IU Bulletins HomeIndianapolis Campus
Indiana University Bulletins
Return to IUPUI Bulletins Home

Search School of Social Work 2004-2006 Online Bulletin

Request School of Social Work 2004-2006 Application Packet

School of Social Work 2004-2006 Online Bulletin Table of Contents

 
School of Social Work
2004-2006
Academic Bulletin

socialwork.iu.edu 
Indiana University School of Social Work 
902 West New York Street 
Indianapolis, IN 46202 
Local: (317) 274-6705 
Fax: (317) 274-8630 
Contact Social Work 
 
Graduate Programs

Master of Social Work
Ph.D. Program and Pre-Doc Option

Master of Social Work

General Information
Admission Requirements
M.S.W. Programs of Study—Indianapolis
Master of Social Work Curriculum
Educational Requirements

Return to Top

General Information

In recognition of the time and geographic constraints of many students who seek professional social work education, the Indiana University School of Social Work offers six programs of study leading to the 60 credit hour M.S.W. degree. The Indianapolis campus offers a two-year full-time program, a three-year part-time weekday program, a three-year part-time evening program, a three-year part-time Saturday program, and an Advanced Standing Program. (The Advanced Standing Program is designed for students with a strong academic record who have earned a Bachelor of Social Work (B.S.W.) degree, within five years of their admission date, from a program accredited by the Council on Social Work Education.) Indiana University South Bend offers a three-year part-time evening program. Indiana University Northwest offers a four-year part-time program.

The general goal of the programs is preparation for advanced social work practice. In addition to generic knowledge and skills, the programs provide an opportunity for development of special competence in child welfare, families, health, leadership, and mental health and addictions. Students also have an opportunity to develop an individualized concentration. Educational resources for students in the program include a substantial library, an audiovisual center, student computer modules, and diversified field instruction settings throughout the state.

Return to Master of Social Work

Admission Requirements

Professional social work education requires students at the master's level to undertake a rigorous program of classroom and practice work. The Indiana University School of Social Work seeks to admit individuals who have demonstrated competency though previous academic work, professional achievements, and volunteer commitments. A strong commitment to social justice and service to others should be evident in the application.

Admission information for all of the M.S.W. programs may be obtained from:

M.S.W. Admissions
IUPUI School of Social Work
Education/Social Work Building 4134
902 W. New York Street
Indianapolis, IN 46202-5154
Telephone: (317) 274-6705
Web: www.socialwork.iu.edu
E-mail: rbrock@iupui.edu

Division of Social Work
IU Northwest
3400 Broadway
Gary, IN 46408-1197
Telephone: (219) 980-7111
Web: www.iun.edu/~socialwk

Master of Social Work
Indiana University South Bend
P.O. Box 7111
South Bend, IN 46634-7111
Telephone: (574) 237-4880
Web: www.iusb.edu/~socw
E-mail: M.S.W.@iusb.edu

Enrollment in the M.S.W. program requires official admission to the Indiana University School of Social Work. A limited number of students are admitted each year. The following items are the minimum requirements for consideration for admission:
  1. An earned bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university.
  2. Evidence of course work in liberal arts.
  3. Successful completion of a minimum of six courses in social or behavioral sciences, as defined in the application packet.
  4. Successful completion of a course in statistics.
  5. Successful completion of a course in research methods.
  6. Successful completion of a course in human biology.
  7. An earned cumulative undergraduate grade point average (GPA) of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.
  8. Submission of the completed application packet by the due date.
Applications are available in early fall of the year preceding admission. Information pertaining to the deadlines, requirements, and program details can be found in the application packet. Applicants can apply to only one location and one specific program. All applicants are encouraged to submit applications as soon as possible and well before the final application priority date. The M.S.W. admissions committee will make all decisions and notify students in early spring. Applications are evaluated on the basis of the eight criteria outlined above. Admission is competitive and the instructional resources of the school determine total enrollment.

