The St. Kate’s – St. Thomas MSW in Clinical Social Work Practice:

A Program of Distinction

Dr. Barbara ShankDean and Professor

www.stthomas.edu/socialwork

nationally ranked · practice focused · community engaged

Overview: St. Kate’s – St. Thomas School of Social Work

“Drawing from the Judeo-Christian traditions of social caring, we prepare students to use social work knowledge, values and skills to demonstrate the intrinsic value of all humankind as they serve those

in need and promote social justice and human rights.”

School of Social Work Mission Statement

Nationally Recognized, Accredited & Ranked

•  St. Kate’s – St. Thomas MSW program accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) since 1990. BSW accredited since 1974.

•  DSW approved by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) in 2014

•  Faculty are National and International Leaders

•  The St. Catherine University – University of St. Thomas School of Social Work is ranked in the top 25% of schools nationally [U.S. News & World Report]

St. Kate’s / St. Thomas / St. Paul

•  “Large School” Resources & Network •  “Small School” Environment & Student-Centered Community •  Principles of faith and reason inform curriculum and prioritize

social justice (Social Work for Social Justice: Ten Principles)

University of St. Thomas St. Catherine University

Outstanding Teaching & Mentoring

•  30 full-time faculty are recognized scholars, researchers and practicing clinicians, committed to mentoring relationships & community engagement.

•  Adjunct faculty from the community bring additional expertise in the latest direct social work practice experience.

Prof. Kari Fletcher, Coordinator, Area of Emphasis in Military Practice (AEMP) and AE Scholars with mobile veterans unit

Co-director of the Interprofessional Center (IPC), George Baboila of the SSW, with colleagues from the School of Law and the Graduate School of Professional Psychology

Overview: MSW in Clinical Social Work Practice

MSW Program Mission Statement

“Grounded in the principles of dignity and respect for all persons, we prepare

clinical social workers for reflective practice, supervision, leadership, and practice-focused

research with a commitment to critical inquiry, cultural responsiveness, and social justice.”

What is Clinical Social Work?

"Sometimes there’s a tendency to want to narrowly define clinical social work practice to

be outpatient mental health services. I think that’s an important part of the work, but only one of many possibilities. The way I define clinical social work practice is, it’s not the

setting that you’re in, it’s the lens that you’re bringing to your setting." Jane Hurley Johncox, LICSW,

Clinical Faculty

Exclusive Clinical Practice Focus Curriculum guided by the Board of NASW & the American Board of Examiners of

Clinical Social Workers’ definition of Clinical Social Work

Our MSW graduates are prepared to:

•  Think critically and diagnostically •  Develop and implement clinical

interventions •  Evaluate relevant client outcomes •  Work in multiple settings •  Engage with diverse populations •  Integrate macro perspectives in clinical work with individuals, families, and

small groups

Why Clinical?

•  Clinical social workers provide over 60% of the mental health services in the U.S.

•  Health reform and mental health parity laws are among contributors to growth of clinical social work

•  The St. Kate’s-St. Thomas MSW provides proven, exceptional preparation for clinical licensure (Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker, LICSW). Our graduates’ pass rates are well-above the national average.

•  Provides options: Not all graduates ultimately sit for LICSW license, but are academically prepared to do so

Social Work Licensure

•  Individuals who graduate from a CSWE-accredited MSW program are eligible to take the Licensed Graduate Social Work Examination (LGSW).

•  After two years of full-time supervised practice as a licensed graduate social worker, you are eligible to take the independent social worker (LISW) or independent clinical social worker (LICSW)* licensure examination.

* To be eligible for clinical licensure in Minnesota, graduates must have 360 clock hours in clinical knowledge areas.

Our Clinical Practice Advantage

Why St. Kate’s – St. Thomas? •  Exclusive focus on Clinical Social

Work Practice for almost 25 years

•  20+ licensed faculty members focused on clinical practice and research

•  Unrivaled regional network in clinical social work field practice / placement. Over 1800 MSW alumni.

