Part-Time Online MSW Student Handbook 2024-2025
The School of Social Work is located on the second floor of White Hall in the Falk Complex at Syracuse University. White Hall is situated on a hill and has two levels: the west side has four stories, and the east has three. The Arnold M. Grant Auditorium was added in 1966. It is attached to the southern end of White Hall. White Hall is named for Ernest I. White, a lawyer who served as president of The Post-Standard. A 1997 expansion project included renovations to White Hall as part of the $12.5 million budget when MacNaughton Hall was added to the north. White Hall's campus location is north of the Carrier Dome, west of Heroy Geology Building and south of Crouse College. Made of reinforced concrete with brick facing and limestone trim, it was begun by architect Lorimer Rich and Associates, and completed by King & King Architects.
The School of Social Work offers educational programs leading to the Bachelor of Science in Social Work and the Master of Social Work degrees. The School is fully accredited by the Council on Social Work Education. A copy of the Educational Policy and Accreditation Standards for Master's Degree Programs is provided in Appendix E. Both the BSSW and MSW programs of the School of Social Work are offered in collaboration with participating human service agencies across Central New York that provide professional internship settings. These agency collaborations are vital to the field instruction programs of the School.
The Department Chair/Director is the chief administrator in the School of Social Work, responsible for all budgetary, personnel, and programmatic operations of the School in collaboration with the appropriate College and University officers. The Master of Social Work Program Director is responsible for the implementation of the graduate social work degree program. The Baccalaureate Program Director is responsible for the implementation of the undergraduate social work degree program. The Director of Field Instruction oversees the field placement process for students in both the graduate and undergraduate programs.
The School of Social Work is one of eight units within Falk College. Some of the services utilized by graduate students are provided centrally by the College or the University. For other aspects of the graduate experience, such as academic advising, registration, student progress evaluation, degree certification, and certification for licensing, faculty and staff within the School of Social Work are the primary resources. The Social Work faculty and professional staff are responsible for the development, delivery, and continuous evaluation of the MSW curriculum.
Students are encouraged to participate in the formulation and implementation of policy affecting academic and student affairs through membership in standing or ad hoc committees of the School of Social Work and Falk College. The major standing committees of the School of Social Work are the Administrative Committee, the Promotions and Tenure Committee, the Faculty Recruitment Committee, and the two Program committees (MSW and BSSW).
There are two student organizations within the School of Social Work. Social Workers United is a graduate student organization. The purpose of this organization is to encourage broader acquaintances among social work students, to discuss academic and career interests, and as a channel for student activities and participation on the School's policy-making committees.
The second organization is the Zeta Gamma Chapter of Phi Alpha Honor Society in the School of Social Work. To be eligible for Phi Alpha, graduate students must have completed nine semester hours of required social work graduate courses, or at least 37.5% of the total credits for the graduate degree and rank in the top 35% of their class.
Welcome to the graduate program of the School of Social Work. We are pleased that you chose to study with us and look forward to working with you to achieve your academic and professional goals. We hope that working toward these goals will be both exciting and challenging for you.
You have the primary responsibility for planning your academic program and making certain that your program fulfills degree requirements. To do that, you will need information, suggestions and guidance from the Online MSW Program Director and other faculty advisors, ideas from fellow students, and a clear understanding of the policies and procedures of the University, the College, and the School of Social Work.
We have prepared this handbook to help you understand how we work. The handbook contains information on the policies and procedures of the School of Social Work and, where they are also pertinent, refers you to the policies of the College and University. Our policies and procedures are built upon the general rules and regulations of the University. These are presented in the document Academic Rules and Regulations, included at the front of the Graduate Course Catalog. Please review them as you begin your degree program.
Have a great year and, when in doubt, ask questions so that you have the information you need to complete your course of study successfully. Again, welcome aboard!
Sincerely,
Carrie Jefferson Smith, DSW, ACSW
Professor, Department Chair (Director), School of Social Work
Joseph L. Smith, Ph.D., LCSW-R, Master CASAC
Associate Teaching Professor, Online MSW Program Director
Tracy Walker, LMSW
Director of Field Relations
Kristin Esposito, LMSW
Assistant MSW Online Field Director
Degree requirements for the online MSW can be found in Appendix H. The Foundation Curriculum is taken by all students except those with a BSW degree and who have been admitted to the Advanced Standing MSW Degree program, who complete only the concentration level curriculum within what is called the Advanced Standing Program. All students choose one of the two Advanced Concentrations: Advanced Clinical Practice (ACP) or Advanced Integrated Practice (AIP).
