School of Social Work

Return to: Academic Departments and Programs

Lloyd P. Gestoso, DSW, Dean

Professor

Juliet J. Campbell-Farrell, PhD
Lawrence E. Ressler, PhD, Director, Master of Social Work Program
Janet T. Tyler, PhD, Director of Field Instruction

Assistant Professor

Meghan Krouse, MSW, Field Director, Master of Social Work Program
 

The School

Social work is one of the most versatile of the professional helping disciplines, spanning all fields involving people in need. Social workers counsel, advocate, facilitate, negotiate, innovate, defend, and empower the people who are served. The social work profession is for those who seek to apply God’s commands to love and seek justice for their neighbors. The School of Social Work has both a BSW program which is fully accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) and an MSW which is currently in pre-candidacy status.

The Cairn MSW program focuses on individual and family practice. The MSW prepares students for direct practice including clinical practice in agencies and private practice, as well as more traditional work in social services, both public and private, including church-related.

Cairn University was the first biblical institution to develop a Social Work program that offered Bible training combined with professional social work. The program was begun by Dr. Charles Furness in 1965. It was a groundbreaking initiative to produce credentialed professionals whose education was founded on the Word of God.

Dr. Furness had a passion for ministry to the poor and underserved, and a vision to integrate social responsibility with biblical education. His goal was to produce competent graduates who would impact social and spiritual change within churches and society. Of particular concern was the need for credentialed professionals to serve in sectarian social work agencies. This vision was shared by the University administration and board. The social work program was subsequently launched in the fall of 1965.

Cairn University has been committed to high professional standards and academic excellence from the outset. This is especially evident in the affiliation that the School of Social Work has had with CSWE. The social work program at Cairn began its association with CSWE in 1968 as an approved member, just a few years after the Bachelor of Social Work was approved as a major. When CSWE accreditation was extended to undergraduate programs, the Cairn social work program was one of the first to apply, receiving accredited status in 1974. The BSW accreditation has been in place since then with the most recent reaffirmation being granted in 2018 for eight years.

The decision to begin an MSW was initiated in 2018. The application for CSWE accreditation was submitted in February of 2020, placing the program in pre-candidacy status. Students who enter the program in 2020 will be recognized as attending a program in candidacy status if that status is attained during the 2020-2021 academic year. If accreditation is granted during what is typically a three year process, the accreditation will be retroactive to Fall 2020.

The Program

Mission Statement and Distinctives

Based on a foundational belief that each person is created in the image of God and motivated by a commitment to holistic human reconciliation, the Cairn MSW program prepares advanced level social workers for evidence-based, grace-driven, relationship-focused practice with individuals and families in a variety of contexts.

The mission statement has identified its signature elements as evidence-based, grace-driven, and relationship-focused practice. While the program introduces students to a variety of advanced practice theories, frameworks, and skills, it has identified these elements as cornerstone concepts in the program.

The specialization for the program is direct practice with individuals and families. The program aims to prepare students for practice in a variety of contexts including, but not limited to, clinical settings. The program provides a broad foundation as well, including community and organizational knowledge and skills that are important components of the person-in-environment, ecological systems framework that is central to the social work perspective.

Program Design

The Master of Social Work program is divided into two levels: the General Practice Curriculum and the Specialization Curriculum. The General Practice level prepares students with broad knowledge and skills to work with individuals, families, groups, communities, and organizations in a variety of contexts. The Specialization level provides students with advanced knowledge and skills to enable them to work with individuals and families in a variety of contexts and direct practice roles, including clinical work and more traditional social work roles. The MSW prepares students to be licensed in all 50 US states.

Social Work Advanced Standing is offered to students who have graduated from a CSWE-accredited Bachelor of Social Work program and have demonstrated an understanding of Generalist Practice through both course and field work. The Social Work Advanced Standing student move directly to the Specialization Practice level following the completion of the Advanced Standing Orientation.

Competencies

The Cairn MSW has identified nine key practice competencies which shape the curriculum and the 900 required field experience hours. The competencies include:

• The ability to engage individuals and families at the advanced level and with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities at the foundational level;
• The ability to conduct multi-dimensional assessments with individuals and families at the advanced level and with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities at the foundational level;
• The ability to intervene with individuals and families at the advanced level and with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities at the foundational level;
• The ability to evaluate progress with individuals and families at the advanced level and with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities at the foundational level;
• The ability to demonstrate ethical and professional behavior including ethical decision making, professional practice, appropriate personal behavior, and to use emerging technologies being used in professional practice;
• The ability to engage diversity and difference constructively in practice;
• The ability to advance human rights and social, economic, and environmental justice in the context of practice;
• The ability to engage in practice-informed research and research-informed practice;
• The ability to engage in policy practice and advocacy with individuals and families at the advanced level and with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities at the foundational level.

Curriculum Structure

The MSW program is a 28-month program. It includes a Generalist Practice Curriculum and a Specialization Practice Curriculum. The Generalist Practice Curriculum is offered in the first 14 months and the Specialization Practice Curriculum is offered in the second 14 months. Social Work Advanced Standing students begin in the fall semester and then take the Specialization Curriculum following the Advanced Standing course. The recommended schedule is presented below.

