Master of Social Work

Program Description/Overview

This program prepares students for a career in advanced social work. The program promotes the integration of classroom learning with real-world experiences in practicum settings to equip graduates for the tasks and responsibilities encountered in professional social work practice.

The program uses an advanced generalist model to prepare students for social work practice with diverse populations across the micro-mezzo-macro continuum.

Program Learning Outcomes/Goals

1. Demonstrate ethical and professional behavior
2. Engage diversity and difference in practice
3. Advance human rights and social, economic, and environmental justice
4. Engage in practice-informed research and research-informed practice
5. Engage in policy practice
6. Engage with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities
7. Assess individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities
8. Intervene with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities
9. Evaluate practice with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities

Professional Behavior Expectations/Ethical Guidelines

Students admitted to the Alliant MSW program are required to adhere to the Alliant International University Student Code of Conduct, as well as the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) Code of Ethics. The NASW Code can be found here: https://www.socialworkers.org/About/Ethics/Code-of-Ethics/Code-of-Ethics-English.

Licensure

Students successfully completing the degree requirements for the program are eligible to apply for licensure through the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB). ASWB is the nonprofit organization composed of the social work regulatory boards and colleges of all 50 U.S. states, the District of Columbia, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, and all 10 Canadian provinces. They are the only nonprofit organization dedicated to social work regulation. Licensure requirements vary from state to state. Students should contact the licensing board in the state they wish to apply for licensure.

Programmatic Accreditation

This program is currently seeking accreditation from the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE).

Internship, Practicum, and/or Dissertation Information

Alliant’s MSW Field Education Program will connect the theoretical and conceptual contributions of the classroom with the practice setting via 1) the learning contract/field education evaluation tool, 2) field seminar, 3) field visits and 4) assignments. These structured field learning activities foster implementation of evidence-informed practice and are reviewed in sequential order below.   

The MSW learning contract/field education evaluation tool provides each field student and agency with 9 competencies, 31 foundational behaviors, and 18 specialized behaviors to be demonstrated during the field experience. This instrument structures the field expectations and learning experience for the student, the agency field supervisor, and field instructor. The completion of this document is collaborative in nature between the student, the agency field supervisor, and the field instructor. The document is used to direct the student’s learning throughout the entire field placement. Use of the learning contract assists in connecting theoretical and conceptual constructs with practice, fostering the implementation of evidence-informed practice. Reflections on the field experience and the demonstration of these competencies and behaviors are captured from students both in the classroom and via Canvas.

The field seminar is held in conjunction with the student’s field courses, SWK60070 , SWK70070 , and SWK70075 . In the field seminar, students and their field seminar instructor meet to discuss various topics, such as students’ field experiences, theoretical perspectives used in the field, supervisory relationships, professional values and ethics, and self-care. Students will use peer support and consultation to help facilitate these discussions. The field seminar instructor facilitates discussions to connect classroom education with what each student is experiencing in the field placement and how it relates to the core competencies. For example, assessment, ethical and professional behavior, engagement, social justice, policy, and evidence-informed practice move from abstract concepts to actual practice.

Credit Units

Total Credit Units: 60

Total Core Credit Units: 54

Total Elective Credit Units: 6

Elective Requirements

Students are required to complete 6 units of electives over the course of the program. Current elective offerings include:

• SWK60400 - Management and Organizational Development for Social Workers (3 units)
• SWK60500 -  Social Work in Health Care (3 units)
• SWK60300 -  Forensic Social Work (3 units)
• SWK60600 -  Social Work and Aging (3 units)

Curriculum Plan