International Students
Applicants who are not citizens of the United States should apply as early as possible preceding the fall in which they wish to enter. They must fill out the international application and the Indiana University School of Social Work application by the posted deadlines. They also must provide proof of their ability to pay fees and support themselves adequately during the period of their study and, through examinations designated by the school, must demonstrate an ability to comprehend, write, and speak English at an acceptable level.

International students applying to study at IUPUI should request an international application from the following address:

Office of International Affairs
IUPUI
620 Union Drive, Room 207
Indianapolis, IN 46202-5167
Telephone: (317) 274-7000
E-mail: oia@iupui.edu
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 M.S.W. program director and the chair of the admissions committee will review the materials and decide if the applicant will be accepted into the program. If accepted, the M.S.W. program 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, the transfer student must complete all required courses in their chosen Concentration Curriculum.

Non-M.S.W. Students
With permission of the school, Indiana University students enrolled in other graduate degree programs or persons possessing the M.S.W. degree may request permission to enroll in selected elective courses within the program. Enrollment of nondegree students is restricted by the availability of space and faculty. Persons interested in such enrollment are required to request such permission in writing to the M.S.W. admissions coordinator of the school.

Return to Master of Social Work

M.S.W. Programs of Study—Indianapolis

Indiana University School of Social Work provides several programs of study leading to the M.S.W. degree. Each program requires 60 credit hours of graduate-level course work.

Two-Year Full-Time Program
The Two-Year Full-Time Program consists of two years of course work taken over four academic semesters. A limited number of concentration year courses may be taken during the summer.

Part-Time Day Program
The Part-Time Day Program enables students to complete the Foundation and Intermediate curricula over two calendar years. Students attend classes during the academic year, starting in August. The complete program requires at least three calendar years.

Part-Time Saturday Program
The Part-Time Saturday Program enables students to complete the Foundation and Intermediate Curricula (the first 30 credit hours of the program) over two calendar years. Classroom courses are offered on Saturdays. Students begin this program in late June by enrolling in their first course during the summer II session. Following completion of the Intermediate Curriculum, part-time Saturday students are required to complete the Concentration Curriculum (the final 30 credit hours of the program) with most classes and internships held during the week (usually Monday through Thursday). The complete program requires at least three calendar years.

Part-Time Evening Program
The Part-Time Evening Program enables students to complete the Foundation and Intermediate Curricula (the first 30 credit hours of the program) over two calendar years. Classroom courses are offered on weekday evenings. Students begin this program in late June by enrolling in their first course during the summer II session. Part-time evening students are required to complete the Concentration Curriculum (the final 30 credit hours of the program) with most classes and internships held during the week (usually Monday through Thursday). The complete program requires at least three calendar years.

Advanced Standing Full-Time Program (1 calendar year)
Students holding undergraduate social work degrees may be eligible for this program, which begins in May of each year. The following are specific requirements for consideration for admission to the advanced standing program:

  1. Graduation within five years from a baccalaureate social work program accredited (or admitted to candidacy for accreditation) by the Council on Social Work Education.
  2. Successful completion of a statistics course.
  3. A cumulative grade point average of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.
  4. A cumulative grade point average of at least 3.0 in all social work courses taken prior to admissions committee action. Accordingly, applicants to the Advanced Standing Program must provide the admissions committee with an official transcript. Senior B.S.W. students must provide a transcript including the fall semester (or winter quarter) grades of their senior year.
  5. 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 application materials, letters of reference, and/or pertinent work or volunteer experience.
  6. A reference letter is required from the B.S.W. program director of the applicant's undergraduate program.
Students admitted with advanced standing will receive credit by credentials for all first-semester courses (15 credits). During the summer preceding the Concentration Year, students will satisfy the remaining second-semester course requirements of the Foundation and Intermediate Year. They can complete the Concentration Curriculum in one year.

