

who was enrolled as a degree-seeking student in another

Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) accredited

graduate social work program may transfer up to twenty-

nine (29) credits towards the Traditional MSW Program

(61 credit hours) or up to seven (7) credits toward the

Advanced Standing MSW program (39 credit hours). A

student must receive a grade of B or better in courses taken

within the past seven years to petition for transfer credit

consideration. Courses will be reviewed on a course-by-

course basis. Transfer students are expected to provide the

following information for each course they wish to transfer:

A. Course outline or syllabus

B. Ocial transcript with course grade(s) posted

REGISTRATION FOR SOCIAL

WORK CLASSES

All Social Work courses and their availability are viewable

online from the Registrar’s website. When classes are full,

however, or there are “holds” that prevent students from

registering, they are encouraged to contact an MSW Advisor

for assistance.

TUITION AND FEES

Tuition per graduate credit hour varies for Florida residents

and non-residents. Please visit tuition.fsu.edu/tuition-and-

fees for the most current tuition rates.

**THERE ARE ADDITIONAL FEES FOR ALL ONLINE

COURSES.

MSW BULLETIN | 1312 | 2023-2024

CERTIFICATE PROGRAMS

CHILD WELFARE PRACTICE

CERTIFICATE

This certiﬁcate program oers both undergraduate and

graduate students an opportunity to focus their curriculum

on issues related to child welfare. Course work addresses:

prevention of neglect, abuse, exploitation, or delinquency of

children; protection of homeless, dependent, or maltreated

children; strengthening families to maintain children in their

own homes; development of advocacy groups, and analysis

of social policies and mental health issues related to this

population. Child welfare practitioners provide a continuum of

services in both public and private settings.

*This certiﬁcate requires that a ﬁnal ﬁeld placement be

completed in a child welfare setting.

GERONTOLOGY/AGING

STUDIES CERTIFICATE

This certiﬁcate oers an opportunity for concentrated

education in aging studies by providing an educational

credential for students with an interest in aging and old age.

LEAD IN SOCIAL WORK

CERTIFICATE

(Leadership in Executive and

Administrative Development)

The mission of this leadership certiﬁcate is to educate

students about leadership theories and practices and

provide students with leadership experience. Learning about

leadership will give these students the skills that they will

need for middle and executive positions in social service

organizations. An in-depth curriculum emphasizing leadership,

decision-making, client-centered management, team

building, negotiating, budget and ﬁnance, and the successful

management of grants will guide our students in the direction

of being able to successfully manage social service agencies.

Please consult your MSW advisor to determine how a

certicate impacts your program of studies.

STUDENTS INTERESTED IN CERTIFICATE PROGRAMS MUST COMPLETE A SEPARATE CERTIFICATE

APPLICATION. THIS APPLICATION MUST BE SUBMITTED NO LATER THAN COMPLETION OF THE

SECOND CERTIFICATE QUALIFYING COURSE.

UNDERGRADUATE-LEVEL COURSEWORK (1000-4000 LEVEL) CANNOT BE USED, SUBSTITUTED

AND/OR COUNTED AS PART OF THE TOTAL COMPLETION HOURS OF A GRADUATE CERTIFICATE.

Visit csw.fsu.edu for the applications and details.

INTERNATIONAL PROGRAM OPPORTUNITIES

STUDY ABROAD

The College of Social Work oers a summer study abroad

program in Prague, Czech Republic. Students earn 6 credits

focused on human rights in a Central European context. Fees

include course credit, lodging and cultural excursions.

The program application is available at international.fsu.edu/

Program/CzechRepublic/HumanRights.aspx and students

are strongly encouraged to apply as soon as the program

application opens in early September to avoid being placed on

the wait list. Limited scholarships may be available; see CSW

website for application and details.

SOCIAL WORK FIELD

PLACEMENTS

International internships are available in the United Kingdom

(London, England; Belfast, Northern Ireland; Edinburgh,

Scotland), the Republic of Ireland (Dublin), and Canada

(Vancouver, B.C.). Full-time MSW students complete ﬁeld

placements in a wide range of settings (areas: HIV/AIDS,

child welfare, criminal justice, homelessness and refugee

resettlement).

Living options range from the FSU Study Centre in London,

to independent living arrangements. Considerable advance

planning is required, and interested students should contact

International Programs Director, Dr. Neil Abell, nine months

prior to placement. Scholarships are available.

ALTERNATE SPRING BREAK

Each March, students may participate in a week-long service-

learning and cultural exchange experience with local partners

and agencies in St. George’s, Grenada in the East Caribbean.

This trip includes lodging with access to beaches and the

capital city. Students complete a 3-credit hour course during

the spring semester. The application opens each Fall before

travel and is available on the CSW website.

LEARN MORE AT: csw.fsu.edu/ip

OR CONTACT:

Dr. Neil Abell, International Programs Director

nabell@fsu.edu

Tan Edgerton, Academic Program Specialist

tedgerton@fsu.edu

MSW BULLETIN | 1514 | 2023-2024

Field education is an essential component of the MSW

Program and is designed to provide students with a

supervised internship oering learning experiences that:

1. Enhance the ability to integrate theory into

eective evidence-based social work practice,

2. Broaden students’ range of skills for performing

high quality social work functions,

3. Strengthen awareness of attitudes, motivations, and

judgments identiﬁed with the profession of social work.

The Oce of Field Education coordinates internships with

students and ﬁeld agency representatives. Internships are

planned on an individual basis based on shared interests,

location preferences, and other important details from the

ﬁeld application process. The College of Social Work does not

oer night or weekend ﬁeld placements.

If a student has a criminal record, he or she may be ineligible

for certain internships due to agency requirements.

Agencies aliated with the College of Social Work represent

the diversity found in social services. The College oers

a wide array of internships in public and private agencies

with diverse populations of clients in areas such as child

welfare, health, mental health, family counseling, aging, and

corrections.

Traditional MSW program students complete a generalist

internship while enrolled in academic courses during

the ﬁrst portion of their program. This generalist

internship totals 432 hours for the semester.

Students in both the Traditional and Advanced Standing MSW

programs complete a ﬁnal internship (totaling 512 hours) in

advanced practice during the last semester of the program.

Students are also enrolled in a simultaneous ﬁeld seminar

course.

A student must have successfully completed SOW5308

and have a 3.0 GPA to begin the generalist internship.

Final internships can ONLY begin once ALL course

work is satisfactorily completed, which includes

the resolution of all “Incomplete” grades, a 3.0

GPA and a completed ﬁeld application.

AS PER CSWE: UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES WILL

PREVIOUS WORK OR LIFE EXPERIENCE BE CREDITED

OR USED IN PLACE OF A FIELD PLACEMENT.

Students are required to follow the procedures established by

the Oce of Field Education for all internship arrangements.

Failure to meet deadlines and/or to follow policies may delay

an internship. Students are responsible for being aware of

posted deadlines and meetings. The Oce of Field Education

reserves the right to terminate any interns who violate

policies and practice standards. For further information,

ﬁeld education policies and procedures are available from

the College of Social Work’s website: csw.fsu.edu.

FIELD EDUCATION

ACADEMIC POLICIES

COLLEGE OF SOCIAL WORK AND

THE UNIVERSITY POLICY ON

STUDENT CONDUCT

It is the University’s policy to expect students to conduct

themselves as responsible members of the community. If

a student’s conduct is a violation of federal, state, or local

law, the appropriate authorities may charge the student. In

addition, any students whose words or acts demonstrate

disrespect for laws; rules or policies; the rights of others; or

the health, safety, or welfare of members of the community

shall be subject to disciplinary action by the University.

