Overview
This area of concentration prepares students to promote social justice and equity in a variety of domestic and global social welfare settings through an integrated model of theory, policy advocacy, research, and advanced generalist practice skills. Students will focus on theories of social justice and inequality and methods of coalition building, community development, and policy advocacy in order to address complex and interrelated challenges of race and gender disparities, global and domestic poverty, and criminal and juvenile (in)justice.
Through course work and field experiences, students can expect to pursue domestic or global careers in community development, voluntary/non-profit sector services, criminal and juvenile justice settings, or in various spheres of policy advocacy and implementation, grassroots organizing, and government agencies. Students will be prepared to work with a variety of populations including people living in poverty, those displaced by homelessness, war, or migration, those who are incarcerated or on probation or parole, and those who have experienced various forms of discrimination and marginalization.
Curriculum
Year 1: Standard MSW Core Curriculum
In their first year, all MSW students take our generalist core curriculum. View a complete list of Social Welfare graduate courses with descriptions.
Year 2: Social and Economic Justice Area of Concentration
12 classes (44 units)
| Course Type | Required or Choice | List of Courses* |
| Advanced Practice | 1 Required | SW 241J- Community Practice |
| Elective Advanced Practice | 1 Required, 2 Recommended | SW 241E – Leadership, Development and Governance of Nonprofit OrganizationsSW 241I – Grant Writing |
| Advanced Policy | 1 Required | SW 290D – Criminal Justice and Mass IncarcerationSW 290L – Poverty and Welfare Reform |
| Elective Advanced Policy | 1 required; 2 may be chosen | SW 290T – Juvenile Justice Policy SW 290W – International Social Work orAny SW 290 course (to be approved by your advisor) |
| Research Capstone | 3 Required | SW260A, SW260B, SW 260C |
| MSW Electives | 2 Required1 recommended outside the department | Can be any MSW course or outside course addressing economic or racial disparities, gender justice and women’s rights, economic development, criminal justice, or social action/community organizing |
| Practicum | 3 Required | SW 402A, SW 402B, SW 402C, SW 405 |
* Not all choices will be offered each year