Mar 28, 2024  
2021-2022 Graduate Catalog 
    
2021-2022 Graduate Catalog ARCHIVED CATALOG: CONTENT MAY NOT BE CURRENT. USE THE DROP DOWN ABOVE TO ACCESS THE CURRENT CATALOG.

Master of Social Work


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This program is accredited by: CSWE. More information can be found at: unlv.edu/provost/vpaa/accreditation

Plan Description


The Master of Social Work (M.S.W.) program at UNLV prepares students for professional social work careers in the areas of trauma-informed and direct practice with individuals, families, and groups, as well as in management and community practice. The mission of the M.S.W. program is to educate students to work with populations in urban settings, utilizing generalist, problem solving, empowerment, and social justice approaches. Special attention is given to the mastery of multiple practice issues, attendant upon the present plural and diverse populations in today’s American society.

Students may elect either “direct practice,” trauma-informed practice,” or “management and community practice” as their area of concentration. The direct practice concentration prepares students for advanced social work practice with individuals, families, and groups. The management and community practice concentration prepares students for advanced administrative, managerial, and community practice in human service organizations and agencies at the local, state, and national levels. The trauma-informed practice concentration focuses on clinical skills specific to addressing the effects of trauma, as well as mezzo and macro service changes to enhance the trauma informed perspective. 

Students are provided academic knowledge related to the theory, research, and major substantive issues in the field and practice experience through practicum experiences in a variety of private and public agency environments. Field practicum placement is concurrent with classroom instruction and is an integral part of the program. A wide variety of field practicum agencies are available, and students are placed in the field under the guidance of the Field Director and in cooperation with the professional supervisory staff from local social service agencies. The program seeks to encourage and accommodate varied student interests, abilities, and career goals. Partnerships and on-going collaborative relationships between the school faculty and the service agencies facilitate a rich blend of academic and community-based experience for our students.

The M.S.W. program is designed to be consistent with the accreditation standards of the field’s national professional accrediting body, the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE). The program is fully accredited by the Council on Social Work Education. The School of Social Work does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, gender, age, creed, ethnic background, national origin, disability, and political, religious, or sexual orientation.

 

For more information about your program, including your graduate program handbook and learning outcomes, please visit the Degree Directory.

Plan Admission Requirements


Application deadlines

Applications available on the UNLV Graduate College website.

An applicant must have the following:

  1. A minimum overall grade point average of 2.75 on a 4.00 scale for the bachelor’s degree.
  2. An earned bachelor’s degree in social work from a regionally accredited program or a degree in another field.
  3. Completion of the following liberal arts courses: English composition or literature courses; college-level mathematics or statistics course; courses in social sciences, preferably in psychology, sociology, and anthropology; a science course; one course in fine arts or humanities; a course in history or political science; a course or content in the biological determinants of human behavior or human biology; a course or content in diverse cultures, social conditions, or social problems.
  4. The applicant must not have more than two course deficiencies to be admitted to the program, and those must be cleared by the end of the first semester of M.S.W. studies.
  5. An applicant must submit an application for admission, transcripts of all college-level work, and the application fee to the Graduate College along with three letters of recommendation (as specified below), a personal statement, and transcripts of all college-level work.
  6. The applicant must submit to the School of Social Work three letters of recommendation (on the prescribed form) that reflect the applicant’s academic experience, general abilities, and interest and motivation in pursuing a graduate degree in social work. One of these letters should be from the most recent employer in a social work position (if applicable), and one should be from an instructor (social work instructor, if applicable) from the last college attended. The third letter should be from a person who is familiar with the applicant’s overall qualifications, experience, and interest in pursuing the M.S.W. degree.
  7. Students with a BSW degree from a program accredited by the Council of Social Work Education may be admitted through Advanced Standing at the determination of the MSW Program. Applicants must have an undergraduate GPA of 3.25 overall, with preference for post-BSW practice experience of 5 years. Applicants will be required to complete the Advanced Standing Summer Term of 4 required courses completed to a 3.0 GPA or above. Students who do not have a 3.0 at the end of the Summer Term will not be allowed to continue into the concentration year of the MSW Program but will be allowed to enter the foundation year of the 63-credit MSW Program.

All domestic and international applicants must review and follow the Graduate College Admission and Registration Requirements.

