School Social Worker Program

The School Social Worker program prepares you for social work practice in school settings. School social workers collaborate with teachers and other professionals in schools and with families to maximize the educational experiences of students. School Social Workers use their specialized skills to assess and intervene with families and locate and utilize community resources to achieve the student’s educational goals. 

About the Program

The School Social Work program is licensed by the Ohio Department of Education through the College of Education, Criminal Justice and Human Services (CECH). This program, and the certification of its graduates, involves close collaboration with CECH. The expected outcome of the program is the preparation of professional school social workers who can perform their unique role in conjunction with the traditional education and auxiliary professionals in the school system. This role encompasses the special knowledge and skills of school social workers, including social work assessment and intervention with students and families; locating and utilizing community resources, and facilitating the development and implementation of school, family, and community linkages. Graduates of the program provide a critical dimension to the shared goal of maximizing the educational experiences of students. 

Admission Requirements

The School Social Worker program is only open to students currently enrolled in the MSW Program who choose the children and families concentration. If you are interested in this program, apply to the MSW Program.

After you have been accepted into the MSW program, please send an email of interest to Professor Anne Roma at romaae@ucmail.uc.edu.

Curriculum

The following are required in order to complete the program:

  • A field placement of at least ​540 hours of the 900 total hours of field experience as a school social worker intern. The MSW field criteria still applies.

    • Every effort will be made to arrange placements in public or chartered schools. Placement in a school with a contracting agency (such as a mental health or child welfare agency) may be accepted for school social work certification, if approved by UC’s School Social Worker Certification Program Coordinator.
    • Field instructors must be working as school social workers and meet the criteria for MSW Field Instructors
    • The placement will include a special school social worker field evaluation in addition to the regular field evaluation. 
    • There are a limited number of school social worker placements. The School of Social Work’s ability to provide these placements depends on the availability of qualified field instructors.
    • All public school placements will involve daytime hours.
    • College of Education, Criminal Justice, & Human Services courses
      • SPED6001: Individuals with Exceptionalities
      • SPED6002: Engaging and Supporting Families with Members with Disabilities
      • EDST7001: Politics of Education OR EDST7021: Philosophy of Education
      • Note: CECH classes are held during the day. Most SPED classes are often available online. 
  • The following Social Work courses must be completed for a total of 15 elective credit hours:

    • SW8002: Child Mental Health
    • SW8003: Social Work Practice in the Schools
  • Students must receive a grade of “B” or better to successfully complete the program.

Summer (16 total credits)

  • SW 7000  Theory and Skills for Advanced Practice (2 credits) 
  • SW 7011  Assessment & Diagnosis (3 credits) 
  • SW 7090  MSW Intermediate Field Instruction (2 credits) 
  •  SW 8025  Supervision (3 credits)           
  • SPED6001 Ind with Exceptionalities (3 credits)          
  • SPED6002 Engaging & Supporting (3 credits) 
  • Families w/ Members with Disabilities

Fall (18 total credits)

  • SW 8020  Practice and Program Evaluation for Direct Practice (3 credits) 
  • SW 8040  Children & Family Policy or SW 8050  Health & Aging Policy or SW 8060  Mental Health Policy (2 credits) 
  • SW 8041  Children & Families Practice or SW 8051  Health & Aging Practice or SW 8061  Mental Health Practice (3 credits) 
  • SW 8070  MSW Advanced Field Instruction I (3 credits) 
  • SW 8080  MSW Advanced Field Seminar I (2 credits) 
  • EDST7001 Politics of Education OR EDST7021 Philosophy of Education (3 credits) 
  • Elective: SW8003 Social Work Practice in Schools (2 credits) 

Spring (13 credits)

  • SW 8042  Children & Families Practice II or SW 8052  Health & Aging Practice II or SW 8062  Mental Health Practice II (3 credits) 
  • SW 8071  MSW Advanced Field Instruction II (3 credits) 
  • SW 8081  MSW Advanced Field Seminar II (2 credits)               
  • Elective: SW8002 Child Mental Health (2 credits) 

Year 1

Fall (17 credit hours)

  • SW 7010  Psychosocial Theory for Social Work Direct Practice (3 credits)
  • SW 7030  Social Welfare Policy and Practice (3 credits)
  • SW 7040  Social Work Interviewing (2 credits) 
  • SW 7041  Social Work Practice with Individuals and Families (3 credits)
  • SW 7070  MSW Full-Time Field Instruction I (2 credits) 
  • SW 7080  MSW Full-Time Field Seminar I (1 credits) 
  • SPED6001 Ind with Exceptionalities (3 credits)

Spring (19 credits)

  • SW 7011  Assessment & Diagnosis (3 credits) 
  • SW 7012  Human Diversity for Social Work (2 credits) 
  • SW 7020  Social Work Research (3 credits) 
  • SW 7043  Social Work Practice with Groups (2 credits) 
  • SW 7044  Social Work Practice with Organizations & Communities (2 credits) 
  • SW 7071  MSW Full-Time Field Instruction II (3 credits) 
  • SW 7081  Full-Time Field Seminar II (1 credits) 
  • EDST7001 Politics of Education OR EDST7021 Philosophy of Education (3 credits) 

Year 2

Fall (16 credit hours)

  • SW 8020 Practice and Program Evaluation for Direct Practice (3)                                                                                          
  • SW 8040  Children & Family Policy or SW 8050  Health & Aging Policy or SW 8060  Mental Health Policy (2) 
  • SW 8041  Children & Families Practice I or SW 8051  Health & Aging Practice I or SW 8061  Mental Health Practice I (3)                                                                                
  • SW 8070  MSW Advanced Field Instruction I (3)                                                                       
  • SW 8080  MSW Advanced Field Seminar I (2) 
  • Elective: SW8003 Social Work Practice in Schools (3)                                                               

Spring (16 credits)

  • SW 8025  Supervision (3 credits) 
  • SW 8042 Children & Families Practice II or SW 8052 Health & Aging Practice II or SW 8062 Mental Health Practice II (3 credits)              
  • SW 8071 MSW Advanced Field Instruction II (3 credits) 
  • SW 8081 MSW Advanced Field Seminar II (2 credits) 
  • Elective: SW8002 Child Mental Health (2 credits) 
  • SPED6002 Engaging & Supporting Families w/ Members with Disabilities (3 credits) 

Certification Requirements

In addition to their coursework, students must develop and submit a comprehensive portfolio containing classroom materials and field evaluations. Portfolios will reflect the ability of students to conceptually synthesize their academic and field experiences, as well as meet the major requirements for educational professionals. Prior to certification, some states require social worker applicants to take the PRAXIS II examination; the licensing boards for each state are able to provide social workers with more information. Please note: Students can take required courses or complete the field placement and still not qualify for licensure if their grades on assignments or evaluations are below the required standards.                                                       

Headshot of Anne Elizabeth Roma

Anne Elizabeth Roma

Dr. Roma, CAHS School of Social Work

French Hall

513-556-4615