Curriculum

Coursework focuses on prevention and early intervention, promoting and sustaining the health of children and youth across diverse racial, ethnic and socioeconomic backgrounds.

Tracks

Students will learn how to use evidence-based research to inform clinical practices and interventions, while developing practice skills that prepare them for work in various health and mental health clinical settings.

Tracks

Students in Children, Youth and Families can customize their education experience by pursuing a military social work track. View Tracks.

MSW Advanced Standing Curriculum Snapshot (CYF)

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Fall 2021 Admits

2-year (4 semesters)  60 Total units needed to graduate

Year 1
Semester 1 (Fall): 15 Units
3   Human Behavior and the Social Environment (506)
3   Social Work Practice with Individuals, Families and Groups (544)
3   Science of Social Work (546)
3   Policy and Advocacy in Professional Social Work (536)
3   Applied Learning in Field Education (589A)

Semester 2 (Spring): 17 Units
3   Research and Critical Analysis for Social Work with Children and Families (608)
3   Introduction to Social Work Practice with Children, Youth and Families (609)
3   Social Work Practice with Children and Families Across Settings (610)
3   Diversity, Social Justice, and Culturally Competent Social Work Practice (630)
3   Applied Learning in Field Education (589B)
2   Integrative Learning for Social Work Practice (588)

Year 2
Semester 3 (Fall): 14 Units
3   Social Work Practice with Children and Families in Early and Middle Childhood (613)
3   Social Work Practice with Adolescents, Young Adults and their Families (621)
4   Advanced Applied Learning in Field Education (699A)
1   Integrative Learning for Advanced Social Work Practice (698A)
3   Elective* or Track Course**

Semester 4 (Spring): 14 Units
3   Policy and Macro Practice in Children, Youth and Family Services (627)
4   Advanced Applied Learning in Field Education (699B)
1   Integrative Learning for Advanced Social Work Practice (698B)
3   Elective** or Track Course**
3   Elective** or Track Course**

3-year (6 semesters)  60 Total units needed to graduate

Year 1
Semester 1 (Fall): 6 Units
3   Human Behavior and the Social Environment (506)
3   Policy and Advocacy in Professional Social Work (536)

Semester 2 (Spring): 6 Units
3   Science of Social Work (546)
3   Elective*

Year 2
Semester 3 (Fall): 6 Units
3   Social Work Practice with Individuals, Families, and Groups (544)
3   Applied Learning in Field Education (589A)

Semester 4 (Spring): 14 Units
3   Research and Critical Analysis for Social Work with Children and Families (608)
3   Introduction to Social Work Practice with Children, Youth and Families (609)
3   Social Work Practice with Children and Families Across Settings (610)
3   Applied Learning in Field Education (589B)
2   Integrative Learning for Social Work Practice (588)

Year 3
Semester 5 (Fall): 14 Units
3   Social Work Practice with Children and Families in Early and Middle Childhood (613)
3   Social Work Practice with Adolescents, Young Adults and their Families (621)
4   Advanced Applied Learning in Field Education (699A)
1   Integrative Learning for Advanced Social Work Practice (698A)
3   Elective* or Track Course**

Semester 6 (Spring): 14 Units
3   Diversity, Social Justice, and Culturally Competent Social Work Practice (630)
3   Policy and Macro Practice in Children, Youth and Family Services (627)
4   Advanced Applied Learning in Field Education (699B)
1   Integrative Learning for Advanced Social Work Practice (698B)
3   Elective* or Track Course**

*Sample Electives

Global Violence against Women (522)
Advanced Theories and Clinical Interventions with Families (602)
Substance Abuse (617)
Social Work Practice with Transitional Youth (620)
Domestic Violence (666)
Social Work and the Law (668)
Media in Social Work (687)
LGBT Psycho/Social/Political Issues (696)
Department Specific Global Immersion (6XX)
Social Work in Early Care and Education Settings (623)
Social Work in Juvenile Justice Settings (624)
Mental Health Practice with Children and Adolescents (677)

Pupil Personnel Services Credential (PPSC)

• Program: students who graduate from this program earn two credentials to be able to work in California school settings: a PPSC in school social work and a PPSC in child welfare attendance
• Field placement: requires a field placement with a minimum of 600 hours in a school during the second year
• Required course: 614 Social Work Practice in School Settings
• Contact: Steve Hydon (hydon@usc.edu)

**Tracks

A Track offers the opportunity for students to customize their education by selecting electives in particular areas of interest that will enhance their social work practice. A Track is not required to complete the MSW program.

Military Social Work Track
633 theories and concepts of military social work
640 clinical practice w/ military families
656 dc military immersion elective (optional)
6xx global military immersion elective (optional) (pending sp'18)

School Social Work Track
field placement requirement: minimum of 300 hours in a school or school-related agency placement

614 social work practice in school settings and one additional of the following:
    688 school violence
    623 social work in early care and education settings

Curriculum subject to change