Admission to the MSW Program cannot be deferred. The student must also enroll in the program to which admission is offered (i.e., a particular concentration, full or part-time). Students must make any request for a change in status in writing and in accordance with School procedure.

Also considering the rigor of the program, students must evaluate if their individual circumstances and resources warrant applying for the full-time or part-time program. Students working 20 hours a week or more are strongly advised to apply to the part-time program.

 

Students are accepted into a degree program as described in the Graduate Catalog. The faculty and corresponding sub-disciplines and sub-plans within the described programs are subject to change at any time.

Subplan 1 Requirements: Capstone


Total Credits Required: 63

Course Requirements


Concentration Courses – Credits: 24


Complete 24 credits of coursework from one of the following concentration areas, by completing all of the courses displayed under the chosen concentration:

Elective Courses – Credits: 9


Complete a minimum of 9 credits of Social Work electives, or other advisor-approved graduate-level courses.

Capstone Course – Credits: 3


Degree Requirements


Complete course work with a minimum overall grade point average of 3.00 on a 4.00 scale. To complete their Master’s degree, students must successfully complete and pass a comprehensive examination.

Graduation Requirements


The student must submit all required forms to the Graduate College as well as apply for graduation up to two semesters prior to completing their degree requirements. Successfully complete the capstone course.

Subplan 2 Requirements: Thesis


Total Credits Required: 63

Course Requirements


Concentration Courses – Credits: 24


Complete 24 credits of coursework from one of the following concentration areas, by completing all of the courses displayed under the chosen concentration:

Elective Courses – Credits: 6


Complete a minimum of 6 credits of Social Work electives, or other advisor-approved graduate-level courses.

Thesis – Credits: 6


Degree Requirements


Complete course work with a minimum overall grade point average of 3.00 on a 4.00 scale. In consultation with their advisor, a student will organize a thesis committee of at least three departmental members. In addition, a fourth member from outside the department, known as the Graduate College Representative, must be appointed. An additional committee member may be added at the student and department’s discretion. Please see Graduate College policy for committee appointment guidelines. To complete their Master’s degree, students must successfully complete and pass a comprehensive examination.

Graduation Requirements


The student must submit all required forms to the Graduate College as well as apply for graduation up to two semesters prior to completing their degree requirements. The student must submit and successfully defend their thesis by the posted deadline. The defense must be advertised and is open to the public. After the thesis defense, the student must electronically submit a properly formatted pdf copy of their thesis to the Graduate College for format check. Once the thesis format has been approved by the Graduate College, the student will submit the approved electronic version to ProQuest. Deadlines for thesis defenses, format check submissions, and the final ProQuest submission can be found here. 

Subplan 3 Requirements: Advanced Standing Capstone


Total Credits Required: 42

Course Requirements


Degree Requirements


Complete course work with a minimum overall grade point average of 3.00 on a 4.00 scale. To complete their Master’s degree, students must successfully complete and pass a comprehensive examination.

Graduation Requirements


The student must submit all required forms to the Graduate College as well as apply for graduation up to two semesters prior to completing their degree requirements. Successfully complete the capstone course.

Subplan 4 Requirements: Advanced Standing Thesis


Total Credits Required: 42

Course Requirements


Degree Requirements


Complete course work with a minimum overall grade point average of 3.00 on a 4.00 scale. In consultation with their advisor, a student will organize a thesis committee of at least three departmental members. In addition, a fourth member from outside the department, known as the Graduate College Representative, must be appointed. An additional committee member may be added at the student and department’s discretion. Please see Graduate College policy for committee appointment guidelines. To complete their Master’s degree, students must successfully complete and pass a comprehensive examination.

Graduation Requirements


The student must submit all required forms to the Graduate College as well as apply for graduation up to two semesters prior to completing their degree requirements. The student must submit and successfully defend their thesis by the posted deadline. The defense must be advertised and is open to the public. After the thesis defense, the student must electronically submit a properly formatted pdf copy of their thesis to the Graduate College for format check. Once the thesis format has been approved by the Graduate College, the student will submit the approved electronic version to ProQuest. Deadlines for thesis defenses, format check submissions, and the final ProQuest submission can be found here. 

Plan Graduation Requirements


Refer to your subplan for Graduation Requirements. 

Subplan 1: Capstone

Subplan 2: Thesis

Subplan 3: Advanced Standing Capstone

Subplan 4: Advanced Standing Thesis

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