COVER PAGE

Institution:IndianaStateUniversity

College:College ofNursing, Health, and Human Services

Department:Social Work

Degree Program Title:Master of Social Work (MSW)

Form of Recognition to be Awarded/

Degree Code:Master

Suggested CIP Code:51.1503

Location of Program/Campus Code:Terre Haute, IN

Projected Date of Implementation:Fall Semester 2011

Date Proposal was Approved by May 6, 2011

Institutional Board of Trustees:

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Signature of Authorizing Institutional Officer

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Date

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Date Received by Commission for Higher Education

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Commission Action Date

  1. ABSTRACT

Master of Social Work (MSW)

Indiana State University (ISU), Terre Haute, Indiana

Objectives:

The MSW program will prepare social workers to provide clinical servicesin mental health and addictions and in health with a special emphasis on rural populations. The curriculum focuses on the development of clinicalcompetencies incaring forindividuals, families, groups, and communities, to evaluate, develop, and implement programs and policy in multiple mental health and healthcare settings. This program will work with the initiatives for inter-professional education in conjunction with the Rural Health Innovation Collaborative (RHIC) for improved patient access, safety, and quality care for rural and underserved populations.

Clientele to be Served:

The MSW program will serve Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) graduates and graduates from others undergraduate program looking to pursue their MSW degree. The ISU BSW undergraduate program currently serves approximately 100 students each year (graduating approximately 20 students annually). Those students secure employment and/or enroll in graduate programs (currently outside the Wabash Valley area). The MSW program will serve students wanting to stay in the area to pursue their MSW degrees; students wanting to focus on rural issues while pursuing their clinical MSW degree; and those wanting to concentrate on health issues or mental health and addiction issues. Having an MSW program at ISU will also benefit employees who have wanted to pursue and MSW degree but were unable due to the lack of a program in this community. Loyal ISU students who wish to continue to study at an institution where they already understand the system and feel supported by the faculty and staff is additional reasons to support an MSW program at ISU.

Curriculum:

The MSW program will require 60 post baccalaureate graduate credit hours and a total of 940 hours of field practica. Bachelor of Social Work graduates with a degree from a Council on Social Work Education accredited programand who meet criteria for admission to the MSW program as an advanced standing student will have the first year foundation courses (23 credit hours) waived. There is no thesis requirement; the program does include a rigorous research projectfor credit hours related to the students’ clinical practicum. The research project outcome will be a written and oral presentation. A culminating project will also be required whereby students will critically examine, integrate and apply their learning throughout the MSW program. Students will conduct a critical case-based analysis on a pressing rural social work issue determined by faculty for study each year.

Employment Opportunities:

Opportunities for clinical social workers exist in the areas of clinical practice, leadership roles, consulting, and education. This is in alignment with the strategic plan of the University and the initiatives for higher education in Indiana. Social workers with an MSW are equipped to meet the challenges of individuals, families, groups, and the community in need and to fill the demand for clinical experts in social work.

  1. Program Description
  1. Describe the proposed program and state its objectives.

The need for master-prepared social workers continues to increase as do people in need for clinical services. People in need has issues such as poverty, child abuse and neglect, substance abuse and addictions, homelessness, the lack of access to services (particularly in rural areas), and the lack of quality services. The undergraduate social work program at Indiana State University prepares graduates for generalist practice. Social work graduates, and graduates from other degree programs who want to pursue their master-prepared social work education, currently have to seek their degree outside the community. The ability to provide an MSW program locally would benefit students, residents of the immediate and surrounding communities, and providers of services.

Meeting the health needs of rural and underserved populations requires knowledge and skill. Students will be taught how to engage, effectively assess individuals and populations, how to develop a plan for meeting needs, implementing the plan, and evaluating the outcome. Students will also develop their own self-awareness as they build on their cultural competency.

The MSW program will help to address the health care and mental health and addiction needs of the underserved and rural populations. There will be a strong clinical practice foundation. From this base, students will explore existing health care and mental health and addiction researchas it applies to rural and underserved populations. Students will seek ways to influence the quality of health care and mental health and addiction services.

