USC University of Southern California

Curriculum

Revolutionary changes in health, education and welfare systems demand a different kind of social worker.

The USC Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work curriculum is designed to produce social workers prepared for present and future challenges. Students need to have the knowledge, skills and attitudes for emerging 21st century jobs and social work careers.

The school’s recently refreshed curriculum places a stronger emphasis on the science of social work and leadership, and allows for more intensive preparation within the student’s chosen department of study and through various specialization tracks offered. Students also receive valuable hands-on practical experience through required field internships.

The curriculum reflects feedback from employers and alumni, who cite a need for additional training in analyzing results, critical thinking about complex problems, embracing and managing the increasing demand for accountability and data-informed decision-making, budgeting, and effectively collaborating with colleagues across settings and institutions and with professionals trained in other disciplines.

Content incorporates evidence-based and evidence-informed programs, implications of new findings in neuroscience, new directions in prevention and early intervention, as well as best practices used by social workers in a variety of fields.

What to Study

The school and areas of study are organized into three departments for the MSW Program:

social worker and doctor

Adult Mental Health and Wellness

Focuses on designing social change and leading innovation for individuals, groups, families, organizations and communities on a larger scale.

Adult playing with child

Children, Youth and Families

Prepares students to improve the lives and well-being of children, youth and their families within agencies, institutions, communities, families and other social and organizational contexts.

make change happen sign

Social Change and Innovation

Focuses on designing social change and leading innovation for individuals, groups, families, organizations and communities on a larger scale.

Students select one of these departments of study and complete one semester of foundation courses centered on the values, knowledge and skills for generalist social work practice, and three semesters of courses focused on department-specific issues. Each department offers its own seven core courses, and students will choose three electives focused on their individual interests.

Courses emphasize real-world skills increasingly demanded by top employers and organizations, such as:

  • Critical thinking and analysis
  • Complex problem solving
  • Data-informed decision-making
  • Budgeting
  • Cross-discipline collaboration
  • Workload management
  • Creativity
  • Accountability

Students may further customize their study by selecting tracks, such as Military Social Work, Social Work in Business, School Social Work, Gerontology and Behavioral Health.

To find out when a course is offered and to review its syllabus, please refer to the university's Schedule of Classes.

Hands-on Internships in Your Field

As part of the MSW degree requirements, students must complete two field internships, or 1,000 hours of hands-on experience. The school also now offers a two-hour practice lab in the first semester, where students learn to apply three evidence-based interventions: Motivational Interviewing, Problem-solving Therapy and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy.