School of Social Work

The School of Social Work, successor to the Division of Social Work in the Department of Sociology of the University, was founded in September 1938. The school shares with the University a commitment to the advancement of knowledge and applies that knowledge for the fulfillment of human potential through the prevention and amelioration of social problems. The school prepares social work students for competent professional practice and research, seeking to maximize human development, human dignity, social justice, and social equity for diverse populations. The school is dedicated to achieving excellence in scholarship through teaching, community service, research, and the dissemination of knowledge. Consistent with the University's mission to serve the metropolitan area, the school has special concern for the social issues associated with urbanization. The school views these elements of its mission as continuing its historic commitment to the elimination of human suffering and the provision of opportunities that maximize human capabilities. The goals of the school are to:

The school offers a full continuum of social work educational programs on the undergraduate, master's, and doctoral levels (as well as a continuing education program for practicing social workers). The school's bachelor's and master's programs in social work are accredited by the Council on Social Work Education, and graduates are eligible for full membership in the National Association of Social Workers.

Admissions

Admission to the Master of Social Work (MSW) and PhD Programs is for Fall Term (September) only. Applicants seeking full-time or part-time admission should submit the application far in advance of their expected entry into the program; all application materials are due no later than March 31 for the MSW Program and March 1 for the PhD Program of the year in which entry is expected. Applications are reviewed only upon receipt of all required materials. Application forms are available from:

Office Of Admissions

School of Social Work

2104 Cathedral Of Learning

University Of Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh, PA 15260

Phone: (412) 624-6302

E-mail: bpssw@pitt.edu

Web site: http://www.pitt.edu/~pittssw/

For more specifics on admissions requirements for the MSW or the PhD, consult the description of the relevant degree program.

Admission of Students from Other Countries

The School of Social Work welcomes applications from students in other countries whose credentials meet the requirements and the standards of the School of Social Work and the Office of lnternational Services of the University.

The application procedure for students from other countries is as follows:

1. Submission of applications to both the School of Social Work and the Office of International Services. A "Bulletin of Information for International Students" is available from the Office of International Services, William Pitt Union; University of Pittsburgh; Pittsburgh, PA 15260; (412) 624-7129.
2. Applicants must submit the completed application form, additional required forms, and other required materials in English.
3. Applicants must include a non-returnable application fee of $40 in the form of a check or money order made payable to the University of Pittsburgh.
4. Official academic credentials must be accompanied by notarized English translations, preferably by the U.S. Consulate.
5. Letters of recommendation are required, preferably from former professors, but if unavailable, from others who have had an opportunity to assess intellectual capacity, character, and ability. If originals are not in English, official notarized translations must accompany them.
6. English is the language of instruction at the University of Pittsburgh. Each applicant must show clear evidence of his or her proficiency in English. A student whose native language is not English should take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), which is administered four times a year (October, January, March, and June) at more than 100 centers around the world. An applicant must make arrangements to take the TOEFL at least five weeks in advance of the test dates. Locations may be obtained from the nearest United States Embassy, Consulate, or United States Information Service, or by writing directly to TOEFL, Educational Testing Service, Box 899, Princeton, NJ 08540, USA. Applicants seeking to enroll at the beginning of the academic year in September must take the TOEFL no later than the preceding March. Applicants must request Educational Testing Service to have the results of their tests sent directly to the University of Pittsburgh. A minimum score of 550 (or 213 on the computer-based test) is required for admission.

   All students with a TOEFL score of less than 650 should take the Michigan Test of English Proficiency upon arrival.

   If the examination results indicate additional language training is necessary, even though the applicant is academically admissible, he or she may be required to enroll in an Intensive English Language program at the University of Pittsburgh English Language Institute. (See page 11 for description of the English Language Institute.) In some situations the applicant may need only one or two courses in English, which may be taken along with academic courses. Enrollment in the English course is determined by additional testing administered by the English Language Institute. This applies only to those individuals who receive academic admission to the University of Pittsburgh.

