The Silver School’s MSW curriculum consists of a professional foundation level and an advanced concentration level. Both foundation and advanced concentration levels are organized according to five traditional areas: social work practice, human behavior in the social environment (HBSE), social welfare programs and policies (SWPP), social work research (SWR), and field instruction. In addition, each sequence area addresses social work values and ethics, diversity, social and economic justice, and populations at risk.
Grounded in a generalist perspective, the foundation level curriculum emphasizes the importance of working across a range of systems that includes individuals, couples, families, groups, agencies, and communities. The generalist perspective maintains a focus on the interaction between systems (person-in-environment perspective) and utilizes specific theories such as systems theory, empowerment theory, and a strengths perspective.
The advanced concentration curriculum strives to deepen knowledge and skills and add breadth, depth, and specificity to content learned in the foundation level. Students are expected to deepen and extend their assessment, intervention, and evaluation skills with diverse and at-risk populations, demonstrating an understanding of the major theories that inform practice with individuals, families, and larger systems. The links between practice and research and practice and policy are integrated throughout the curriculum as is the attention to social and economic justice and the importance of practicing competently with diverse and at-risk populations.