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Indiana University South Bend - Graduate Bulletin 2001-2003

Paul R. Newcomb, Director

Office: Northside Hall, 418
Phone: (219) 237-4880
Internet Address: www.iusb.edu/~msw/

Coordinator of Field Instruction: Bruce P. Hackwork
Association Professor: Newcomb
Assistant Professor: Gudorf, Hackworth, Rose
Lecturer: Lemp

Mission Statement

The mission of the Indiana University School of Social Work is to educate students to be effective and knowledgeable professional social workers prepared for practice in the twenty-first century. Such practitioners are committed to the alleviation of poverty, oppression, and discrimination. The school is dedicated to the enhancement of the quality of life for all people, particularly the citizens of Indiana, and to the advancement of just social, political, and economic conditions through excellence in teaching, scholarship, and service. Within the context of a diverse, multicultural, urbanized, global, and technologically oriented society, the school prepares social workers who will shape solutions to a wide range of interpersonal and social problems by developing and using knowledge critically while upholding the traditions, values, and ethics of the social work profession.

TEACHING
The teaching mission is to educate students to become professional social workers equipped for a lifetime of learning, scholarship, and service. Graduates embrace person-in-environment and strengths, perspectives that are linked to the welfare of individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities. They learn to keep abreast of advances in knowledge and technology, be self-reflective, and apply best practice and accountable models of intervention. The school prepares social work practitioners and scholars ready to assume leadership roles at the B.S.W., M.S.W. and Ph.D. levels.

SCHOLARSHIP
The scholarship mission includes the discovery, integration, application, dissemination, and evaluation of client-centered and solution-focused knowledge for and with social work professionals and other consumers. Innovative forms of scholarship are encouraged in developing knowledge for use in practice, education, and service concerning social needs and social problems.

SERVICE
The service mission is dedicated to the promotion of the general welfare of all segments of society. Service includes work in the school, university, profession, and community and reflects the school’s expertise in teaching, scholarship, and social work practice. Service in the interest of persons at greatest risk is consistent with the social work profession’s attention to social justice.
 

Master of Social Work

PROGRAM OBJECTIVES
Social work is a dynamic profession concerned with the changing needs of individuals, families, groups, organizations, and society. For those who are interested in this professional commitment, social work offers a broad range of practice settings: community mental health agencies, nursing homes, hospitals, schools, employee assistance programs, family service agencies, and community service agencies. In addition, professional social workers serve as administrators of various social service agencies. They also work in all levels of government, education, and a number of social workers have assumed political or legislative careers. The education and training they receive in a Master of Social Work (M.S.W.) program provides them with the skills they need to choose a career within the broad area of social work.

ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS
Professional social work education requires the ability to undertake a rigorous program of classroom and field study. The school seeks to admit persons who have demonstrated competency through their academic and work achievements and who give evidence of commitment to working toward the well-being of others and the betterment of social conditions. It also seeks to provide an ethnically and regionally diversified student body. Admission to the IU School of Social Work is program specific.

The Indiana University School of Social Work, (M.S.W. Program) at the South Bend campus offers a part-time evening program culminating in the M.S.W. degree. The entire 60 hours are available on the South Bend campus for those interested in the interpersonal practice concentration. Transfer to the Indiana University–Purdue University Indianapolis campus is available to those wishing to finish the last 30 concentration credits in macro practice.

Admission to the IUSB program is processed through the IU School of Social Work in Indianapolis. Applications are available through the IUSB Office of Graduate Programs or the Master of Social Work office in early September and the return deadline is the following February 1.

PREREQUISITES FOR ADMISSION

• GPA of 2.5 on a 4.0 scale.
• Six social science courses (psychology, sociology, etc.)
• One human biology course.
• One research methods course.
• One statistics course.
• An earned undergraduate degree from an accredited college or university.

Applications may be made any time after September 1 and should be filed as early as possible. The application deadline for applicants whose files—including references, transcripts, and other materials—are submitted by the above priority dates will be notified of the admissions committee’s decision around April 1.

Those not admitted then, as well as those applying later, will be held for periodic consideration as replacements for persons declining acceptance or withdrawing before the beginning of the program. The committee may require personal interviews and test results at its discretion. Admission is competitive, and total enrollment is determined by the instructional resources of the school.