Only limited variations in this plan are possible and then only after discussions with a student's academic faculty advisor and approval by the Online MSW Program Director, MSW Program Director and Department Chair/Director. Please refer to Appendix H or your academic faculty advisor for the online MSW degree requirements and course sequence plan.
Additionally, all students should familiarize themselves with the Academic Rules section of the Syracuse University Graduate Course Catalog.
Every student is required to attend a weekly live session for each of his or her classes in which students are online and interacting at the same time, synchronously. These synchronous sessions are held in the virtual classroom, where students and faculty have audio and an active camera on themselves during the session.
Students are required to consult with their instructor regarding any deviations from the audio and video requirement for live class sessions. Instructors will use their discretion in extraordinary circumstances.
Please note that students should not log into live class meetings using the learning platform mobile app or Zoom Mobile App. You will not be able to experience the full functionality of the live meeting room.
Effective May 3, 2023
The following represents our “cameras on” and student conduct policy for students while participating in Social Work courses. This policy is clearly addressed in the Social Work student handbooks. This policy is non-negotiable and should be considered as part of your participation in the course. We view non-compliance in this area as a form of misconduct that compromises the integrity of the learning environment. The only exception to this policy would be permission in advance by the professor under extraordinary circumstances or by the Center of Disability Resources.
Students in the Social Work program are expected to conduct themselves in live online class sessions the same as they would in a residential classroom. To make the most of your educational experience and be mindful of your impact on others, please adhere to the following:
The appropriate and competent use of technology is within the scope of practice in social work education. According to the NASW Standards for Technology Use in Social Work Practice, Standard 4.01 Technology in Social Work Education:
During the live session, the professor should not have to remind students to turn their cameras on, or to refrain from distracting, unsafe, or unethical behaviors. Students who turn their cameras off for extended periods without prior permission from the professor, or who participate in other disruptive or distracted behaviors (e.g., sleeping, cooking, working, etc.) are subject to being marked as absent or removed for that class session and bear the risk and responsibility for any negative consequences that result. Professors have the discretion to authorize individual students to have their cameras off temporarily in extraordinary circumstances.
It is our ethical obligation to structure a learning environment consistent with the mission and values of the social work profession.
As an online student, you have the power to engage with your courses at the time and place of your choosing. This delivery mode has proven to be both effective and convenient for students who may have life/career responsibilities that prevent them from being physically present on campus or who prefer the flexibility and interactivity of the online learning environment. This model also presents a host of challenges for online students who must take responsibility for keeping up with a continuous stream of content and assignments in a way that fits their learning habits, styles and needs. To address these challenges, online learners must develop a personal plan to focus their time and attention on coursework on a regularly scheduled basis.
Time management, self-discipline and organization are critical to achieving success in this program. The online learning environment is less structured than the traditional classroom, and your ability to manage your time resources is imperative to success. Here are some considerations in managing your time as a student in the program.
Please refer to B.1 Online Learning Navigation in the Online MSW Student Orientation in the LMS for additional information to online learning.
Field education occurs throughout the graduate social work curriculum and is concurrent with specific coursework. Please see the School of Social Work Field Instruction Manual for specific field education policies and procedures.
Online MSW 60 Credit Program: Students are required to engage in two internship experiences, one virtual and one in-person. The virtual component will count for 200 hours of the total hours. The remaining hours (800) will be completed in-person at an internship site over 3 consecutive semesters in either Advanced Clinical Practice (ACP) or Advanced Integrated Practice (AIP).
Online MSW Advanced Standing Program: Advanced Standing students are required to complete one internship at the concentration level, either Advanced Clinical Practice (ACP) or Advanced Integrated Practice (AIP). This field placement is a minimum of 500 hours and typically occurs across two consecutive semesters.
Each online matriculated graduate student is assigned a faculty academic advisor for their degree program(s). Academic advising is a shared responsibility between the student, the faculty academic advisor and the Online MSW Program Director. The student has the ultimate responsibility for ensuring academic progress.
The faculty academic advisor and the Online MSW Program Director provide the consultation and guidance necessary to foster the professional development of the student. The faculty academic advisor aids the student in the selection of courses, in registration, in meeting degree certification requirements, and in assessing professional interests and development. Students are required to meet with their advisors before registering for courses each semester in order to best understand the course offerings and progress towards degree completion.