The MSW program will work with the communities it serves in the discovery of how to improve social work practices, how to identify practice needs, and then how to disseminate findings. It is expected faculty, students, and field instructors will collaborate on scholarly work and seek to disseminate such work through professional conferences and publications.

Indiana State University social workfaculty will be a blend of PhD and MSW prepared practitioners. This is needed as we move to the clinical MSW program. The 60 credit-hour program (with 940 field practica hours) builds on the undergraduate social work program (76 credit-hourswith 550practica hours)for 1490 hours of total practice, 700 which will be clinically based. The field hours are based upon the Council on Social Work Education accreditation guidelines.

The curriculum and courses are designed to develop master-prepared social workers who are evidence-based clinical practice specialist anddynamic leaders whoadvocate for social justice andcontribute to the profession and society.

Objectives of the Program:

  1. Prepare graduate students for advanced social work practice.
  2. Prepare students to practice from a framework which integrates knowledge, values, theories, skills, ethics, and diversity.
  3. Commit to, and advocate for, social justice.
  4. Contribute to the development of the social work profession and the community and global society through research and scholarship.
  5. Promote lifelong professional growth and development.
  6. Actively engage in community service.
  7. Promote and provide services in a rural community.

2. Describe admission requirements, anticipated student clientele,and student financial support

  1. Admission Requirements:

Applicants must meet the admission requirements for the College of Graduateand Professional Studies. Applicants must also meet the following requirements:

  • A minimum undergraduate grade point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.
  • Provide a 2-3 page sample of written scholarly work.
  • Complete the Department application for admission to the MSW program.
  • TOFFEL of 550 or greater, if English is not the primary language spoken.

Admission Process. Applicants who seek admission to the MSW program must first achieve admission through the College of Graduate and Professional Studies at the University level. Once application forgraduate studies is attained and all materials have been received by the Department ofSocial Work, the applicant may be considered for admission to the MSW program. Admission to the MSW program will be competitive with consideration given to Indiana State alumni and Indiana residents.

Progression.

  • Satisfactory grades on the foundation courses (1st year) must be completed prior to beginning the second year of the program (unless admitted in the Advanced Standing Program);
  • Successful completion of the first field practicum must be completed prior to beginning the second field practicum;
  • Maintains a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or greater

Dismissal.

  • May have one semester of probationary status if the cumulative GPA is less than 3.0; more than one semester will result in dismissal from the program.
  1. Prerequisite coursework and degree. Applicants must have successfully graduated from an undergraduate CSWE accredited program in social work or a degree in a human service field of studyas well as have successfully completed a statistics course at the 500 level or higher. A student may also be conditionally admitted to the MSW program provided the upper level statistics class is successfully completed before SOWK 608 (Advanced Research I).Plans of study will be designed based on clinical specializations in mental health and addiction or health; a theme throughout the program will be on rural issues and practice.
  1. Needs of specific students. This program is designed for both the full-time graduate student and the part-time graduate student. The Clinical Field Practicum courses must be completed in the designated sequence with the research courses. A graduate student may enroll in the other courses as available. Most social work graduate courses are only taught once a year.
  1. Enrollment restrictions. Initially, enrollment will be limited to 20full-time students. Permitting only a small number of students in the initial phases will promote a supportive environment at the highest quality for both students and faculty as this new clinical social work program develops. A gradual increase in enrollment numbers is expected based on the need for MSW degreed clinical social workers.The Advanced Standing program and the part-time program will begin after the first year. Criteria utilized for selecting applicants will be based on graduate admission criteria, MSW application criteria, as well as individual ratings by the Application and Review Committee on written scholarly work and reference letters. Consideration is given to Indiana residents and to alumni of Indiana State University.
  1. Student financial support. Various forms of financial support exist for eligible students including grants and loans. Many employers offer student incentives for tuition reimbursement. Students may also apply for scholarships offered by local agencies as well as national organizations to assist them in furthering their education.

