Social Work

College of Health and Social Sciences

Interim Dean: Dr. Andreana Clay

School of Social Work

HSS 222
Phone: (415) 338-1003
Email: socwork@sfsu.edu
Director Dr. Sonja Lenz-Rashid
LCSW #20672   
srlenz@sfsu.edu

Title IV-E Child Welfare Training Program

Lucy Fuentes, Project Coordinator lfuentes@sfsu.edu
Sonja Lenz-Rashid, Principal Investigator srlenz@sfsu.edu

BHWET Integrated Behavioral Health Grant

Sandy Vaughn, Project Coordinator svaughn@sfsu.edu
Sonja Lenz-Rashid, Principal Investigator srlenz@sfsu.edu

Pupil Personnel Services Credential 

Sandy Vaughn, Coordinator svaughn@sfsu.edu

Internship Coordinator

Gabriela Fischer gfischer@sfsu.edu

Social Work Programs

Accreditation

The Bachelor of Arts in Social Work (BASW) and the Master of Social Work (MSW) programs at San Francisco State University are fully accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE).

Purpose

The purpose of the School of Social Work is to provide an education to social workers who deliver culturally competent and multiculturally relevant services to diverse populations. The focus is on educating students to open access and become effective service providers to people who have been historically under-served and under-represented. To meet this purpose, the School offers 2 degrees: BASW and MSW.

Mission

The mission of the San Francisco State University School of Social Work is to educate diverse learners to achieve progressive development and promote social change throughout the Bay Area and beyond. The School cultivates ethical leadership for social justice and promotes professional advocacy, versatility, activism, and cultural humility.

Program Learning Outcomes and Core Competencies

The Bachelor of Arts in Social Work (BASW) curriculum gives students a solid grounding in generalist social work practice through mastery of the nine competencies developed by the Council on Social Work Education’s Educational Policy and Accreditation Standards (EPAS, 2015). Upon completion of the degree, students are prepared for a broad range of early career professional social work positions. After completing all general education requirements and prerequisites, students are admitted as upper-division students with junior-level standing. Students are admitted in the fall semester only and are cohorted to meet all social work requirements during their junior and senior years. It takes four semesters or two years of full-time study during the academic year to complete the BASW Program.

The Master of Social Work (MSW) curriculum prepares its graduates for advanced practice through mastery of the core competencies supplemented by knowledge and behaviors specific to advanced social work practice and advanced social work competencies. Only a full-time program is offered. The program requires four academic semesters or two years of full-time study to complete.

Competency-based social work education is an outcome performance approach to the curriculum and includes measurable behaviors for each competency that are comprised of knowledge, values, skills, and affective and cognitive processes. Our program learning outcomes are to teach students to demonstrate the integration and application of social work competencies in practice with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities. The nine core competencies for the BASW and MSW programs, developed by the accrediting body the Council on Social Work Education (EPAS, 2015), are as follows:

  1. Demonstrate ethical and professional behavior.
  2. Engage diversity and difference in practice. 
  3. Advance human rights and social, economic, and environmental justice. 
  4. Engage in practice-informed research and research-informed practice. 
  5. Engage in policy practice. 
  6. Engage with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities. 
  7. Assess with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities. 
  8. Intervene with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities. 
  9. Evaluate with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities. 

Career Outlook

Students who complete the baccalaureate social work major are prepared for graduate study in accredited schools of social work and social welfare; professional or graduate training in related fields such as law, public administration, public health, and psychology; and for early-level professional positions in both public and private social welfare and social service agencies.

Examples of these agencies include local departments of social services; hospitals; youth care facilities; community-based treatment agencies; community mental health facilities; child care programs; services for the aged; drug and alcohol treatment programs; family service agencies; and community, neighborhood, and advocacy organizations. The major provides students with an opportunity to apply social science theories and social work knowledge and skills in a comprehensive internship placement during their senior year.

Graduates of the Master of Social Work program are prepared for advanced level professional positions in both public and private social service agencies and community organizations. Subject to the laws of the State of California, MSW graduates are eligible to take the examination to become a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) two years after graduation. They are also eligible to take social work licensing examinations in other states. In addition, to prepare for advanced level professional practice, MSW graduates can go on to doctoral programs in social work/social welfare and related fields such as public policy, public health, gerontology, psychology, education, and law. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (2021), employment opportunities for the profession of social work is expected to grow by 12 percent between 2021 and 2030. This is a faster growth rate than the average for all occupations.

