KENNESAW STATE UNIVERSITY
GRADUATE PROGRAM/CONCENTRATION PROPOSAL
FORM 02/25/04
PROGRAM OR CONCENTRATION NAME: Master of Social Work
DEPARTMENT: Social Work and Human Services
PROPOSED EFFECTIVE DATE: Fall 2010
Check One or More of the Following and Complete the Appropriate Sections
_____New Program Proposal**
__X_ Change in Program/Concentration/Degree Requirements
_____New Concentration Proposal
Sections to be Completed
All
III – VII, XII
I – VII, XII
**A new course proposal is required for each new course that is part of the new program
Submitted by:
______________________________________________________
Faculty Member
Date
___ Approved ___ Not Approved
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Department Curriculum Committee
Date
___ Approved ___ Not Approved
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Department Chair
Date
___ Approved ___ Not Approved
______________________________________________________
College Curriculum Committee
Date
___ Approved ___ Not Approved
______________________________________________________
College Dean
Date
___ Approved ___ Not Approved
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GPCC Chair
Date
___ Approved ___ Not Approved
______________________________________________________
Dean, Graduate College
Date
___ Approved ___ Not Approved
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Vice President for Academic Affairs
Date
___ Approved ___ Not Approved
______________________________________________________
President
Date
III. Justification and Need for the Program
This proposal adds a part-time option that will allow students to complete the MSW program
in three calendar years. Courses will be scheduled so that students can complete the curriculum
in late afternoon or evening classes. Internship hours will be flexible, emphasizing summer
placements.

Appropriate specialization
The proposed part-time program will maintain three clinical specializations (mental
health, substance abuse counseling and children & families). These specializations
closely match the needs of the local provider community and current hiring trends.
These clinical specializations provide specific content on practicing within a range of
clinical settings.
 Quantity of graduates
This proposal will open MSW study to those students who must maintain full
employment. The program intends to keep the part-time cohort small (fewer than 10
students) in order to maintain high quality.
 Productivity
The part-time schedule will make heavy use of classes that are scheduled for the full-time
program. Faculty will sequence these existing courses so that their times match the
requirements of the par-time cohort. At this time, we do not anticipate adding sections
that specifically target the par-time cohort.
 Partnering
A key element of the program’s mission is to support the local provider community.
The development of this proposal was accomplished with input from our key
constituents and partners.
 Placement
This proposal does not change the content of the MSW curriculum. Rather, it changes
the sequence by expanding the full-time two-year program to a three-year full-time
format. Students will continue to take courses on the main KSU campus.
IV. Procedures Used to Develop the Program
The current curriculum for the MSW program was developed more than five years ago,
during the initial stages of our candidacy for national accreditation. CSWE, the accrediting body,
does not allow programs in candidacy to make any changes in their program or curriculum. In
February 2009, the KSU MSW program was granted fully accredited status for 7 years. Our
experience during the five-year candidacy period clearly demonstrated that a part-time program
would be essential to meet our mission of supporting local provide agencies. Our development
of the part-time program arose from the following systematic process:
1. Feedback from students
a. Focus groups with various student cohorts
b. Exit interviews
c. Feedback during integrative seminars
d. Student course evaluations
2. Feedback from provider community
a. MSW Advisory Board
b. DFCS Advisory Team
c. Field Supervisor feedback
d. Agency Director feedback
e. State of Georgia initiatives related to Social Work shortages
3. Feedback from Faculty
a. Staff Development training
b. Faculty retreats
c. Faculty meetings related to continuous improvement of the MSW program
4. Feedback from Social Work Examiners
a. CSWE Accreditation Site Visitor feedback
b. Annual Program Meeting presentations
Continuous Improvement Process
Information and suggestions captured from the above sources were discussed in depth by
faculty and students. A small working group developed this proposal for the part-time
program modification in response to the input from stakeholders. The initial proposal was
refined through discussion with students, faculty, and administrators. Following this
refinement, specific faculty members were asked to develop course syllabi. The final drafts of
the proposal and syllabi were circulated to faculty for comments and suggestions. The
proposal before you represents the best thinking of our faculty and students.