7. Evidence of adequate financial resources for at least three terms of study at the University of Pittsburgh is a requirement that must be satisfied before the student visa form can be sent. The minimum financial requirement, in addition to the round-trip travel expenses, is estimated at approximately $25,000 for three terms. Financial support covering part of the student's tuition is occasionally available for students in the MSW program, but the major contribution will necessarily come from the student in every case. Unless formally committed by the school, no financial aid from the school should be anticipated in planning finances. Applicants who will be supported by other organizations, private funds, or a combination of University support and private funds will be required to submit certification of the non-University sources of support. Certification for such funds must be in the form of official or notarized statements from a bank or organization that adequate funds are available and transferable for these purposes.

   Upon completion of all academic and non-academic requirements and upon admission to the University of Pittsburgh, the International Student Adviser or the applicant's sponsoring organization will issue an appropriate U.S. Government form permitting issuance of a visa for entry into the United States. International students on student visas are prohibited by the United States Immigration Service from engaging in part-time employment during their first year in the United States.

   To facilitate the educational experience and to aid in the adjustment to the United States, the University offers the services of an International Student Advisor; Office of International Services, William Pitt Union; University of Pittsburgh; Pittsburgh, PA 15260.

   Students from foreign countries who are in need of financial help should consult the U.S. Consulate or obtain the following through a UNESCO agency: Study Abroad Interchange, 1963; United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization; Paris, France.

Financial Assistance

Students interested in financial assistance to meet tuition and/or living costs should direct inquiries to both the Office of Admissions of the School of Social Work and the University's Office of Admissions and Financial Aid.

Students should be advised that limited resources often preclude any one funding source from granting awards that meet total financial needs. As a result, students are strongly encouraged to seek financial aid packages consisting of partial awards (including loans and scholarships) from a variety of sources.

Office of Admissions and Financial Aid

Bruce Hall

University Of Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh, PA 15260

Phone: (412) 624-PITT

See also the University-wide information on Financial Aid.

School of Social Work Financial Aid Sources

Office of Admissions

Room 2104 Cathedral of Learning

School of Social Work

University of Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh, PA 15260

Phone: (412) 624-6302

Web site: http://www.pitt.edu/~pittssw

Applications for financial assistance are accepted only after an admissions decision has been made. Awards are made for a one-year period. New applications are required for each succeeding period.

Academic Standards

The School of Social Work's expectations for student and faculty conduct are described in school policies and embody the standards of professional social work. Students in the School of Social Work are required to adhere to the NASW Code of Ethics.

Academic Review Policy

The school maintains an academic review policy that applies to all degree students in the school and that seeks to insure qualitative standards of achievement (i.e., satisfactory performance in the field, satisfactory grades for academic course work, and reasonable rates of progress toward completion of degree requirements). The policy statement on academic review appears in the School of Social Work Student Handbook, which is given to all students at Orientation.

Academic Integrity Policy

The school also has an academic integrity policy that applies to all students and faculty members in the school and seeks to ensure that students and faculty members respect the ethical standards expected of them in the performance of their duties and responsibilities. The policy statement on academic integrity appears in the School of Social Work Student Handbook.

Leaves of Absence

Under special conditions, graduate degree candidates may be granted one leave of absence. A maximum leave of two years may be granted to doctoral candidates and a leave of one year may be granted to master's students. A formal request for a leave of absence must be submitted to and approved by the program director and the associate dean. If approved, the time of the leave shall not count against the total time allowed for the degree being sought by the student. Readmission following an approved leave of absence is a formality.

Statute of Limitations

There is a four-year limitation on the earning of the MSW degree. The four-year period is counted from the date of entry into the program for four full calendar years. Under extenuating circumstances (listed below), the adviser could recommend an extension of time to the program director and the associate dean. If approved, it would be recorded in the student's folder with the period of extension and the conditions of completion of the program clearly delineated. Extenuating circumstances include an extended illness of the student, the death of a close family member, or an extended personal emergency.