Part-Time Advanced Standing Program(s)
Any eligible B.S.W. graduate may apply for an advanced program option other than the one calendar year, full-time program. An applicant may choose to enter the part-time day, evening or Saturday program. Each of these options begin in the fall semester and will take approximately two years to complete.

Return to Master of Social Work

Master of Social Work Curriculum

Social work is a dynamic profession concerned with the changing needs of people and society. To respond to such needs, the curriculum of the School of Social Work undergoes continuing review by the faculty with the participation of students, members of the practice community, and others. Students must complete 60 credit hours of graduate-level course work in order to meet the minimum requirements for the Master of Social Work degree. All students complete a common 15 credit Foundation Curriculum and 15 credit Intermediate Curriculum that emphasize a generalist perspective for social work practice. The Intermediate Curriculum includes a one-semester practicum of a minimum of 320 clock hours. Following that, students complete a Concentration Curriculum that prepares them for advanced practice in child welfare, families, health, leadership, mental health and addictions, or an individualized concentration. The Concentration Practicum of a minimum of 640 clock hours is usually completed over two semesters. All Foundation Curriculum course work must be completed before students are eligible to enroll in any required courses in the Concentration Curriculum.

The overall objectives of the Foundation and Intermediate Curricula of the M.S.W. program include development of

  1. basic, generalist competence applicable to a broad range of social work practice;
  2. basic competence in both direct and leadership practice; and
  3. basic competence for practice in social service delivery systems.
The overall objectives of the Concentration Year include development of special competence in a concentration area.

Typical course arrangements for students admitted to the M.S.W. program are shown below.

Foundation Curriculum (15 cr.)
S501 Professional Social Work at the Masters Level: An Immersion
S502 Research I
S503 Human Behavior and the Social Environment I
S504 Professional Practice Skills I
S505 Social Policy Analysis and Practice

Intermediate Curriculum (15 cr.)
S513 Human Behavior and the Social Environment II
S514 Practice with Individuals and Families I
S515 Social Policy and Services II
S516 Social Work Practice II: Organizations, Communities, Societies
S550 Social Work Practicum I

Concentration Curriculum (30 cr.)

Child Welfare
S623 Practice Research Integrative Seminar I
S632 Child Welfare Practice I: Working with Children Impacted by Violence in the Family
S661 Executive Leadership Practice
S633 Child Welfare Practice II: Working with Diverse and Transitioning Families
S634 Community-Based Practice with Children and Families
S651 Practicum II (4 Cr)
S652 Practicum III (5 Cr)
Courses elected from other concentration areas for a total of 30 concentration credits

Leadership
S623 Practice Research Integrative Seminar I
S661 Executive Leadership Practice
S662 Fiscal Management, Marketing, and Resource Development
S663 Leveraging Organizations, Communities, and Political Systems
S665 Designing Transformational Programs
S653 Practicum II (4 Cr)
S654 Practicum III (5 Cr)
Courses elected from other concentration areas for a total of 30 concentration credits

Families
S623 Practice Research Integrative Seminar I
S661 Executive Leadership Practice
S672 Families, Theories, and Culture
S673 Couples and Families Interventions I
S674 Couples and Families Interventions II
S651 Practicum II (4 Cr)
S652 Practicum III (5 Cr)
Courses elected from other concentration areas for a total of 30 concentration credits

Mental Health and Addictions
S623 Practice Research Integrative Seminar I
S661 Executive Leadership Practice
S682 Assessment in Mental Health and Addictions
S683 Community-Based Practice in Mental Health and Addictions
S685 Mental Health and Addictions Practice with Individuals and Families
S686 Social Work Practice: Addictions (3 cr.)
S687 Mental Health and Addictions Practice with Groups
S651 Practicum II (4 Cr)
S652 Practicum III (5 Cr)
Courses elected from other concentration areas for a total of 30 concentration credits

Health
S623 Practice Research Integrative Seminar I
S661 Executive Leadership Practice
S692 Health Care Practice I
S693 Health Care Practice II
S651 Practicum II (4 Cr)
S652 Practicum III (5 Cr)
Courses elected from other concentration areas for a total of 30 concentration credits

Return to Master of Social Work

Educational Requirements

Students are admitted on the assumption that they have the potential academic ability and personal suitability for completing the professional program in which they are enrolled. All students in the M.S.W. program are expected to maintain the standards established by the School of Social Work and those held by the social work profession. In order to detect possible problems, the School of Social Work reviews students' performance periodically.

