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Policy on Nondiscrimination

Based on the tradition of the social work profession, and consistent with Indiana University's Equal Opportunity Policy, the Indiana University School of Social Work affirms and conducts all aspects of its teaching, scholarship, and service activities without discrimination on the basis of race, color, gender, socio-economic status, marital status, national or ethnic origin, age, religion or creed, disability, or political or sexual orientation.

The School of Social Work has a strong commitment to diversity and nondiscrimination. Indeed, diversity is celebrated as a strength. This perspective is demonstrated by the composition of its faculty and student body, curriculum content, and recruitment and retention activities and by an active diversity committee. Further commitment is demonstrated through participation in university committees dealing with oppressed populations; numerous service activities, including advocacy on behalf of the disadvantaged; the selection of field practicum sites; and school policies related to promotion and tenure of its faculty.

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Academic Regulations and Policies

The general regulations and policies detailed in this bulletin apply to all students in the division.

Admissions
Admission to the social work program is selective. Each year more students apply than can be accommodated. Current admission standards require the following:

1. An earned bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university
2. A broad liberal arts background plus instruction in human biology, i.e., L100 Humans and the Biological World (3 cr.) or the equivalent.
3. A cumulative grade point average (GPA) of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.
4. A minimum of six courses in social and/or behavioral sciences.
5. One statistics course, i.e., K300 Statistical Techniques (3 cr.) or the equivalent.
6. One research methodology course.
7. Evidence of characteristics or potential required for competent social work practice as defined in the mission statement of the IUPUI School of Social Work. Such evidence may be derived from application materials, letters of reference, pertinent work experience, and an admission interview.
8. GRE test not required.

Advanced Standing Program Requirements

In addition to the application requirements listed above, the following are additional requirements specific to the Advanced Standing Program:

1. Graduation within five years from an undergraduate B.S.W. program accredited (or admitted to candidacy for accreditation) by the Council on Social Work Education.
2. A cumulative grade point average of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale in all social work courses taken prior to Admission Committee action. Accordingly, applicants for admission with advanced standing must provide the Admissions Committee with a transcript that records at least the fall semester (or winter quarter) grades of their senior year. Therefore, the applicant may need to submit an application closer to the deadline date.
3. A fourth reference letter is required from the B.S.W. director of the applicant's undergraduate program.
4. Evidence of characteristics and/or potential required for competent social work practice as defined in the mission statement of the school. Such evidence may be derived from the application materials, letters of reference, and pertinent work or volunteer experience.

Transfer Students

A limited number of transfer students from other accredited M.S.W. programs may be accepted each year. Master of Social Work students interested in transferring to Indiana University must complete an application for admission to the program. Upon receipt of the completed application, the division director will review the materials and decide if the applicant may be accepted in the program. If accepted, the division director will analyze the student's transcript and course syllabi to determine which credits earned in another accredited social work program will transfer to Indiana University. In all circumstances, however, transfer students must complete all required courses in their chosen Concentration Curriculum at the Indiana University School of Social Work.

In addition to meeting all admissions requirements, transfer students must submit the following information:

1. A letter to the admissions chair that specifically outlines the circumstances and reasons for this transfer;
2. A letter from the dean or director of the applicant's previous M.S.W. program, approving the transfer and describing the applicant's academic performance to date;
3. A copy of all supporting documents that contain course descriptions of classes to be considered for transfer credit.

Additionally, any admitted student may request a transfer of up to 6 non-social work graduate credits if they can show relevance to the student's course of study toward the M.S.W. and academic soundness. In all cases, graduate credit from other disciplines must be consistent with the goals and objectives of the M.S.W. program and must fall within the seven-year requirement for completion of all courses.

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Application Review Considerations

The admissions process is guided by the M.S.W. admissions coordinator and conducted by faculty serving on the M.S.W. Admissions Committee. In evaluating applicants, faculty reviewers take into consideration the following factors:

1. Past academic performance as reflected in a cumulative undergraduate GPA.
2. Graduate course work performance (if any).
3. Judgments by faculty reviewers of the candidate's commitment to social work and suitability for the profession, based on a reading of the application.
4. Length and type of work and volunteer experience.
5. Letters of reference.
6. Evidence of personal qualities considered important for the practice of social work.
7. Diversity considerations.

Admission offers cannot be deferred beyond the year of acceptance.

Guest Students
Nondegree graduate candidates may be admitted to the Division of Social Work to take the S600 elective courses for up to 6 credit hours. These are generally offered during the Summer Sessions. Contact the Division of Social Work office to obtain school authorization.