3. Describe the proposed curriculum

a. Requirements

Curriculum will include a minimum of 60 credit hours with a minimum of 940 practica hours in a variety of settings (700 of the hours will be in a clinical setting). Typical program length will be between five semesters for full-time plans of study and ten semesters for part time plans of study.

Core Courses

SOWK 500 History/Philosophy of Social Work 2 credit hours

SOWK 501 Human Behavior & the Social Environment I 3 credit hours

SOWK 502 Social Welfare Policy 3 credit hours

SOWK 503Social Work Practice I3 credit hours

SOWK 504Culturally Competent Practice 3 credit hours

SOWK 505 Human Behavior & the Social Environment II 3 credit hours

SOWK 506Social Work Practice II3 credit hours

SOWK 507Social Work Research & Evidence-Based Practice3 credit hours

Guided Elective

SOWK 551 Rural Social Work Practice3 credit hours

Concentrations

(Mental Health and Addiction)

SOWK 550 Social Work & Addiction, and3 credit hours

SOWK 552 Families/Couples Therapy, or3 credit hours

SOWK 555Specialty Practice Social Work

(Health)

SOWK 553 Social Work & Health, and3 credit hours

SOWK 554 Palliative & End of Life Care (Interdisciplinary), or3 credit hours

SOWK 555Specialty Practice Social Work

Clinical Practice Courses

SOWK 600 Psychopathology in Social Work3 credit hours

SOWK 603Social Work Practice – Groups3 credit hours

SOWK 605Field Practicum 3 credit hours

SOWK 606Advanced Clinical Practice3 credit hours

SOWK 607Advanced Policy 3 credit hours

SOWK 608Advanced Research I2 credit hours

SOWK 610Clinical Field Practicum I4 credit hours

SOWK 611Advanced Research II2 credit hours

SOWK 615Clinical Field Practicum II 4 credit hours

SOWK 620Culminating Project1credit hour

Total 60 credit hours

b. Sample Curriculum. The MSW curriculum sequencing of course by semester is listed below for both the full-time and part-time plans of study. A program of study grid that includes the MSW program is included in the Appendices.

Full-Time Plan of Study

First Year – Fall Semester

SOWK 500 History/Philosophy of Social Work 2 credit hours

SOWK 501 Human Behavior & the Social Environment I 3 credit hours

SOWK 502 Social Welfare Policy 3 credit hours

SOWK 503Social Work Practice I 3 credit hours

Total11 credit hours

First Year – Spring Semester

SOWK 504Culturally Competent Practice 3 credit hours

SOWK 505 Human Behavior & the Social Environment II 3 credit hours

SOWK 506Social Work Practice II 3 credit hours

SOWK 507Social Work Research & Evidence-Based Practice 3 credit hours

Total12 credit hours

First Year- Summer Semester (*Advanced Standing students begin here)