Professor

Rashmi Gupta (2006), Professor in Social Work. Ph.D. University of Texas, Arlington.

Susanna Jones (2016), Professor in Social Work. Ph.D. City University of New York, Graduate Center.

Yeon-Shim Lee (2005), Professor in Social Work. Ph.D. Columbia University.

Sonja Lenz-Rashid (2003), Professor in Social Work. Ph.D. University of California, Berkeley.

Rita Takahashi (1989), Professor in Social Work. M.P.I.A., Ph.D. University of Pittsburgh.

Associate Professor

Jocelyn Hermoso (2006), Associate Professor in Social Work. Ph.D. The Catholic University of America.

Assistant Professor

Erica Bosque (2023), Assistant Professor in Social Work. Ed.D. San Francisco State University.

Lecturers

Beverly Green, MSW

Marsha Anne Luster

Sonia Melara, MSW

Sandy Vaughn, MSW, LCSW, PPSC

Ricka White-Soso, MSW, LCSW

Major

Masters

Explanation of Course Descriptions, Symbols, and Terms

S W 300 U.S. Social Welfare: Past, Present, and Future (Units: 3)

Prerequisites: Restricted to upper-division Social Work majors; successful completion of introductory courses in human biology, economics, psychology, or sociology; or consent of the instructor.

Welfare institution viewed as societal responses to certain social needs. Social work profession and its involvement in the delivery of welfare services.

S W 301GW U.S. Social Welfare II: Problems, Policies, and Programs - GWAR (Units: 3)

Prerequisites: Restricted to upper-division Social Work majors; GE Area A2; S W 300; or permission of the instructor.

Social problems in relation to policies and programs that determine available services. Input of government, voluntary associations, and consumer groups. (ABC/NC only)

Course Attributes:

  • Graduation Writing Assessment

S W 302 Introduction to Social Service Organizations (Units: 3)

Prerequisites: Restricted to upper-division Social Work majors; successful completion of introductory courses in human biology and economics.

Function, structure, and activities of social service organizations in a multi-racial, multi-ethnic urban environment. Lecture, 2 units; laboratory, 1 unit. (Plus-minus letter grade only)

S W 350 Services to Children, Youth, and Their Families (Units: 3)

Prerequisite: Upper-division standing or consent of the instructor.

Policies, programs, and practices impacting services to children, youth, and their families. Public child welfare at state, national, and international levels.

S W 352 Gender, Sexism, and Social Welfare (Units: 3)

Prerequisite: Restricted to upper-division Social Work majors.

Sex role stereotyping in the policies, practices, and organization of social welfare institutions; practice of social workers.

S W 400 Social Work Practice I (Units: 3)

Prerequisites: Restricted to upper-division Social Work majors; concurrent enrollment in S W 300.

Seminar in the systems with which the practitioner must deal and the changing nature of the practitioner's relationships with each of these systems.

S W 401 Social Work Practice II (Units: 3)

Prerequisites: Restricted to upper-division Social Work majors; S W 400.

Forming, maintaining, and coordinating action systems; differential ways of influencing systems in various phases of the change process; terminating change efforts.

S W 402 Interviewing Skills in Social Work (Units: 3)

Prerequisites: Restricted to upper-division Social Work majors; S W 400.

Interviewing skills required of a social worker. Intake, informational, assessment, and interviews with families or groups.

S W 410 Human Development and the Social Services (Units: 3)

Prerequisite: Restricted to upper-division Social Work majors.

Relation of human development and behavior from conception through old age to the functions of social service agencies in dealing with life crises.

S W 450 Introduction to Research in Social Work (Units: 3)

Prerequisites: Restricted to upper-division Social Work majors; S W 301GW or S W 401; or permission of the instructor.

The scientific method and its application to social work and the practitioner as consumer and contributor to social research. [CSL may be available]

S W 456 Urban Community Organizing and Citizen Action (Units: 3)

Prerequisites: Restricted to upper-division Social Work and Urban Studies and Planning majors; S W 400, S W 401, S W 402; or permission of the instructor.