ACADEMIC STANDING
To remain in good academic standing, students will be expected to perform at or above the following:

• Earn at least a C in each graded social work course.
• Maintain a 2.5 cumulative GPA on a 4.0 scale in required social work courses and a 2.6 overall GPA.
• Earn a grade of satisfactory in all practicum courses; to carry out professional activity in conformity with the values and ethics of the profession, and to comply with any contract that might have been entered into with the performance review committee.
• In the event of failure to meet such requirements, students will be ineligible to continue in the program. Such students are encouraged to consult with their faculty advisor regarding realistic planning for the future, including the right to petition for administrative review.

THREE-YEAR, PART-TIME EVENING PROGRAM
The part-time evening program allows students the flexibility of evening classes and to progress at a slower pace than the more traditional full-time program. This program begins in the second summer session of each year, and students first complete the foundation year courses. Following completion of the foundation year, students move to the concentration year sequence.

The M.S.W. program consists of 60 credit hours of study and field work. The first 30 credits are core courses taken by all students, while the second 30 credits provide a concentration in interpersonal practice.

Although the school values the knowledge gained from life experience, no credit can be given for this. Thus, the overall objectives of the first (foundation) year of the M.S.W. program include development of:

• Basic, generic competence applicable to the broad range of social work practice.
• Basic competence in both interpersonal practice and planning and management practice.
• Basic competence for practice in social-service delivery systems.

The overall objectives of the second (concentration) year include development of more advanced competence in interpersonal practice.

FIELD PRACTICUM
Both the foundation and the concentration years of the M.S.W. program include field practicum courses with field instructors who meet the standards of the school. A student in the program is required to have field instruction in two different agency settings. Placements are made both in South Bend and in various locations throughout the state. Field practicum is construed as a continuing process. Students in placement agencies are expected to meet professional service responsibilities. Students in field practicum will follow the work schedule of their field agencies during holiday periods and/or semester recess.

The school is responsible for arranging the field placements of the students. Attention is given to the student’s learning needs, professional goals, and interests. Field instruction is available only to students who have been admitted as candidates for the M.S.W. degree.

A total of 960 clock hours of practicum are required, with 320 hours in the foundation year and 640 hours in the concentration year. Practica are concurrent with course work.

ACCREDITATION
The School of Social Work is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CWSE), 1600 Duke Street, Suite 300, Alexandria, Virginia 22314-3421, (703) 683-8080.

STUDENT SERVICES
Career information about employment is available by calling (219) 237-4464 or by contacting:

Dr. Paul R. Newcomb, Program Director
Master of Social Work Program
Indiana University South Bend
Post Office Box 7111
South Bend, IN 46634-7111

STUDENT ORGANIZATION
Students of the school maintain the M.S.W. Social Work Student Association, which sponsors program meetings, provides information about professional workshops, conferences, speakers, etc. (on campus and regionally) of interest to social work students. The association serves as an important channel of communication between students and faculty. Students are also encouraged to join and participate in the activities of the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) and National Association of Black Social Workers (NABSW).

PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS
(Courses are 3 cr. hours unless otherwise designated)

Required Courses (28 cr.)
SWK S500 Social Welfare and the Social Work Profession
SWK S510 Human Behavior and Social Environment: Individuals, Families, Groups
SWK S511 Human Behavior and Social Environment: Organizations, Communities, Societies
SWK S520 Evaluation Processes in Social Work
SWK S530 Social Policy and Services
SWK S540 Social Work Practice I: Foundation
SWK S541 Social Work Practice II: Individual and Family
SWK S542 Social Work Practice II: Organizations,Communities, Societies
SWK S550 Social Work Practicum I: Introduction of Practice Skills (4 cr.)
SWK S500 through SWK S550 may be replaced by comparable course(s) from the CSWE accredited M.S.W. Program upon approval of the M.S.W. program director.

Interpersonal Concentration (24 cr.)
SWK S621 Social Work Research: Interpersonal
SWK S631 Social Policy and Services II
SWK S643 Social Work Practice III: Individuals
SWK S644 Social Work Practice III: Families
SWK S645 Social Work Practice III: Groups
SWK S651 Social Work Practicum II: Interpersonal (4 cr.)
SWK S652 Social Work Practicum III: Interpersonal (5 cr.)

Electives (6 cr.)
Elective credit may be met by SWK S600 courses, independent study courses, transfer credits, outside electives (upon approval of the M.S.W. program director), or courses offered in the other concentration curriculum not taken by the student (i.e., interpersonal students can count a macro course as one of their electives).