SOWK 600 Psychopathology in Social Work 3 credit hours

SOWK 603Social Work Practice – Groups 3 credit hours

SOWK 605Field Practicum 3 credit hours

Total 9 credit hours

Second Year – Fall Semester

SOWK 606Advanced Clinical Practice 3 credit hours

SOWK 607 Advanced Policy 3 credit hours

SOWK 608Advanced Research I 2 credit hours

SOWK 610Clinical Field Practicum I 4 credit hours Total 12credit hours

Second Year – Spring Semester

SOWK 611Advanced Research II 2 credit hours

SOWK 615Clinical Field Practicum II 4 credit hours

SOWK ___Elective option 3 credit hours

Total 9credit hours

Second Year- Summer Semester

SOWK 620Culminating Project 1credit hour

SOWK ___Elective option 3 credit hours

SOWK ___Elective option 3 credit hours

7 credit hours

TOTAL 60 credit hours

Part Time Plan of Study

First Year – Fall Semester

SOWK 500 History/Philosophy of Social Work 2 credit hours

SOWK 501 Human Behavior & the Social Environment I 3 credit hours

Total 6 credit hours

First Year – Spring Semester

SOWK 504Culturally Competent Practice 3 credit hours

SOWK 505 Human Behavior & the Social Environment II 3 credit hours

Total 6 credit hours

Second Year – Fall Semester

SOWK 502 Social Welfare Policy 3 credit hours

SOWK 503Social Work Practice I 3 credit hours

Total 6 credit hours

Second Year – Spring Semester

SOWK 506Social Work Practice II 3 credit hours

SOWK 507Social Work Research & Evidence-Based Practice 3 credit hours

Total 6 credit hours

Third Year – Summer Semester

SOWK 600 Psychopathology in Social Work 3 credit hours

SOWK 603Social Work Practice – Groups 3 credit hours

Total 6credit hours

Third Year – Fall Semester

SOWK 606Advanced Clinical Practice 3 credit hours

SOWK 607 Advanced Policy 3 credit hours

Total 6 credit hours

Third Year – SpringSemester

SOWK ___Elective 3 credit hours

SOWK ___Elective 3 credit hours

Total 6credit hours

Fourth Year – Summer Semester

SOWK 605Field Practicum 4credit hours

SOWK ___Elective 3 credit hours

Total 7credit hours

Fourth Year – Fall Semester

SOWK 611Advanced Research II 2 credit hours

SOWK 615Clinical Field Practicum II 5 credit hours

Total 7credit hours

Fourth Year – Spring Semester

SOWK 611Advanced Research II 2 credit hours

SOWK 615Clinical Field Practicum II 5 credit hours

SOWK 620Culminating Project 1 credit hour

Total 8credit hours

Total 60 credit hours

  1. Existing courses. There are currently no existing courses that will be included in with the MSW curriculum. If students have not had a statistics course prior to initiating the MSW program, they would be able to take the biostatistics course (HLTH 340) taught at Indiana State University. This would then make them eligible for potential admission.
  1. New courses. None of the courses in this program of study will be provided by a sponsoring campus. All the MSW courses were approved through the policies as established by the College of Nursing, Health, and Human Services and Indiana State University. The program was approved by the faculty of the Department of Social Work, the faculty committees of the College of Nursing, Health, and Human Services, Dean of the College, New Graduate Program Task Force, Graduate Council, Faculty Senate, Provost and Vice President of the University, and the Board of Trustees.
  1. Courses delivered by other institutions. All MSW courses will be delivered by Indiana State University.

4. Describe the form of recognition.

a. Type of Degree. Students who complete the program will be awarded the Master of Social Work (MSW). The degree awarded is consistent with the Council on Social Work Education accreditation requirements.

  1. Suggested CIP Code. CIP code for the MSWprogram is 51.1503.
  1. Student diploma. The information that will appear on the student’s diploma will be Master of Social Work, Indiana State University, College of Graduate and Professional Studies, Terre Haute, Indiana.
  1. List program faculty and administrators.
  2. Existing Faculty and Administration. The table lists the name, highest academic degree, rank, specialization, and nature of appointment for the administrators and potential faculty directly involved in the undergraduate program.

Name / Degree / Rank / Specialization / Appointment
Administration
Richard Williams / Dean / Leadership
Curriculum
Physiology / Full-time
Marcia Miller / PhD
MSN / Associate Dean/
Executive Director for Nursing
Associate Professor / Informatics
Statistics
Educational Theory
Curriculum Dev.
Leadership
Research / Full-time
Faculty
Rhonda Impink / PhD / Associate Professor / Macro level practice / Full-time
Robyn Lugar / MSW / Associate Professor / International social work / Full-time
Jennifer Todd / MSW / Instructor / Child Welfare / Special Purpose
Peggy Weber / PhD / Associate Professor / Clinical Practice
Field Practice / Full-time
  1. New faculty requirements

One new faculty for a twelve month, tenure/tenure track position,has been requested for the 2011program start. This twelve month faculty position will be for the Program Coordinator, who will also work on accreditation of the program from the Council on Social Work Education.

A second faculty line for a nine month, tenure/tenure track position will also be needed in the first year. The faculty person must have a clinical background and be able to teach and be the Field Coordinator (for practica). The new faculty member will be required to teach two courses per semester and coordinate all the students’ field placements.