If a course-related problem arises, students are advised first to discuss the problem with the instructor involved. If it cannot be satisfactorily resolved through this action, the matter should then be discussed with the faculty academic advisor and/or the Online MSW Program Director. For students in academic difficulty, faculty academic advisor in partnership the Online MSW Program Director, MSW Program Director and the Department Chair/Director will assist the student in decision-making around the academic difficulty and in the development of a plan aimed at returning the student to good academic standing.
Students are responsible for seeking the advice and consultation of their faculty academic advisor and/or the Online MSW Program Director when they perceive they are having academic problems. They also are responsible for making and keeping advising appointments during the course of their degree program. (See Problem Solving in Advising – Appendix G)
Information regarding advising and registration dates are emailed to students prior to the advising and registration period. Students will register using the university's web-based online registration system MySlice. For information on how to use this system, visit the Registrar's Office website. You will also receive additional support/ instructions on how to register from the Falk Office of Online & Distance Education and the Online MSW Program Director.
Information regarding dates that registration is available for the upcoming semester can also be found at the Registrar's Office website. Courses may be added after initial registration through the first two weeks of the semester. There are two deadlines for dropping courses. If a course is dropped before the financial drop deadline, the tuition for that course will be refunded. Tuition for a course dropped after the financial drop deadline, but before the academic drop deadline, will not be refunded. More detailed information about this and the exact dates for adding and dropping courses can also be found on the University Registrar's website.
Note: A Petition to Faculty Form request to take additional courses outside of the outlined course sequencing only applies to students who have extenuating circumstances OR upon admission students were instructed to take a course that would not transfer over from their previous degree. All other requests to take additional credits outside of the regular course sequencing pattern will not be permitted.
University Rules and Regulations set out the minimum GPA that graduate students in good academic standing must maintain. Students in the School of Social Work must maintain an overall grade point average of 3.0. You cannot receive the MSW degree without attaining a final cumulative GPA of 3.0 and good standing regarding professional behavior. The standards for good academic standing and the procedures that the School of Social Work follows when a student's GPA falls below 3.0 are described in Appendix C. Students must be aware that they bear the risk and responsibility for the financial investment involved when continuing in the MSW program with a GPA below a 3.0 and/or when not in good academic standing.
The Code of Ethics as adopted by the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) serves as the primary basis for judgments concerning the appropriateness of the behavior of students, as well as relevant sections of the New York State Education law regarding the professions and New York State Regents Rules and Regulations. A student whose actions have raised concerns about professional behavior may be brought before the Academic Hearing Board of the School of Social Work under the policy for Academic Progress and Professional Behavior. The standards for Academic Progress and Professional Behavior and the procedures of the Academic Hearing Board are described in Appendix C.
While recognizing a responsibility to guide and support students during the course of their professional education, the faculty and professional staff also recognize a responsibility to the profession of social work and to the people it serves. Consistent with the Council on Social Work Education Evaluation Standards and the Code of Ethics of the National Association of Social Workers (see Appendix F), the School of Social Work considers both the performance and behavior of students in the classroom, in the field placement, and in and around the university as matters of academic standing.
Performance and behavior are treated as indicative of likely performance as a social work practitioner. In addition to poor performance in the classroom, as indicated by course grades, performance or behavior that demonstrates poor interpersonal skills, unethical, threatening or otherwise unprofessional conduct will be considered grounds for academic disciplinary action. This may include, but it is not limited to, academic probation or dismissal.
The following standards, distinguished from academic standards, describe the cognitive, emotional and character requirements necessary to provide reasonable assurance that students can complete the entire course of study and participate fully in all aspects of social work education and practice. Acquisition of competence as a social worker is a lengthy and complex process that will be undermined by significant limitations of the student's ability to participate in the full spectrum of the experiences and the requirements of the curriculum.
Students in the Syracuse University School of Social Work are expected to possess the following abilities and attributes at a level appropriate to their year in the program. They are expected to meet these standards in the classroom, in their practice, and elsewhere. Attention to these standards will be part of evaluations made by those responsible for evaluating students' practicum and academic performance.
Academic Integrity: Upon entrance into the program, the student is expected to demonstrate academic integrity in the preparation of written assignments, research and scholarly papers and must understand and adhere to the Syracuse University Policy on Academic Integrity which prohibits academic dishonesty, such as cheating, plagiarism, internet plagiarism.
