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Online Master of Social Work

Program Highlights

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60 credit hours |  In-state tuition: $510/credit hour | Out-of-state tuition: $510/credit hour

  • Affordable, fully online MSW program that prepares graduates for advanced social work practice in a variety of settings.
  • Classes are offered synchronously in the evenings and weekends.
  • The only MSW program in the nation with a specialization in Social Work in the Border Region.
  • Develops culturally responsive social workers prepared for advanced practice with diverse, multinational, and international populations.
NOTE: YOU MUST HAVE A BACHELOR'S DEGREE TO APPLY.

PROGRAM ADMISSIONS REQUIREMENTS

Prepare to Make a Difference in Your Community

This is the only MSW program with a Social Work in the Border Region specialization, which includes multiple Spanish-language classes. Ultimately, the program is designed to prepare students for working with diverse populations in any region/setting; however, this focus would provide opportunities for students to apply social work concepts to the ever-changing sociopolitical environment of a border community. 

The program is ideal for the following populations:

  • working professionals of all ages and stages who are committed to understanding and providing services to border-region populations and inland populations impacted by border-related opportunities and challenges
  • members of the military and their partners/spouses
  • those with experience working in social services who want to advance their career options

Effect Change and Inspire Growth to Help Society’s Most Vulnerable

The MSW degree program is designed to prepare competent and culturally responsive social work practitioners who will work towards enhancing the quality of life and community well-being for all persons living within the U.S.-Mexico border region and beyond. 

The program fills an increasing need for qualified social workers, and graduates of the program will be qualified for jobs in a variety of areas including

  • Policy legislation and implementation
  • Community organization and advocacy
  • Nonprofit administration and government
  • Direct clinical mental health practice
  • Correctional settings
  • The justice system
  • Children and family services
  • The military and veteran’s services
  • Schools
  • Substance abuse
  • Senior centers
  • Clinics and hospitals

Course Overview

The program curriculum, which consists of 17 required courses and three elective courses, is aimed at developing essential critical thinking skills and a commitment to professional values and ethics, and integrating social work knowledge, values, skills, and cognitive and affective processes into all levels of social work practice. Students also develop a professional commitment to the NASW Code of Ethics as guiding all aspects of social work practice, including research.

Required Courses

Get an introduction to human delivery systems in the United States with an emphasis on the social work profession, its mission, philosophy, ethics, values, diverse fields, and ethnocultural perspectives to provide a career orientation to the social work profession.

Develop knowledge, values and skills in the application of theory and practice, including the use of professional communication skills in engagement, assessment, intervention, and termination in work with diverse individuals by investigating and evaluating practice models.

Participate in a planned direct practice experience and integrative seminar that integrates knowledge of theory, practice skills, continued development of social work perspective, attitudes, ethics, and values in social work practice in the border region.

Examine the historical evolution of social welfare and the social work profession, with focus on the social policies which compromise the foundation of the welfare state in the United States. Also examine the present patterns of social welfare services with an emphasis on the historical evolution of contemporary social problems in the borderland region. Explore oppression, discrimination, justice, immigration issues and policies, and their impact on diverse populations at risk. .

Get an introduction to the practice of multi-lingual, international border region. The course overview is based on historical perspectives, social development trends, social inequalities, and social work trajectory in the U.S.-Mexico border region. Framed within a strengths-perspective, the course provides advanced knowledge and skills to prepare social workers for macro and leadership roles to serve populations in the social margins, frontiers, and underserved regions in the U.S.-Mexico border and beyond.

Expand your knowledge and practice skills in social work group theory and practice. Build upon theory, knowledge and practice skills covered in SW Practice and Theory with Individuals to include group work methods and skills. Critically examine how race, culture, gender, class, and stressors influence the group process. Use an evidence-based practice lens and expand practice skills and knowledge with clients with diverse challenges and in various professional social work settings with attention given to group work in the border region.

Get an introduction to competency-based assessment of psychological disorders, substance use disorders, the ecological perspective on mental health and the bio-psychosocial-spiritual framework for assessment and intervention.

