skip navigation

Florida Gulf Coast University

Website Directory  

Social Work (MSW) Program

College of Health Professions and Social Work
The Social Work (MSW) Program
Student Resources
Related Links

Program Requirements for 2013-2014 Catalog Year

Print Program Details
    General Program:

  1. Required Core Courses in the Major (39 hrs)
    • SOW 6105 Human Behavior in the Social Environment I: Micro (3)
    • SOW 6124 Psychopathology in Clinical Practice (3)
    • SOW 6186 Macro Social Work Theory and Practice (3)
    • SOW 6235 Social Welfare & History (3)
    • SOW 6236 Social Policy Analysis (3)
    • SOW 6305 Social Work Practice I (3)
    • SOW 6306 Social Work Practice II (3)
    • SOW 6344 Advanced Clinical Group Practice (3)
    • SOW 6369 Advanced Practice Seminar (3)
    • SOW 6405 Research I: Methods (3)
    • SOW 6435 Research II: Practice Evaluation (3)
    • SOW 6611 Advanced Clinical Practice with Families & Couples (3)
    • SOW 6616 Advanced Clinical Practice with Individuals (3)

  2. Field Experience Requirements (12 hrs)

    Select one of the following groupings:

    1. Full-time Field Experience
      • SOW 6532 Field Education I (3)
      • SOW 6533 Field Education II (3)
      • SOW 6535 Field Education III (3)
      • SOW 6537 Field Education IV (3)
    2. Part-time Field Experience
      • SOW 6565 Field Education IA-Part-time (2)
      • SOW 6554 Field Education IB-Part-time (2)
      • SOW 6552 Field Education IC-Part-time (2)
      • SOW 6566 Field Education IIA-Part-time (2)
      • SOW 6570 Field Education IIB-Part-time (2)
      • SOW 6571 Field Education IIC-Part-time (2)
  3. Electives (9 hrs)

    Select three graduate courses as approved by the advisor. Students may take two additional electives above the 60 credits required for graduation. Common graduate electives offered by the social work program:
    • SOW 6199 Inter-relational Violence (3)
    • SOW 6275 International Social Work (3)
    • SOW 6606 Issues in Health/Mental Health (3)
    • SOW 6629 Human Diversity & Oppression (3)
    • SOW 6644 Issues in Aging (3)
    • SOW 6656 Child Abuse (3)
    • SOW 6678 Loss and Bereavement (3)
    • SOW 6675 Vulnerable Populations (3)
    • SOW 6710 Chemical Dependency (3)
    • SOW 6725 Child Welfare (3)
    • SOW 6931 Special topics in Social Work (3)
    _____________________________________________________________

    Advanced Standing Program:

    1. Required Core Courses in the Major (18 hrs)
      • SOW 6124 Psychopathology in Clinical Practice (3)
      • SOW 6344 Advanced Clinical Group Practice (3)
      • SOW 6369 Advanced Practice Seminar (3)
      • SOW 6435 Research II: Practice Evaluation (3)
      • SOW 6611 Advanced Clinical Practice with Families & Couples (3)
      • SOW 6616 Advanced Clinical Practice with Individuals (3)
    2. Field Experience Requirements (6 hrs)
      Select one of the following groupings:

      1. Full-time Field Experience
        • SOW 6535 Field Education III (3)
        • SOW 6537 Field Education IV (3)
      2. Part-time Field Experience
        • SOW 6566 Field Education IIA-Part-time (2)
        • SOW 6570 Field Education IIB-Part-time (2)
        • SOW 6571 Field Education IIC-Part-time (2)
    3. Electives (6 hrs)

      Select two graduate electives as approved by the advisor. Students may take two additional electives above the 30 credits required for graduation. Common graduate electives offered by the social work program:

      • SOW 6199 Inter-relational Violence (3)
      • SOW 6275 International Social Work (3)
      • SOW 6606 Issues in Health/Mental Health (3)
      • SOW 6629 Human Diversity & Oppression (3)
      • SOW 6644 Issues in Aging (3)
      • SOW 6656 Child Abuse (3)
      • SOW 6678 Loss and Bereavement (3)
      • SOW 6675 Vulnerable Populations (3)
      • SOW 6710 Chemical Dependency (3)
      • SOW 6725 Child Welfare (3)
      • SOW 6931 Special Topics in Social Work (3)
TOTAL SEMESTER HOURS REQUIRED: 30-60 HRS

Transfer Notes and Acceptable Substitutes

Transfer Credit

The Division of Social Work has formal policies and procedures concerning the transfer of credit from other accredited colleges and universities, including the transfer of credit from other CSWE accredited schools and departments of social work.

A student who has previously earned graduate level credit from a Master of Social Work program accredited by the Council on Social Work Education may submit her or his transcript as part of the application process.

A student may request that a course taken prior to enrollment in the MSW program be accepted as a substitute for a social work elective course provided the course meets certain criteria as determined by the Admission Committee. These determination of elective credit will be made after the student has been admitted to the program.

Transfer Students Policy

Florida Gulf Coast University (FGCU) has formal policies and procedures for the transfer of credits from other accredited colleges and universities, including the transfer of credit from other CSWE accredited Master's degree programs. The MSW program seeks to prevent duplication of academic content by recognizing prior educational achievement.

Transfer of credit from another accredited Social Work Program requires a final grade of "B" or better and approval of the Chair of the Admissions Committee. The Chair reviews transfer requests on a case-by-case basis and may request course syllabi or course description so that it may be compared to equivalent course at FGCU with input from the faculty who teaches the course. Students may also be asked to provide details regarding course content and examples of written work if available. Credit is not given for life experiences.

Students may request that courses taken prior to enrollment in the FGCU MSW program be accepted as substitute for social work elective courses. The following rules will apply in such cases:

The course was graduate level and offered by an accredited college or university

  1. The course was taken in a CSWE accredited MSW Program
  2. The course bears direct relevance to the master's level of social work education
  3. The course was not used to meet requirement for another degree
  4. The student earned a grade of "B" or better and provides an official transcript attesting to that fact.
  5. The course was completed within five years prior to admission to the MSW program at FGCU.