Curriculum Overview
The VCU M.S.W. Program online option can equip you with the tools, critical thinking skills and mindset to be adaptable in diverse settings. Whether working with individuals, families or communities, you will be prepared to navigate changing environments and people’s needs with confidence and expertise.
Our curriculum emphasizes a deep understanding of social work frameworks, perspectives and social institutions, allowing you to adapt your approach based on the person-in-environment model. This responsiveness will enable you to address individual and systemic challenges by providing personalized, effective care no matter the situation.
Social work is dynamic, and so is our program. We will train you to be responsive to the evolving needs of your community, fostering your ability to assess situations, adjust strategies and implement solutions that make a lasting impact. We demonstrate these values by adapting our curriculum based on the latest frameworks, perspectives and student feedback.
Choose a Concentration
You will select a concentration in Clinical Social Work Practice or Macro Practice, completing 30 generalist credits and 30 concentration credits (students in the advanced standing pathway complete 12 bridge credits and 30 concentration credits). Your learning pathway — part-time, accelerated part-time, full-time, accelerated full-time or advanced standing — determines the pace of your coursework.
Clinical Social Work Practice Concentration
The Clinical Practice concentration prepares students for advanced practice in mental health, health care and community settings, among others. Grounded in trauma-informed, anti-racist and evidence-based approaches, the concentration emphasizes clinical assessment, diagnosis and treatment with individuals, families and groups. Students develop strong clinical skills through coursework, hands-on field placements and specialized training in modalities such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, psychodynamic therapies and motivational interviewing. Graduates are equipped to pursue licensure and provide high-quality, ethical care across diverse populations.
The Clinical Social Work Practice concentration is available
through all program pathways.
Macro Practice Concentration
The Macro Practice concentration equips you with the advanced skills needed to drive systemic change. Through a blend of critical and emergent theories and practice, you’ll learn to navigate complex social issues, develop leadership in community and organizational settings, and cultivate transformational relationships. This track emphasizes self-awareness, power, and positionality as key elements of understanding and influencing change. You’ll build expertise in values-driven planning, policy strategies, and advocacy, while gaining practical tools for resource management, community organizing, and effecting meaningful social change.
The Macro Practice concentration is available for the advanced standing and full-time pathways.
Generalist Courses (30 credits)
Provides a multidimensional theoretical and evidence-based approach to understanding the complex interactions of biological, psychological, spiritual, economic, political and sociocultural forces on the lives of individuals, families and groups in a multicultural society. Required core curriculum course. (3 credits)
First of two generalist courses on macro social work through the lens of social policy, and practice in the community, organizational, and policy arenas. Surveys historical evolution of social welfare policy and contemporary provision of social welfare services, including the role of values in social policy formulation and principles of social and economic justice. Introduces the social worker’s role as a change agent in community and organizational arenas. Uses social/behavioral knowledge and frameworks for assessing communities and organizations. Develops skills in identification and assessment of need in communities and organizations. Examines values and ethical dilemmas facing professional social workers in communities and organizations. (3 credits)
Enhances understanding of and appreciation for diversity in self and others. Addresses issues of power, inequality, privilege and resulting oppression. Analyzes oppression resulting from persistent social, educational, political, religious, economic and legal inequalities. Focuses on the experiences of oppressed groups in the U.S. in order to understand their strengths, needs and responses. Uses a social justice perspective for the study of and practice with oppressed groups. Required direct practice core curriculum course. (3 credits)
Introduces basic knowledge, skills and values necessary to provide a range of restorative, rehabilitative, maintenance and enhancement services in social work practice with individuals, families and groups. Introduces selected practice theories and models to guide intervention. Emphasizes the multidimensional and diverse contexts in which problems and needs are assessed and in which intervention occurs. Required direct practice core curriculum course. (3 credits)
Extends application of beginning knowledge and skills to the phases of intervention with groups and families. Presents knowledge and skills of environmental intervention and termination. Introduces additional selected theories and models for social work practice with individuals, families and groups with attention to special populations and practice evaluation. Required direct practice core curriculum course. (3 credits)
The second of two generalist courses on macro social work through the lens of social policy and practice in the community, organizational and policy arenas. Examines values and ethical dilemmas facing professional social workers in policy-making arenas. Explores legislative/political processes. Emphasizes reciprocal effects of policy on social work practice and implications for social and economic justice. (3 credits)
Prerequisite: SLWK 602 with a minimum grade of C.