Communication Skills: The social work student must communicate effectively and sensitively with other students, faculty, staff, clients, and other professionals. Students must express their ideas and feelings clearly and demonstrate a willingness and ability to listen to others. They must have sufficient skills in spoken and written English to understand the content presented in the program.
Self-Awareness: The social work student must know how his/her values, attitudes, beliefs, emotions, and past experiences affect his/her thinking, behavior, and relationships. The student must be willing to examine and change his/her behavior when it interferes with work with clients and other professionals and must be able to work effectively with others in subordinate positions as well as with those in authority.
Professional Commitment: The social work student must have a strong commitment to the goals of social work and to the ethical standards of the profession. The student must be committed to the essential values of social work, which are the dignity and worth of every individual and ones right to a just share of society's resources.
Knowledge Base for Social Work Practice: The professional activities of social work students must be grounded in relevant social, behavioral, and biological science knowledge and research. This includes knowledge and skills in relationship-building, data-gathering, assessment, interventions, and evaluation of practice.
Objectivity: The social work student must be sufficiently objective to systematically evaluate clients and their situations in an unbiased, factual way.
Empathy: Upon entrance into the program and increasingly as the student progresses through the program, one is expected to work diligently to understand and appreciate the way of life and value system of others. Students must be able to communicate empathy and support to clients and community members as a basis for a productive professional relationship.
Self-Care: The social work student must be resistant to the undesirable effects of stress, exercising appropriate self-care and developing cooperative and facilitative relationships with faculty, field educators, administrators, colleagues, and peers.
Acceptance of Diversity: As the student progresses through the program, one is expected to demonstrate an appreciation for the value of human diversity. In the field practicum, one must serve and be willing to serve in an appropriate manner, all persons in need of assistance, regardless of the person's age, class, race, ethnicity, religious affiliation (or lack thereof), gender, ability, sexual orientation, and value system.
Interpersonal Skills: The social work student must demonstrate the interpersonal skills needed to relate effectively to other students, faculty, staff, clients, and other professionals. These include compassion, altruism, integrity, and the demonstration of respect for and consideration of others.
Professional Behavior: The social work student must behave professionally by practicing within the scope of one's skills and knowledge, adhering to the profession's code of ethics, respecting others, being punctual and dependable, prioritizing responsibilities, and completing assignments on time. The social work student must demonstrate a willingness to accept feedback and must not practice outside one's areas of competence without engaging in training, consultation, and supervision.
The faculty and professional staff of the School of Social Work consider academic dishonesty a very serious matter. This includes how students utilize and quote (or fail to quote) documents found on the web. Inadequate attribution is considered plagiarism, a type of academic dishonesty, and will result in sanction. If you are uncertain about how to properly use others' writings or cite the work of others, you should not hesitate to seek guidance.
Read the complete University Academic Integrity Policy effective January 1, 2017.
Formal disciplinary and grievance procedures exist at both the College and University level for handling allegations of academic dishonesty or violation of other university policies. The document, "Falk College Grievance Policies and Procedures," issued by Falk College, explains where different types of allegations are heard.
The University has offices and committees that are responsible for hearing complaints of both student and faculty violations of conduct and policy. Tables 1 and 2 in the College Grievance Committee Policies and Procedures document outline where in the University various issues are handled (these tables are reprinted in Appendix D). Should you have a complaint involving potential violation of university policy with regard to racial or sexual harassment, disability accommodation, or the Code of Student Conduct, consult these tables to learn where in the University you should direct your complaint. You may also consult the Office of the Associate Dean of Falk College. They will assist you in determining whether the problem can be handled informally or whether it should be directed to the appropriate University office.
In order to certify your master's degree at the end of your study, we must have a degree-bearing transcript from your baccalaureate program.
All students must submit acceptable documentation of previous degrees to the Graduate School by the end of their first semester of study. After completion of the first semester of graduate study, the Graduate School may withhold registration for any student who has not produced documentation of completion of the undergraduate degree for the date reported on the application by the student, or who has not been granted a written waiver by the Academic Unit and the Graduate School. The hold on registration will only be released when the documentation has been provided.