The Master of Social Work degree is recommended by the school and conferred by the university. Students must successfully complete 60 credit hours of required and elective courses carrying graduate credit. Each student is expected to follow the university and school schedules and dates for completion of requirements, including completion of all work within seven calendar years from the time of first enrollment.

Liability Insurance
Students are required to carry professional liability insurance. Under the school's blanket policy, the cost of insurance is included in the student's practicum course fee.

Credit for Life Experience
Academic credit for life experience and previous work experience is not given in whole or in part toward the social work degree.

Return to Master of Social Work

Return to Top

Ph.D. Program and Pre-Doc Option

Admission Requirements
Application Deadline
Course Requirements
Qualifying Examination Process
Admission to Candidacy
Research Proposal
Final Examination
Pre-Doc Exploratory Option

Return to Top

Admission Requirements

All applicants to the Ph.D. program must have a master's degree in social work or a related field. Admission to the Ph.D. program is based on evaluations of (1) the applicant's professional resume, (2) professional experience beyond the M.S.W. degree, (3) undergraduate and graduate transcripts, (4) three letters of reference, (5) an example of the applicant's scholarly writing, (6) a 500-word statement of purpose, and (7) Graduate Record Examination General Test scores.

Return to Ph.D. Program and Pre-Doc Option

Application Deadline

Applications are accepted at any time, but a deadline of February 1 is required in order to be considered for a University Fellowship. All applications must be received by July 1 to be considered for admission to the program for the fall semester and November 1 for admission in the spring semester. For application materials and further information, write to:

Ph.D. Admissions
School of Social Work
Indiana University
Education/Social Work Building 4138
902 W. New York Street
Indianapolis, IN 46202-5154
Telephone: (317) 274-6730
E-mail: swkphd@iupui.edu
Return to Ph.D. Program and Pre-Doc Option

Course Requirements

The student must complete a total of 90 credit hours, including dissertation and research internship. Candidates for the Ph.D. degree may be granted up to 30 hours of graduate credit from other institutions as follows:

  • Of the 30 graduate transfer credit hours counted toward the Ph.D. degree in social work, 15 of these credits must be in an area directly related to research (e.g., research methods, statistics, a mentored research project, etc.)
  • Of these 15 research-related credit hours, at least 6 credits must have been completed within three calendar years prior to the date the student enrolls in his/her first doctoral class following acceptance into the Ph.D. program.
  • All 15 research transfer credits must have been successfully completed as prerequisites for the two advanced research methods courses (S726 and S727), the Research Internship (S725), and the advanced statistics course.
  • Any or all of the 15 research transfer credits may be taken prior to acceptance into the Ph.D. program and in addition to the 9 credit hours associated with the pre-doc option.
  • All students must have successfully completed a graduate-level statistics course within three calendar years prior to enrolling in the required advanced statistics course. Students who have completed a statistics course more than three years prior to enrolling in the advanced statistics course may petition the director of the Ph.D. program to test out of this requirement.
  • Any research transfer credits not completed prior to acceptance into the Ph.D. program must be completed as part of the student's doctoral studies in accordance with the above provisions.
All courses credited toward the Ph.D. degree must have a minimum grade of B and must receive written approval from the School of Social Work Ph.D. Program Committee and the dean of the University Graduate School. Specific program requirements include:
  • professional social work component (33 cr.)
  • specialization component (18 cr.)
  • research component (21 cr.)
  • research internship (6 cr.)
  • dissertation (12 cr.)
All students in the Ph.D. program, with the approval of the program director, will select two faculty members to serve as their academic advisors throughout their doctoral studies, one of whom will represent the student's area of specialization outside the School of Social Work.

