Public Safety Social Work MSW Certificate Program Curriculum Overview

Public Safety Social Work MSW Certificate Program Curriculum Overview

The curriculum for the public safety social work certificate is designed for master’s level MSW students or MSW graduates with specialized practice. Because this is a certification for social workers and because of the ethical nature of the job, this certificate is only open to MSW candidates or graduates. These three courses are designed to be stand-alone courses, which can be taken in any order.

Take BOTH of these courses:

SOCW 692 – Community Mental Health and Recovery- AS with synchronous colloquium

In this course, students will develop knowledge of community-based services provided to individuals experiencing mental health and substance use disorders. Students will grow in their understanding of the continuum of care systems and develop theoretical and practical knowledge for community mental health engagement and assessment techniques, as well as resources for intervention and evaluation. Students will examine the concept of recovery-oriented social work and understand the importance of relationships, context, and minimizing stigma when practicing in diverse communities and settings. Ethics and legal implications will be emphasized, including when working with interdisciplinary teams such as community mental health centers, hospitals, housing agencies, and first responders.

SOCW 693 – Public Safety and Crisis Intervention – OS

In this course, students examine the role of social workers in public safety and mobile crisis units. Students will learn about the history and current trends in public safety. Students will develop theoretical and practical knowledge related to crisis intervention theory and models and gain skills to respond to mental health and other emergencies. Students will apply professional values and ethics as they learn about navigating relationships with peer agencies, first responders, and the diverse communities they serve.

Choose ONE of the following TWO courses:

SOCW 691 – Psychopathology for Social Workers – OS

In this course, students develop knowledge related to the major types of mental and behavioral

disorders and their development across the lifespan. Students will examine the various professional tools and evaluations used in treatment, including utilizing the DSM-5 from a social work perspective, which differs from other helping professions. The ethical implications of diagnosis will be embedded within the course, with particular attention to working within diverse settings and communities. (Recommended for students who want a clinical license or are interested in direct practice.)

OR

SOCW 694 – Topics, Ethics, and Cross-Disciplinary Teams: Navigating Healthcare, School, Criminal Justice, and Other Settings– AS with synchronous colloquium

This specialization course prepares students to work with cross-disciplinary teams. Specifically, this course prepares students to navigate ethics and topics related to settings where social workers collaborate with other professionals, including, but not limited to hospitals, nursing homes, schools, jails, court systems, mental health facilities, and libraries. (Recommended for macro practitioners or people taking the certificate who already have an MSW.)