Master’s of Social Work (MSW)
Empower Communities Through Culturally Responsive Social Work
Prepare to make a lasting impact by advocating for and supporting Hispanic children and families through culturally competent social work practices.
Scholarship
Master of Social Work (MSW)
Regular and Advanced Standing tracks. Eligible for the Providence Service Scholars award.
MSW Services to Hispanic Children and Family (Foundation Program)
MSW Services to Hispanic Children and Family (Advanced Standing Program)
Mission-Driven Education
Rooted in the Catholic tradition of service, social justice, and advocacy, empowering students to make meaningful contributions to communities.
Hands-On Learning Opportunities
Gain real-world experience through supervised practicums and internships at public and private social service agencies in your local community.
Flexible Program Options
Balance your education with personal and professional commitments through accelerated-track, standard-track, and fully online learning formats.
Join Our Program
The Master of Social Work (MSW) at Our Lady of the Lake University equips you with the skills, knowledge, and experience to create meaningful change in communities. With a focus on services to Hispanic children and families, this program provides specialized training to advocate for and support diverse populations through evidence-based social work practices.
Choose from two distinct program tracks:
- Foundation Program (57 credit hours) – Designed for students with a non-social work bachelor’s degree, this track provides essential coursework in generalist social work practice before progressing to advanced topics in working with Hispanic children and families.
- Advanced Standing Program (30 credit hours) – Tailored for students with a BSW from a CSWE-accredited program, this track offers an accelerated path to specialized coursework in clinical practice, policy, and research related to Hispanic children and families.
Through integrative seminars, advanced field education, and coursework in social policy and cultural competency, you’ll graduate prepared for leadership roles in social work, expanding access to vital resources and improving outcomes for the individuals and families you serve.
Military Student Benefits
As a Yellow Ribbon School, OLLU offers a 10% tuition discount for active military members and veterans. Online classes make it easier to balance education with your service.
Coursework
MSW Foundation Program
SOWK 6315 - Generalist Social Work Practice with Individuals, Families and Groups
Professional social work practice based on a social systems paradigm and social work values and ethics.
SOWK 6321 - Social Welfare Policy and Services
Examination of the history and current structures of social welfare services and the role of social work within those structures.
SOWK 6325 - Generalist Social Work Practice with Organizations and Communities
Application of generalist social work practice knowledge, skills, and values to professional intervention with organizations and communities.
SOWK 6328 - Professional Writing for Social Work
Study and practice of academic-level and Social Work-specific writing methods and document design, with research applications and development of general and specialized writing skills included.
SOWK 6331 - Human Behavior and the Social Environment: Social Systems
Examination of social systems theory as a framework for understanding human behavior in the social environment.
SOWK 6332 - Human Behavior and the Social Environment: Individuals and Families
Exploration of theories and knowledge of human bio-psycho-social development, focusing on individuals and families.
SOWK 6341 - Social Work Research I
Introduction to research methodologies applicable to social work, including both qualitative and quantitative approaches.
SOWK 6157 - Foundation Integrative Seminar I
Seminar designed to integrate foundation year coursework with field education experiences.
SOWK 6158 - Foundation Integrative Seminar II
Continuation of integration of foundation coursework with field experiences, emphasizing application of generalist practice principles.
SOWK 6159 - Foundation Integrative Seminar III
Further integration of foundation learning and field education, focusing on the development of professional competencies.
SOWK 8251 - Foundation Field Education I
Supervised field education experience providing practical application of foundational social work skills in a professional setting.
SOWK 8252 - Foundation Field Education II
Continuation of supervised field education, allowing for further development and refinement of generalist practice competencies.
SOWK 8253 - Foundation Field Education III
Further supervised field education experience providing practical application of foundational social work skills in a professional setting.
SOWK 6347 - Evaluation of Social Work Practice with Hispanic Children and Families
Application of formative and summative evaluation methods employed to determine the effectiveness of programs and interventions in working with Hispanic children and families.
SOWK 7332 - Social Work Practice with Hispanic Elders II
This course prepares students for social work practice with Hispanic elders, including culture, theory, engagement, assessment, interventions and evaluation.
SOWK 7334 - Social Work Practice: Hispanic Children and Families
This course prepares students for social work practice with Hispanic children and families, including theory, engagement, assessment, interventions and evaluation. This course will focus on theoretical frameworks and perspectives, research, practice and intervention strategies specific to social work practice when working with Hispanic children and families.
SOWK 7338 - Theories and Perspectives: Hispanic Children and Families
Critical analysis of theories and perspectives on Hispanic child and family development, functioning and interaction in the social context.
MSW Advanced Standing Program
SOWK 6328 - Professional Writing for Social Work
Study and practice of academic-level and Social Work-specific writing methods and document design, with research applications and development of general and specialized writing skills included.
SOWK 6347 - Evaluation of Social Work Practice with Hispanic Children and Families
Application of formative and summative evaluation methods employed to determine the effectiveness of programs and interventions in working with Hispanic children and families.
SOWK 7332 - Social Work Practice with Hispanic Elders
This course prepares students for social work practice with Hispanic elders, including culture, theory, engagement, assessment, interventions and evaluation.
SOWK 7334 - Social Work Practice: Hispanic Children and Families
This course prepares students for social work practice with Hispanic children and families, including theory, engagement, assessment, interventions and evaluation. This course will focus on theoretical frameworks and perspectives, research, practice and intervention strategies specific to social work practice when working with Hispanic children and families.
SOWK 7338 - Theories and Perspectives: Hispanic Children and Families
Critical analysis of theories and perspectives on Hispanic child and family development, functioning and interaction in the social context.
SOWK 7366 - Hispanics in the U.S.: Policies and Programs
Critical analysis of U.S. social policies and social welfare programs utilizing theories of power and oppression to understand issues of human rights, and social and economic justice impacting Hispanic children and families.
SOWK 7371 - Psychopathology
Study of basic concepts related to the development and assessment of abnormal behavior. Content focuses on major mental disorders, the diagnostic/assessment process and its application in a variety of settings, the use of assessment tools such as the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders.
SOWK 7157 - Advanced Integrative Seminar I
Seminar designed to ensure students integrate their required graduate social work coursework with the experiential learning in their field education internship. Provides opportunity for students to demonstrate attainment of core competencies. Concentration is social work practice with Hispanic children and families.
SOWK 7158 - Advanced Integrative Seminar II
Continuation of integrative learning, focusing on complex case analyses and application of advanced practice theories.
SOWK 7159 - Advanced Integrative Seminar III
Further integration of advanced social work concepts and practices through seminar discussions and projects.
SOWK 8255 - Advanced Social Work Field Education I
Field placements in human service organizations under the instruction and supervision of licensed master level social workers. Advanced social work practice with families and children, with emphasis on Hispanics.
SOWK 8256 - Advanced Social Work Field Education II
Continuation of supervised field education, allowing for further development and refinement of advanced practice competencies.
SOWK 8257 - Advanced Social Work Field Education III
Further supervised field education experience providing practical application of advanced social work skills in a professional setting.