No graduate degree will be granted unless the student has complied with the items described in the preceding paragraph. No credit that is applied to the undergraduate degree may be applied to the graduate degree, unless such double-counting falls under explicit articulation of a combined bachelor's and master's program that has been approved by, and registered with, the New York State Education Department. (Drawn from Academic Rules and Regulations, IX, Admission, Section 23.0 General Policies, Syracuse University, Syracuse, New York, 1995-96. See this document for more detail.)
No graduate course credit toward the master's degree is granted for life experience.
Official grade reports will be available on MySlice from the University Registrar's Office after the end of the semester. You can view your grades online using the MySlice system.
The grade of "I" (incomplete) may be requested by the student if they have exceptional circumstances that prevent them from fulfilling all course requirements on time. This may include illness, job conflict, or other exceptional circumstances. An Incomplete Grade Request must be approved by the course instructor, with all requirements and provisions agreed upon beforehand. A student will need the instructor's approval and will need to have completed enough course content to have a grade assigned based on the work to date. An Incomplete is not available if the student has not completed enough work on which to base a grade.
To request an incomplete, the student will need to discuss with the course instructor and obtain approval. An incomplete grade request is a contract between the student and the faculty member and specifies the reason for granting an incomplete and the conditions and deadline for final work completion for a grade to be entered within a feasible time frame. Approval of that request is to be granted by the faculty member teaching the course and entered into the grade roster. An Incomplete calculates as an F in the student's GPA. The instructor calculates a grade for the student based on work completed to date, counting unsubmitted work as zero.
If the student takes a leave of absence or is withdrawn from the University, the student cannot receive Incompletes for courses in which the student was registered.
The petition to faculty form is the process by which the student obtains approval to make variations from established academic requirements, and University or School of Social Work policies and procedures. All student forms can be found on the Office of the Registrar - Student Forms. Students can also contact the Online MSW Program Director to obtain these forms.
In response to requests for references from prospective employers and academic programs, the School of Social Work provides only the following information: dates of enrollment, date of degree award, and concentration. This limitation complies with current legislation regarding individual rights and privacy. Candidates and graduates seeking personal references should arrange to have such requests forwarded directly to individuals (i.e., academic advisor, classroom instructor, field instructor, etc.). Personal references are those that deal with character, quality of performance, and potential for practice and academic endeavors. Transcripts are available by request to the Office of the Registrar - Transcripts.
Opportunities for involvement in the School of Social Work exist for graduate students through participation in the School's self-governance committees. Students are represented on the Social Work Promotion and Tenure Committee, Faculty Recruitment Committee, the MSW Program Committee, and the BSSW Program Committee. More information is available from the Online MSW Program Director, MSW Program Director and Department Chair/Director.
Matriculated graduate students enrolled in the 60-credit hour Online MSW program may petition to transfer previously earned graduate credit consistent with policies of the School of Social Work as specified in Appendix A and the university Academic Rules and Regulations. Students enrolled in the Advanced Standing Program may not transfer graduate credit from other institutions.
Syracuse University policies prescribing student rights and obligations are presented in "University Rules and Regulations" located in the Graduate Course Catalog online.
If it becomes necessary for the student to leave the University before completing your degree requirements, you must file for an official leave of absence, whether or not you intend to return to SU. If you register but then leave without notifying the University, you will continue to incur tuition, and other changes. On your transcript, course registrations will remain, and any grades or grading symbols submitted by your instructors will appear. If you fail to register at all, the notation of “Discontinuation – no attendance” will appear on your transcript. Discontinued students must follow formal readmission procedures. Leave of absence requests are not retroactive. Leaves taken after the withdrawal deadline but before the end of the semester result in F grades for all classes. If the leave is taken after the end of the semester, the classes are graded normally for the semester. Students may take a leave of absence from the Online MSW Program for the period of one (1) year.
To initiate the leave of absence process students should contact Laura Brown, Assistant Director of Online Operations, Falk Online & Distance Education. Leaves of absence must be signed and approved by the department.
A leave of absence that is taken for medical reasons will require clearance from the Student Outreach and Retention before the student may return.
All students returning from a leave of absence must contact Laura Brown, Assistant Director of Online Operations, Falk Online & Distance Education in writing to request permission to re-enroll. Permission to re-enroll is not granted automatically. The student's record and the conditions surrounding the student's earlier departure from the university will be reviewed by the Online MSW Program Director of the School of Social Work to assist in the decision to allow the student to re-enroll.
Important Notes:
Graduate students are expected to prepare all written papers consistent with the most recent version of the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association. Additional assistance can be found through links on the Syracuse University Library website.