Return to Ph.D. Program and Pre-Doc Option

Qualifying Examination Process

The qualifying examination process is comprehensive and integrative in nature. Specific guidelines for the completion of the qualifying process are available from the Ph.D. program director.

Return to Ph.D. Program and Pre-Doc Option

Admission to Candidacy

Following the passing of the qualification examination and the completion of all course work, the student's advisory committee will submit a Nomination to Candidacy Form to the University Graduate School. Upon approval of the dean, the student will be admitted to candidacy and awarded a Certificate of Candidacy.

Return to Ph.D. Program and Pre-Doc Option

Research Proposal

After nomination to candidacy, the student, with the approval of the program director, will select a research committee of no fewer than four faculty members, including one member outside of the School of Social Work. This committee must approve the proposed dissertation topic.

Return to Ph.D. Program and Pre-Doc Option

Final Examination

The final examination is the oral defense of the dissertation.

Return to Ph.D. Program and Pre-Doc Option

Pre-Doc Exploratory Option

The Pre-Doc Exploratory Option allows prospective doctoral students to test their interest in and commitment to doctoral education. The program provides students with the time to gain the information and experience needed to make an informed decision about formal application to the program. This option permits qualified students to enroll in up to three of the school's regular Ph.D. foundation courses and to complete up to 9 credit hours of doctoral course work before deciding to apply formally to the program. If a student later applies and is accepted to the regular Ph.D. program, credits earned during the pre-doc phase will automatically apply toward the Ph.D. degree.

Participation in the Pre-Doc Exploratory Option does not guarantee acceptance into the Ph.D. program. It does, however, provide a unique opportunity for students to explore that possibility. Courses counted toward the Ph.D. degree must be completed within seven years of passing the required qualification examination.

The selection of candidates for enrollment in the Pre-Doc Exploratory Option is based on the following criteria:

  • An earned master's degree in social work or a related field
  • A graduate grade point average of at least 3.5 on a 4.0 scale, preferred
  • Official copies of all baccalaureate- and master's-level transcripts
  • A 500-word written statement that outlines the applicant's reasons for seeking enrollment in the Pre-Doc Exploratory Option
  • At least one letter of reference
  • A professional resume
  • A sample of scholarly writing (optional)
There is an open admissions process for the Pre-Doc and Ph.D. programs. Ph.D. applicants who would like to be considered for possible nomination for a University Fellowship should apply by February 1.

Students enrolled in the Pre-Doc Exploratory Option program are strongly encouraged to complete the S721 Seminar in Advanced Scholarship Skills (3 credit hours) as part of their program of studies. The following is a list of other S700-level courses:
S710 Proseminar on Client Systems (3 cr.)
S720 Philosophy of Science and Social Work (3 cr.)
S724 Theory, Practice, and Assessment of Social Work Teaching (3 cr.)
S726 Advanced Social Work Research Methods: Qualitative Research (3 cr.)
S727 Advanced Social Work Research Methods: Quantitative Research (3 cr.)
S730 Proseminar on Social Work Policy Analysis (3 cr.)
S740 Social Work Practice: Theory and Research (3 cr.)

For additional information contact:

Ph.D. Program Director
School of Social Work
Indiana University
902 W. New York Street, ES 4138
Indianapolis, IN 46202-5154
Telephone: (317) 274-6730
E-mail: swkphd@iupui.edu
Return to Ph.D. Program and Pre-Doc Option

Return to Top




Indiana University
Office of Publications
Von Lee 319
517 East Kirkwood Avenue
Bloomington, IN 47408-4060
(812) 855-5121


Submit Questions or Comments
Copyright , The Trustees of Indiana University