•  Exceptional reputation in clinical practice at both regional and national levels

Explore Areas of Interest

Clinical social workers are found in myriad settings and are skilled at working with diverse populations. However, students have the opportunity to focus their clinical program in a particular area of clinical social work practice through:

Ø Nine credits of guided electives Ø  Their field practica Ø  The clinical research paper Ø  3 Areas of Emphasis / Scholars programs

•  Practice with Older Adults and Their Families

•  Clinical Practice with Older Adults •  Spiritual Dimensions of Social Work

Practice •  Grief Counseling and Therapy •  Clinical Practice for the Treatment of

Trauma •  Family Resiliency and Diversity:

Immigrants and Refugees •  Clinical Practice with Immigrants and

Refugees •  Practice with Service Members, Veterans &

their Families •  Clinical Practice in Military Social Work •  Clinical Practice with Groups

•  Clinical Practice with Couples and Families

•  Clinical Practice with Children •  Clinical Practice with Adolescents •  Clinical Practice in Schools •  Cognitive Interventions in Clinical

Practice •  Mental Illness: Clinical Issues and

Practice •  Integrative Psychotherapy •  Brief Dynamic Psychotherapy •  Clinical Practice in Integrated Health

Sample of Elective Courses*

(Six of the nine elective credits must be at the clinical level and be taken within the St. Kate’s – St. Thomas Program)

* Not all electives are offered every year or in the cohort program.

Field Placements

The St. Kate’s – St. Thomas field placement process is well-established and well-respected.

•  Over 200 field placements each year, many with alumni in the community

•  400 hours of foundation placement for Regular Standing students (students should anticipate ~12 – 15 hours / week during placement)

•  600 hours of clinical placement (students should anticipate ~20 hours / week during placement)

•  Full-time, block placements available with advance approval

•  Our students have an outstanding reputation for professionalism and being well-prepared for practice

Clinical Research Paper •  Opportunity to explore a specific area of interest

•  Students work closely with a faculty mentor and expand their professional network through their research committee

•  Project provides a tangible demonstration of student’s ability to integrate social work theory with research findings

•  Students develop skills to critically conduct and interpret social work research to evaluate clinical practice, policies and programs Ø  Employers often seek experience in

program evaluation

Prof. Pa Der Vang with Careann Foster, MSW/JD graduate, 2012 MSW capstone research presentations

Areas of Emphasis in Clinical Social work… •  Gero Practice •  Military Practice •  Practice with Immigrants & Refugees

Scholars programs include: •  Courses, course assignments, campus programs and

leadership opportunities specific to area of emphasis •  Clinical research paper specific to area of emphasis •  Opportunities for networking and community collaboration •  Tuition stipend of $1,000

Areas of Emphasis Scholars Programs

Overview: Program formats and completion options

Regular Standing

Applicants do not have an undergraduate degree in social work

Completion options: •  Two-year full-time •  Three-year extended time •  Four-year extended time •  Four-year weekend cohort

(summer start)

Advanced Standing

Applicants have an undergraduate degree in social work accredited by the Council on Social Work Education

Completion options: •  One-year full-time (summer start)

•  Two-year extended time •  Three-year extended time •  Three-year weekend cohort

(summer start)

Program Options To Fit Your Needs

•  Generalist / Foundation Courses – 21 credits –  History / Philosophy of Social Work (3 cr) –  Methods: Theory & Practice of Social Work (6 cr) –  Foundation Field Placement (6 cr), 400 hours; Integrative Field Seminar –  Human Behavior (3 cr) –  Research Methods (3 cr)

•  Advanced Clinical Courses – 39 credits –  Clinical Methods of Social Work Practice (6 cr) –  Clinical Field Placement (8 cr), 600 hours; Integrative Field Seminar –  Policy (3 cr) + Supervision/Management (3 cr) –  Psychopathology & Human Behavior (3 cr) –  Practice Research (3) + Clinical Research Project (4 cr) –  Electives (9 cr)

Curriculum: Regular Standing – 60 credits

•  Advanced Clinical Courses – 42 credits –  Clinical Methods of Social Work Practice (6 cr) –  Clinical Field Placement (8 cr), 600 hours; Integrative Field

Seminar –  Policy (3 cr) + Supervision/Management (3 cr) +

History/Philosophy of Social Work (3 cr) –  Psychopathology & Human Behavior (3 cr) –  Practice Research (3 cr) + Clinical Research Project (4 cr) –  Electives (9 cr)

Curriculum: Advanced Standing Program

Course Schedule •  Afternoons:

1:35 - 4:00 pm (a few) •  Late Afternoons:

4:40 - 7:05 pm •  Evenings:

7:20 - 9:45 pm •  Classes meet once a week, Monday-Thursday •  Monday / Wednesday classes held at St. Kate’s; Tuesday /

Thursday classes held at St. Thomas

Program Options: Weekday / Evening Format

Course Schedule •  Classes held at St. Thomas in St.

Paul one weekend per month •  Fridays: 12:15 - 9:15 pm •  Saturdays: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm •  Required summer courses as

scheduled •  On-line components

Program Options: Weekend Cohort

Please give careful consideration to the following questions when selecting the length of your program:

•  What is the level of support from my family, spouse or partner?

