2004 - 2005 Calendar
Associate Professor and Director
S. Birnie-Lefcovitch
The degrees of Master of Social Work and Doctor of Philosophy are offered
in social work.
The MSW may be completed by part-time or full-time study. Except
for internships and the institute component of practice courses, courses
are delivered by distance format, and not in a regular classroom format.
“Distance delivery” includes course delivery using any or all of web-based
format, traditional correspondence (readings packages, mailed assignments),
and tele or videoconferencing.
The degree of MSW is offered in selected specializations. The program
allows professionally qualified social workers holding the Degree of BSW
or an equivalent professional undergraduate degree in Social Work to undertake
intensive advanced work in a specialized area of social work knowledge
and practice. The particular specializations offered may change from time
to time, according to resources, societal needs, the state of knowledge
and trends in professional practice. Currently, advanced clinical practice
is the specialization offered.
Students admitted to the MSW program prior to 1999 who are enrolled
in specializations which are no longer offered, should consult with the
Graduate Officer in the School of Social Work to discuss options for completion.
The program is designed to be accessible to students in remote and rural
areas, and assumes that: (1) students will have a computer and internet
access; and, (2) can travel to St. John’s for the institute portion of
the three practice courses. Students studying outside St John’s, Newfoundland,
will also be expected to purchase internet service or to incur long distance
charges for accessing their Memorial University of Newfoundland internet
account.
The deadline date for receipt of applications for admission in September
of each year is February 28. Under special circumstances, late applications
and admissions in other semesters may be considered.
Entrance into all courses and the offering of any course in an academic
year is by approval of the School, consistent with the candidate’s program.
Candidates are admitted only into a designated program of studies in an area
of specialization.
The School of Social Work may deliver special offerings of the MSW and/or
other programs of the School to identified groups of out-of-province students
where numbers warrant. These offerings will be self supporting, and therefore
subject to an additional one-time non-refundable tuition fee as approved
by the Board of Regents and payable on first registration following formal
admission to the program. Students will also pay appropriate tuition fees
for each semester during their tenure in the program.
Admission to the special offerings of these programs will be competitive,
using the same procedures and standards that are in place for students
applying to the St John’s campus program(s).
Subject to approval by the Committee on Graduate Studies for the School
of Social Work, students admitted to an out-of-province program offering
may apply to transfer to the equivalent program on the St. John’s campus.
In such instances, the fee structure under which the student was admitted
will not change. Subject to approval by the Committee on Graduate Studies
for the School of Social Work, students admitted to a St. John’s based program
may apply to transfer to the equivalent out-of-province program. In these
instances, students transferring from the St. John’s based program offerings
to an equivalent out-of-province offering will be required to pay a pro-rated
one-time fee upon formal transfer to the special offering.
A) QUALIFICATIONS FOR
ADMISSION
C) PROGRAM OF STUDY
AND RESEARCH
1. Admission is limited, selective and competitive.
2. To be considered for admission an applicant shall hold a Bachelor
of Social Work degree from an institution recognized by the Senate, with
at least second class standing, and an average of at least Grade B in the
last 60 undergraduate credit hours, or an equivalent professional undergraduate
degree in social work approved by the Graduate Studies Committee of the School
of Social Work for recommendation to the Dean.
3. In addition to the stated academic requirements, the applicant must
have completed, subsequent to obtaining the BSW degree, at least two years
employment in professional social work practice or in a comparable human
service discipline or activity. Extensive relevant experience prior to undergraduate
degree work may be recognized in full or partial fulfillment of this requirement.
1. Applicants must submit an application for admission with supporting
documentation to the School of Graduate Studies. The supporting documentation
will consist of: an official transcript of the applicant’s previous academic
record submitted directly from the institution(s) attended; a statement
of previous professional employment, a list of any published or unpublished
works, and a declaration of program emphasis and educational objectives;
and three letters of appraisal, to be submitted by three referees capable
of assessing the applicant’s previous academic and/or practice performance.
Letters of appraisal are to be submitted directly to the School of Graduate
Studies.
2. The Graduate Studies Committee of the School of Social Work may require
the applicant to appear for a personal interview with a faculty member
or members.