The nature of social work is based on ethical behavior, sound

professional judgment, and competence. Therefore, students

are expected to conduct themselves in accordance with the

standards of the College, the University, and the National

Association of Social Workers. The College of Social Work uses

the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) Code of

Ethics as its guide. To be retained within the program, students

must adhere to the practice standards of this Code of Ethics.

The code is available by going to the web site of the National

Association of Social Workers: socialworkers.org.

ACADEMIC HONOR POLICY

Guided by the principles found at academichonor.fsu.edu, the

Academic Honor Policy outlines the University’s expectations

for students’ academic work, the procedures for resolving

alleged violations of those expectations, and the rights and

responsibilities of students and faculty throughout the process.

PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS

The College of Social Work at Florida State University prepares

students for careers as professional social workers and to be

leaders of micro and macro social work practice. Becoming a

professional social worker is a gradual process and involves a

commitment to lifelong learning and self-reﬂection.

The College of Social Work is fully committed to supporting

and educating students as they prepare to enter the

social work profession. Given the ethical responsibilities of

professional social work practice to enhance human well-

being and help meet the basic human needs of all people,

with particular attention to the needs and empowerment of

people who are vulnerable, oppressed, and living in poverty

(NASW Code of Ethics, 2020), the College of Social Work has

established Professional Standards for students that not only

focus on academic performance but that also emphasize

the abilities and attributes essential for the profession.

The following are the Professional Standards each

student must satisfy, with or without reasonable

accommodations, to enroll in, fully participate in, progress

through, and graduate from any College of Social Work

program. These requirements apply in the classroom,

ﬁeld placements, our College, and the University.

1. Communication:

Students must strive to:

• Communicate eectively, responsibly, and in a

timely manner in interactions with other students,

faculty, ﬁeld instructors, sta, clients and client

systems, and other professionals they might

come in contact within their student role.

• Demonstrate the capacity to use eective

communication skills, including the ability to listen

objectively and interpret nonverbal communication.

• Communicate clearly through written products at

a level appropriate for their stage of education.

• Avoid unwarranted negative criticism of peers

and colleagues in verbal, written, and electronic

communications (includes demeaning comments

that refer to a person’s level of competence or a

person’s attributes on the basis of race, creed, color,

sex, religion, national origin, age, disability, genetic

information, veterans’ status, marital status, sexual

orientation, gender identity, gender expression,

or any other legally protected group status.

2. Intellectual and Cognitive Skills:

Students must strive to:

• Think critically and apply problem-solving skills.

• Acquire knowledge and process

experiences to inform practice.

• Demonstrate a willingness to continually reﬂect on their

own values, attitudes, beliefs, emotions, biases, and

current and past experiences and consider how these

factors aect their thinking, behavior, and interactions.

• Exercise sound judgment and take responsible

steps (including appropriate education, research,

training, consultation, and supervision) to

ensure the competence of their work.

• Demonstrate understanding of culture and its

function in human behavior and society, recognizing

the strengths that exist in all cultures.

• Refrain from any form of discrimination on the basis

of race, creed, color, sex, religion, national origin, age,

disability, genetic information, veterans’ status, marital

status, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender

expression, or any other legally protected group status.

• Uphold and advance the values, ethics, knowledge,

and mission of the profession through appropriate

study, research, and active engagement.

• Promote conditions that encourage respect for cultural

and social diversity within the United States and globally.

• Take responsibility for their own actions and

consider the impact of these actions on others.

• Demonstrate organizational skills (e.g., punctuality,

dependability, prioritization, and time management).

• Demonstrate excellent attendance and

the fulﬁllment of responsibilities.

• Integrate new and changing information obtained

from the classroom and practice environment.

• Accept and integrate into practice

constructive feedback received.

MSW BULLETIN | 1716 | 2023-2024

3. Emotional and Behavioral Readiness:

Students must strive to:

• Prevent personal problems, psychosocial distress, legal

problems, substance abuse, or mental health diculties

from interfering with their judgment and performance.

• Seek appropriate support when emotional and behavioral

stressors impede professional and academic performance.

• Consistently demonstrate the ability to manage

demanding workloads and adapt to changing

environments and situations (e.g., ﬂuctuating

caseloads during ﬁeld placement, personnel and

supervision changes, policy changes, etc.).

• Consistently demonstrate the ability to tolerate

viewing, reading, and hearing disturbing content

in educational and professional environments.

• Maintain respectful relationships with peers,

faculty, ﬁeld instructors, sta, clients and

client systems, and other professionals.

• Demonstrate the capacity to successfully complete

required ﬁeld practicum hours and demonstrate positive

progress in the required social work competencies.

Students who would like to request reasonable

accommodations should contact the Oce of Accessibility

Services at Florida State University, dsst.fsu.edu/oas.

In addition, students should please contact the

Associate Dean of Academic Aairs, MSW Director,

or BSW Director if they are having diculty meeting

the standards while enrolled in the program.

ACADEMIC LOAD

Online students adhere to a part-time program of two courses

per semester. Students on the main Tallahassee campus may

progress at a part-time or full-time pace. Please consult the

various programs of study on csw.fsu.edu. Additionally, if

you are a main campus student wishing to change your pace

during your program, contact the main campus advisor. The

Director of the MSW Program must approve an overload of

credits above 18 hours (to a maximum load of 21 semester

hours).

During the summer semester, all College of Social Work

classes are oered during the 12-week Summer C session.

All internships and online classes are taught during the full

Summer C session.

ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE

Students must maintain a cumulative grade point

average (GPA) of 3.0 to remain in the program. If the GPA

falls below 3.0, students will be placed on probation for

one semester with the expectation that they improve

the GPA. Failure to do so will result in dismissal from

the University. Students are not eligible to enter a ﬁeld

placement unless they have a 3.0 GPA. Degrees will not

be conferred unless all course work is completed and

the cumulative grade point average is at least 3.0.

No course with a grade below “C” will be credited toward the

graduate degree (eective for students with an initial start

date in the MSW program of Fall 2018). Grades in all courses

(except those for which grades of “S” or “U” are given) will be

included in the computation of the grade point average.

ACADEMIC ADVISING

The Master’s program has advisors who work with each

student on issues related to coordinating a program of

studies, graduation requirements, and general University

issues. The graduate advisors and faculty mentors are

available to students by appointment, telephone or email.

COURSE WAIVERS

The College provides a waiver exam for those with prior

knowledge/experience in Human Behavior and the Social

Environment and Introduction to Social Work Research. If a

student successfully passes any waiver examination he or she

must substitute a social work elective in place of the waived

course. Waiver exams may be scheduled through graduate

advisors.

UNDERGRADUATE COURSE CREDIT

Students who have completed a course at the BSW level may

not repeat that course, regardless of the instructor, at the

graduate level and have it count for graduate credit.

The Social Work Profession (SOW 3203/SOW 5034), if taken

as a Social Welfare Minor at FSU, can be substituted with a

social work elective class if a B or better was attained. Please

consult your MSW advisor to determine how this will aect

your program of study.

COURSE WITHDRAWAL

Students are eligible for course withdrawals based on

personal, medical or mental health reasons. The deadline

for students to withdraw from the semester without grade

liability is up to the end of the 7th week. However, students

will remain fee liable.

After the 7th week deadline, students are only eligible for a

medical/mental health withdrawal. Students should contact

their advisor for additional information.

DROP/ADD

The deadline for students to drop a course without grade or

fee liability is before the end of the drop/add period (end of

the 4th day of the semester).

SUSPENSION, DISMISSAL, AND

REINSTATEMENT

The University reserves the right to exclude, at any time, a

student whose conduct is deemed improper or prejudicial to

the interest of the University community or whose academic

performance is substandard.

