School Social Work
Certificate
Effective September 2021
This certificate program has been approved by the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) to fulfill the educational requirements for certification as a Pennsylvania School Social Worker, Educational Specialist.
Open to both Master's of Social Work (MSW) holders and Master's of Social Work students, the School Social Work Certificate Program is a graduate certificate program at Kutztown University of Pennsylvania. The certificate is open to any student enrolled in a CSWE accredited MSW program as well as individuals who hold a master's degree in social work from an accredited Council of Social Work Education (CSWE) program or an equivalent foreign qualification recognized by the CSWE Office of Social Work Accreditation (OSWA)*. The modality of instruction is offered in a hybrid format which includes in-person field work and online course components.
The curriculum is designed to allow students who engage in full-time study to complete the certificate in one year, longer for part timers. The 16-hour curriculum, which includes both classroom instruction and a field practicum component, is based on curriculum map that covers concepts and competencies based on Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) Chapter 49 competencies for social work certificate programs and includes material that are typical of the knowledge, skills, and ethical decision-making capacities used by school social workers.
Admissions Requirements
- Application
- Interview
- Transcript from MSW degree program
- Master degree from a CSWE accredited program, equivalent foreign qualification*, or current enrollment in CSWE accredited MSW program.
(The certificate may be completed concurrently with a CSWE accredited MSW program.)
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Course Requirements for MSW degree holders (16 credits)
Required Courses
SWK 590 Social Work Practice in Schools (3 cr)
SWK 591 Meeting the Diverse Needs of Students with Exceptionalities (3 cr)
SWK 541 Assessment Methods for Social Workers: Children and
Adolescents (1 cr)
SWK 586 Practicum in School Social Work (3 cr)
EDU 434 instructional Methodology for English Learners or
EDU 428 Culture and Diversity of English Learners (3 cr)
SPU 516 Literacy Development &
Instruction in Core & Intervention Areas Standards Aligned System (3 cr)
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School Social Work Certificate Suggested Course Sequence
16 Credits*
SEMESTER
COURSE
CREDITS
SUMMER or
FALL
EDU 434 Instructional Methodology for English Learners or
EDU 428 Culture and Diversity of English Learners
SPU 516 Literacy Development & Instruction in Core &
Intervention Areas Standards Aligned System
3
3
Semester Total
6
WINTER
SWK 541 Assessment Methods for Social Workers:
Children and Adolescents
1
Semester Total
1
SPRING
SWK 586 Practicum in School Social Work or
SWK 583 Advanced Field II**
SWK 590 Social Work Practice in Schools***
SWK 591 Meeting the Diverse Needs of Students with
Exceptionalities***
0/3
0/3
0/3
Semester Total
0/9
CERTIFICATE TOTAL
7/16
*Courses may be taken in any sequence; however, SWK 586 (SWK 583) should be taken last or concurrently with SWK 590 and SWK 591.
**KU MSW students who are completing the MSW and School Social Work Certificate program concurrently, will complete a field internship assignment in a school. They will develop a learning contract that requires the completion of competencies associated with SWK 586 Practicum during their SWK 583 Advanced Field II course.
***KU MSW students may use SWK 590 and SWK 591 to complete current 6 credit MSW program elective requirements.