Course Descriptions - Master of Social Work in the NMSU School of Social Work
| MSW 500 | Social Problems and Social Welfare Policy. An overview of social and economic problems in the United States and the historical and current social welfare policies aimed at alleviating these problems. Emphasis on developing an awareness and ability to change policies that impact on vulnerable populations. (Required) | 3 credits |
| MSW 501 | Administration of Family Programs. Overview of administrative theory and practice, with special attention to the knowledge and skills necessary for developing, administering, and coordinating the community resources needed to restore or preserve family functioning. Addresses grant writing and community development. (Family-Centered Practice Elective) | 3 credits |
| MSW 502 | Family-Centered Practice Policy. A review and analysis of significant state and federal policies and regulations that impact on family systems. (Required) | 3 credits |
| MSW 510 | Human Behavior and the Social Environment I. The major theories of human behavior from conception to adolescence. Focuses on both the areas of concern and risks for client systems and on the opportunities and strengths in the social environment. (Required) | 3 credits |
| MSW 511 | Human Behavior and the Social Environment II. Major theories of human behavior from young adulthood through old age. Focuses on the areas of concern for client systems and on the opportunities and strengths in the social environment. (Required) | 3 credits |
| MSW 512 | Family Theories for Advanced Family-Centered Practice. Theories of family development and functioning for social work practice, with emphasis on theories that address therapeutic practice with families and common difficulties in family life. (Required) | 3 credits |
| MSW 520 | Social Work Practice I . An introduction to the generalist practice of social work. Focuses on professional development, data collection, planning, and assessment within a framework of social work values and ethics that strengthen and empower family systems. (Required. Restricted to majors) | 3 credits |
| MSW 521 | Social Work Practice II . Continuation of Social Work Practice I, using generalist social work methods, with emphasis on determination of family problems, goal setting, contracting, intervention, and outcome assessment. (Required. Restricted to majors) | 3 credits |
| MSW 522 | Advanced Family-Centered Practice in Multi-cultural Settings I . Basic social work principles for working with families. Emphasis on developing knowledge and skills in approaches which effectively preserve and restore family functioning. (Required. Restricted to majors) | 3 credits |
| MSW 523 | Advanced Family-Centered Practice in Multi-cultural Settings II. Practice principles, values, and models are applied to some of the major issues facing families. (Required. Restricted to majors) | 3 credits |
| MSW 530 | Social Work - Special Topics. Family-centered practice principles, values and models applied to multi-cultural settings. (Family-Centered Practice Elective) | 3 credits |
| MSW 540 | Social Work Practice with Hispanic Families. Theory and skills relating to social work practice with Hispanic families. Emphasis on strengthening and empowering Hispanic families to perform care giving roles in their own environment. (Family-Centered Practice Elective) | 3 credits |
| MSW 541 | Substance Abuse in Family Systems. The prevalence of the major types of substance abuse in family systems. Addresses major treatment approaches to substance abuse in families and the causes and effects of such abuse. (Family-Centered Practice Elective) | 3 credits |
| MSW 542 | Violence in the Family. Theory and skills relating to practice with families who victimize vulnerable members. Includes physical, emotional and sexual abuse, incest, and neglect. Emphasis on knowledge and skills in approaches which effectively preserve and restore healthy family functioning. (Family-Centered Practice Elective) | 3 credits |
| MSW 544 | Cross-Cultural Social Work with Families. Culturally-sensitive and integrated approaches for practice with diverse populations. Emphasizes general concepts and knowledge, specific skills and heightened awareness of self and personal values. (Family-Centered Practice Elective) | 3 credits |
| MSW 551 | Generalist Field Practicum I. Supervised professional practice in a community social service agency, providing experiential instruction and learning; seminar required. Evaluation criteria for this course will include upholding social work practice standards for interpersonal and ethical conduct. (Required. Restricted to majors) | 3 credits |
| MSW 552 | Generalist Field Practicum II . Supervised professional practice in a community social service agency, providing experiential instruction and learning; seminar required. Evaluation criteria for this course will include upholding social work practice standards for interpersonal and ethical conduct. (Required. Restricted to majors) | 6 credits |
| MSW 553 | Family-Centered Practice Practicum I. Supervised professional practice in a community social service agency providing experiential learning in child and family practice. Seminars, orientation to field, and development of learning agreement is required. (Required. Restricted to majors) | 1 credit |
| MSW 554 | Family-Centered Practice Practicum II. Supervised professional practice in a community social service agency, providing experiential learning in child and family practice; seminar required. Evaluation criteria for this course will include upholding social work practice standards for interpersonal and ethical conduct. (Required. Restricted to majors) | 3 credits |
| MSW 555 | Family-Centered Practice Practicum III. Supervised professional practice in a community social service agency, providing experiential instruction and learning; seminar required. Evaluation criteria for this course will include upholding social work practice standards for interpersonal and ethical conduct. (Required. Restricted to majors) | 6 credits |
| MSW 560 | Social Work Research. Principle methods of research used in social work practice. Focuses on program evaluations, needs assessments and evaluating individual practice. (Required) | 3 credits |
| MSW 561 | Family-Centered Research Seminar I. Beginning steps of independent research directly related to family-centered practice in multi-cultural settings: question/problem definition, sampling, design. Required for non-thesis option. Restricted to majors. | 2 credits |
| MSW 562 | Family-Centered Research Seminar II. Continuation of MSW 561: Family-Centered Research Seminar I. Final steps of research project: Instrumentation, data collection, analysis, and implications. (Required for non-thesis option. Restricted to majors) | 2 credits |
| MSW 570 | Family-Centered Practice Orientation. Required for advanced standing students and optional for two-year students. Provides orientation to the family-centered specialization, integration of first-year foundation courses, and identification and filling of essential knowledge gaps. (Restricted to majors) | 1 credit |
| MSW 597 | Special Topics. Specific subjects to be announced in the Schedule of Classes. Open to graduate students in related disciplines and to community professionals in related disciplines and fields. | 3 credits |
| MSW 599 | Graduate Thesis. (Required for thesis option) | 6 credits |
School of Social Work,
P.O. Box 30001, MSC 3SW
New Mexico State University
Las Cruces, NM 88003-8001
Telephone: 575.646.3529
Facsimile: 575.646.4116
Contact Person 1: Maria Ortiz, Student Services Coordinator
E-mail: mariao@nmsu.edu
Contact Person 2: Dr. Alice Chornesky, Graduate Program Coordinator
E-mail: achornes@nmsu.edu