A graduate student whose cumulative grade point average

for courses taken at The Florida State University falls below

3.0 at the end of term (not counting courses for which “S”

or “U” grades may be given) will be considered not in good

standing by the University and will be placed on academic

probation. If a 3.0 cumulative grade point average is not

attained by the end of the next full term of enrollment, the

student will not be permitted to register for graduate study

– including registering as a non-degree seeking student.

Owing to the dierential uses of the designation, “academic

probation” shall not appear on permanent records of regular

graduate students. After one probationary period, however,

a student whose average falls within the probationary

range (below a 3.0 cumulative graduate GPA) will receive

automatic dismissal. Transcripts will reﬂect the designation

“academically dismissed.”

The University reserves the right to terminate enrollment in

an academic program and dismiss a student whose academic

performance is below the standards of the program,

regardless of GPA, or whose conduct is deemed improper

or prejudicial to the interest of the University community.

Dismissed students will not be permitted to register for

graduate study, including registering as a non-degree student.

RETENTION POLICY

Professional responsibility, ethics, and integrity are major

parts of the social work profession. Those who violate the

academic standards through plagiarism and other forms

of cheating will be disciplined according to the procedures

noted in the FSU Graduate Bulletin

(registrar.fsu.edu/bulletin/graduate/).

GRADE APPEALS SYSTEM

The purpose of the grade appeals system is to aord

students an opportunity to appeal a ﬁnal course grade under

certain circumstances. Faculty judgment of student academic

performance is inherent in the grading process and hence

should not be overturned except when the student can show

that the grade awarded represents a gross violation of the

instructor’s own speciﬁed evaluation (grading) statement

and therefore was awarded in an arbitrary, capricious, or

discriminatory manner. The evaluation (grading) statement

utilized during the grade appeals process is the one contained

in the instructor’s syllabus at the beginning of the semester.

This system does not apply to preliminary or comprehensive

exams or to thesis or dissertation defenses; these issues

are reviewed by the Student Academic Relations Committee

via the Dean of the Faculties. For further information, please

contact Dr. Jennifer Buchanan in the Oce of Faculty

Development and Advancement at 850-644-6876.

FACULTY SENATE COMMITTEE ON

STUDENT ACADEMIC RELATIONS

The Faculty Senate committee on student academic relations

hears appeals from students concerning decisions about

their academic work in which they believe to have been

arrived at improperly or unprofessionally in departments,

schools, or colleges. The committee comprises ﬁve faculty

members, appointed annually by the faculty Senate

steering committee with the advice and consent of the

senate for staggered two-year terms, and two students, one

undergraduate and one graduate, appointed annually by the

University President. The committee elects its chair annually

from the faculty representatives and reports its ﬁndings

and recommendations to the Vice President for Academic

Aairs. Students wishing to make appeals to the committee

on student academic relations should consult the Dean of the

Faculties. Appeals to this committee are made after all other

available remedies have been exhausted.

POLICY FOR STUDENT SANCTIONS

FOR ACADEMIC AND

PROFESSIONAL REASONS

The primary objective of the College of Social Work is to

prepare students for social work practice. The College is

responsible for the educational preparation of students for

this role and for the evaluation of students’ achievement of

our academic standards. Moreover, as a professional school,

we are responsible for ensuring that students meet standards

of behavior that are congruent with expectations of the social

work profession, as outlined in the NASW Code of Ethics

(socialworkers.org/About/Ethics) and in standards for

Licensed Clinical Social Workers in the state of Florida. Such

professional schools have the ability to set consequences

for behavior that go beyond those for other departments on

campus. Our students are also expected to comply with the

FSU Academic Honor Policy and the FSU Student Conduct

Code.

COLLEGE OF SOCIAL WORK

ELECTRONIC POLICY

It is the policy of the College of Social Work that technology

applied to or used for a course and/or ocial College

business cannot be used for any other purposes than those

that directly relate to the curriculum and/or ocial College

business.

Technology includes but is not limited to electronic

mail services (including electronic mailing lists), the

Internet, software, and course web site programs.

Furthermore, this policy applies to the use of all

computer equipment owned by the College of Social

Work.

Activities that are expressly prohibited under this policy

include:

1. Giving or selling e-mail addresses and/or other personal

information regarding students, instructors, sta,

or faculty to any outside person or organization;

2. Using e-mail lists for students, instructors, sta, or

faculty for commercial and/or solicitation purposes;

3. Enabling anyone who is not registered for a particular

course to access the system without permission

and consent from the instructor for the course;

4. Enabling anyone who is not authorized to use the

University or College database to access the system

without permission and consent from the supervisor;

MSW BULLETIN | 1918 | 2023-2024

ADULT LEARNING

EVALUATION CENTER

education.fsu.edu/centers-institutes/

adult-learning-evaluation-center-alec

(850) 644-3611

The Adult Learning Evaluation Center (A.L.E.C.) is a not-

for-proﬁt assessment center under the administration of

the Department of Educational Psychology and Learning

Systems of Florida State University. The Center provides low

cost psycho-educational evaluations for college students

and other adults who may be experiencing scholastic

diculties due to a possible learning disability or attention

deﬁcit hyperactivity disorder. The clinic sta consists of

faculty members, licensed psychologists, a clinical director,

and graduate students in the specialties of school and

counseling psychology. In addition to evaluation services,

the center provides educational workshops, individual client

coaching, ongoing research, and training. Workshop topics

include study skills enhancement and anxiety reduction. The

Center is open Monday through Friday from 8:00-5:00, and is

located in Room 214 of the Stone Building.

CENTER FOR LEADERSHIP AND

SERVICE

thecenter.fsu.edu

(850) 644-3342

FSU’s Center for Leadership and Service oers numerous

volunteer experiences. The Center also oers SERVSCRIPT, a

mechanism to add to a student’s ocial transcript the actual

number of community service hours worked. Social work

internships can be recorded in the hours documented on

SERVSCRIPT.

FLORIDA AGRICULTURAL AND

MECHANICAL UNIVERSITY/

FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY

COOPERATIVE PROGRAM

A full-time student at FAMU or FSU may enroll for course

credit at the other institution with prior approval. (See the

FSU General Bulletin.) Social work majors who have had at

least six credit hours of social work and nine credit hours in

a given term at FSU may take advantage of this opportunity.

However, FSU students may not enroll in courses at FAMU

during a semester in which those same courses are oered at

FSU.

FSU CAREER CENTER

career.fsu.edu

(850) 644-6431

The Career Center, located in the Dunlap Success Center,

helps students in all phases of career development. The

Center’s Curricular-Career Information Service unit helps

explore skills, interests, and values and select appropriate

academic programs and occupations to reach career goals.

The Career Experience Opportunities Program helps students

explore career choices through various pre-professional

internships and cooperative education work experiences.

Students nearing the end of their academic programs

may ﬁnd help in the Career Placement Services unit that

administers the on-campus recruitment program. The Career

RESOURCES & SERVICES

GRADUATION

APPLICATION

Application for a degree must be made to the Oce of the

University Registrar by the date stated in the academic

calendar in the General Bulletin during the ﬁrst two weeks of

the term of expected graduation. If a student is unable to

graduate at the end of the term for which the application was

made and the diploma was ordered, he or she must again make

application for degree no later than the deadline for the next

term of expected graduation.

Students may check application deadlines and commencement

dates at registrar.fsu.edu.

GRADUATION AND

COMMENCEMENT

University Commencement is held at the end of every

semester: fall, spring, and summer. The ceremonies are held at

the Donald L. Tucker Civic Center.

