Professional Code of Ethics in Social Work
The social work program is scaffolded by standards set by the National Association of Social Workers Code of Ethics. All students are required to perform in accordance with the Code of Ethics as it is the basis for all professional social work practice and state licensing standards.
Program Requirements
The School of Social Work offers three MSW program options: the Standard MSW (61 credits), the Low-Residency MSW (61 credits), and the Advanced Standing MSW (33 credits). Students may attend at full or reduced course load. Only Students who have earned a Bachelor of Social Work degree (BSW) from a CSWE-accredited program, including USM, within the last seven years are eligible for the Advanced Standing MSW program option. These program options are described in detail on the MSW program website.
Across the three MSW program options, there are five MSW cohorts:
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Two-Year Standard MSW (Full Course Load)
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Four-Year Standard MSW (Reduced Course Load)
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Three-Year Low-Residency MSW (Reduced Course Load)
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One-Year Advanced Standing MSW (Full Course Load)
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Two-Year Advanced Standing MSW (Reduced Course Load)
The cohort model provides curricular structure and a community of support for MSW students. Upon admission to the program, students are assigned to a cohort based on their indicated preference as well as an evaluation of their past academic performance and available spots in each cohort. Once admitted, students are expected to adhere to the curriculum plan for their assigned MSW cohort. The MSW cohort curriculum guides are available on the MSW website.
Generalist Curriculum
Students in the Standard MSW and Low-Residency MSW program options complete 27 credits of generalist content which provides a broad introduction to the social work profession. Students also complete 400 hours in a generalist field placement. Required generalist courses are:
Specialized Curriculum
Students in all program options complete 24 credits of specialized content that prepares them for advanced social work practice with individuals and families, as well as communities and organizations. All students also complete 500 hours in a specialized field placement.
Required specialized courses are:
Elective Courses
In addition to the required generalist and specialized content, all MSW students complete 9 graduate elective credits (i.e. 3 courses). Elective courses provide an opportunity to further specialize in a particular area of social work practice. With prior approval from their Faculty Advisor, students may take up to 6 graduate elective credits (i.e. 2 courses) outside the School of Social Work. Electives are offered on a rotating basis and can be taken during the Fall, Spring, and Summer semesters.
The following list of 3-credit electives are courses currently in the rotation:
Thesis (optional)
Students may also choose to pursue a Graduate Thesis in lieu of 6 elective credits. Students with an approved thesis proposal work closely with their faculty thesis chair and committee members for the duration of the research. Thesis students must register for the following during fall and spring semesters:
Field Education
All MSW students will participate in field placements in which they will work in a social work role in the community to put into practice everything that they have learned in classes. These placements are supported by USM and the agency supervisors to ensure that students have a rich learning experience. Placements run through the entire academic year, beginning at the end of August and ending at the beginning of May. More information about Field Education is available on the School of Social Work website.
Students in the Standard and Low-Residency MSW program options complete both generalist and specialized placements. Students in the Advanced Standing MSW program option complete a specialized field placement only.
Generalist MSW placements are intended to give students a broad, generalist overview of social work and the social services system, while providing students the opportunity to work with clients to identify strengths, needs, and barriers and explore ways to address them. Generalist MSW students must complete 400 hours (200 per semester/ 14-16 per week) in a field placement setting.
Specialized MSW placements are more tailored placements, which allow students to to delve deeper into an specific area of interest and develop greater skills in that particular area. Specialized MSW students must complete 500 hours (250 per semester/ 18-20 hours per week) in a field placement setting.
Program Modality
The Standard and Advanced Standing MSW program options are in-person and require attending classes on the USM Portland campus during the Fall and Spring semesters. Each class meets once per week on Tuesday or Thursday for a three hour time block sometime between the hours of 9:00am and 8:00pm. Students with a Full Course Load should expect to be on campus all day both Tuesday and Thursday every week during the semester, and students with a Reduced Course Load should expect to be on campus all day on either Tuesday or Thursday every week during the semester.
The Low-Residency MSW program option provides a flexible, partially-online three-year learning experience. Classes in the low-residency program are offered in a blended format in which most of the learning happens asynchronously online. On two Fridays each semester, students come to the USM Portland campus for a full day of in-person class time. The four year Standard and the two year Advanced Standing reduced load options are designed with the working student in mind, however, work schedule flexibility may still be needed during the years of fieldwork as training generally takes place during regular business hours.
Time Requirements
Graduate level education is a time-intensive endeavor that should be undertaken after careful consideration of the prospective students’ ability to fulfill all program requirements while also managing employment and other obligations. Students should plan not only for time attending classes and completing coursework, but also the substantial time required for field education, which requires as many as 20 hours each week during the specialized placement. The full course load program options (e.g. One-Year Advanced Standing and Two-Year Standard) are particularly rigorous, so we do not recommend these options for students who are employed outside of school or have other significant obligations.
Program Policies
MSW students are expected to adhere to the policies outlined on the School of Social Work website. Additional information about advising, grading policies, academic review policies, and continuous enrollment policies are available there.
Non-matriculated Enrollment
Space permitting, the following two MSW courses are open to non-matriculated students:
Non-matriculated students may take up to six credits (e.g. two courses) maximum before they are required to apply to the MSW program. Non-matriculated students taking graduate courses in the MSW program must have completed a baccalaureate degree.
Complete the Non-Matriculated Enrollment Request form to request permission to enroll in a course as a non-matriculated student. Please provide evidence of a completed baccalaureate degree with your request. Once written permission is granted, students can register for classes through the Registrar’s Office.
Transfer Credits
Graduate students who wish to transfer into the MSW program are required to apply to the MSW program through the standard admissions process. Upon acceptance to the program, students should contact the MSW Program Coordinator to determine which credits (if any) from their previous institution may be used to fulfill degree requirements in the USM SSW. Syllabi from past courses must be submitted for review to assess their equivalency with University of Southern Maine School of Social Work courses. Transfer credits must be from an MSW program accredited by the Council on Social Work Education. MSW students cannot transfer more than 30 credits from another institution. Credits completed more than seven years ago are not eligible for transfer credit.
Criminal Backgrounds
The University of Southern Maine School of Social Work recognizes the many systemic barriers that criminal justice involvement creates for individuals pursuing higher education. We strive to offer equal access to our programs for all suitable candidates, regardless of criminal background. While criminal records are never a consideration in the admissions process, certain types of criminal offenses may preclude an accepted student from commencing the program if they cannot enter fieldwork due to a criminal background. While the University of Southern Maine School of Social Work does not conduct criminal background checks, most field agencies will require this and will not accept students as interns with certain criminal backgrounds. Agencies make decisions about accepting students as interns based on their own Human Resources policies.
Current and prospective students should also be aware that the State Board of Social Worker Licensure may deny an application for licensure based on criminal background. When a prospective student’s past criminal background involves a violation of the NASW Code of Ethics, this may indicate a lack of suitability for the social work profession. Students with a criminal background are strongly encouraged to discuss with their faculty advisor and the Office of Field Education the implications that their criminal background may have for achievement of their educational and professional goals.
While enrolled in the School of Social Work, students are expected to adhere to the USM Student Code of Conduct, the NASW Code of Ethics, and local, state, and federal laws. Failure to do so may result in an Academic Review and/or termination from the School of Social Work.
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