Worden School of Social Service

Dean: Maureen Cuevas, PhD

PhD in Social Work

OLLU is a Catholic university committed to service, an emphasis on Mexican American culture, and the preparation of diverse graduates “who lead and serve with faith and wisdom to improve the world” (OLLU, 2010, p.1). Providing an opportunity for individuals to obtain a doctoral degree in advanced social work practice and teaching will not only transform doctoral graduates, but the clients, staff, and students that graduates will serve after receiving their degrees. It is anticipated that these OLLU alumni will become leaders in their communities and the social work profession, continuously working to improve the quality of life for those they serve through practice-based research, service, and teaching. Although the program will draw from a pool of individuals worldwide, many will be alumni of OLLU’s graduate social work program, which is a racially and ethnically diverse group of individuals from across the U.S. who have been educated in a program that emphasizes Hispanic culture and services to Hispanic children and families. Thus, it is expected that students enrolled in the proposed PhD program will further the development of knowledge of Mexican American culture through practice-based research and in their work with students and clients.

The goals of the proposed PhD in social work also reflect OLLU’s core values, with emphasis on “respect for diversity of experience, thought and expression; …creativity and innovation; … engagement in consistent professional practice with honesty, openness, and ethical behavior; … use of personal skills and knowledge for the benefit of others; …and promotion of the common good of the University and external communities” (OLLU, 2012, website).

Mission and Goals

The PhD in social work is also congruent with the mission of the Worden School of Social Service:

To develop competent social workers for specialized intervention in direct practice with Hispanic/Latino children and families;
To prepare social workers for professional practice in culturally diverse settings, especially agencies that serve clients from economically disadvantaged backgrounds; and
To generate and disseminate knowledge that advances social and economic justice, enhances human well-being, and promotes effective practice with Hispanic/Latino children and families (Worden School of Social Service, 2010, p. 4).

The PhD in social work will focus on advanced clinical practice, preparing graduates for careers in social services settings as clinicians, supervisors of clinical practitioners, and administrators, as well as teachers of practice courses in social work education programs. Regardless of post-PhD employment, it is expected that all graduates will contribute to the conduct of practice-based research that advances new knowledge in working with diverse populations.

Program Mission: The mission of the PhD program is to prepare professionally trained social workers and social work educators for advanced social work practice that fosters commitment to culturally competent practice with diverse populations, with a focus on specialized clinical intervention, research, and teaching.

Program Goals: The goals of the PhD program are:

To provide a rigorous program of work that challenges students to think critically about social work practice, research, and teaching with diverse populations;
To provide mentoring and other support to students that enable them to strengthen their professional skills and serve others with competence and respect; and
To contribute to the social work profession through the development and transference of practice and evidence-based knowledge and service.

Application Requirements

In addition to the regular application requirements, applicants are expected to have:

an MSW degree from a CSWE- accredited social work program;
at least three years of post-MSW direct practice experience;
licensure at the advanced clinical practice level;
a graduate GPA of at least 3.5 on a 4.0 scale; and
the ability to write and think critically at the graduate level based on review of a writing sample of scholarly work submitted with their application.

Master of Social Work

Mission Statement

In accordance with the Catholic teachings of social justice and the philosophy and purposes of Our Lady of the Lake University, and in adherence to the purposes of social work education articulated by the Council on Social Work Education, the mission of the Worden School of Social Service is:

To develop competent social workers for specialized intervention in direct practice with Hispanic/Latino children and families;
To prepare social workers for professional practice in culturally diverse settings especially agencies that serve clients from economically disadvantaged backgrounds; and
To generate and disseminate knowledge that advances social and economic justice enhances human wellbeing; and promotes effective practice with emphasis on Hispanic/Latino children and families.

MSW Learning Outcomes

On conclusion of the MSW program, each graduate will be able to:

Identify as a professional social worker and conduct oneself accordingly.
Apply social work ethical principles to guide professional practice.
Apply critical thinking to inform and communicate professional judgments.
Engage diversity and difference in practice.
Advance human rights and social and economic justice.
Engage in research-informed practice and practice-informed research.
Apply knowledge of human behavioral and the social environment.
Engage in policy practice to advance social and economic ell-being and to deliver effective social work services.
Respond to contexts that shape practice
Engage, assess, intervene, and evaluate with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities.

The Worden School of Social Service offers programs fully accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (1725 Duke St., Suite 500, Alexandria, VA 22314-3457, Phone: 703-683-8099, Web site: www.cswe.org) leading to the degrees of Bachelor of Social Work and Master of Social Work.

The social work education curriculum at the master degree level is built upon a liberal arts foundation and includes both the professional foundation and one concentration: Services to Hispanic Children and Families. Emphasis is on preparing culturally competent practitioners with particular knowledge and skills for working with Hispanic populations. The content related to the professional foundation as well as the concentration in the master degree program prepares students for advanced social work practice. Students who graduate from the program demonstrate analytic and practice skills sufficient for self-critical, accountable and ultimately autonomous generalist practice. Students also have the foundation necessary to begin the process required by state regulatory bodies for clinical licensure. Please note that no credit shall be granted or courses waived based on life or previous work experience.