3. A student who meets the basic admission requirements under A2 and
A3 above may, space permitting, take no more than 6 credit hours in Social
Work graduate courses without applying for and being admitted to the MSW
program. Students wishing to take courses under this provision should submit
to the School of Social Work a REQUEST FOR PERMISSION TO REGISTER IN A GRADUATE
COURSE with evidence of BSW graduation, and apply or reapply for admission
to Memorial University of Newfoundland as an undergraduate at least six weeks
before the beginning of the semester in which the class is to be taken.
4. A person who has completed an MSW degree is eligible to register
in any MSW course offering, space permitting.
5. Qualified students admitted to other graduate programs may, space
permitting, apply to take Social Work graduate courses SW 6011, SW 6412,
SW 6422, SW 6332 and graduate social work electives. Students wishing to
take courses under this provision should submit a REQUEST FOR PERMISSION
TO REGISTER IN A GRADUATE COURSE, academic transcripts and a brief professional
resume to the Graduate Officer in the School of Social Work.
C) PROGRAM OF STUDY AND RESEARCH
1. A candidate’s program will be developed cooperatively by the candidate
and a faculty advisor designated for this purpose by the Director of the
School. The faculty advisor shall counsel the candidate on course selection.
2. Specified supplementary studies may be required to ensure requisite
knowledge pertinent to the specialization.
3. A candidate electing a thesis program shall be assigned by the Director
in consultation with the student a thesis supervisor. This election can
be made upon completion of SW 6412 and SW 6422. The thesis supervisor,
when assigned, shall normally assume the duties of faculty advisor under
C(1) above.
4. Candidates admitted to the MSW Program in Advanced Clinical Practice
thesis route must complete a thesis and a minimum of 21 credit hours consisting
of SW6011, SW6312, SW6322, SW6332, SW6412, SW6422 and SW6912 (Internship).
In addition to these courses, non-thesis candidates must also complete
SW6432, SW 6442 and a 3 credit hour graduate elective in social work or
a related discipline as requested by the candidate and approved by the
graduate advisor. Candidates in either route may be required to take additional
courses.
D) INTERNSHIP
Each MSW student is required to complete an advanced clinical internship
which is to be conducted in a setting and supervised by a field teacher
approved by the School of Social Work. Students are responsible for exploring
internship options and locating a professional practitioner with at least
an MSW to provide field instruction during their internship. The graduate
field coordinator is responsible for finalizing the internship and field
instruction arrangements in conjunction with the candidate. Although consideration
will be given to all factors affecting the location and type of social
work internships, final approval of an internship rests with the School
of Social Work. The School cannot guarantee the availability of MSW field
instruction in all communities and at all times.
Students are responsible for their own financial support during the
internship. Part-time internships of two semesters will require approval
from the proposed agency field instructor and the graduate field coordinator.
All candidates wishing to register for SW 6912, the 500 hour field internship,
must submit a completed Practicum Planning Information form and a Social
Work Internship proposal at least four months prior to the commencement
of the semester in which they intend to begin their internship. Evaluation
of the internship in Advanced Clinical Practice will be on a PASS/FAIL basis.
Candidates who voluntarily withdraw from the social work internship
without prior approval of the graduate field coordinator and the chair
of the Graduate Studies Committee, or who conduct themselves in such a
manner as to cause the agency and the field coordinator to terminate the
placement, will normally be awarded a grade of Fail in the internship
course.
Candidates who voluntarily withdraw from the field internship with the
prior approval of the graduate field coordinator and the chair of the Graduate
Studies Committee cannot be guaranteed a second internship during that
semester. In this case, the candidate will be awarded a grade of Incomplete
for the internship course. The candidate shall normally complete an internship
the following semester.
To increase accessibility for students in remote and rural practice, we
offer courses in the following formats:
(i) SW 6011, SW 6412, SW 6422, and social work electives
will be offered by distance delivery; that is, not in a regular classroom
format.
(ii) SW 6312, SW 6322 and SW 6332: By residential
institute consisting of 36 hours of condensed classroom instruction. These
courses also include home-study and teleconference and/or internet components
scheduled prior to and/or following the institute. Students must be available
on a full-time basis to attend classes and complete assignments and group
projects during the institute portion of these courses. It is recommended
that students take leave from their employment for the duration of a residential
institute which may be scheduled in a combination of weekday, evening and
weekend hours within a two and a half week time period. The final decision
regarding the residential institute schedule rests with the School of Social
Work.