There is an eight-year statute of limitations for the completion of the PhD. Course work and the comprehensive examinations should be completed within five years, and the dissertation within three. Under exceptional circumstances, a candidate for the PhD program may apply for an extension of the statute of limitations. The request must be approved by the doctoral program director and the associate dean. Requests for an extension of the statute of limitations must be accompanied by a program assessment of the work required of the student to complete the degree as well as documented evidence of the extenuating circumstances leading to the requested extension. Students who request an extension of the statute of limitations must demonstrate proper preparation for the completion of all current degree requirements.

NASW Code of Ethics

Professional ethics are at the core of social work. The profession has an obligation to articulate its basic values, ethical principles, and ethical standards. The NASW Code of Ethics sets forth these values, principles, and standards to guide social workers' conduct. The Code is relevant to all social workers and social work students, regardless of their professional functions, the settings in which they work, or the populations they serve.

The NASW Code of Ethics serves six purposes:

1. The Code identifies core values on which social work's mission is based.
2. The Code summarizes broad ethical principles that reflect the profession's core values and establishes a set of specific ethical standards that should be used to guide social work practice.
3. The Code is designed to help social workers identify relevant considerations when professional obligations conflict with each other or when ethical uncertainties arise.
4. The Code provides ethical standards to which the general public can hold the social work profession accountable.
5. The Code socializes practitioners new to the field to social work's mission, values, ethical principles, and ethical standards.
6. The Code articulates standards that the social work profession itself can use to assess whether social workers have engaged in unethical conduct. NASW has formal procedures to adjudicate ethics complaints filed against its members. In subscribing to this Code, social workers are required to cooperate in its implementation, participate in NASW adjudication proceedings, and abide by any NASW disciplinary rulings or sanctions based on it.

The Code offers a set of values, principles, and standards to guide decision making and conduct when ethical issues arise. It does not provide a set of rules that prescribe how social workers should act in all situations. Specific applications of the Code must take into account the context in which it is being considered and the possibility of conflicts among the Code's values, principles, and standards. Ethical responsibilities flow from all human relationships, from the personal and familial to the social and professional. Social work students are required to comply with NASW Code of Ethics. Copies can be obtained from the NASW Web page at http://www.socialworkers.org/.

Advising and Placement

Students in both the MSW and PhD programs are assigned a faculty advisor at the beginning of their first semester. For MSW students, the faculty advisor's functions are:

1. To assist the student in designing an educational plan in course selection and field practica planning and to assist in registration during the three registration periods of the academic year.
2. To review the student's grade standing and to work closely with the field instructor in assigning the field work grade.
3. To provide consultation to the student on all matters relevant to his or her progress through the school.
4. To work collaboratively with the Office of Field Education to locate, or to serve as liaison to, field agencies within the concentration's sphere of interest.

In the PhD Program before the beginning of the first term, students are assigned a faculty advisor by the Doctoral Program Director. The doctoral student's advisor's functions are to:

1. Assist the student in designing an educational plan in course selection and to assist in the registration of the student.
2. Review a student's grades at the end of each term.
3. Provide consultation to the student on matters relevant to his or her progress through the school.
4. Annually meet with the student to assess the student's achievement in core courses and electives or to assess progress toward completion of the program.

Although PhD students are assigned faculty advisors, they are free to change faculty advisors if they so desire. To change advisors, the student must consult with the doctoral program director. When the chairperson of the dissertation committee is selected, that faculty member becomes the student's advisor.

The School of Social Work maintains a Career Placement Office that assists graduating students and alumni in their efforts to locate professional social work employment. There are, at times, summer and part-time work opportunities for students. The Placement Service Office is located in Room 2104 Cathedral of Learning (624-0074). All notice of jobs, announcement of recruiters, and related information will be placed in a loose-leaf notebook in the Placement Office and also posted on the bulletin board in the Student Lounge on the 22nd Floor. Students must make contact with the prospective employer directly for any additional information. Resume writing workshops and a resume bank are additional services provided by this office.