The Worden School offers both a foundation 57-hour program and an advanced-standing 30-hour program. Only students having a BSW from a CSWE accredited program are eligible for advanced-standing admission. Classes are offered in two formats. Students may study in a hybrid seven-week terms model at both the San Antonio and Rio Grande Valley campuses. Students may also choose to study in a fully online seven-week term model from anywhere in the world. Students are allowed to change formats; however, this may affect their degree plans and graduation dates. Field education is required of all students. The field office can arrange placement in the contiguous United States and on U.S. Military instillations in selected locations. Field placements are based on the home community and may be limited by location, schedule, and other factors. Students who have questions about field placement options are encouraged to communicate with the field office before beginning the program.

Students who are transferring from another MSW program must have a letter of good standing from the social work program they are transferring from.

Application Requirements

In addition to the regular application requirements, applicants are required to submit

Official transcripts from all previous post-secondary work
Three letters of recommendation not more than one year old (at least one from an academician, others from employers or supervisors)
An application specific to the program
Résumé
Graduate School Application

Advanced Standing Admission

In addition to the regular admission requirements applicants to the advanced standing program must have the following:

A Bachelor of Social Work degree from a program accredited by the Council on Social Work Education
A minimum undergraduate cumulative grade point average of 3.00

Seamless Admission

Students with a BSW from OLLU with an undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher who are applying to the advanced standing program will be eligible for seamless admission if they start the MSW Program the semester following their graduation from the BSW Program (students who graduate in the spring may start in the summer or fall immediately after graduation). Application fee, deposit, and one letter of recommendation are waived for students eligible for seamless admission.

Students are requested to submit the following:

Personal Statement
Two Letters of Recommendation
Résumé
Graduate School Application

Special and Transient Admission

Special and transient admission must be approved by the dean of the Worden School of Social Service.

Conditional Admission

Conditional acceptance is granted on the merits of each case, but under no circumstance will a student be considered with a GPA under 2.5.

Transfer Credit

Six graduate semester hours from a Council on Social Work Accredited social work program may transfer into the foundation curriculum if the courses are judged to be equivalent to the courses being offered in the program. Students admitted as advanced standing may only transfer 3 hours of elective credit.

Prior approval must be obtained from the director of the MSW program to ensure earned course credits will be accepted for transfer and counted toward the degree.

Field Education

Field Education is an integral part of the master’s degree social work education. Field placement in a wide range of social welfare settings allow students to apply knowledge, skills and values acquired in the classroom.

The Worden School of Social Service’s placements are developed around a combination of both a concurrent and block model. Students complete 450 hours during their foundation year and 500 hours of field education during their concentration year. Students may do only one work-related field placement.

Work-related placements are possible for first and second year students. A work-based application is required to be submitted in the Intern Placement Tracking (IPT) system. A field education coordinator will discuss the placement with the student and other parties at the agency. Work-related placements are granted on a very restrictive basis.

Students are discouraged from working a full-time job while enrolled in field education because of the time-intensive nature of field education courses. While every effort will be made to accommodate employed students, the Worden School cannot guarantee a field placement that can be arranged around work hours. The most important criterion for a field placement is that it provides the student with an educational experience that meets MSW Program goals and objectives.

The Worden School of Social Service does not grant credit for previous life or work experience in place of field education. Field education hours earned at another accredited social work program will not be accepted as transfer credit.

In order to enter the Worden School of Social Service field education courses, all students are required to be enrolled in the group professional liability insurance policy that the school carries. Students will be required to answer a number of questions, one of which asks about conviction for criminal acts. If the student has been convicted of a crime, the insurance company may refuse to enroll the student in the policy. Should this occur, the student would not be permitted to engage in the field education courses required for completion of the master of social work degree. Also, students should be aware that, increasingly, field education sites require a student to complete a criminal background check in order to be placed at the site.

In addition, in accordance with Article 6252-13a, Texas Civil Statutes, the Texas State Board of Social Work Examiners may suspend or revoke a social work license or refuse to issue a social work license for a person who has been convicted of a felony or misdemeanor for a crime that is directly related to the duties and responsibilities of the social work profession. (See Article 50.02 and 781.314b of the Texas Professional Social Work Act and Chapter 50 Human Resources Code.)

Other Requirements

Completion of a Secondary Assessment. In order to meet accreditations standards, all social work students are required to complete a secondary assessment, in the form of multiple choice questions, during their field courses. Foundation level students are required to complete two secondary assessments: one while in foundation and another, while in advance standing level. The foundation secondary assessment must be completed prior to moving to the advance standing level. Students who do not complete the secondary assessment will not be able to move forward. Advanced standing students must complete one secondary assessment prior to graduation. Students not completing the secondary assessment will not be able to graduate.

For more information about the Worden School of Social Service, click here.

Programs

Master of Social Work