Bridge Curriculum and Advanced Level Courses

44 credits

Advanced standing status may be granted only to students who possess the Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) degree from a CSWE accredited program. Advanced standing status students complete the summer bridge curriculum and then enter the MSW advanced level. The purpose of the bridge curriculum is to arm the students with the necessary abilities that distinguish the graduate from the undergraduate student. This entails developing enhanced analytical and critical thinking skills. In addition, KU advanced standing students work to develop the ability to articulate the integration of theory and practice to various constituents. The KU MSW Family-In-Environment perspective necessitates such preparation due to its focus on developing autonomous practitioners who can express the principles of Family-In-Environment in their chosen fields of practice.

Advanced standing status students complete the MSW in 44 credits. The curriculum may be completed in one calendar year on a full-time basis or extended to two or more years. The summer bridge curriculum always begins the summer before the advanced level with practicum and seminar experience.

One Year with Summer Course Sequence

Bridge Curriculum – Summer Before Advanced Year

1^st Summer Session		Credits	2^nd Summer Session		Credits
SWK491	Internship for Advanced Standing I	3	SWK493	Internship for Advanced Standing II	3
SWK492	Advanced Generalist Social Work Theory and Practice I	3	SWK494	Advanced Generalist Social Work Theory and Practice II	3
	Total	6		Total	6

Advanced Year

Fall		Credits	Spring		Credits
SWK500	Families in the Social Environment	3	SWK5XX	SWK Electives*	6
SWK555	Applied Family Policy and Family Service Programs	3	SWK583	Advanced Internship II	4
SWK560	Applied Methods of Social Work Research	3	SWK584	Advanced Theories of Social Work Practice II	3
SWK581	Advanced Internship I	4	SWK595	Capstone Experience	3
SWK582	Advanced Theories of Social Work Practice I	3
	Total	16		Total	16

*During the advanced level, students complete six, one-credit courses to facilitate the development of specialized knowledge. These courses are selected collaboratively among the student, the academic advisor and the field instructor based upon student learning goals, aptitude and agency need; however, some electives can be taken concurrently with SWK 500.

Two Years with Summer Course Sequence

Ten Week Summer (1^st Year) – 10w*

Summer		Credits
SWK491	Internship for Advanced Standing I	3
SWK492	Advanced Generalist Social Work Theory and Practice I	3
	Total	6

Advanced Level (1^st Year)

Fall		Credits	Spring		Credits
SWK500	Families in the Social Environment	3	SWK5XX	SWK Electives**	6
SWK555	Applied Family Policy and Family Service Programs	3
	Total	6		Total	6

Ten Week Summer (2^nd Year) – 10w*

Summer		Credits
SWK493	Internship for Advanced Standing II	3
SWK494	Advanced Generalist Social Work Theory and Practice II	3
	Total	6

Advanced Level (2^nd Year)

Fall		Credits	Spring		Credits
SWK560	Applied Methods of Social Work Research	3	SWK583	Advanced Internship II	4
SWK581	Advanced Internship I	4	SWK584	Advanced Theories of Social Work Practice II	3
SWK582	Advanced Theories of Social Work Practice I	3	SWK595	Capstone Experience	3
	Total	10		Total	10

*A 10w plan is a 10-week session of classes.

+The internship hours are spread out through the summer.

**During the advanced level, students complete six, one-credit courses to facilitate the development of specialized knowledge. These courses are selected collaboratively among the student, the academic advisor and the field instructor based upon student learning goals, aptitude and agency need; however, some electives can be taken concurrently with SWK 500.