Introduces students to basic research concepts needed to understand and assess social work interventions and services. Students completing this course will understand how to ask questions and develop a feasible methodology to answer questions. This course emphasizes critical-thinking skills and encourages attentiveness to issues of diversity, equity and inclusion. Additionally, this course emphasizes the use of professional social work values when assessing social work programs and services. (3 credits)
Covers the life course from conception through late adulthood and/or death. Focuses on the influences of biological, psychological, spiritual, economic, political and sociocultural forces on individual and family coping and adaptation. Provides a multidimensional, multicultural perspective on the behavior of individuals and families based on theory and research with identification of the risk and protective mechanisms that influence development. Required core curriculum course. (3 credits)
Provides opportunities to master essential social work knowledge, values and skills through practice under the direction of an agency-based field instructor, monitored by a faculty field liaison. Emphasizes integration of content from all areas of the generalist curriculum. (3 credits)
Provides opportunities to master essential social work knowledge, values and skills through practice under the direction of an agency-based field instructor, monitored by a faculty field liaison. Emphasizes integration of content from all areas of the generalist curriculum. (3 credits)
Concentration Options
Concentration Courses (30 credits)
This course reviews the epidemiology, etiology, classification (using the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders) and course of a range of mental, emotional and behavioral disorders and conditions across the lifespan and the relevance of this knowledge to social work across practice settings. It emphasizes a biopsychosocial-spiritual assessment, a risk and protective factors framework, a critical analysis of existing and emerging theory, the impact of difference and diversity, an appreciation of the lived experience of these challenges for clients and their families, and the practical implications of this knowledge for relationship-building and treatment planning as well as interdisciplinary collaboration. Introduces knowledge of psychopharmacology. Required advanced clinical core curriculum course. (3 credits)
Provides a multitheoretical orientation to intervention across fields of practice with individuals, families, couples and groups. Emphasizes contemporary psychodynamic and cognitive behavioral approaches and their empirical support. Focuses on multidimensional assessment and the differential application of therapeutic, supportive, educational and resource-management strategies to complex problems of children, youth and adults. Required advanced clinical core curriculum course. (3 credits)
Prerequisite: SLWK 704.
Continues a multitheoretical orientation to intervention across fields of practice with emphasis on integrated family systems theory and multidimensional family assessment. Focuses on differential application of psychodynamic, cognitive-behavioral, and family systems theories to a range of complex client problems and concerns with attention to diversity populations. Required advanced clinical core curriculum course. (3 credits)
Students will deepen their understanding of social work service delivery processes by using research concepts to examine data and apply research findings to inform and improve practice, policy and programs. Skills such as data analysis, translating findings into practice and presenting data to diverse constituent groups are stressed. Additionally, this course emphasizes the use of professional social work values when assessing social work programs and services and encourages students to be attentive to issues of diversity, equity and inclusion. (3 credits)
Focuses on advanced policy analysis through an in-depth, focused examination of a particular social policy area or population. Extends basic knowledge and skills of policy formulation, development and impact analysis/evaluation, as these affect practice on behalf of clients. Examines diversity of policy sources; value, political and economic determinants; policy formulation processes; the policy basis for current services; a broad range of potential need domains; and current programs and laws. Integrates knowledge of human behavior and the social environment relevant to the focal policy areas and pays special attention to issues of social and economic justice. Examines current policy issues, advocacy efforts related to these issues and practice strategies for effecting change. (3 credits)
First of a two-course sequence that provides opportunities to master advanced social work application of theory knowledge, values and skills through practice under the direction of an agency-based field instructor, monitored by a faculty field liaison. Emphasizes integration of content from all areas of the concentration curriculum. (3 credits)
The second of a two-course sequence provides opportunities to master advanced social work application of theory knowledge, values and skills through practice under the direction of an agency-based field instructor, monitored by a faculty field liaison. Emphasizes integration of content from all areas of the concentration curriculum. (3 credits)
Students must complete nine credit hours of electives chosen from SLWK 717–SLWK 792.
These will be completed over consecutive semesters, one of which will be one elective (three hours) and one of which will be two electives (six hours); or vice versa.
For descriptions of these courses, view the VCU Bulletin.
