Social Work Utah State University

Overview

This means that rather than being limited to a specific type of graduate social work program, such as medical social work or child and family social work, students are able to use their degree to work in many different areas. Accordingly, the Social Work program of the Utah State University instills in students the advanced generalist practice knowledge and skills essential to promoting social welfare, especially among vulnerable populations, in institutions such as education, health, employment, housing, and criminal justice. The department’s conceptualization of advanced generalist social work education emphasizes direct practice skills.

The advanced generalist model was adopted at USU for several reasons:

• It fits well with Utah State University’s land-grant heritage and mission that mandates providing educational access to diverse statewide communities

• Many of Utah’s communities are rural, where the need for MSW-level social workers is particularly acute, but access to MSW programs is severely limited

• Studies have supported the efficacy of the generalist and advanced generalist curriculum not only for rural practice, but for practice in other settings as well.

Utah State University’s master of social work program is offered in both a full-time and part-time option. The two-year, full-time program is available to those attending the main USU campus in Logan. The three-year, part-time program is currently available at other locations throughout the state of Utah.

Career Options

A MSW is necessary to provide clinical services (e.g., psychotherapy) and for advancement to supervisory or administrative positions.

With an MSW, you will be able to work in the following areas:

• Public welfare (administration and planning, case management, program evaluation, policy setting, public interest groups)

• Criminal justice/corrections (counseling/therapy, rehabilitation, probation, parole, youth services, victim assistance, courts)

• School social work (clinical social work, pupil personnel services, student advocacy, instruction)

• Child welfare (case management, advocacy, intervention)

• Family Services (adoption agencies, foster care organizations, etc.)

• Private Practice (or private social service agencies)

• Gerontology (advocacy/intervention, counseling, case management, programming, public policy)

• Clinical (counseling, therapy, community mental health centers, community residential homes, residential treatment centers, substance abuse treatment programs)

• Administration (management, policy development, planning)

• Local, State, and Federal Government (courts, school systems, etc.)

• Occupational (counseling, education, wellness promotion, employee assistance, organizational development, human resources, labor unions, health maintenance organizations (HMOs))

• Developmental disabilities (case management, program planning and evaluation, policy development)

• Health care (case management, counseling, program development, administration, research)

• Community organization (program and community development, advocacy, politics, education, planning)