Student Handbook  Field Education Policy and Procedures Manual

Saint Louis University's Master of Social Work (M.S.W.) degree prepares social work professionals for work with vulnerable populations facing health, social, and economic challenges.

Social workers are educationally prepared to provide services including therapy, policy advocacy, case management, group work, crisis intervention, children and family practice, and leadership for nonprofit organizations. M.S.W. level social workers work are employed in a wide variety of human service organizations including family and community centers, mental health and treatment centers, hospitals, schools, nonprofit agencies, residential children’s or adult centers, justice centers, and many more organizations.

SLU's M.S.W. program offers multiple course delivery formats to assist students who are working full- or part-time and for students who want to progress faster by taking additional credits per semester. Formats include the traditional 15-week format (two-and-a-half-hour classes, fall and spring semesters) and a ten-week format (three-and-a-half-hour classes, summer semester). Electives may also be offered in the following formats: two intersession periods of week-long classes, online blended classes or five consecutive Saturday sessions (9 a.m. to 4 p.m.).

Curriculum Overview

SLU's M.S.W. curriculum includes generalist foundation courses, advanced practice courses in an area of concentration, and field practicum. The generalist foundation courses provide the basic social work theory and methods for working with individuals, families, and groups, organizations, and communities.

Students then select an advanced practice area of concentration and proceed with taking these courses. Saint Louis University's School of Social Work offers three concentrations:

• Applied Behavior Analysis
• Clinical
• Community and Organization

SLU's M.S.W. degree is 57 credits, with full-time and part-time options available. Students with a Bachelor of Social Work degree from a Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) accredited program many earn up to 18 credits of advanced standing toward the M.S.W. degree.

Applied Behavior Analysis Concentration

The applied behavior analysis concentration focuses on evidenced-based methods to assist children, adults, and organizations in changing behavior. Curriculum prepares students to be eligible to become a board-certified behavior analyst.

Clinical Concentration

The clinical concentration focuses on assessment, intervention, and outcomes in clinical work with individuals, families, groups, or larger systems. Courses focus on working with diverse families and family systems across a developmental life span using core clinical approaches to engagement, assessment, intervention, and evaluation of outcomes in a variety of clinical practice settings.

Community and Organization Concentration

This community and organization concentration focuses on mezzo and macro level community work, such as community organizing and advocacy, nonprofit administration and local, state and national policy advocacy and implementation.

Fieldwork and Research Opportunities

During the coursework, students will also be mentored by a M.S.W. field instructor while working in a social work capacity in the community.

Students can further specialize their studies through coursework or practicum experiences in the following areas:

• Community Mental Health Practice
• Criminal Justice
• Gerontology
• Global Social Work
• Health Practice
• Nonprofit Administration
• Practice with Children and Youth
• School Social Work
• Substance Use Disorder Treatment
• Therapy with Individuals and Families
• Trauma-Informed Practice
• Veteran Services

Careers

SLU's M.S.W. program is ranked in the top 20 percent of social work programs nationally. Possible careers include work in the fields of health care, mental health, school, child welfare, family services, criminal justice, gerontology, policy, advocacy, administrative and community development.

Admission Requirements

• A bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university
• Minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00
• 24 credits in the liberal arts

Application Requirements

• Application form and fee
• Transcript(s)
• Three confidential professional and/or academic letters of recommendation
• Résumé
• Interview
• Professional goal statement

Requirements for International Students

TOEFL of 92 or higher or PTE Academic score

All admission policies and requirements for domestic students apply to international students along with the following:

• Demonstrate English Language Proficiency
• Proof of financial support must include:
  • A letter of financial support from the person(s) or sponsoring agency funding the time at Saint Louis University
  • A letter from the sponsor's bank verifying that the funds are available and will be so for the duration of study at the University
• Academic records, in English translation, of students who have undertaken postsecondary studies outside the United States must include the courses taken and/or lectures attended, practical laboratory work, the maximum and minimum grades attainable, the grades earned or the results of all end-of-term examinations, and any honors or degrees received. WES and ECE transcripts are accepted.