Concentration Courses (30 credits)
Students will deepen their understanding of social work service delivery processes by using research concepts to examine data and apply research findings to inform and improve practice, policy and programs. Skills such as data analysis, translating findings into practice and presenting data to diverse constituent groups are stressed. Additionally, this course emphasizes the use of professional social work values when assessing social work programs and services and encourages students to be attentive to issues of diversity, equity and inclusion. (3 credits)
Focuses on advanced policy analysis through an in-depth, focused examination of a particular social policy area or population. Extends basic knowledge and skills of policy formulation, development and impact analysis/evaluation, as these affect practice on behalf of clients. Examines diversity of policy sources; value, political and economic determinants; policy formulation processes; the policy basis for current services; a broad range of potential need domains; and current programs and laws. Integrates knowledge of human behavior and the social environment relevant to the focal policy areas and pays special attention to issues of social and economic justice. Examines current policy issues, advocacy efforts related to these issues and practice strategies for effecting change. (3 credits)
Develops leadership and planning skills that guide the implementation of policy and practice in community and organizational settings. Presents problem-solving strategies for planning, administration and management of community and organizational resources. Emphasizes planning context for diverse settings. Provide knowledge and skill for human and fiscal resource responsibilities, including fundraising. Examines ethical and justice implications of planning and administrative practice. (3 credits)
Prerequisites: SLWK 693 and 694, or SLWK 695, or SLWK 612. Concurrent prerequisite: SLWK 711.
Focuses on advanced concepts and skills for macro-level social work practice. Emphasizes self-awareness, relationship-building and understanding the diverse contexts in which macro-level social change occurs. Grounds students in critical theory and emergence as theoretical frameworks for analyzing power, positionality and change across macro contexts. Cultivates skills in reflexivity, building transformational relationships and navigating both formal and informal sites of change. Highlights the development of critical thinking and self-awareness in understanding one’s role, relationships and responsibilities in driving change. Cultivates professional discernment in recognizing value alignment, misalignment and navigating these dynamics in change efforts. (3 credits)
Prerequisite: SLWK 712.
Builds upon the advanced knowledge and skills in the prerequisite course to explore innovative approaches to addressing complex social issues. Examines strategies and practice skills for effecting meaningful social change grounded in theory, social problem analysis and value alignment across sites of change. Emphasizes the exploration of both traditional and emergent strategies for social change, including policy strategies, direct services, advocacy initiatives, staff development and training, and community engagement and organizing. (3 credits)
First of a two-course sequence that provides opportunities to master advanced social work application of theory knowledge, values and skills through practice under the direction of an agency-based field instructor, monitored by a faculty field liaison. Emphasizes integration of content from all areas of the concentration curriculum. (3 credits)
The second of a two-course sequence provides opportunities to master advanced social work application of theory knowledge, values and skills through practice under the direction of an agency-based field instructor, monitored by a faculty field liaison. Emphasizes integration of content from all areas of the concentration curriculum. (3 credits)
Students must complete nine credit hours of electives chosen from SLWK 717–SLWK 792.
These will be completed over consecutive semesters, one of which will be one elective (three hours) and one of which will be two electives (six hours); or vice versa.
For descriptions of these courses, view the VCU Bulletin.
Advanced Standing Pathway Bridge Courses (12 credits; required for all students enrolled in the Advanced Standing pathway)
Students review approaches, principles, techniques and theories of micro social work practice and human behavior. Emphasis is on commonalities and differences among practice modalities, including differential assessment, intervention and evaluation of outcomes. The course includes weekly field instruction integrating seminar. Required advanced standing program core curriculum course. (3 credits)
Presents social work theory and practice focusing on social policy, communities, agencies and interventions in light of principles of social and economic justice. Introduces and analyzes the social work role of policy practitioner with its specific skills and tasks. Demonstrates the importance of understanding the community and the agency in social work practice. Provides skill building in advocacy, planned change, and policy and organizational analysis, as well as weekly field instruction seminar. This is a required advanced-standing program core curriculum course. (3 credits)
Reviews approaches to scientific inquiry in the development of knowledge for social work practice; problem formulation; concepts and operational definitions; measurement validity and reliability; selected social work research designs; planned data collection strategies and procedures. Required advanced standing program core curriculum course. (3 credits)
Enrollment is restricted to students admitted to the advanced standing program. Reviews generalist-level knowledge, attitudes and skills acquired through social work education at the undergraduate level. Requires application, refinement and the active use of content from the advanced standing curriculum through practice under the direction of an agency-based field instructor, monitored by a faculty field liaison. Emphasizes integration of content from all areas of the generalist foundation curriculum. (3 credits)