MSW Concentrations
Students will orient their course of study around a concentration to deepen their knowledge in a particular area. Concentrations include the following:
- American Indian and Alaska Native
- Children, Youth and Families
- Health
- Mental Health
- Social & Economic Development — Domestic
- Social & Economic Development — International
- Social Impact Leadership
American Indian and Alaska Native
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| CONCENTRATION COURSES* | ||
| Theory, Problems, and Issues (3 credits) | ||
| SWTH 6013 | Indigenous Knowledge, Values and Cultures | 3 |
| Social Policy (3 credits) | ||
| SWSP 6002 | American Indian Social Welfare Policies and Administrative Practices | 3 |
| Practice Methods (9 credits) | ||
| SWPM 6020 | Indigenous Mental Health Practice | 3 |
| SWPM 6054 | Community Development with American Indian and other Indigenous Communities | 3 |
| One additional course based on selected track | 3 | |
| Total Units | 15 | |
- *
All MSW students must complete the same required 21 credits of foundation coursework and 4 credits of foundation practicum & seminar. They must also complete 5 credits of concentration practicum, a leadership and management course, an evaluation course, and 9 credits of electives. The list of these requirements can be found on the Master of Social Work Degree Requirements tab.
Children, Youth and Families
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| CONCENTRATION COURSES* | ||
| Theory, Problems, and Issues (3 credits) | 3 | |
| SWTH 6000 | Theoretical & Empirical Bases for Practice with Children, Youth & Families | |
| Social Policy (3 credits) | 3 | |
| SWSP 6003 | Policy & Services for Children & Youth | |
| Practice Methods (9 credits) | 9 | |
| Required: | ||
| SWPM 6078 | Social Work Practice Across Systems Serving Children, Youth & Families | |
| One of the following is required: | ||
| SWPM 6013 | Social Work Practice in Early & Middle Childhood | |
or SWPM 6014 | Social Work Practice with Youth in Families | |
| One of the following is required**: | ||
| SWPM 6013 | Social Work Practice in Early & Middle Childhood | |
or SWPM 6014 | Social Work Practice with Youth in Families | |
or SWPM 6017 | International Child Welfare | |
or SWPM 6002 | Child Maltreatment Prevention | |
or SWPM 6024 | Core Concepts in Trauma Treatment for Children & Adolescents | |
or SWPM 6049 | Developing Programs in Health & Social Service Settins | |
| Total Units | 15 | |
- *
All MSW students must complete the same required 21 credits of foundation coursework and 4 credits of foundation practicum & seminar. They must also complete 5 credits of concentration practicum, a leadership and management course, an evaluation course, and 9 credits of electives. The list of these requirements can be found on the Master of Social Work Degree Requirements tab.
- **
SOC WK 6640 School Social Work Practice in Public Schools at UMSL is also an option for this requirement.
Health
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| CONCENTRATION COURSES* | ||
| Theory, Problems, and Issues (3 credits) | ||
| SWTH 6003 | Health Behavior & Health Promotion | 3 |
| Social Policy (3 credits) | ||
| SWSP 6018 | Health Administration & Policy | 3 |
| Practice Methods (9 credits) | ||
| Required: | ||
| SWPM 6003 | Clinical Interventions in Health & Integrated Health Settings | 3 |
| SWPM 6009 | Principles & Practices of Differential Diagnosis | 3 |
| One of the following is required: | 3 | |
| SWPM 6004 | Cognitive Behavior Therapy | |
or SWPM 6007 | Applied Group Work Practice | |
or SWPM 6018 | Principles, Practices & Services in Substance Use Disorder Treatment | |
or SWPM 6049 | Developing Programs in Health & Social Service Settings | |
| Total Units | 15 | |
- *
All MSW students must complete the same required 21 credits of foundation coursework and 4 credits of foundation practicum & seminar. They must also complete 5 credits of concentration practicum, a leadership and management course, an evaluation course, and 9 credits of electives. The list of these requirements can be found on the Master of Social Work Degree Requirements tab.
Mental Health
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| CONCENTRATION COURSES* | ||
| Theory, Problems, and Issues (3 credits) | 3 | |
| SWTH 6011 | Contemporary Theories and Issues in Behavioral Health (If Child Behavioral Health Track, take SWTH 6000 Theorertical & Empirical Bases for Practice with Children, Youth, & Familiies) | |
| Social Policy (3 credits) | 3 | |
| SWSP 6012 | Behavioral Health Policies and Services (If Substance Use Disorder Treatment Track, take SWSP 6011 Substance Use Policy) | |
| Practice Methods (9 credits) | 9 | |
| Clinical Social Work Track | ||
| Required: | ||
| SWPM 6008 | Principles of Clinical Interventions in Behavioral Health | |
| SWPM 6009 | Principles and Practices of Differential Diagnosis | |
| SWPM 6018 | Principles, Practices & Services in Substance Use Disorder Treatment | |
| Child Behavioral Health Track | ||
| Required: | ||
| SWPM 6009 | Principles and Practices of Differential Diagnosis | |
| SWPM 6012 | Contemporary Family Therapy | |
| SWPM 6035 | Core Components and Skills for Trauma-Informed Practice | |
| Clinical Social Work in Substance Use Disorder Treatment Track | ||
| Required: | ||
| SWPM 6009 | Principles and Practices of Differential Diagnosis | |
| SWPM 6018 | Principles, Practices & Services in Substance Use Disorder Treatment | |
| SWPM 6010 | Harm Reduction Community Practice | |
| Total Units | 15 | |
- *
All MSW students must complete the same required 21 credits of foundation coursework and 4 credits of foundation practicum & seminar. They must also complete 5 credits of concentration practicum, a leadership and management course, an evaluation course, and 9 credits of electives. The list of these requirements can be found on the Master of Social Work Degree Requirements tab.