Information about graduation tickets, invitations, and caps and

gowns is distributed by the Graduation section of the Oce of

Admissions and Records after application for graduation.

If a student wishes to participate in graduation ceremonies

one term prior to actual graduation, he or she must speak

with an MSW Graduate Advisor. Certain restrictions apply.

Each semester the College of Social Work hosts a graduation

event. Graduates and their guests are invited. To learn more

about College of Social Work graduation celebrations, visit

csw.fsu.edu/events.

5. Utilizing the College’s electronic system for

activities or purposes which do not pertain to

course content and/or ocial school business,

illegal activities, or for other activities not

authorized by the College of Social Work; and,

6. Installing (or allowing to be installed) “pirated”,

i.e. copied unlawfully, software on any College

computer or distributing software purchased

with College (including grant) resources to

persons for non-College-related purposes.

Any person found in violation of this policy will be sanctioned

by the College of Social Work according to the appropriate

University policies.

MSW BULLETIN | 2120 | 2023-2024

Center also has developed a state-of-the-art online Career

Portfolio that enables students to document skills throughout

their academic career.

FSU READING/WRITING CENTER

wr.english.fsu.edu/reading-writing-center

(850) 644-6495

Located in Room 222-C Williams Building. Students can

receive individual tutoring, feedback on papers, and special

assistance with writing skills by contacting the center.

OFFICE OF ACCESSIBILITY

SERVICES (OAS)

dsst.fsu.edu/oas

(850) 644-9566

The Oce of Accessibility Services (OAS), located in the

Student Services Building, Room 108, serves as an advocate

for students with disabilities. The sta monitors academic,

social, and environmental conditions aecting students with

disabilities and seeks to inﬂuence administrative decisions

aecting them. Students may obtain information on the

University’s implementation of the Americans with Disabilities

Act (ADA) may receive information and guidance from the

sta of this oce. This oce often assists in coordinating

academic accommodations for disabled students.

COUNSELING & PSYCHOLOGICAL

SERVICES AT FSU (CAPS)

counseling.fsu.edu

(850) 644-2003

On-campus counseling services are available to students and

their families, primarily through Counseling and Psychological

Services in the Student Life Center. Services that are covered

through student activity fees include crisis counseling and

short-term treatment for personal, social, and psychological

problems. CAPS sponsors a peer program called RENEW

(Realizing Everyone’s Need for Emotional Wellness) that

provides presentations and resources on stress & time

management, study skills, healthy relationships, and conﬂict

resolution.

UNIVERSITY HEALTH SERVICES

uhs.fsu.edu

(850) 644-6230

Florida State University’s fully accredited primary care

facility, provides medical care and outreach programs

through a team of dedicated professionals. As a student-

focused, student-friendly center, its mission is to advance

the quality of life for university students, improving

academic performance and increasing retention.

Under University Health Services, the Center for Health

Advocacy & Wellness at University Health Services

encourages students to make healthy lifestyle decisions

to facilitate academic success and lead to life-long health

and wellness and provides quality, research-based wellness

services and Health Promotion programs available to all FSU

students.

UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES

lib.fsu.edu

(850) 644-2706

There are three major libraries on campus: Strozier

Library, Dirac Library, and the Law Library. More than a

million volumes are available on open shelves, for easy

browsing. Every month, 9,000 new journals and periodicals

are added to the collection. A sophisticated library data

search computer system and inter-library loan are also

available. Additional resources include computers,

reading rooms, calculators, and copying machines.

VICTIM ADVOCATE PROGRAM

dsst.fsu.edu/vap

(850) 644-7161

The Victim Advocate Program provides advocacy to victims

of crime. An advocate is on call twenty-four hours a day to

respond to FSU students who are victimized, or any other

person who is victimized on our campus. Services oered

include emotional support, instructor notiﬁcation, referrals,

and educational programming for our campus community.

NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF

SOCIAL WORKERS

The National Association of Social Workers (NASW) has nearly

150,000 members worldwide. As members, students receive

all of the beneﬁts and privileges of regular membership

at a reduced cost. Members receive the national journal;

newsletters; group rate health, disability, and malpractice

insurance coverage; discounts on NASW specialty journals;

and other valuable information.

Florida NASW Chapter - naswﬂ.org

931 Dellwood Drive, Tallahassee, FL 32303

(850) 224-2400 / (800) 352-6279

The local Big Bend Unit Florida Chapter meets in Tallahassee

on a regular basis; it is an excellent opportunity for students to

network and to learn more about their profession.

National Headquarters - socialworkers.org

750 1st Street NE, Suite 700, Washington, DC 20002-4241

(800) 638-8799.

SOCIETY FOR SOCIAL

WORK AND RESEARCH

sswr.org

Students are invited to join the Society for Social Work

Research, an independent professional social work

organization dedicated to promoting, conducting, and

disseminating high quality research by and for social workers

to improve practice. Member beneﬁts include subscription to

the bimonthly journal, discounts on various journals, SSWR

Newsletter, and a reduced registration fee for the annual

SSWR Conference.

CSW AMBASSADORS

CSW Ambassadors are a group of students who represent

the college internally and externally through college events,

student engagement, community outreach and marketing

activities. These students are the face of the College of Social

Work and work closely with sta, faculty, and fellow students

to promote the college’s mission and social work values.

MACRO SOCIAL WORK STUDENT

NETWORK

The mission of the Macro Social Work Student Network

(MSWSN) is to promote the value of macro social work

practice through education, networking, and activism. This

group provides opportunities to inspire and educate Social

Work and other FSU students about macro social work career

opportunities and the role of macro social work throughout

communities.

PHI ALPHA

Phi Alpha, the social work honorary society is open to

undergraduate and graduate students who make up the top

35 percent of social work students in your rank (Bachelors or

Masters).

STUDENT ASSOCIATION OF SOCIAL

WORKERS

SASW is open to all undergraduate and graduate social work

students. Early in the fall semester each year the SASW

elects members to serve on its leadership panel and faculty

committees.

SOCIAL WORK ORGANIZATIONS & SERVICES

MSW BULLETIN | 2322 | 2023-2024

FINANCIAL AID

The College of Social Work oers several support resources.

A limited number of scholarships, grants, and graduate

student assistantships are available. Various forms of

ﬁnancial aid are available to graduate students through

the College of Social Work and the FSU Oce of Financial

Aid through separate application processes. Resources are

limited and not all requests for ﬁnancial aid can be met.

Students must be enrolled in at least 6 credit hours to receive

federal ﬁnancial aid.

FSU Oce of Financial Aid

Tallahassee, FL 32306-2394

(850) 644-0539

ﬁnancialaid.fsu.edu

Federal Loan Options

Visit ﬁnancialaid.fsu.edu/graduatelawmedical/types-

aid/ loans to learn about available loan options.

Federally Insured Private Loan Program

Students can obtain a loan through a bank or credit union,

and the Federal Government will provide the guarantee of the

loan. The government will pay interest to the lender while the

student is enrolled and for nine months following termination

of studies. Loan repayment will begin nine months after a

student terminates school. Applications take a minimum of

six weeks to process after approval by the lending institution.

College Work Study Federal/State Work-Study Program

The FSU Financial Aid Oce administers this program,

sponsored by the Federal Government. Students must

be enrolled on a full-time basis (a minimum of 12 hours)

and be in good academic standing. Students accepted to

this program are assigned to work part-time as student

assistants. New students should apply by March 1. Whenever

possible, Social Work students will be assigned to the College

of Social Work. Visit ﬁnancialaid.fsu.edu/types-aid/

federal-state-work-study for details.