Students in the Online MSW program may transfer a maximum of 12 credits from graduate institutions other than a CSWE accredited school of social work. They may transfer up to 30 credits from a CSWE accredited school of social work. No more than 30 credits may be transferred in. All credit applied toward the graduate degree must be completed within the seven years preceding the student's graduation date (under exceptional circumstances courses older than seven years may be petitioned in). All courses must be at the graduate level, be considered appropriate for the student's program of study, and a grade of B or better must be earned (transcript must be provided).
MSW students who are planning to transfer graduate credits from other institutions must follow the procedures outlined below. No credit is granted for life experience. The School of Social Work has developed its own policy about the transfer of courses taken online (see below). Students in the Advanced Standing Program may not transfer any credits from other institutions toward the MSW.
Students petitioning for transfer credit to meet a required course should be aware that the review ordinarily requires evidence, beyond the transcript, that clarifies the substance of the course (e.g., course outline, papers or exams, catalog description, etc.). Such information is often necessary to render a reasonable judgment on equivalence of content. All student forms can be found on the Office of the Registrar - Student Forms.
Students are required to complete a petition requesting permission to complete the course at another graduate institution. The petition must include clear and specific information about the course to be completed and how that credit is to be used in the student's program of study. (See Item # 2 above).
Students are not permitted to bring visitors (friends, spouses, partners, children, clients, etc.) to class sessions. Clinical cases may be discussed and/or students may disclose sensitive or confidential information about clients or themselves during class discussions. Social Work students have a code of professional conduct that is reviewed during orientation and is available online on the Code of Student Contact page. There is a mechanism in place for sanctioning students if they violate professional behavior in any way. Interpreters, medical providers, and other such assistants are expected to behave within the school's professional code of conduct and are only permitted to participate in class discussions with permission of the instructor.
I. General Principles for Academic Progress and Professional Behavior
Social Work students have a code of professional conduct that is reviewed during orientation and is available online on the Code of Student Conduct page. There is a mechanism in place for sanctioning students if they violate professional behavior in any way. Academic performance relates both to grades and to personal qualities including values and interpersonal skills that demonstrate the potential for effectively working with clients in the field placement component of the MSW degree program. The School of Social Work embraces its ethical responsibility to protect clients from harm. In the field placement, the importance of the student-client relationship supersedes that of classroom performance. Unethical, threatening, or otherwise unprofessional conduct will be closely examined. The School of Social Work retains the right to take academic disciplinary action in accordance with the procedures described in this statement when the student's behavior indicates an inability to effectively communicate and to develop the type of interpersonal relationships that are required in social work practice.
The formal process for handling such concerns will observe the following principles: (Note the established time frames in the letter that you receive.)
II. Criteria for Determining Student Standing
The criteria for determining student standing in the graduate program may include:
III. Standards for Student Standing
Student standing in the MSW program will be determined through application of the following standards:
Good standing: Cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 and P for all field instruction registrations to date
Probation: Cumulative GPA less than 3.0, or I for any field instruction registration to date; or poor interpersonal skills, unethical, threatening or otherwise unprofessional conduct
Dismissal: Probationary status for two consecutive semesters; or F for any field instruction registration; or unacceptable interpersonal skills, unethical, threatening or otherwise unprofessional conduct
IV. General Procedures for Identification of Concerns with Academic or Professional Conduct
V. Role of the Academic Progress and Professional Behavior Review Board
The School of Social Work Academic and Professional Review Board of the School of Social Work via The School of Social Work policy for academic progress and professional behavior addresses two distinct areas of student academic standing:
Thus, the Academic and Professional Review Board of the School of Social Work has two purposes:
VI. Convening the Academic and Professional Review Board of the School of Social Work
2. A member of the faculty or School administration submits a written request for a review based upon a student's unprofessional conduct or inadequate professional performance.
VII. Composition of Academic and Professional Review Board of the School of Social Work
The Academic and Professional Review Board of the School of Social Work shall be comprised of three voting members, consisting of two full time faculty and one full time professional field staff. All voting members serve on the Academic and Professional Review Board of the School of Social Work in rotation. In instances where any member of the Academic and Professional Review Board of the School of Social Work has direct involvement in the circumstances of the case or other conflict of interest, that member shall recuse themself and the Director of the School shall arrange for a substitute for that review.