Application Deadlines

Fall Semester: Priority - March 1, Final deadline - July 15

Spring Semester: Priority - Oct. 1, Final deadline - Dec. 1

Review Process

The admissions committee considers several factors to determine eligibility: academic achievement, strength of the undergraduate program, application information, personal statement, work experience, any graduate degrees earned, motivation, leadership and service. The undergraduate GPA is weighted with other criteria in the admissions process.

Advanced Standing

Students who have completed a bachelor's degree in social work from an eligible, CSWE accredited program, can receive up to 18 credits of “advanced standing” toward a Master of Social Work at Saint Louis University; approved advanced standing students will need to complete only 39 credits of master's coursework.

To be eligible, students must have:

• Undergraduate cumulative GPA of 3.0
• Earned grades of ‘B’ or better in undergraduate social work courses
• Have completed his/her bachelor’s at a program accredited by the Council on Social Work Education
• No additional transfer credits will be accepted.

Fellowships

Newly accepted students and students in the first year of a program are eligible to apply for the Diversity, Dissertation and Presidential university-funded fellowships. Students must apply to be nominated by the School of Social Work by January 15.

Other university scholarships that do not require nomination by a department/school are also available.

Graduate Assistantships

Students can apply for a full or partial graduate assistantship with the School of Social Work. Applications are accepted Oct. 1-March 1.

For more information, visit the student financial services office online at http://finaid.slu.edu.

Scholarships and Financial Aid

The College for Public Health and Social Justice offers several ways to help finance graduate education.  Opportunities include a limited number of merit-based scholarships and graduate research assistantships.  Awards are made to applicants with the highest combinations of GPAs and test scores who complete their applications by the priority deadlines.

For more information, visit the student financial services office online at http://finaid.slu.edu.

Accreditation

The baccalaureate social work program at Saint Louis University has been continuously accredited since 1974.
 
The master’s social work program at Saint Louis University has been continuously accredited since 1930.

Council on Social Work Education (CSWE)
1701 Duke Street, Suite 200
Alexandria, VA 22314-3457
Phone:+1.703.683.8080 

1. Graduates will be able to identify as a professional social worker and conduct oneself accordingly.
2. Graduates will be able to apply social work ethical principles to guide professional practice.
3. Graduates will be able to apply critical thinking to inform and communicate professional judgments.
4. Graduates will be able to engage diversity and difference in practice.
5. Graduates will be able to advance human rights and social and economic justice.
6. Graduates will be able to engage in research-informed practice and practice-informed research.
7. Graduates will be able to apply knowledge of human behavior and the social environment.
8. Graduates will be able to engage in policy practice to advance social and economic well-being and to deliver effective social work services.
9. Graduates will be able to respond to contexts that shape practice.
10. Graduates will be able to engage, assess, intervene, and evaluate.
11. Graduates will be able to engage with individuals, families, groups, organizations & communities.

Applied Behavior Analysis Concentration

Clinical Concentration

Community and Organization Concentration

Continuation Standards

Students must maintain a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.00 in all graduate/professional courses.

Roadmaps are recommended semester-by-semester plans of study for programs and assume full-time enrollment unless otherwise noted.  

Courses and milestones designated as critical (marked with !) must be completed in the semester listed to ensure a timely graduation. Transfer credit may change the roadmap.

This roadmap should not be used in the place of regular academic advising appointments. All students are encouraged to meet with their advisor/mentor each semester.  Requirements, course availability and sequencing are subject to change.

Applied Behavior Analysis Concentration

Clinical Concentration (Full Time)

Clinical Concentration (Part Time)

Community and Organization Concentration (Full Time)

Community and Organization Concentration (Part Time)

Apply for Admission

For additional admission questions please contact,
Kristi Richter, MSW, LCSW
Director of Graduate Recruitment and Admissions
School of Social Work
(314) 977-2752