Graduate School Fellowships & Grants

A limited number of University fellowships are awarded each

year. Visit gradschool.fsu.edu/funding-awards to view

submission details and application deadlines.

College of Social Work Financial Programs

The College of Social Work oers student ﬁnancial support

through stipends, fellowships, grant work, and graduate

student assistantships that are awarded on the basis of merit

and the early application to the graduate program.

Graduate assistants may be oered two semesters of

matriculation waiver (students are responsible for University

fees) and a paid stipend for approximately 10 hours per

week of work within the College. Recipients of stipends from

the University (both fellowships and assistantships) must

be full-time students and registered for at least 9 semester

hours. Students in their internships are not eligible for

assistantships. Applications for assistantships are available

from the College of Social Work or from the College’s website:

csw.fsu.edu.

CSW SCHOLARSHIPS

The application period for most CSW scholarships is in the

early spring. Awards are presented once a year, in the fall.

Information and updated applications are available each

December on the College of Social Work website.

• Barbara White Social Work Scholarship

• Bill & Nolia Brandt Scholarship

• C. Aaron McNeece Field Education Scholars Award

• Cheryl Roland Endowed Scholarship

• Citrus Health Network Scholarship

For Graduate Students

• Coyle & Mabel Moore Scholarship

• Delia Sanchez Social Work Scholarship

• Donald J. Hevey Memorial MSW Scholarship

• Mark DeGra & Lula Hamilton DeGra Scholarship

• Guy & Delores Spearman Scholarship

• Gomory Family Scholarship for Homeless Services

• Grace Ann Graduate Scholarship

• Herndon Scholars/ Helios Education

Foundation Scholarship

• Jane Addams Fund

• Joanna F. Gorman Scholarship

• John and Meg Paschal International Scholarship

• John P. & Jane W. Wakeman Memorial

Scholarship For Arts In Social Work

• Joyce Harper Laidlaw Scholarship In Child Welfare

• Katherine Kole MSW Scholarship

• Lamar F. Everett Scholarship

• MacDill-Wold Unconquered Scholarship

• Margaret H. Jacks Scholarship In Aging

• Mary DiNitto Endowed Scholarship

• MSW Class of 1975 Scholarship

• Richard M. King Scholarship In Social

Work & Business Administration

• Robert P. Hurrle International Scholarship

• Spearman Veteran MSW Field Placement Scholarship

• Spearman Veteran Support Scholarship

FACULTY

Neil Abell

Professor

Director of International Programs

nabell@fsu.edu / (850) 644-9753

Amy Ai

Distinguished Research Professor

aai@fsu.edu / (850) 644-3577

Kristy Anderson

Assistant Professor

kanderson12@fsu.edu

Norman Anderson

Professor, Assistant Vice President for

Research and Academic Aairs

nanderson@fsu.edu / (850) 644-9694

Shamra Boel-Studt

Associate Professor

sboelstudt@fsu.edu / (850) 644-9712

Katrina Boone

Director of Field Education &

Associate Teaching Professor

kboone@fsu.edu / (850)644-9743

Quichang (Katy) Cao

Assistant Professor

qc22@fsu.edu

Henry Carretta

Research Faculty - Courtesy

Appointment

henry.carr[email protected] /

(850) 645-8842

Erika Cuy

Assistant Teaching Professor

ecuy@fsu.edu

Rosalyn Deckerho

Director of Distance Field Education &

Teaching Professor

rdeckerho@fsu.edu / (850) 644-9585

Jane Dwyer Lee

Teaching Professor

jane.dwyerlee@fsu.edu /

(850) 645-8842

Carol Campbell Edwards

Director of BSW Program,

Director of Professional Development

Associate Teaching Professor

cedwar[email protected] / (850) 645-9571

Gerri Goldman

Assistant Teaching Professor

ggoldman@pc.fsu.edu /

(850) 770-2240

Fran Gomory

Director of MSW Program &

Teaching Professor

fgomory@fsu.edu / (850) 645-5768

Tomi Gomory

Associate Professor

tgomory@fsu.edu / (850) 644-2328

Casey Xavier Hall

Research Faculty - Courtesy

Appointment

cxavierhall@fsu.edu

Jessica Greil-Burkhart

Assistant Teaching Professor

jgreil@fsu.edu / (850) 644-7958

Lisa Jackson

Assistant Teaching Professor

lisa.a.jackson@fsu.edu

Shalay Jackson

Associate Teaching Professor

skjackson@fsu.edu / (850) 644-2670

Lisa Johnson

Assistant Teaching Professor

lbjohnson@fsu.edu / (850) 770-2265

Michael Killian

Associate Professor

mkillian@fsu.edu / (850) 644-7094

J. Bart Klika

Research Faculty - Courtesy

Appointment

jklika@fsu.edu / (312) 663-3520

Jerey Lacasse

Associate Professor

jlacasse@fsu.edu / (850) 645-9595

Brenda Legaspi

Assistant Teaching Professor

blegaspi@fsu.edu

Lisa Magruder

Director, Florida Institute

for Child Welfare

lmagruder@fsu.edu

John Mathias

Associate Professor

jmathias@fsu.edu / (850) 645-9559

Keithen Mathis

Assistant Dean for Diversity,

Equity & Inclusion & Associate

Teaching Professor

kmathis@fsu.edu / (850) 644-9709

Tracy McDade

Assistant Teaching Professor

tmcdade@fsu.edu

Eugenia Flores Millender

Research Faculty - Courtesy

Appointment

emillender@fsu.edu / (850) 645-8842

Denise Montford

Visiting Assistant Teaching Professor

dmontfor[email protected]su.edu /

(850) 896-2770

John Moore

Assistant Professor

Karen Oehme

Research Associate

koehme@fsu.edu / (850) 644-6303

Susan Osborne

Visiting Assistant Teaching Professor

sosborne@fsu.edu / (352) 371-1411

Yaacov Petscher

Professor

ypetscher@fsu.edu / (850) 645-0266

Ellen Piekalkiewicz

Director, Stoops Center for

Communities, Families and Children

epiekalkiewicz@fsu.edu /

(850) 644-3497

Jessica Pryce

Research Faculty II

jpryce@fsu.edu / (850) 645-0976

Melissa Radey

Professor, Agnes Flaherty Stoops

Professor of Child Welfare

mradey@fsu.edu / (850) 644-9226

Tanya Renn

Assistant Professor

trenn@fsu.edu / (850) 645-0453

Lisa Schelbe

Associate Professor

lschelbe@fsu.edu / (850) 645-5935

David Springer

Dean, Professor, Guy & Delores

Spearman Professor of Social Work

dwspringer@fsu.edu

Craig Stanley

Associate Dean for Academic

Aairs, Teaching Professor

cstanley@fsu.edu / (850) 644-1201

Machelle Madsen Thompson

Researcher

mthompson2@fsu.edu

Gashaye Tefera

Assistant Professor

Bruce Thyer

Distinguished Research Professor

bthyer@fsu.edu / (850) 645-4792

Stephen Tripodi

Doctoral Program Director

& Associate Professor

stripodi@fsu.edu / (850) 645-1572

Shairi Turner

Research Faculty - Courtesy

Appointment

shairi@turnerdavis.com

Victoria Verano

Teaching Professor

vver[email protected] / (850) 644-3926

Dina Wilke

Associate Professor

dwilke@fsu.edu / (850) 644-1201

Frank Wong

Research Faculty - Courtesy

Appointment

twong@fsu.edu

FINANCIAL AID & SCHOLARSHIPS

MSW BULLETIN | 2524 | 2023-2024

MSW COURSE DESCRIPTIONS

The FSU College of Social Work regards many courses as clinical/

direct-practice courses that may apply towards licensure. As

dierent boards of licensure set these criteria, the College cannot

guarantee acceptance of all of these courses.

