Family Practice

Students wishing to work primarily with children, youth, and families will elect the Family Practice concentration. Upon graduation, the new MSW will have the knowledge and skills to work in child welfare agencies, family service agencies, mental health clinics, health care organizations, family violence service agencies, substance abuse prevention and treatment programs or correctional organizations.

The following table shows the proposed structure of this concentration during the second full time year of study.

Optional Summer Term (6)

Second Year Fall (15)

Second Year Spring (15)

Electives* (6)
1 3 hours each.

By taking 6 hours of electives in summer term, a student will only take 12 hours in each of the Fall and Spring semesters.

*Electives may be taken from other concentrations

6160 Advanced Inter. Strategies across the Life Span (3)

6200 Family Policy: Domestic and International (3)

6800 Graduate Field Practicum II (6) (330 hours/ 22 hrs/wk: 3 days)

Elective (3)

6150 Theory and Practice with Families (3)

6400 Practice and Program Evaluation (3)

6850 Graduate Field Practicum III (6) (330 hours/ 22 hrs/wk: 3 days)

Elective (3)

A wealth of practicum sites throughout the St. Louis metropolitan area are available to provide experience in working with children, youth, and families before graduation.

For students interested in developing expertise in working with women, they may elect to pursue the Graduate Certificate in Women's Studies offered at UM St. Louis in addition to their social work concentration. This certificate program can be completed with some courses taken toward the MSW degree; however, some additional hours may be required for the Certificate.