(iii) SW 6912, Advanced Clinical Practice Internship
and SW 6432 Research Internship can be completed in St. John’s, or in a student’s
home community where appropriate supervision is available.
(iv) SW 6442, Colloquium Presentation, may be conducted
in St. John’s or in a student’s home community, provided suitable audio-visual
facilities are available.
(i) In exceptional circumstances, and contingent upon
student numbers and school resources, additional course sections may be offered
in a regular classroom format.
For students admitted to the program outlined in C.4 above:
1. For the candidate in part-time enrolment, the program of study is
designed to permit completion of all degree requirements within nine semesters
or three calendar years.
2. For the candidate in full-time enrolment non-thesis route, the program
of study is designed to permit completion of all degree requirements within
three semesters or one calendar year, as follows.
Fall semester: SW 6011, SW 6312(institute),
SW 6412
Winter semester: SW 6322(institute), SW 6422, Elective
Spring semester SW 6432, SW 6442, SW 6332(institute),
SW 6912
G) EVALUATION
1. Failure to attain a final passing grade of A or B in a program course,
or PASS in a PASS/FAIL course, shall lead to termination of the
student’s program, unless a re-read has been requested. Failure to obtain
the required grades as stated above in the re-read shall lead to termination
of the student’s program.
2. When the Director has determined, on the basis of consultation with
the candidate, the advisor, or supervisor, and the instructors, that a candidate’s
work has fallen below a satisfactory level, the Director may recommend
to the Dean of Graduate Studies that the candidate be required to withdraw
from the program.
3. To remain in good standing students are required to maintain professional
behaviour consistent with the current Code of Ethics of the Canadian Association
of the Social Workers. Students who fail to meet this requirement will
be required to withdraw from the School upon the recommendation of the
Graduate Studies Committee.
H) THESIS
See General Regulation J, THESES AND REPORTS
I) NOTE: Every candidate shall comply with the GENERAL REGULATIONS governing the School of Graduate Studies and the MSW Degree Regulations.
A selection of the following graduate courses will be offered to meet
the requirements of candidates, as far as the resources of the School will
allow.
CORE COURSES
6011. Critical Thinking and Ethical Evaluation for Assessment and Intervention
(3 credit hours) (Not required by students who have successfully completed
SW6010)
6312. Crisis Intervention, Brief and Integrated Therapies for Diverse
Individuals (3 credit hours) (Prerequisite/ Corequisite
SW6011 or the former SW6010) (Not required by students who have successfully
completed SW6311)
6322. Family Therapy: Promotion of Strengths and Prevention of Violence
in Diverse Families (3 credit hours) (Prerequisite SW6011 or the former SW6010)
(Not required by students who have successfully completed SW6321)
6332. Social Work Perspectives in Interdisciplinary Team Development
and Group Therapy (3 credit hours) (Prerequisite SW6011 or the former SW6010)
(Not required by students who have successfully completed SW6331)
6412. Research Design for Social Work Assessment and Evaluation (3 credit
hours) (Not required by students who have successfully completed SW6411)
6422. Data Analysis for Social Work Assessment and Evaluation (3 credit
hours) (Prerequisite SW6412 or the former SW6411)
6432. Research Internship (2 credit hours) (Prerequisite SW 6412 or
the former SW6411 and SW6422)
6442. Colloquium Presentation Integrating Theory and Research in Advanced
Clinical Practice (1 credit hour) (Prerequisite/Co-requisite SW 6912,
SW 6432.)
6912. Advanced Clinical Practice Internship (3 credit hours) (Prerequisites
SW6312 or the former SW6311; SW6322 or the former SW6321; and Prerequisite/Corequisite
SW6332 or the former SW6331)
ELECTIVES (3 credit hours)
6230. Seminar in Community Development
6530. Seminar in Social Administration: Evaluation of Policies and Programs
6540. Supervision in Professional and Clinical Practice
6550. Feminist Therapy in Social Work Practice
6820-29. Individual Reading and Research in Special Areas
Although the School does not currently offer a program in Social Policy
and Administration, it has faculty expertise in these areas and may, resources
permitting and given sufficient student interest, offer the following
elective courses:
6210. Seminar in Social Planning and Social Development
6220. Seminar in Organization Development
6510. Seminar in Social Administration: Social Policy Analysis, Development
and Administration
6520. Seminar in Social Administration: Program Design and Development
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