SOW 5034: The Social Work Profession - 3 credits

This course surveys the philosophy, history, and services of social

welfare and the purpose, objectives, values, ethics, methods, and

practice settings of the profession of social work. Attention is

given to the role that social work and social welfare policies play in

promoting social and economic justice for oppressed groups. This

course includes a required 30 hours of volunteer work (can be

credited for service learning).

SOW 5105: Human Behavior and the Social

Environment (HBSE) - 3 credits

This course focuses on reciprocal relationships between human

behavior and social environments. Content includes empirically

based theories and knowledge that focus on the interactions

between and among systems of all sizes, including individuals,

groups, societies, and economic systems. Theories and

knowledge of biological, psychological, sociological, cultural, and

spiritual development across the life span are critiqued, especially

as they relate to populations-at-risk. In addition, theories and

knowledge about the range of social systems (individual, family,

group, organizational, and community) in which people live are

examined, including the ways social systems promote or deter

people in maintaining or achieving health and well-being.

SOW 5109: Women’s Issues & Social Work - 3 credits

This course is designed to acquaint students with individual

and social factors that aect women throughout the lifespan

using an interdisciplinary approach. Particular attention will

be given to the intersection of race, age, social class, sexual

orientation, and other systems of inequality that impact on

women’s lives. The role of the social work profession in changing

society’s view of women, as well as the role of practitioners

in enabling or empowering women will also be examined.

SOW 5116: Trauma Informed Social Work - 3 credits

This course is designed to develop students’ understanding

and skills in working with clients who have been personally or

systematically impacted by crises, disaster, or other trauma-

causing events. This course will introduce students to the

theoretical foundations and practice models associated with

trauma-informed social work.

SOW 5125: Psychopathology in Clinical Practice - 3 credits

The course provides an overview of mental health assessment

and diagnostic tools, including the Diagnostic Statistical Manual

diagnostic categories, and touches on treatment strategies

and techniques. Building on the knowledge base acquired in

the foundation course SOW 5105, this course examines the

relationship between the biological, psychological, social,

environmental, and cultural inﬂuences and emotional and mental

health from ecological context. Particular attention is given to

variations in the assessment process and access to treatment

for populations at social and economic risk. In addition, students

examine the political and social implications of mental health and

their relations to social work values and ethics. (Prerequisite:

SOW 5105 or BSW equivalent)

SOW5128: Cognitive-Behavioral Social Work Practice

- 3 credits

This course provides in-depth coverage of the cognitive-

behavioral model of social work practice. The empirical bases of

the theory and model will be examined, along with applications

to direct social work practice. Through participation in this

course, students will learn how to move from an assessment to

intervention using the Cognitive Behavioral Therapy model.

(Prerequisite: SOW5308 or equivalent)

SOW 5153: Human Sexuality - 3 credits

This course surveys issues and attitudes associated with human

sexuality. It is primarily intended for social workers and other

helping professionals who currently work with clients or plan to

in the future. Using a biopsychosocial perspective, emphasis is

placed on the social, cultural, familial and individual dierences

in sexual and reproductive attitudes, values, and behavior.

Students are introduced to common sex-related issues and to

the particular concerns of various sexually oppressed groups.

Information will also be provided about childhood sexual abuse

and adult victimization and their relationship to intimacy issues

clients typically present in direct practice.

SOW 5235: Social Welfare Policy and Services - 3 credits

The course provides an initial opportunity to investigate the

relationships among individual and collective social welfare and

public policy in American society from a social work perspective,

with emphasis placed on understanding these relationships in

terms of social and economic justice. Particular attention is paid

to acquisition of skills necessary to engage in policy advocacy

and formulation consistent with social work values and ethics,

fostering an appreciation for the roles played by social workers in

the development of the American welfare state, and reviewing the

history of the social work profession.

SOW 5238: Advanced Policy Analysis - 3 credits

This course introduces students to the procedures and processes

of social policy analysis and evaluation. Attention is given to policy

originating within all levels and branches of government, as well

as within organizational settings. The course examines how issues

are brought to the attention of decision-makers and the methods

used in policy formulation. Students will learn skills central to

policy work, including problem-deﬁnition, development and

examination of policy alternatives, planning for implementation,

and evaluation. The course prepares individuals to participate in

the creation and assessment of social welfare policies that impact

populations-at-risk. (Prerequisite: SOW 5235 or equivalent)

SOW 5248: Homelessness in America: People,

Program and Policies - 3 credits

This course covers poverty in the United States with particular

emphasis on homelessness. It will include content related to

values and ethics in programs and policies as well as cultural

diversity among people in poverty. Particular attention will

be given to those who suer from poverty and other societal

oppression, such as those who are also people of color, women,

gays, lesbians, HIV positive, or disabled.

SOW 5281: Ethics in Social Work Practice - 3 credits

This course provides students with a framework of knowledge

and skills to prepare them for eective and ethical decision-

making that are congruent with codes of ethics and standards

of practice in the social work profession. The principles of

ethical decision-making and various value systems will be

explored as students approach various ethical issues. Ethical

decision-making is a complex process, particularly as it involves

consideration of personal identities of self and others particularly

in the areas of spirituality, race/ethnicity, gender, culture,

sexual orientation, and socioeconomic class. Ethical decision-

making must be congruent with standards and principles of

the social work profession. (Panama City Campus Only)

SOW 5282: Legislative Advocacy - 3 Credits

This course exposes graduate students to the skills necessary to

become eective human service advocates dealing with unmet

needs, resolving social problems, or working to ameliorate unjust

or inequitable conditions in society. As more decisions about

social welfare programs have shifted from the federal to the

state and local community levels, it is increasingly important for

social workers to develop lobbying and advocacy skills to ensure

social and economic justice. Such skills can help bring about

much-needed policy changes for clients, promote and protect

social work ethics and values, and positively aect human service

funding during the budget appropriation process.

SOW 5308: Social Work Practice - 3 credits

The course provides students with an understanding of the

social work profession’s history, mission, values, ethics, and

roles. Content on generalist social work practice with individuals,

families, groups, and communities is covered, and attention is

given to working with ethnic minorities, women, gays and lesbians,

and disabled people. A weekend workshop in Tallahassee is

required for online students enrolled in this class.

SOW 5324: Social Work Practice with Groups and

Communities - 3 credits

This course focuses on the development of the generalist group

practice skills of engagement, assessment, intervention, and

evaluation with social work clients, community groups, and

organizations. This class covers practice skills that contribute

to group eectiveness, including composition, structure,

dynamics, goal setting, and evaluation. Students will learn to

respond to contexts that shape practice by recognizing social,

political, economic, and environmental inﬂuences and applying

them to social work practice. Content also includes examining

the empirical base of a range of theories and models of group

facilitation with clients, community groups, and organizations.

A weekend workshop in Tallahassee is required for online students

enrolled in this class.

SOW 5334: Organizational and Community Systems Change

(Organizational Development) - 3 credits

The course provides students with an advanced understanding of

the models for planned change in organizational and community

systems. In accordance with systems theory, organizations and

communities are understood as interdependent, complex, open

systems inﬂuenced by other micro, mezzo, and macro systems in

the larger environment.

SOW 5369: Integrative Seminar in Advanced Social Work

Practice - 3 credits

This course integrates theoretical models and concepts with

practice gained in internships. The course utilizes an ecosystems

perspective, focusing on the dynamic interaction between the

individual, family, communities, organizations and other social

systems. A major focus is on the social worker’s role in responding

eectively to the challenges of working with these systems, and

exploring their own personal views of such issues as ethics,

gender, ethnic minorities, gays, lesbians, and disabled people.

