2003-2005 - Graduate School - The University of Alabama

School of Social Work4411. Successful completion of 60 hours of approved courses including fi eld educationor 42 hours for students admitted with advanced standing2. Evidence of the capacity to perform in all aspects of the student’s educational programat a satisfactory and responsible level, as judged by the faculty, and promiseof further professional development (see the Master’s Degree Program StudentHandbook for further details)3. Students are expected to demonstrate writing profi ciency at a graduate level.Writing skills may be evaluated through specialized assignments in foundation orad vanced-standing courses, or through a profi ciency examination. The student maybe required to attend tutorial sessions until profi ciency is demonstrated.Residency requirement and time limit. Students must be registered full-time (a minimumof 9 semester hours) for two successive semesters during the second year of theM.S.W. program. Work toward the M.S.W. degree must be completed within six calendaryears from the time the fi rst class is taken.M.S.W. ProgramThe goal of the master of social work program of the University of Alabama School ofSocial Work is to educate social workers for advanced practice and leadership roles. Thegoal encompasses education for advanced practice in specifi c types of direct practice andin program assessment and administration, advocacy, and policy and reform roles. TheM.S.W. program emphasizes preparation for practice in critical public and not-for-profi tsocial service systems. The program emphasizes preparation for practice spe cifi cal lyintended to benefi t disadvantaged or oppressed people at the state and regional levels,and the program provides opportunities for students to prepare for practice based onthis commitment at the national and international levels.Building on the professional social work foundation, and within a focused area of study,the objectives of the program prepare graduates• for advanced social work practice in an area of concentration• who will provide leadership in planning, administering, delivering, and evaluatingsocial services• who will advocate for social causes and justice, and work on reform efforts• who will demonstrate a commitment to practice and service to benefi t poor, oppressed,and other socially disadvantaged people, and to work toward the eliminationof poverty, oppression, and discrimination• who value human diversity and display sensitivity to the uniqueness, com mon al i ties,and richness of cultures and their constituents• who are committed to the values and ethics of social work• who engage in a continuous process of professional development through sys tem at icinquiry, analysis, refl ection, and participation in organized professional ed u ca tion alopportunities• who will contribute to the development of the profession of social work within thestate, region, and nation and/or international communitiesCurriculum. The M.S.W. pro gram is fully ac cred it ed by the Council on Social WorkEducation. The curriculum follows the cur ric u lum policy requirements of the Council onSocial Work Education and provides a balanced, integrated approach that includes apro fes sion al foundation and a choice of con cen tra tions. The professional foundationcur ric u lum taken the fi rst year consists of coursework in the following:• Social work practice. This area of the curriculum is designed to provide practiceknowledge and competencies in working with individuals, groups, families, communities,and organizations.• Human behavior and the social environment. This area of the curriculum helps thestudent to understand the whole person and the process of growth, change, adaptation,social functioning, and dysfunctioning in the environmental context, including family,