V. Curriculum: Degree Program Requirements
Catalog description
Program Admission Requirements:
1. A liberal arts baccalaureate degree from an institution recognized by Kennesaw
State University.
2. A GRE score of at least 800.
3. A GPA of 3.0 or higher in the last 60 hours of undergraduate study.
Course Offering Schedule and Plan-of-Study
Full-time Plan of Study
Foundation Course Sequence (30 Credit Hours)
Semester I (15 Credit Hours)

SW 7700 - Social Work Foundations: Diversity, Social Justice and Ethics
SW 7701 - Social Work Practice I
SW 7704 - Human Behavior in a Social Environment I
SW 7706 - Introduction to Social Work Research
SW 7708 - Foundation Internship/Integrative Seminar II
Semester II (15 Credit Hours)
SW 7702 - Social Welfare Policy and Services I
SW 7703 - Social Work Practice II
SW 7705 - Human Behavior in a Social Environment II
SW 7707 - Practice Focused Research Methods
SW 7709 - Foundation Internship/Integrative Seminar II
Concentration Curriculum (30 Credit Hours)
Addiction/Substance Abuse Services
Semester III (15 Credit Hours)
SW 8701 - Individual and Group Practice in Addictions
SW 8714 - Addiction Policy in the U.S.
SW 8707 - Bio-Psycho-Social Theories of Addiction
Clinical Elective
SW 8712 - Advanced Field Placement III
Semester IV (15 Credit Hours)

Elective (3)
SW 8814 - Seminar in Substance Abuse
SW 8815 - Prevention Theory in ATOD Abuse
SW 8816 - Social Work Practice with Addicted Families
Clinical Elective
SW 8713 - Advanced Field Placement IV
Family and Children Services
Semester III (15 Credit Hours)
SW 8703 - Social Work Practice with Children and Youth
SW 870 - Child Welfare: Policy Affecting Children, Youth, and Their Families
SW 8715 - Children and Youth Mental Health
Clinical Elective
SW 8712 - Advanced Field Placement III
Semester IV (15 Credit Hours)

Elective (3)
SW 8801 - Seminar on Clinical Practice in Child Welfare
SW 8812 - Clinical Practice with Abused and Neglected Children and Their
Families: Child Protective Services
SW 8803 - Family Therapy
Clinical Elective
SW 8713 - Advanced Field Placement IV
Program Total (60 Credit Hours)
MSW Part Time Program
Year 1
Summer 2010
(3 semester hours)
SW 7700 SW Foundations: Diversity, Social Justice and Ethics
3
Fall 2010
(6 semester hours)
SW 7701 Social Work Practice I
SW 7704 Human Behavior and the Social Environment I
3
3
Spring 2011
(6 Semester hours)
SW 7702 Social Welfare Policy and Services
SW 7703 Social Work Practice II
3
3
Summer 2011 (Full Time to accommodate classes and Field)
(6 hours)
SW 7706 Introduction to Social Work Research
3
SW 7705 Human Behavior and the Social Environment II
3
Summer 2011 Field Education
240 Clock Hours
May
June
July
3
80 (Full Time for 2 weeks)
80 (20 hours per week for 4 weeks)
80 (20 hours per week for 4 weeks)
240 Clock Hours
Fall 2011
SW 7707 Practice Focused Research Methods
3
Field Education (Part Time) SW 7709
240 Clock Hours
3
August
September
October
November
December
80 (20 hours per week)
40 (10 hours per week)
40 (10 hours per week)
40 (10 hours per week)
40 (10 hours per week)
240 (Total Clock Hours
Total Hours for Field for Year 1- 480
MSW Part-time Program Proposal
Year 2
Spring 2012
(6 semester hours)
Theories of Addiction
Concentration Course
3
3
Summer 2012
(3 semester hours)
Concentration Course
3
Fall 2012
(6 semester hours)
Advanced Clinical Practice with Individuals
Advanced Clinical Assessment and Diagnosis
3
3
Spring 2013
(6 semester hours)
Advanced Clinical Practice with Families
Concentration Course
3
3
Summer 2013
(3 semester hours + field)
Forensic Social Work
3
Summer 2013 – Field Education
(480 clock hours)
3
May
80 (20 Hrs. per week)
June
160 (40 Hrs. per week)
July
160 (40 Hrs. per week)
August 80 (20 Hrs. per week)
Fall 2013 – Field Education
(240 clock hours)
September
October
November
Total Hrs
80 (20 Hrs. per week)
80 (20 Hrs. per week)
80 (20 Hrs. per week)
240
3
Total Field Hours for 2nd Year – 720 Hrs (For some students hours may need to be spread
out so that the person works during Spring 2014 to earn sufficient hours).