VIII. Practices of the Academic and Professional Review Board of the School of Social Work
11. The Academic and Professional Review Board of the School of Social Work shall convey its written recommendation (including the plan for meeting program requirements where continued enrollment is permitted) to the Director of the School and the MSW Program Director.
12. The recommendations of the Academic and Professional Review Board of the School of Social Work are advisory to the Director of the School of Social Work. Decisions by the Director of the School of Social Work are final and exhaust review options in the School of Social Work. Other avenues of appeal may be available through the Grievance Procedures of Falk College or the University Judicial System.
13. The MSW degree will not be conferred upon students who do not have a final minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 and are not in good standing regarding professional behavior. The student must be aware that they bear the risk and responsibility for the financial investment involved when continuing to pursue the MSW degree despite concerns regarding academic standing.
IX. Issues Not Resolved by the Academic and Professional Review Board of the School of Social Work
The Academic and Professional Review Board of the School of Social Work will not hear the following:
University, College, and School Policies for Conduct and Grievance
Formal disciplinary and grievance procedures exist at both the College and University level for handling allegations of academic dishonesty or violation of other university policies. The document, "Falk College Grievance Policies and Procedures," issued by the Falk College, explains where different types of allegations are heard. The kinds of issues covered by University-wide offices outside of the School of Social Work and the College include accusations of sexual or racial harassment and violations of the Student Code of Conduct. The College Grievance Committee is responsible for appeals of a grade, or of sanctions imposed by units within the College regarding academic dishonesty and unprofessional conduct. Additionally, the College Grievance Committee may adjudicate complaints involving academic dishonesty and unfair academic treatment of a student that come to it directly. The College grievance policy and procedures can be obtained from the Falk College Student Rights, Academic Integrity & Grievance Policies page.
Student behaviors consistent with professional standards in human services professions are expected within the academic area and clinical or field practicum. Each department within Falk College has its own statement of professional standards of behavior to which students are expected to conform. Procedures within each school or academic program are spelled out for the first response to allegations of professional misconduct. The College Grievance committee may hear an appeal of the School or Department formal action.
Violations of professional standards and integrity include, but are not limited to, the following behaviors: 1) entry into clinical/field placement before completion of clinical clearance and faculty approval, 2) violation of confidentiality, 3) breach of civil/courteous behavior, 4) failure to maintain drug and alcohol sobriety, 5) failure to practice safe and professional actions in clinical/field placement settings, 6) failure to be punctual and/or provide timely notifications of absence from clinical/field placement due to illness, and 7) failure to follow agency standards of dress, language and institutional policies. Students engaged in research are expected to comply with all policies set by the Institutional Review Board and the provisions of the academic integrity policy.
Students in the School of Social Work who wish to file a grievance in accordance with Grievance Types Handled by the College Grievance Committee within 2 weeks (14 business days) following notice of a decision or action made by the School of Social Work, a student wishing to appeal this decision should do the following:
2022 Educational Policy and Accreditation Standards for Baccalaureate and Master's Social Work Programs
Copyright © 2022, Council on Social Work Education (CSWE), Inc. All rights reserved.
Approved by the 1996 NASW Delegate Assembly and revised by the 2017 NASW Delegate Assembly
The[ NASW Code of Ethics|https://www.socialworkers.org/About/Ethics/Code-of-Ethics/Code-of-Ethics-English] is intended to serve as a guide to the everyday professional conduct of social workers. This Code includes four sections:
Academic advising is a shared responsibility between the student and the Online MSW Program Director and/or academic advisor. Although the student is charged with taking leadership in managing his /her academic path, the Online MSW Director and/or academic advisor provides the consultation and guidance necessary to foster the professional development of the student.
The advisor aids the student in the selection of courses (see Program of Study/Record of Student Progress) in the registration in meeting degree certification requirements, and in assessing professional interests and development. Students are strongly encouraged to meet with their advisors before registering for courses each semester in order to best understand the course offerings and progress towards degree completion.
In all cases regarding course registration, the student comes prepared with the necessary information to address the purpose of the advising meeting. The following steps should be taken if problems arise and the student seeks assistance from their advisor.
Student identifies a question or concern:
Possible resolutions include:
The online Part-Time Master of Social Work program features the same curriculum content as our on-campus program. Our dedicated admissions counselors can help you determine which path of study you should pursue based on your social work background. Please find the Sample Course Sequence for both Traditional and Advanced Standing here.