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Concentration

Students complete an interpersonal practice (clinical) concentration and the second half of the student's academic work is taken in this concentration. Students focus upon application and development of skills in social work practice with individuals, families, and groups.

Field Practicums
All students in the program complete both a foundation practicum and a concentration practicum. The foundation practicum requires a total of 320 hours (approximately 20 hours per week for one semester). Concentration practicum requirements total 640 hours spread over two or three semesters. Field practicums are educationally directed practice experiences under the supervision of an approved field instructor. A faculty liaison oversees the experience, which provides an opportunity for the student to integrate and apply classroom content and practice principles.

The foundation practicum is focused on generalist practice. It emphasizes the development and application of social work values and ethics, appreciation and understanding of diversity, strategies of social change for achieving social justice, identification of oppression and populations at risk, application of biopsychosocial knowledge for social work practice, understanding of social policy and social service delivery systems, development of communication and interactional skills, and understanding and application of research to generalist practice.

The concentration practicum builds upon the experiences gained during the foundation practicum and curriculum. The specific focus is on the processes of application, critical analysis, synthesis, and evaluation of knowledge, and the further development of skills and values acquired in the classroom and practicum.

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Student Organizations

The Zeta Pi chapter of Phi Alpha, the national honor society for social work, was organized at IUN in 1997. The purposes of Phi Alpha are to provide a closer bond among students of social work and promote humanitarian goals and ideals. Phi Alpha fosters high standards of education for social workers and invites into membership those who have attained excellence in scholarship and achievement in social work. The M.S.W. committee will set the criteria for excellence.

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Code of Ethics

All students in the program are expected to follow the Code of Ethics adopted by the National Association of Social Workers (NASW). Copies of the Code of Ethics are provided to all students. In addition, all students are subject to the Code of Student Rights, Responsibilities, and Conduct of Indiana University. Students are responsible for acquainting themselves with and adhering to the policies in this document.

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Master of Social Work Degree Requirements

About the Program
The M.S.W. Foundation Curriculum
The M.S.W. Concentration Curriculum

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About the Program

Social work is a dynamic profession concerned with the changing needs of persons and society. To respond to such needs, the curriculum of the School of Social Work is regularly reviewed by the faculty, students, members of the practice community, and others. The M.S.W. curriculum is designed to provide students with opportunities to develop competence for advanced interpersonal practice.

The M.S.W. program consists of 60 credit hours of study and fieldwork. The first 30 credit hours are core courses taken by all students and are referred to as the Foundation curriculum. The second 30 credit hours provide a concentration of study in advanced interpersonal practice referred to as the Concentration curriculum. Although the school values knowledge gained from life experience, academic credit cannot be granted for non-academic activities.

Students must file an application for graduation the semester before they expect to complete degree requirements. Failure to file this application will result in the student's name not appearing on the graduation list for that semester in which the course work is being completed.

It is the responsibility of students to be certain that their graduation or other academic requirements are met. The graduate office will keep a record of the student's progress. Degree candidates will be assigned a faculty advisor who will aid their program planning, follow their progress and be available for general academic and career counseling.

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The M.S.W. Foundation Curriculum

SWK S500 Social Welfare and the Social Work Profession	3
SWK S510 Human Behavior and the Social Environment: Individuals, Families, Groups	3
SWK S511 Human Behavior and the Social Environment: Organizations, Communities, Societies	3
SWK S520 Evaluation Processes in Social Work	3
SWK S530 Social Policy and Services I	3
SWK S540 Social Work Practice I: Theory and Skills	5
SWK S541 Social Work Practice II: Individuals, Families, Groups	3
SWK S542 Social Work Practice II: Organizations, Communities, Societies	3
SWK S550 Social Work Practicum I: Generalist Practice	4
[320 clock hours during the spring semester]

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The M.S.W. Concentration Curriculum

The final 30 credit hours of the M.S.W. program prepare students for advanced practice in Interpersonal Social Work Practice. The concentration is organized as follows:

Interpersonal Practice

SWK S600 Elective	3
SWK S600 Elective	3
SWK S621 Social Work Research: Interpersonal	3
SWK S631 Social Policy and Services II	3
SWK S643 Social Work Practice III: Individuals	3
SWK S644 Social Work Practice III: Families	3
SWK S645 Social Work Practice III: Groups	3
SWK S651 and SWK S652 Social Work Practicum II and III: Interpersonal Practice	9
[640 clock hours during the fall and spring semesters]

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