Growth and Flexibility
The changes proffered by this document will insure that the KSU MSW Program offers state-ofthe art clinical training a wider range of applicants. Growth will be in terms of quality rather
than quantity as the faculty is committed to developing a mid-size program that emphasizes
intensive clinical training. The proposed curriculum expands the flexibility of the curriculum in
that there will be more options for fully employed applicants..
Course Descriptions
The review package submitted to GPCC includes all new syllabi with the appropriate
GPCC forms for review.
VI. INVENTORY OF FACULTY DIRECTLY INVOLVED
Program Oversight and Administration
Dr. Alan Kirk, Director, MSW Program
Dr. Anne Hicks-Coolick, Department Chair
Teaching
Foundation Curriculum
Dr. Ardith Peters
Dr. Alan Kirk
Dr. Irene McClatchey
Dr. Quienton Nichols
Dr. Lisa Johnson
Dr. Dorcas Bowles
Professor Vale Henson
Concentration Curriculum
Dr. Alan Kirk
Dr. Irene McClatchy
Dr. Dorcas Bowles
Dr. Carol Collard
Dr. Anne Hicks-Coolick
Dr. Lisa Johnson
Professor Takeisha Wilson
COURSE/INSTRUCTOR SUPPORT DEPTH
Nine of the 10 instructors listed above have extensive full-time clinical experience (greater than
10 years). One professor (Dr. Ardith Peters) is a sociologist by discipline and teaches theory.
All are knowledgeable in the teaching area.
VII. Outstanding programs of this nature at other institutions
Survey and comparative analysis
There are six other accredited MSW programs in the state of Georgia. Of these programs, five
offer some form of a part-time program of study. The development of this proposal included a
comprehensive review of their curricula…especially their part-time sequence. Based on this
review, it was clear that our proposal is similar to the other part-time programs. A key difference
in our program is our emphasis on a cohort model of study.
Unique Features of KSU’s program:
The KSU program contrasts from other state programs as follows:
A. More emphasis on diagnostics and treatment planning.
B. More emphasis on therapeutic models of intervention and the theoretical underpinning of
these models.
C. Less emphasis on policy, advocacy, and large systems.
D. Greater emphasis on faculty mentorship & student development.
E. KSU faculty offer far more clinical experience than other Georgia MSW programs.
F. Provision for a cohort oriented three-year program, without substantial individual
variance.
XII. Accreditation
Business Content Audit:
Referencing the Business Content Worksheet, does this program or concentration, incorporating
the information proposed herein, have “traditional business subject” content delivered by faculty
or programs administered by the Coles College of Business? *
_____ Yes
If “yes,” complete a Business Content Worksheet and obtain necessary
approvals as indicated.
__X__ No
_____ Exempt Graduate programs administered by the Coles College are exempt.
__________
*
All graduate programs exceeding 50% business content are automatically required to meet AACSB
International business accreditation standards. The purpose of the audit is to prevent the unintended,
undesirable compulsory inclusion of programs subject to AACSB standards.