Master of Social Work, MSW
JAMES PETROVICH, PH.D., LMSW (TX)
ERIN BUTTS, MSW
MOLLY MOLLOY, LCSW
MSW Mission Statement
The mission of Carroll College's MSW Program is to educate clinical social workers who prevent and solve complex social problems negatively affecting vulnerable and underserved individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities in Montana, across the nation, and throughout the world. Our program is rooted in the principles and methods of culturally competent trauma-informed care, integrated care, and evidence-based practice; preparing ethical and competent social work leaders who elevate community health and functioning and promote social and economic justice through a focus on strengths, resilience, and empowerment.
MSW Program Goals
- Educate students about foundational social work perspectives, such as person-in-environment, as well as core curricular components of trauma-informed care; integrated care; the selection, use, and evaluation of evidence-based practices; interdisciplinary practice; and organizational and professional leadership.
- The program will teach students to understand how their personal values and spiritual beliefs intertwine with the profession’s code of ethics and how both can impact professional decision-making and clinical practice.
- Provide students with the skills needed to accurately assess client problems and to use a comprehensive array of clinical skills to formulate interventions that account for cultural differences, limited resources, and other complex factors.
- Train students to accurately integrate and apply research and evaluation methods into treatment planning and community programming.
- Provide students with the skills to maximize the use of current technologies to address the needs of vulnerable and underserved client groups.
Student Learning Outcomes
Student learning objectives are based on competencies identified by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE). In the first, generalist year of the two-year traditional program, the program uses competencies and associated descriptions and practice behaviors as defined by CSWE. In the second year of the traditional program, or the one-year advanced standing tract, the program evaluates student learning based on extended and enhanced CSWE competencies. The program also evaluates student learning based on a tenth competency: Demonstrates professional leadership. The competencies are identified below:
Competency 1 – Demonstrate Ethical and Professional Behavior
Competency 2 – Engage Diversity and Difference in Practice
Competency 3 – Advance Human Rights and Social, Economic, and Environmental Justice
Competency 4 – Engage In Practice-informed Research and Research-informed Practice
Competency 5 – Engage in Policy Practice
Competency 6 – Engage with Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities
Competency 7 – Assess Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities
Competency 8 – Intervene with Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities
Competency 9 – Evaluate Practice with Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities
Competency 10 – Practice Professional Leadership (specialized year or advanced standing tract only)
Program performance on each competency is assessed using the following benchmarks:
Year 1 (Generalist year): 80% of students will average 3.0 or higher
Year 2 (Specialized year or advanced standing tract): 80% of students will average 4.0 or higher
Degree Requirements
To earn the Master of Social Work degree from Carroll College, the following requirements must be met:
- Completion of 60 graduate semester hours (generalist and specialized curriculum) and 900 field practicum hours for students enrolled in the traditional program. Students meeting criteria for advanced standing complete 30 graduate semester hours (specialized curriculum) and 500 field practicum hours.
- Completion of all program curriculum requirements.
- Achievement of a minimum 3.0 cumulative grade point average.
Curriculum Requirements
Generalist Curriculum
| SW 502 | Human Behavior in the Social Environment | 3 |
| SW 503 | Clinical Methods I | 3 |
| SW 505 | Diversity & Social Justice | 3 |
| SW 515 | Practicum I | 3 |
| SW 516 | Field Seminar I | 3 |
| SW 504 | Research for Social Work Practice | 3 |
| SW 506 | Clinical Methods II | 3 |
| SW 507 | Policy and Advocacy in Social Work | 3 |
| SW 525 | Practicum II | 3 |
| SW 526 | Field Seminar II | 3 |
Specialized Curriculum
Plus six (6) credits of Social Work electives
| SW 589 | Special Topic Elective | 1.00 - 3.00 |
Notes:
- All Master of Social Work students must earn a grade of “B-” or better in all required courses.
- The program requires students to attend on campus, in-person residencies scheduled each semester. The fall semester typically includes residencies at the beginning, middle, and end of the semester, generally from Friday at 1:00pm to Sunday at 12:00pm. The spring semester typically includes two residencies scheduled at the middle and end of the semester, generally scheduled from Friday at 1:00pm to Sunday at 12:00pm.