Social and Economic Development — Domestic
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| CONCENTRATION COURSES* | ||
| Theory, Problems, and Issues (3 credits) | 3 | |
| One of the following is required: | ||
| SWTH 6006 | Poverty and Inequality in America | |
or SWTH 6010 | Theories of Racial, Social & Economic Justice | |
| Social Policy (3 credits) | 3 | |
| SWSP 6008 | Domestic Social & Economic Development Policy | |
| Practice Methods (9 credits) | 9 | |
| Three of the following are required: | ||
| SWPM 6052 | Community Development Practice | |
or SWPM 6053 | State Level Lobbying | |
or SWPM 6056 | Fundamentals of Community Organizing | |
or SWPM 6057 | Financial Capabilities & Consumer Protections | |
or SWPM 6060 | Social & Economic Development: Redevelopment East St. Louis Seminar Part 1 | |
or SWPM 6061 | Social & Economic Development: Redevelopment East St. Louis Seminar Part 2 | |
or SWPM 6062 | Poverty: The Impact of Institutionalized Racism (only by permission) | |
or SWPM 6063 | Race, Inequality, & Social Justice in American K-12 Education | |
or SWPM 6066 | Equitable Economic Development | |
or SWPM 6074 | Community Based System Dynamics | |
| Total Units | 15 | |
- *
All MSW students must complete the same required 21 credits of foundation coursework and 4 credits of foundation practicum & seminar. They must also complete 5 credits of concentration practicum, a leadership and management course, an evaluation course, and 9 credits of electives. The list of these requirements can be found on the Master of Social Work Degree Requirements tab.
Social and Economic Development — International
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| CONCENTRATION COURSES* | ||
| Theory, Problems, and Issues (3 credits) | 3 | |
| SWTH 6009 | International Social & Economic Development Theory | |
| Social Policy (3 credits) | 3 | |
| SWSP 6009 | International Social & Economic Development Policy | |
| Practice Methods (9 credits) | 9 | |
| Required: | ||
| SWPM 6059 | Development Practice in International Settings | |
| Two of the following are required: | ||
| SWPM 6011 | Global Mental Health | |
or SWPM 6017 | International Child Welfare | |
or SWPM 6022 | Practice with Refugees & Immigrants | |
or SWPM 6049 | Developing Programs in Health & Social Service Settings | |
or SWPM 6058 | Global Anti-Poverty Interventions | |
or SWSP 6010 | Special Topics: Human Rights Policy | |
or various field-based courses (as approved) | ||
| Total Units | 15 | |
- *
All MSW students must complete the same required 21 credits of foundation coursework and 4 credits of foundation practicum & seminar. They must also complete 5 credits of concentration practicum, a leadership and management course, an evaluation course, and 9 credits of electives. The list of these requirements can be found on the Master of Social Work Degree Requirements tab.
Social Impact Leadership
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| CONCENTRATION COURSES* | ||
| Theory, Problems, and Issues (3 credits) | 3 | |
| SWTH 6012 | Human Service Organizations: Theory, Concepts, Issues | |
| Social Policy (3 credits) | 3 | |
| One of the following is required: | ||
| SWSP 6002 | American Indian Social Welfare Policies & Administrative Practices | |
or SWSP 6003 | Policy & Services for Children & Youth | |
or SWSP 6008 | Domestic Social & Economic Development Policy | |
or SWSP 6009 | International Social & Economic Development Policy | |
or SWSP 6011 | Substance Use Policy | |
or SWSP 6012 | Behavioral Health Policies & Services | |
or SWSP 6018 | Health Administration & Policy | |
| Practice Methods (9 credits) | 9 | |
| Leadership and Management Track | ||
| SWPM 6038 | Leading and Managing Employees, Volunteers & Teams | |
| SWPM 6039 | Financial Management | |
| SWPM 6043 | Leadership & Management of Human Service Organizations | |
| Innovation and Entrepreneurship Track | ||
| SWPM 6038 | Leading and Managing Employees, Volunteers & Teams | |
| SWPM 6039 | Financial Management | |
| SWPM 6044 | Social Entrepreneurship | |
| Total Units | 15 | |
- *
All MSW students must complete the same required 21 credits of foundation coursework and 4 credits of foundation practicum & seminar. They must also complete 5 credits of concentration practicum, a leadership and management course, an evaluation course, and 9 credits of electives. The list of these requirements can be found on the Master of Social Work Degree Requirements tab.