Continue to build on the series of theory and practice courses to advance knowledge and skills in family social work practice. Focus on specific interventions in the assessment and treatment of family problems within a border context which will overlay an examination, from an evidence based practice lens, of family therapy, theory, and family social work practice. Mandatory student participation in simulated family session and case analysis from the student's field placement will provide a practice context to refine critical thinking, assessment, and intervention skills.

A continuation of Social Policy I; focus on the policy formulation and analysis. Special emphasis is placed on public and non-profit agency policies affecting diverse clients and client groups, and on the role of the social worker as policy change agent. The course will include advanced content on policy practice and advocacy with a special focus on the U.S.-Mexico Border region. Course content includes: critical evaluation of the process and outcomes of social welfare development, evaluation, and implementation at local, state, and federal levels.

Study emerging trends in cultural responsiveness and adaptation, and the culturally-grounded perspective. Culture is viewed as the intersectionality of race, ethnicity, gender, religion, age, socioeconomic status, sexual orientation, immigration status, and other identities. Examine the impact of discrimination, oppression, and economic deprivation on disenfranchised populations and theoretical and historical perspectives on racism, sexism, heterosexism, classism, ageism, ableism, and other forms of discrimination with an emphasis on the U.S.-Mexico border region.

The second foundation practicum course; participate in planned direct practice experience and an integrative seminar that integrates knowledge of theory, practice skills, continued development of social work perspective, attitudes, ethics and values in social work practice in the border region.

Gain advanced knowledge and skills to prepare social workers for practice within human service organizations. Framed within a strengths perspective that recognizes the importance of social work values and promoting social, race, economic, and environmental justice, examine social work roles within organizations, how values and ethics undergird organizational practice, and develop skills in organizational assessment and intervention. Develop skills for effective, ethically informed, and culturally responsive organizational practice in the border region.

Builds on the generalist foundation of graduate education to provide advanced knowledge and skills in areas of macro-level practice to prepare practitioners for leadership roles in communities and service organizations. The content is framed within a strengths perspective that recognizes the importance of social work values and the Department of Social Work's mission of promoting social, racial, economic, and environmental justice and community engagement in the multicultural, bi-national region. Focus on vulnerability, resilience, homelessness and macro practice.

Establish a theoretical base and practical knowledge of scientific research inquires and methods. Get an introduction to the study of social research as applied to social work practice.

The first advanced practicum course; participate in planned direct practice experience and an integrative seminar that integrates advanced social work knowledge of theory, practice skills, continued development of social work perspective, attitudes, ethics and values in the border region setting.

The second course in the research sequence, provides opportunities for students to integrate theoretical research knowledge through hands-on experience in conducting key research activities under the direction of the instructor.

The second advanced practicum course; participate in planned direct practice experience and an integrative seminar that integrates advanced social work knowledge of theory, practice skills, continued development of social work perspective, attitudes, ethics, and values in the border region setting.

Commonly Offered Electives (3 Required)

All electives may not be available each semester; electives offered every semester will be based on based on rotation and interest.

Examine the needs and concerns of the aging person in society from a social/cultural/physiological/emotional perspective and of methods used to address those needs and concerns. Emphasis will be on advocacy, case management, networking, and direct care methods, and their application to Hispanics and other diverse populations in the borderland region.

Gain familiarity with the issues and resources available to address issues of individuals and families affiliated with the U.S. military. Explore formal and informal military structures, including benefits structures, military culture, active duty, reserve and retired military structures. Examine the history of social work within the military, and the issues members of the military or military families may present to social service workers. Discuss issues related to discrimination and oppression within the military and address ethical concerns that emerge from social work practice with military families.

Get an introduction to social work supervision and administration. Emphasis on leadership and oversight of agencies and social work staff, and theory and practice of social work supervision.

Focus on specific topics or populations; for example, sociopolitical determinants of health, school social work, rural social work, trabajo social en Espanol (social work in Spanish), trauma-informed social work, and interprofessional education among others. Students may repeat this course if the focus of the course differs every time.

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