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Tarleton State UniversityMaster of Social Work (MSW)Student Handbook2017-2018This handbook provides information to social work graduate students and other interestedconstituents about the policies and procedures of the MSW Program at Tarleton StateUniversity.Revised July, 2017
College of Health Sciences & Human ServicesDepartment of Social WorkDr. David WeissenburgerDeanMSW FacultyDr. Melody Aye Loya, LMSW-IPRDepartment Head(254) 968-1696Davis Hall (Stephenville Campus) 212loya@tarleton.eduDr. Tiffany Bice Wigington, LMSWInterim MSW Program Director(817) 717-33336777 Camp Bowie Blvd.Fort Worth, TX 76116Office: 324wigington@tarleton.eduDr. JoNataye Prather, MSWMSW Field Director(254) 299-82601400 College DriveWaco, TX 76708Office: LA 117Aprather@tarleton.eduDr. Darla Beaty, LCSWMSW Faculty(254) 299-92681400 College DriveWaco, TX 76708Office: LA 117Cddbeaty@tarleton.eduDr. Felicia Murray, LCSWMSW FacultyStephenville CampusDavis Hallii
Table of ContentsMSW Faculty . iiAbout Tarleton State University . 1Equal Opportunity Institution/Non-Discrimination . 1TSU Mission Statement . 1TSU Vision Statement . 1TSU Core Values . 1MSW Student Handbook Overview . 2Additional Information. 2Tarleton Department of Social Work – General Information . 2What is Social Work? . 2Notice to Students Regarding Licensing . 3Mission Statement . 4MSW Program Goals . 4The Context of the MSW Program . 4Professional Development . 4Student Organizations . 4Student Social Work Association (SSWA). 5Phi Alpha Zeta Honor Society. 5Professional Organizations . 5National Association of Social Workers (NASW). 5National Association of Black Social Workers (NABSW) . 6Latino Social Workers Organization (LSWO) . 6North American Association of Christians in Social Work (NACSW). 6Scholarships . 6Social Work Curriculum. 6MSW Social Work Concentrations . 7Foundation Courses . 7Advanced Courses (Clinical Concentration) . 7Advanced Courses (Community/Administration Concentration) . 8MSW Competencies . 8Practice Behaviors. 8Foundation Practice Behaviors . 9Advanced Clinical Practice Behaviors . 10Advanced Community/Administration Practice Behaviors . 12iii
Framework of the Curriculum . 14Student Development . 14Admissions . 14College of Graduate Studies Admissions Criteria . 14MSW Admissions Requirements . 14Evaluation of Application and Decision Notification . 15Awarding Advanced Standing for BSW Graduates . 15Transfer Credits. 16Credit for Life Experience. 16Academic and Professional Performance Policies . 16Evaluation of Academic and Professional Performance . 16Academic Performance Evaluation Criteria . 17Scholastic Performance. 18Evaluation of Academic Performance . 20Evaluation of Professional Performance. 20Review of Academic Performance . 21Levels of Review . 21Level 1 . 21Level 2 . 21Level 3 . 22Academic Appeals . 22Policies and Procedures for Terminating a Student’s Enrollment . 23Impaired Personal Performance . 23Termination of Social Work Students for Non-Academic Reasons. 24Definition of Non-Academic Professional Impairment . 24Procedures for Complaints . 25Filing a Written Complaint . 25Reapplying to the Program . 26Termination of Social Work Students for Academic Reasons. 26Social Work Advisory Council. 26Student Academic Rights and Responsibilities . 27Academic Honesty . 27Class Attendance. 27Support Services for Students with Disabilities . 27Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association . 27iv
Field Placement and Field Instruction . 27Admission and Criteria for Admission into Field. 27Student Support Services . 28Career Advising . 29Appendix . 30Rubric for Assessing Professional Behaviors . 31NASW Code of Ethics . 38Code of Conduct for Social Work Students . 60v
About Tarleton State UniversityTarleton State University (TSU), a member of the Texas A&M University System, is accredited by theSouthern Association of Colleges and Schools. TSU awards associate, baccalaureate, master and doctoraldegrees. Programs are accredited by the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs, theNational Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Services, Texas Education Agency, the AccreditationBoard for Engineering and Technology, the National Association of Schools of Music, the Texas StateBoard of Nursing, the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, and the Council on Social WorkEducation. The University is in compliance with the National Collegiate Athletic Association.For additional information, .htmlEqual Opportunity Institution/Non-DiscriminationTarleton State University provides equal opportunity to all employees, students, applicants foremployment, and the public regardless of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, age,genetic information, or veteran status. Tarleton State University will promptly and thoroughlyinvestigate all complaints of discrimination, sexual harassment, and related retaliation in accordancewith applicable federal and state laws, A&M System Policy 08.01 and Regulation 08.01.01, and theuniversity rules and/or procedures.TSU Mission StatementTarleton State University provides an academically challenging education where learning is grounded inreal-world experiences and effective teaching, research, scholarship, and service. As a member of theTexas A&M University System, Tarleton is rich in history and tradition while being committed to studentsuccess and diversity. Tarleton strives to develop moral and ethical thinkers, scholars, and leaders whodemonstrate civility and integrity, while contributing meaningfully and responsibly to a global society.TSU Vision StatementTarleton will be the premier student-focused university in Texas and beyond. We will transformgenerations by inspiring discovery, leadership and service through exceptional teaching and research invibrant learning communities.TSU Core ValuesTSU promotes and practices the following core values: Integrity Leadership Tradition Civility Excellence Service1
