2024 Core Curriculum
The MSW Program is designed to provide academic and fieldwork education with an emphasis on advanced generalist practice in multi-culutral setings with vulnerable populations. NMSU's MSW program provides an Advanced Generalist concentration which means that students wil be prepared to practice in a full range of soical work roles and settings from direct practice with individuals to work with families and groups, work with communities and organizations, and policy work. Students may utilize electives to direct their studies in some areas of focus while completing the advanced generalist core.
The MSW Program offers the following courses of study:
- Regular MSW (2-year program, 15 credits/semester): site based or online
- Regular (MSW 3-year program, 9-12 credits/semester): site-based or online
- Advanced Standing MSW (1-year program for individuals with a recent BSW degree who meet additional qualifications, 15 credits/semester): site based and online
- Dual MSW/MPH (Master of Public Health) Degree (3-year program, 12-15 credits/semester): site-based or online
Generalist Foundation Courses
The purpose of the foundation (or generalist) course series is to provide the basic foundation that distinguishes social work from other helping professions. This foundation is taught in terms of knowledge-guided frameworks for effectively managing the various phases of the empowerment process with the multiple levels of client systems with whom we work in direct practice.
- SOWK 5110: Sociocultural Concepts and Populations of the Southwest
- SOWK 5135: Human Behavior and the Social Environment
- SOWK 5165: Generalist Social Work Practice
- SOWK 5230: Applied Social Work Research
- SOWK 5155: Social Policy Issues, Analysis, and Change
- SOWK 5180/5181: Generalist Practicum Experience/Seminar I
- SOWK 5190/5191: Generalist Practicum Experience/Seminar II
- SOWK 5320: Practice with Individuals
The Advanced Generalist Concentration year prepares social work practitioners to exercise professional autonomy, leadership, and creativity necessary for multidimensional contextual and ethical practice in rapidly changing social environments with populations of the southwest.
Students entering the Advanced Standing program begin their coursework directly into the advanced concentration year.
- SOWK 5330: Practice with Groups
- SOWK 5310: Social Work Mental Health Practice
- SOWK 5340: Practice with Families
- SOWK 5350: Practice with Communities and Organizations
- SOWK 5280/5281: Advanced Generalist Practicum Experience/Seminar I
- SOWK 5290/5291: Advanced Genearlist Practicum Experience/Seminar II
- SOWK 5260: Social Work Skills Application (1 credit)
- SOWK 5994: Final Exit Project (1 credit)
Electives
Students may take electives during either the foundation or concentration portion of their program depending on their degree plan. A wide variety of special topics (SOWK 5996) courses are offered regularly to provide a range of content. In addition to these, core electives offered include:
- SOWK 5240: Leadership in Public Health Social Work
- SOWK 5210: Core Components of Trauma-Informed Practice
- SOWK 5510: Family and Child Welfare Policy
- SOWK 5996: Family and Child Welfare Practice
- SOWK 5996: Trauma and Special Populations in Child Welfare
Curriculum Prior to 2024
For students who began the MSW program prior to 2024, below are the approved revised degree maps that support your transition to the new curriculum that went into effect in 2024. Students who entered before 2024 should refer to the degree maps below to plan their course progression.
Revised Degree Maps for Students who Began in 2023
- Revised 2yr Degree Map 2023 Entry
- Revised 3yr Degree Map 2023 Entry
- Revised Dual MSW/MPH Degree Map 2023 Entry
Revised Degree Maps for Students who Began in 2022