MSW and PhD Degree Requirements

The Master of Social Work (MSW) degree requires the satisfactory completion of a minimum of 58 credits—40 class and 18 field practicum. Candidates for the MSW degree must demonstrate successful completion of the required foundation courses, concentration-specific courses, and field practicum, and must have a minimum overall QPA of 3.00.

The PhD Program requires seven core courses, one policy elective, plus a minimum of six elective courses. Additionally, students must pass a Comprehensive Examination and successfully complete a dissertation. Students must have a minimum QPA of 3.00 in order to graduate.

Degree Options

In addition to the MSW and PhD degrees, graduate students in the School of Social Work have the opportunity to select from several unique dual degree programs. MSW students can avail themselves of one of the three joint or cooperative degree programs; two joint degree programs are available to PhD students.

MSW Joint and Cooperative Degree Programs

Detailed below are joint degree programs offered by the School of Social Work in tandem with the Graduate School of Public and International Affairs, the Pittsburgh Theological Seminary, and the Hebrew Union College School of Jewish Communal Service.

MSW/Master of Public Administration, MSW/Master of Public and International Affairs

Two innovative joint degree programs are offered by the School of Social Work and the Graduate School of Public and International Affairs (GSPIA). Students entering these programs can earn master's degrees from both the School of Social Work and GSPIA. In the School of Social Work, students would pursue the Community Organization and Social Administration (COSA) concentration. In GSPIA, students have the option of pursuing a Master of Public Administration or a Master of Public and International Affairs.

These joint programs offer students a broad educational program that prepares them for eventual employment in public sector, community organization, or human service agency administration; community development or social policy planning and analysis; and a host of other combinations of such service positions. The joint programs provide students with additional opportunities to expand their knowledge base and to develop more marketable professional skills than are usually acquired through single-degree programs.

Degree candidates must meet the minimum foundation, core, and specialized requirements of both schools, except where substitutions are appropriate and approved by the academic advisors. Depending upon which joint degree program the student elects, the total number of credits required for graduation ranges from 72 to 80 credits. For most students, this means that individual programs can be completed within six to seven terms of full-time residency. Students electing to terminate the joint degree program before its completion must
complete all the work required by the respective schools for either degree in order to receive that degree separately. Applications for admission are processed individually by each school.

Requests for further information concerning the Graduate School of Public and International Affairs may be addressed to Admissions, Registration, and Financial Aid in 3L03 Posvar Hall. (412-648-7640). See also the Graduate School of Public and International Affairs section.

Master of Social Work/Master of Divinity

Social work and theology have many historical, philosophical, and applied commonalties. In an effort to integrate the two educational experiences and prepare professionals competent to integrate their practice skills, the School of Social Work, in co-operation with the Pittsburgh Theological Seminary, has developed a cooperative degree program leading to the Master of Social Work and Master of Divinity degrees.

This program provides a full social work and theological education that may be completed in four years by virtue of mutual and reciprocal educational planning between the institutions. Candidates for the degrees normally enter the Seminary and concentrate on theological studies during the first two years of the program. The third and fourth years are spent primarily in the School of Social Work with approximately one course each term being taken at the Seminary. Students electing to terminate the cooperative degree program before its completion must complete all the work required by the respective institutions for either degree in order to receive that degree separately. Applications for admission are processed independently by each institution.

Requests for further information concerning the Pittsburgh Theological Seminary and its various programs may be addressed to the Director of Admissions, Pittsburgh Theological Seminary, 616 North Highland Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15206, or call (412) 362-5610, ext. 2116. The Seminary Web site is http://www.pts.edu/.

Master of Social Work/Master of Arts in Jewish Communal Service

The University of Pittsburgh School of Social Work and the Hebrew Union College School of Jewish Communal Service have collaborated in offering a cooperative degree program for the education of people interested in professional social work careers in Jewish communal service. Career opportunities for such professionally educated staff include homes for the aged, councils and federations, community centers, family and children's service agencies, vocational and employment services, Hillel foundations, hospitals, and residential treatment centers, among others.