MSW Student Handbook OverviewThe MSW Student Handbook contains information about the mission and goals of the program, thefoundation and advanced practice competencies, the curriculum, application processes for the MSWprogram, admission requirements, student academic rights and responsibilities, student supportservices, appeal processes, professional development, and participation in student organizations. Thehandbook outlines the criteria for dismissal from the program for both academic and non-academic (i.e.professional) reasons and outlines how to reapply if dismissed from the program. Also included is basicinformation relevant to the required field internship(s), although most field policies and procedures areoutlined in a separate handbook.Additional InformationIncluded in the appendix is a copy of the Rubric for Assessing Professional Behaviors (RAPB), whichprovides a list of expected professional behaviors. Additionally, the NASW Code of Ethics is included;every student is expected to comply with these standards for the profession. Finally, a Code of Conductoutlines expectations.This handbook is supplemented by the MSW Field Handbook, which will be available to each studentupon entering his or her field internship. Students are responsible for being aware of and complyingwith all policies and procedures outlined in both this MSW Student Handbook and the MSW FieldHandbook. Additional expectations include complying with the policies of Tarleton State University andthe College of Graduate Studies.The TSU MSW website can be found at -work/The Tarleton Code of Student Conduct can be found at t-conduct.html, and a printable version is available.The College of Graduate Studies is online at http://www.tarleton.edu/graduate/index.htmlOther general information relative to graduate studies can be found at http://catalog.tarleton.edu/grad/Tarleton Department of Social Work – General InformationThe Department of Social Work is housed in the College of Health Sciences and Human Services, whichwas established as the sixth college at TSU as of September 1st, 2016. The college offices, along with themain office of the Department of Social Work, are in Davis Hall on the Stephenville campus. Alsoincluded in the new college are the following Departments: Nursing, Counseling, and Medical LaboratorySciences and Public Health. The four Departments located within the new college are all accreditedprograms, thus providing excellent opportunities for students wishing to enter a helping profession.What is Social Work?Social workers focus on promoting and restoring mutually beneficial interactions between individualsand society in order to improve the quality of life for everyone. Social workers interact with and help2
individuals, families, groups, communities, and organizations with diverse problems, when issues andneeds interfere with social functioning.The profession of Social Work provides opportunities to work in different practice settings such asmental health, health and rehabilitation, hospice, Veteran’s Affairs, probation and parole, adult andchild protective services, foster care and adoption, schools, family and children’s services, employeeassistance and income maintenance, among many other possibilities. Because of rapid changes and acomplex society, the field of social work responds to diverse needs in an ever-changing landscape.Social workers focus on both individuals and the environment as the target for change. As clinical orcommunity/administration practitioners, social workers facilitate problem solving, obtain or createresources, provide education, influence the development of social policy, and engage in research andpractice evaluation.In the state of Texas, “social worker” is a protected title; only those with degrees from a CSWEaccredited program can sit for the licensing exam. Graduates of the program are encouraged to becomelicensed practitioners, thus enhancing their employability and the overall profession. Information onsocial work licensure can be found at http://dshs.texas.gov/socialwork/Notice to Students Regarding LicensingEffective September 1st, HB 1508 amends the Texas Occupations Code Section 58.001. Becausegraduating with a degree in Social Work (both at the undergraduate and graduate level) in the state ofTexas has the potential to lead to a state-issued license, this notice of the impact of a criminal history onbecoming licensed is being provided to you. The title of “social worker” is a restricted title in the State ofTexas; only those who hold a valid license and are in good standing may call themselves by the title“Social Worker.”Individuals with a history of criminal behavior, including arrests, convictions, serving probation, being onor completing parole, or deferred adjudication (this list may not be exhaustive) may be unable tobecome licensed as a Social Worker in Texas.The following website provides links to information about the licensing process and requirements.http://dshs.texas.gov/socialwork/sw links.shtmShould you wish to request a review of the impact of criminal history on your potential for licensure as aSocial Worker prior to or during your quest for a degree, you can visit this link and request a “CriminalHistory Evaluation.”http://dshs.texas.gov/plc cheval.shtmThe request has a fee of 50.00 for each occupational license that you are interested in filing a requestfor. If you are only interested in Social Work, the cost would be 50.00. If you were interested in severaloccupations, there is a 50.00 charge for each occupation. These fees are assessed by the TexasDepartment of State Health Services and Tarleton State Univer
MSW Program Goals The following are the goals of the TSU MSW program: 1. To provide advanced Clinical and Community/Administrative practice programming, which is the primary focus of the MSW program. 2. To provide theoretical perspectives, which will be taught with examples derived from work with individuals and communities.