History and current developments in community organization in the city. Principles and strategies of developing citizen action organizations. Role of community organizing and citizen participation in urban social programs.
(This course is offered as S W 456 and USP 456. Students may not repeat the course under an alternate prefix.)

S W 470 Social Differences and Social Work Practice (Units: 3)

Prerequisites: S W 300, S W 400.

Class, ethnicity, age, culture, religion, and disability, and their relationship to social work. Development of skills to work with populations different from oneself.

S W 502 Seminar on Internship Experience I (Unit: 1)

Prerequisites: Restricted to upper-division Social Work majors; all junior year Social Work courses; concurrent enrollment in S W 503.

Analysis of internship experiences utilizing social work theory and behavioral science concepts. Activity. (Plus-minus letter grade only)

S W 503 Field Experience in the Social Services I (Units: 2)

Prerequisites: Restricted to upper-division Social Work majors; all junior year Social Work courses; concurrent enrollment in S W 502; permission of the field director.

Field experience in a community social agency. May be repeated for a total of 6 units. (CR/NC only)

S W 504 Seminar on Field Experience II (Unit: 1)

Prerequisites: Restricted to upper-division Social Work majors; all junior year Social Work courses; S W 502, S W 503; concurrent enrollment in S W 505.

Analysis of field experiences utilizing behavioral concepts. Activity. (Plus-minus letter grade only)

S W 505 Field Experience in the Social Services II (Units: 2)

Prerequisites: Restricted to upper-division Social Work majors; all junior year Social Work courses; S W 502, S W 503; concurrent enrollment in S W 504; and permission of the field director.

Field experience in a community social agency. (CR/NC only)

S W 699 Independent Study (Units: 1-3)

Prerequisite: Social Work majors or permission of the instructor.

Supervised study of a particular problem selected by the student in consultation with the advisor.

S W 700 History and Philosophy of Social Welfare (Units: 3)

Prerequisite: Restricted to graduate students in Social Work program.

History of social welfare policies and services in the U.S. Political, economic, social, legal, and cultural contexts of social policy analyzed in terms of future implications. Applications to and implications for diversity.

S W 701 Social Policy Analysis (Units: 3)

Prerequisites: Restricted to graduate students in Social Work program; S W 700.

Models and frameworks to analyze social policy. New policy/program directions and action plans.

S W 710 Human Behavior and the Social Environment (Units: 3)

Prerequisite: Restricted to graduate students in Social Work program.

Human development and social services through the life cycle. Current social services and unserved needs identified at each stage of life with emphasis on oppressed groups.

S W 720 Research Methods in Social Work (Units: 3)

Prerequisites: Restricted to graduate students in Social Work program; S W 450 or equivalent; completion of first semester of graduate Social Work program.

Role of research in the development of social work theory and practice. Methods of data collection, processing, and analysis.

S W 721 Seminar: Evaluative Research in Social Work (Units: 3)

Prerequisites: Restricted to graduate students in Social Work program; S W 720.

Design, execution, and analysis of evaluative research designs, methods, and strategies in social welfare.

S W 730 Social Work Practice Methods (Units: 3)

Prerequisite: Restricted to graduate students in Social Work program.

Concepts and processes of urban generalist practice. Development of skills relevant to the needs and aspirations of oppressed individuals, groups, and communities.

S W 740 Fieldwork Instruction (Units: 2-3)

Prerequisites: Restricted to graduate Social Work students; concurrent enrollment in S W 741; permission of the field director.

Introduction to fieldwork and the professional nature of social work practice. Orientation, referral, and placement of students into social service agencies. May be repeated for a total of 10 units. (CR/NC grading only)

S W 741 Graduate Fieldwork Seminar (Unit: 1)

Prerequisites: Restricted to graduate Social Work students; concurrent enrollment in S W 740.

Evaluative seminar to analyze field experiences. Conducted by faculty field liaison and with agency field supervisor input. May be repeated for a total of 4 units. Activity. (Plus-minus letter grade only)

S W 760 Social Work and the Law (Units: 3)

Prerequisite: Restricted to graduate students in Social Work program or permission of the instructor.

Social change through the judicial, legislative, and executive processes. (Plus-minus letter grade only)

S W 770 Ethnic and Cultural Concept and Principles I (Units: 3)

Prerequisite: Restricted to graduate students in Social Work program or permission of the instructor.