•  How much time can I realistically dedicate to school in addition to work and personal demands? o  Rule of thumb: Plan on 2 – 3 hours per credit per week in addition to

class time. For example, a 3-credit class will typically require 6 – 9 hours of work per week outside of class time.

•  What resources will I be using to pay for graduate school? How stable are these resources?

What program is right for me?

Next steps: Admission, Financial Aid, and

Additional Learning Opportunities

Application Deadline: January 10 Admission Criteria: •  MSW Application Form

- $35 non-refundable fee (waived for attending information session)

•  Official Transcripts •  Overall GPA 3.0 (preferred) •  Prior Social Service Experience (preferred) •  Prerequisite Content (required) •  Three Letters of Recommendation •  Personal Statement •  GRE or Miller Analogy- not required

MSW Admissions Process: Through St. Kate’s

•  Statistics or Research Methods •  Lifespan Developmental Psychology •  Human Biology

Students may apply for the MSW program if they

are missing one or more prerequisites, but all prerequisites must be completed before the first

day of graduate classes.

Prerequisite Courses

•  Federal/State Loan Programs

•  Yellow Ribbon Program for Post 9/11 GI Bill Recipients

•  UST Grant/Scholarship Resources

–  Clergy Scholarship –  Catholic Charities/ UST Education

Collaboration –  Diversity Grants

•  UST FAFSA code: 002345

Financial Aid: Through St. Thomas

Applications are submitted to the University of St. Thomas Graduate Financial Aid Office

•  School of Social Work –  Dean’s Scholarships –  Diversity Grants –  Alumni Grants

Ø  After accepted, can apply for: –  Janice Andrews Schenk Memorial

Scholarship –  John Ireland Scholarship –  Noel Ryan Scholarship –  Research Assistantships –  AE Scholars programs

•  Can I defer or change programs? Such requests should be made only as a last resort. Once you have been accepted and declare that you intend to enroll, we hold a space for you. Our commitment to you means that we must turn other students away. Deferring or changing programs can be problematic both for our program and the students who were denied admission. Keep this in mind when choosing the length of your program.

Once accepted…

•  Is there an orientation for accepted students?

Yes. The field orientation for full-time students typically takes place in mid-March. The program orientations for all incoming students are held in late May / early June.

Up to two courses can be taken in program before a student enrolls. Enrollment in non-degree courses is dependent on the number of seats available after current students register. These foundation-level courses are typically offered in the fall and may include:

•  GRSW500: History & Philosophy of Social Work •  GRSW500-level elective (Older Adults & Families; Practice

with Military Members, Veterans & Their Families; Family Resiliency & Diversity: Immigrants and Refugees)

Non-Degree Courses

Interprofessional Center for Counseling and Legal Services 30 S 10th St., Minneapolis, MN Founded in 2003, the Center is a collaborative effort between the School of Social Work, School of Law, and Graduate School of Professional Psychology. Foundation and clinical field placements are offered here.

www.stthomas.edu/ipc

Interprofessional Opportunities

Social Work & Theology •  MSW / MAT Social Work & Holistic Health Studies •  MSW / MAHS Social Work & Law •  MSW / JD

Dual Degree Options

•  Clinical Practice Institute offers continuing education for community practitioners in clinical areas.

•  Supervision Institute offers training for supervisors and potential supervisors of practicing clinicians.

•  Group Work Institute promotes and enhances the values and methods of social group work.

•  Spirituality Institute explores the spiritual dimension of the human experience and the ways clinicians understand this dimension in their clients and themselves.

•  Field Practice Institute enhances supervision skills of instructors and promotes community engagement, best-practices and life-long learning through programming for students, field instructors and agencies.

Life-long Learning: Social Work Institutes

Questions?

•  St. Kate’s Graduate Admissions Office (admissions / application questions) Mary Palin / Anita Cline-Cole 651-690-6933 graduate_study@stkate.edu

•  Lisa Dalsin MSW Program Manager (non-degree enrollment questions) School of Social Work 651-962-5810 lmdalsin@stthomas.edu

•  Carol F. Kuechler MSW Program Director School of Social Work 651-690-6719 cfkuechler@stkate.edu

•  Cindy Lorah Director, Mktg & Recruitment (general questions; requests for campus visits & faculty connections) School of Social Work 651-962-5814 cllorah@stthomas.edu

•  UST Graduate Financial Aid Amanda Helmandollar 651-962-4052 amanda.helmandollar@stthomas.edu

Further Questions? Please contact:

Carol Kuechler, MSW, Ph.D., LISW