(Co-requisite: SOW 5535)

SOW 5376: Budgeting and Finance in Social Services

- 3 credits

This course emphasizes the political and technical skills of

budgeting and ﬁnancial management, source development via

grant writing and fundraising, government contracting, ﬁscal

reporting, and payroll management.

SOW 5377: Personnel Administration in the Social Services

(Social Work Administration) - 3 credits

This course develops students’ skills in personnel management in

human service organizations to ensure eective service delivery

to clients. Attention is given to sta management approaches,

sta supervision, employee recruitment and retention, motivation,

job design, sta development and issues of diversity.

SOW 5404: Introduction to Social Work Research - 3 credits

This course introduces students to qualitative and quantitative

research methods in order to provide an understanding of a

scientiﬁc, analytic, and ethical approach to building knowledge

for practice. Students’ mastery of course content prepares them

to develop, use, and eectively communicate empirically based

knowledge. Research knowledge is used by students to provide

high-quality services; to initiate change; to improve practice,

policy, and social service delivery; and to evaluate their own

practice from an evidence-based perspective.

SOW 5432: Evaluation of Social Work Practice - 3 credits

Major emphasis is given to the use of single systems designs

in client assessment and evaluation. Students consider the

philosophical and ethical aspects of an evaluative approach to

treatment and examine the policy implications of professional

participation (or lack thereof) in evaluation processes. Topics

will include the operational ‘diagnosis’ of client problems;

measurement and monitoring of symptoms, goals, and

interventions; and analysis, interpretation, and reporting of case

material for accountable social work practice. Issues of ethnicity,

gender, sexual orientation, and disability will be explored through

application of course content to appropriate case examples.

(Prerequisite: SOW 5404 or BSW equivalent)

MSW BULLETIN | 2726 | 2023-2024

SOW 5435: Social Program Evaluation - 3 credits

This course presents the historical and contemporary importance

of social program evaluation and research methods. This course

focuses on applied qualitative and quantitative evaluation

methods that are useful to managers, public administrators,

and policy analysts. Particular emphasis is placed on evidence-

based procedures/methods that will be useful for social work

administrators for designing and carrying out an evaluation of

social programs and policies. How programs and policies can

further the cause of social and economic justice for oppressed

and disadvantaged groups is also explored. (Prerequisite: SOW

5404 or BSW equivalent)

SOW 5455: Grant Writing and Grant Management - 3 credits

While funding agencies may have their own guidelines, there are

some commonalties among grant proposals. This course will

cover the basics of proposals: purpose statements, background

and justiﬁcation, aims or objectives, personnel, time line,

methods, budget, evaluation, and how to eectively manage

grants once they are funded. Particularly in the public and not-

for-proﬁt sector, grants may be necessary to expand the type or

number of resources available to clients; therefore, grant writing

is related to social work objectives that stress access to and

availability of resources. The needs of disenfranchised groups

or communities will be discussed in this course, along with the

particulars of proposals that may be most eective in meeting

such needs.

SOW 5532: Graduate Field Instruction I - 5-10 credits

This course is required for ﬁrst year graduate students and taken

concurrently with course work. Students are provided with a

supervised generalist social work practice experience in a variety

of settings. (Prerequisite: SOW 5308 or BSW equivalent)

SOW 5535: Graduate Field Instruction II - 6-12 credits This

course is required for advanced graduate students and taken

concurrently with Integrative Seminar in Advanced Social Work

Practice. All coursework must be completed.

SOW 5603: Social Work in Health Settings - 3 credits

This course focuses on social work practice in health settings

from a “person-in-environment” perspective, preparing students

with as understanding of the roles that social workers play in

health settings; the structure of health care delivery systems;

organizational and professional ethics and standards; challenges

we face in health care policy; patient issues and how to help

to address these issues. Speciﬁc knowledge and skills in a

health care setting are addressed, including: biopsychosocial

assessments; chart documentation; treatment planning; and

discharge planning.

SOW 5611: Family Counseling in Social Work - 3 credits

This course introduces students to various theoretical models

of family counseling and presents assessment and intervention

strategies and techniques.

SOW 5614: Family Violence Across the Life Span - 3 credits

This course, looking at violence across the life span, provides an

ecological perspective emphasizing the interconnections between

individuals experiencing violence and their social environments.

Emphasis is placed upon broad coverage of all-important aspects

of child abuse, incest, intimate partner violence, rape and elder

abuse. This course is appropriate for students who wish to gain

skill in detecting and responding to incest situations for clients,

sexual assault survivors, and victims of intimate partner violence

or elder abuse.

SOW 5646: Gerontological Social Work - 3 credits

This course introduces students to the ﬁeld of social gerontology

and gerontological social work. The class provides an overview

of a variety of topics such as the demography of aging and the

physical, cognitive, and psychosocial aspects of aging. The course

also covers health care and social policies that impact older

persons and caregivers, along with the aging network of services.

How forms of oppression such as ageism, sexism, racism,

ablebodyism, beautyism, and homophobia impact our work with

older people are discussed, along with how to promote dignity,

self-determination, and social and economic justice for older

persons. The role of both informal and formal support networks

is stressed as students learn to comprehensively assess older

clients and devise intervention and evaluation plans.

SOW 5648: Physical Aspects of Aging - 3 credits

This course covers age and health demographics, along with

attitudes toward aging and health. Basic cellular or molecular

theories of aging will be presented, along with how the human

body’s organ systems typically change over time. Pathologies

associated with aging, and psychosocial responses to normal

and pathological changes, will be discussed. Such responses

will be viewed within a sociocultural context. Support services

and resources for older individuals and their caregivers will be

addressed. (Online Only)

SOW 5655: Social Work with Children & Adolescents

- 3 credits

Students in this course increase knowledge and understanding

essential for eective therapeutic interventions in the

psychological and behavioral disorders of children, and develop

special skills in selected intervention techniques and modalities in

working with children in a variety of professional roles.

SOW 5656: Child Welfare Practice - 3 credits

This course provides a framework of values, knowledge and

skills necessary to practice with vulnerable children and their

families. The major focus is on social work in public child welfare

and children’s mental health agencies. The course utilizes an

ecosystem’s perspective for understanding and assessing the

special needs of at risk children and families. Speciﬁc attention

will focus on assessing families and children using the state of

Florida’s risk and safety assessment protocols as well as other

family assessment instruments. (Strongly encouraged to take

SOW 5659 prior to SOW 5656).

SOW 5659: Child Maltreatment and Child Welfare - 3 credits

This course provides students with knowledge and skills related

to the theory, research, and implications of child and adolescent

maltreatment for child development and psychopathology.

Course content is presented within the context of child welfare

practice and social work with children and adolescents in

public agencies and programs. Particular attention will be

given to common psychological disorders that result from

maltreatment and accompanying treatment issues. Issues

related to individuals, families, groups, and communities are

covered and attention is given to working with ethnic minorities,

women, gays and lesbians, and persons with disabilities.

SOW 5666: Theory and Practice of Social Work in

Criminal Justice Settings - 3 credits

This course focuses on criminological theories and the

development of both evidence-based and generalist social work

practice skills pertinent to working in criminal justice settings

and with individuals in the criminal justice system. The course

will focus on theory and practice for social workers working in

corrections, prisoner reentry programs, and juvenile justice

settings. Moreover, the course will cover the philosophy and

practice of restorative justice and victim-oend mediation

programs, which strive to meet the needs of both oenders and

victims alike. Attention is given to 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. Ways in which working with individuals in the

criminal justice system can promote social economic justice are

discussed.

