Curriculum

The MSW@USC program mirrors the stringent curriculum and academic rigor of the on-campus program delivered by our regular, full-time faculty. The foundation-year curriculum provides a common base of knowledge, skills and values by introducing theories, issues and practice methods that deal with individuals and their environment. The second half of the curriculum offers advanced training in a concentration area to develop in-depth knowledge and skills in Families and Children; Community Organization, Planning and Administration (COPA); Health; Mental Health; or Military Social Work.

Please see our Curriculum Snapshot for an overview of courses by semester.

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Foundation Courses

• Human Behavior and the Social Environment I

The ecological systems paradigm is the lens through which theories of personality, family, group, organization, community and culture and the interaction among these systems are explored.

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• Human Behavior and the Social Environment II

The course of human life, including the factors which impinge on the developmental continuum between normal and pathological conditions.

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• Policy and Practice in Social Service Organizations

Study of social work organizations with emphasis on their policy contexts, organizational theory, and the development of delivery systems.

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• Social Work Practice with Individuals and Families

Theory and principles underlying generic social work practice with primary emphasis on working with individuals.

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• Social Work Practice with Groups and Complex Cases

Theories and principles with primary emphasis on families and groups with application to problems requiring multi-level interventions.

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• Social Work Research

Introduction to research methods, including conceptualization of research problems, literature review, research design, sampling, measurement, data collection and data analysis.

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• Field Practicum

Supervised field placement to develop generalist practice skills in working with individuals, families, groups, communities.

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• Integrative Learning for Social Work Practice

Integrative content from Policy, Research, Human Behavior, Social Work Practice and Field Practicum.

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