The first year of the program is spent at the Los Angeles campus of Hebrew Union College, and the second year is offered at the University of Pittsburgh. Students completing both programs, which include class work and field work, earn the MSW and the MA. The provision of advanced standing and equivalencies makes it possible to earn both degrees within a 22-month period. Students electing to terminate the cooperative degree program before its completion must complete all the work required by the respective institutions for either degree in order to receive that degree separately. Applications for admission are processed independently by each school.

Requests for further information concerning the Hebrew Union College and its various programs may be addressed to the Office of Admissions, Hebrew Union College—Jewish Institute of Religion, 3077 University Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90007, or call (213) 749-3424.

PhD Joint Degree Programs

The School of Social Work offers two joint degree programs to PhD students: one leading to the MSW and the PhD and another with the Graduate School of Public Health. (Separate applications are required for either MSW or MPH admission).

Dual MSW-PhD Program

Each year, a small number of entering PhD students come into the doctoral program in social work with a master's degree in a field other than social work (e.g., sociology, psychology, urban affairs). Such students may be interested in earning a master's degree in social work for any number of reasons, such as:

• The desire to develop a richer background in social work practice than can be obtained solely in the doctoral program
• An interest in gaining some practice experience in social work, coupled with the theoretical underpinnings of substantive and skills-oriented courses, in preparation for a position in social work administration
• A career goal in social work research, wherein the researcher needs to be knowledgeable about and identified with the social work enterprise
• A career goal in social work education: teaching on the undergraduate and/or graduate level in social work

To accommodate these needs, a dual degree MSW/PhD program has been created. Students must apply and be admitted to each program.

Joint MPH-PhD Option

Students in the joint Master of Public Health/PhD program must be admitted to the Graduate School of Public Health as well as to the doctoral program in the School of Social Work. Course requirements for both programs must be fulfilled.

Students in the joint MPH/PhD program generally apply 12 credits from the MPH curriculum towards their elective coursework for the PhD.

Special Academic Opportunities

The school offers several academic resources and programs for its students, as detailed below:

Student Participation on School Committees

Students have opportunities to participate in the governance of the School of Social Work by serving on school committees. Information about the purposes and functions of the committees is distributed during the beginning of each Fall Term. Through the Office of the Associate Dean for Admissions and Student Affairs students can volunteer to serve on committees and become full members of those committees.

Student Executive Council (SEC)

All degree students in the School of Social Work comprise the membership of the student organization that elects the Student Executive Council. The Council concerns itself with student life and serves as a liaison with the administration and faculty.

The Student Executive Council relies heavily on student participation and it endeavors to be of service to the student body. Activities include the publication of a Student Newsletter, the development of discussion sessions around critical social issues, the provision of opportunities for social action, the participation in planning for orientation, and the planning of a variety of social events.

In addition SEC members, representing the student body, are appointed to serve on the following organizations and/or committees: Black Action Society; Student Chapter, NASW; Student Chapter, NABSW; Alumni Association (Liaison); BASW Club; and Graduate and Professional Student Association (GPSA).

Black Action Society (BAS)

The primary purpose of the Black Action Society is to provide a supportive service system to African American students in the School of Social Work. It is the hope of the Black Action Society that through its continued efforts and the cooperation of the Office of Student Affairs, African American students who matriculate in the School of Social Work will contribute significantly to the well being of the African American community as well as the general community. The BAS Office is located in Room 2201A of the Cathedral of Learning.

Buhl Library

The Buhl Library of Social Work is a special collection of books, journals, and other resource materials specifically focused on social work. The Buhl Library is located on the first floor of Hillman Library and is staffed by a full-time social work librarian. Additionally, students at the School of Social Work have full access to the wide range of services provided by the University of Pittsburgh Library system.

Master of Social Work

Post-Master's Certificate Programs

Doctor of Philosophy Program

School of Social Work Faculty