SOW 5712: Substance Use and Misuse (formerly Chemical

Dependency Problems and Programs) - 3 credits

This course includes discussions, readings, lectures, and

audiovisual materials on all the major drugs, including alcohol,

opiates, stimulants, sedatives, hallucinogens, inhalants, and

nicotine. We cover the etiology and epidemiology of drug abuse,

physiological and behavioral consequences of drug abuse,

treatment approaches, and major policies and programs. Special

attention is directed toward drug use in special populations,

such as women, racial and ethnic minorities, gays and lesbians,

persons with other disabilities, and the elderly. We also spend

a considerable amount of time discussing social work with

involuntary clients, since most persons receiving treatment for

chemical dependency probably fall into this category. A systems

perspective will be used in order to relate drug-using behavior to

family, community, and social systems.

SOW 5745: Seminar on Loss & Bereavement - 3 credits

This course is for students who wish to increase their knowledge

and understanding of issues around loss, bereavement, dying,

and death, and how we can live life to the fullest while addressing

these challenges both personally and with our clients. The

primary focus is on six topics: 1) theories of loss and grief; 2)

personal feelings, fears, and expectations of the inevitable; 3)

death and dying rituals from a cross-cultural perspective; 4)

responses to loss and bereavement throughout the life cycle;

5) understanding dierent bereavement situation, such as

suicide, SIDS, etc. 6) assessment and intervention strategies with

individuals, families, and groups.

SOW 5785: International Social Work and Social Welfare

- 3 credits

This course prepares students for international social work

practice abroad and/or for transnational work with immigrants,

refugees, international migrants, etc. It presents an introduction

to international perspectives in the ﬁeld of social work and to

varied examples of social work practice in the United States,

Western and Central Europe, and the Caribbean nations - three

very diverse regions of the world in which social issues present

contrasting challenges to the profession. In providing an overview

of the social work profession internationally, it examines the

impact of global interdependence on social work practice and

policy as current challenges are faced in the developed and

developing world. Within the framework of the social work

international code of ethics, students will learn to critically

analyze varied practice approaches utilized in dealing with

international social welfare issues.

SOW 5807 Clinical Practice - 3 credits

This advanced practice course emphasizes development of

clinical skills. Students will reﬁne their clinical skills, building

on the research-based non-speciﬁc (common factors)

components of therapeutic work (i.e. therapeutic alliance,

empathy, goal consensus/collaboration, positive regard/

armation, and genuineness) and speciﬁc factors (validated

treatments). The course provides in-depth coverage of three

empirically-based models; Solution Focused, Motivational

Interviewing, and Interpersonal Therapy. Learning applications

of techniques informed by these models provides opportunities

to enhance professional use of self. The course examines

similarities and dierences among models and allows students

to discern appropriate use of techniques, client populations,

settings, and problem interactions. Students will develop

competency in the ethical and strength-based use of these

models. (Prerequisite: SOW 5308 or BSW equivalent)

SOW 5908: Directed Individual Study - varying credit hours

Directed Individual Study (DIS) provides an opportunity for

a student to explore in depth an area of particular interest. A

maximum of three DIS credit hours can apply to an MSW degree

and can be utilized as an elective course. Please consult with

your MSW graduate advisor to learn more.

SOW 5938r: Selected Topics - 3 credits

The selected topic courses are oered on a variety of issues and

may be repeated to a maximum of 9 semester hours.

**Special topics are oered on a rotational basis. Students

will be made aware of available courses by their advisor.

Special topics courses can count as electives for program of

study.

SOW 5971r: Thesis 1-6 credits

S/U grade only. Consent of instructor required. May

be repeated to a maximum of 6 semester hours.

SOW 8976r: Master’s Thesis Defense

28 | 2023-2024

NUMBER TITLE TYPICALLY OFFERED

MAIN CAMPUS

TYPICALLY OFFERED

ONLINE

CLINICAL

SOW5034 e Social Work Profession Fall Fa/Sp/Su Yes

SOW5105 Human Behavior and the Social Environment (HBSE) Fall Spring Yes

SOW5109 Women’s Issues and Social Work Spring n/a Check w/FL Board

SOW5116 Trauma Informed Social Work Fa/Su Fa/Sp/Su Check w/FL Board

SOW5125 Psychopathology in Clinical Practice Fa/Sp/Su Sp/Fa/Su Yes

SOW5128 Cognitive-Behavioral Social Work Practice Fa/Sp/Su n/a Check w/FL Board

SOW5153 Human Sexuality Fa/Su Fa/Sp Yes

SOW5235 Social Welfare Policy and Services Fall Fall No

SOW5238 Advanced Policy Analysis Spring n/a No

SOW5248 Homelessness in America: People, Program, & Policies Spring n/a No

SOW5282 Legislative Advocacy Spring n/a No

SOW5308 Social Work Practice Fall Fa/Sp/Su Yes

SOW5324 Social Work Practice with Groups and Communities Spring Fa/Sp/Su Yes

SOW5334 Organizational Development Spring n/a No

SOW5369 Integrative Seminar in Advanced Social Work Practice Fa/Sp/Su Fa/Sp/Su Yes

SOW5376 Budgeting and Finance in the Social Services Summer Spring No

SOW5377 Personnel Administration in the Social Services Fall Summer No

SOW5404 Introduction to Social Work Research Spring Summer Yes

SOW5432 Evaluation of Social Work Practice Fa/Sp/Su Fa/Sp/Su Yes

SOW5435 Social Program Evaluation Fall Fall No

SOW5455 Grant Writing and Grant Management Spring Summer No

SOW5532 Graduate Field Instruction I Fa/Sp/Su Fa/Sp/Su No

SOW5535 Graduate Field Instruction II Fa/Sp/Su Fa/Sp/Su No

SOW5603 Social Work in Health Settings Fa/Su Fa/Sp/Su Yes

SOW5611 Family Counseling in Social Work Sp/Su Fa/Sp/Su Yes

SOW5614 Family Violence Across the Life Span Fa/Sp/Su Fa/Sp/Su Yes

SOW5646 Gerontological Social Work Fall Fall Yes

SOW5648 Physical Aspects of Aging n/a Summer Yes

SOW5655 Social Work with Children and Adolescents Fall n/a Yes

SOW5656 Child Welfare Practice Fa/Sp/Su Summer Yes

SOW5659 Child Maltreatment and Child Welfare Fa/Sp/Su Fa/Sp/Su Yes

SOW5666 eory and Practice of Social Work

in Criminal Justice Settings

Sp/Su Fa/Sp/Su Yes

SOW5712 Substance Use & Misuse Fa/Sp/Su Fa/Sp/Su Yes

SOW5745 Seminar on Loss & Bereavement Fa/Sp n/a Yes

SOW5785 International Social Work and Social Welfare Spring Varies Yes

SOW5807 Clinical Practice Fa/Sp/Su Fa/Sp/Su Yes

COLLEGE OF SOCIAL WORK MSW PROGRAM COURSES

Consult speciﬁc MSW programs of study for detailed course tracks and required course information. Please note that this information may

change based on funding/enrollment limitations. **Please note that these courses have generally been accepted as clinical courses by the

Florida Board of Licensure. This information may change at any time. Any required course in the Social Leadership concentration may be taken

as an elective in the Clinical track and vice versa. Main campus/Tallahassee students are not able to take online courses.

Florida State University

College of Social Work

296 Champions Way

P.O. Box 3062570

Tallahassee, Florida 32306-2750

(850) 644-5713

CSW.FSU.EDU

Change a Life. Start with Yours.

MSW PROGRAM BULLETIN

2023-2024