Principles, concepts, theories, and frameworks that address human diversity and affect the local, national, and international contexts of practice, especially as they relate to populations that have been historically disenfranchised, oppressed, under-served/represented, and marginalized. (Plus-minus letter grade only)

S W 780 Global Poverty (Units: 3)

Prerequisites: Restricted to graduate students in Social Work program; S W 770.

Examination of perspectives on causes of poverty and theoretical frameworks that inform anti-poverty programs; measures and indicators of poverty throughout the world. Application of a "poverty aware" approach to individual practice, and methods of using community organizing to design of anti-poverty programs. (Plus-minus letter grade only)

S W 810 Health, Illness, and Disordered Behavior (Units: 3)

Prerequisites: Restricted to graduate students in Social Work program; S W 710.

Seminar examining health, illness, disability, stress reactions, and psychopathology with implications for social work practice. (Plus-minus letter grade only)

S W 820 Seminar: Advanced Research Methodology in Social Work (Units: 3)

Prerequisites: Restricted to graduate students in Social Work program; S W 720.

Research applied to the design of projects: human subjects protocol and use of computers for research.

S W 830 Seminar: Social Casework (Units: 3)

Prerequisites: Restricted to graduate students in Social Work program; S W 730.

Methods of helping individuals cope with personal and social problems. (Plus-minus letter grade only)

S W 831 Seminar: Advanced Social Casework (Units: 3)

Prerequisites: Restricted to graduate students in Social Work program; S W 830.

Use of relationships and the formulations of psycho-social diagnosis; adaptation of the process to traditional and non-traditional social casework. (Plus-minus letter grade only)

S W 832 Seminar: Social Group Work (Units: 3)

Prerequisites: Restricted to graduate students in Social Work program; S W 730.

Small group behavior; social work interventions required for improving relationships within groups. (Plus-minus letter grade only)

S W 840 Wellness, Recovery and Psychosocial Rehabilitation in Social Work and Mental Health (Units: 3)

Prerequisites: Restricted to graduate students in Social Work program; S W 810 or mental health experience; and permission of the instructor.

Examination of concepts and practices of wellness, recovery, psychosocial rehabilitation and system transformation in community mental health. Critical review of diagnostic and treatment issues, disability, healing, and services throughout the lifespan. (Plus-minus letter grade only)

S W 843 Child Welfare Practice with Children and Families (Units: 3)

Prerequisite: Restricted to graduate students in Social Work program.

Public child welfare systems. Assessment and intervention with children who have been or are at risk of being abused or neglected, and their families. (Plus-minus letter grade only)

S W 855 Social Work Education, Professionalism, and Practice (Unit: 1)

Prerequisite: Concurrent enrollment in first-year Social Work foundation courses.

Social work education and practice; profession's code of ethics and values shaping the profession, including social justice and equity. Tools for research and practice include APA guides and cognitive levels. (CR/NC grading only)

S W 865 Social Work Practice in School Settings (Units: 3)

Prerequisites: Restricted to graduate Social Work students; S W 730; concurrent enrollment in S W 740 and S W 741.

Focus on school social work as part of an interdisciplinary approach to resolving school-related problems, and on social workers as facilitators and advocates in aiding students, families, schools, and communities to achieve educational goals.

S W 895 Research Projects in Social Work (Units: 3)

Prerequisites: Permission of the instructor and approval of Advancement to Candidacy (ATC) and Culminating Experience (CE) forms by Graduate Studies. ATC and Proposal for Culminating Experience Requirement forms must be approved by the Graduate Division before registration.

(CR/NC; RP grading only)

S W 898 Master's Thesis (Units: 3)

Prerequisite: Permission of the instructor and approval of Advancement to Candidacy (ATC) and Culminating Experience (CE) forms by Graduate Studies. ATC and Proposal for Culminating Experience Requirement forms must be approved by the Graduate Division before registration.

(CR/NC; RP grading only)

S W 899 Independent Study (Units: 1-3)

Prerequisite: Graduate student in Social Work program or permission of instructor.

An intensive study of a particular problem in social work under direction of a member of the social work faculty. Open only to students who have demonstrated ability to do independent work. Enrollment by petition.