Full Program

Year 1

Fall session 2
SWK 602 Human Behavior and the Social Environment (3 cr) (Generalist Course)
SWK 621 Foundation Practicum I (2 cr) (160 hrs) (Generalist Course)

Spring session 1
SWK 612 Foundation Practice with Individuals, Families, and Groups (3 cr) (Generalist Course)
SWK 622 Foundation Practicum II (2 cr) (112 hrs) (Generalist Course)

Spring session 2
SWK 613 Foundation Practice with Organizations and Communities (3 cr) (Generalist Course)
SWK 623 Foundation Practicum III (2 cr) (128 hrs) (Generalist Course)

Summer
SWK 603 Diversity, Oppression, and Empowerment (3 cr) (Generalist Course)

Year 2

Fall session 1
SWK 604 Social Research (3 cr) (Generalist Course)
SWK 605 Social Policy and Advocacy (3 cr) (Generalist Course)

Fall session 2
SWK 711 Multidimensional Assessment of Psychopathology (3 cr) (Specialization Course)
SWK 721 Advanced Practicum I (2 cr) (200 hrs) (Specialization Course)
SWK 731 Advanced Practice Research I (1 cr) (Specialization Course)

Spring session 1
SWK 712 Advanced Practice Theories with Individuals and Families (3 cr) (Specialization Course)
SWK 722 Advanced Practicum II (2 cr) (140 hrs) (Specialization Course)
SWK 732 Advanced Practice Research II (1 cr) (Specialization Course)

Spring session 2
SWK 713 Advanced Practice Interventions with Individuals and Families (3 cr) (Specialization Course)
SWK 723 Advanced Practicum III (2 cr) (160 hrs) (Specialization Course)
SWK 733 Advanced Practice Research III (1 cr) (Specialization Course)

Summer
THE 601 Overview of Christian Theology (3 cr) (Bible/Theology Course)

Year 3

Fall session 1
SWK 705 Individual and Family Practice Policy (3 cr) (Specialization Course)
SWK 781 Special Topics Elective (3 cr) (Specialization Course)

Fall session 2
SWK 791 MSW Capstone (3 cr) (Specialization Course)
Bible/Theology Elective (3 cr) (Bible/Theology Course)

Social Work Advanced Standing Option

Students graduating from CSWE accredited baccalaureate programs or those recognized through CSWE’s International Social Work Degree Recognition and Service, and programs covered under a memorandum of understanding with international social work accreditors are eligible to apply for Social Work Advanced Standing. The Social Work Advanced Standing option is below.

Year 1

Fall session 1
SWK 700 Advanced Standing Orientation (3 cr) (Advanced Standing Course)

Fall session 2
SWK 711 Multidimensional Assessment of Psychopathology (3 cr) (Specialization Course)
SWK 721 Advanced Practicum I (2 cr) (200 hrs) (Specialization Course)
SWK 731 Advanced Practice Research I (1 cr) (Specialization Course)

Spring session 1
SWK 712 Advanced Practice Theories with Individuals and Families (3 cr) (Specialization Course)
SWK 722 Advanced Practicum II (2 cr) (140 hrs) (Specialization Course)
SWK 732 Advanced Practice Research II (1 cr) (Specialization Course)

Spring session 2
SWK 713 Advanced Practice Interventions with Individuals and Families (3 cr) (Specialization Course)
SWK 723 Advanced Practicum III (2 cr) (160 hrs) (Specialization Course)
SWK 733 Advanced Practice Research III (1 cr) (Specialization Course)

Summer
THE 601 Overview of Christian Theology (3 cr) (Bible/Theology Course)

Year 2

Fall session 1
SWK 705 Individual and Family Practice Policy (3 cr) (Specialization Course)
SWK 781 Special Topics Elective (3 cr) (Specialization Course)

Fall session 2
SWK 791 MSW Capstone (3 cr) (Specialization Course)
Bible/Theology Elective (3 cr) (Bible/Theology Course)

Field Instruction

The field experience takes place from mid-October to mid-May in both the Generalist and Specialization years. The field experience in the Generalist year requires 16 hours a week for 25 weeks for a minimum of 400 hours. In the Specialization year, students are required to be involved in a practicum for 20 hours a week for 25 weeks for a minimum of 500 hours.

Generalist Practice Field Experience

The field experience in the Generalist Practice year is to be focused on providing opportunities to develop generalist practice knowledge, values, and skills. The experiences in the Generalist Practice field experience are to be diverse in an effort to provide opportunities to engage in practice at micro, mezzo, and macro levels. Efforts should be made to practice a range of intervention methods with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities. Where the breadth of opportunities do not exist within the agency, arrangements should be made to augment the agency experience with additional experiences.

Specialization Field Experience

The field experience in the Specialization year is to be focused on providing opportunities to develop practice knowledge, values, and skills with individuals and families. The types of opportunities will vary by the context of the agency, but significant interaction with individuals and families is expected.

Related Program Information

Accreditation

The BSW program started in 1965, and in 1974, Cairn was among the first schools accredited on the baccalaureate level by the Council on Social Work Education. CSWE is the national accrediting agency for both graduate and undergraduate programs. The BSW program has retained its accreditation since 1974. The MSW program applied for CSWE accreditation in February 2020 and is currently in pre-candidacy status.

Licensure

Graduates of the Bachelor of Social Work program are eligible to sit for the baccalaureate voluntary license exam in the state of Pennsylvania. A similar baccalaureate license is available in 36 other states. This credential is an additional demonstration of the significance of the profession of social work to society.

When accredited, graduates of the MSW program will be eligible to be licensed at the advanced social work levels in all 50 US states.

Return to: Academic Departments and Programs