The USC College of Social Work offers two certificate programs:

Certificate in Drug and Addiction Studies

Certificate of Graduate Study in Gerontology

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The Certificate in Drug and Addiction Studies

INTRODUCTION
There is an increasing demand from industry, education, social services, criminal justice, treatment centers, and research institutes for staff trained in drug and addiction studies. To meeting this need for qualified personnel, the University of South Carolina offers the Graduate Certificate in Drug and Addiction Studies. This pamphlet provides a brief description of the program, the curriculum, and application and contact information.
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THE PROGRAM
The Graduate Certificate Program in Drug and Addiction Studies was approved by the University’s Board of Trustees in 2003. The Program is administered by the College of Social Work. It provides post-baccalaureate students with opportunities to develop broad competencies in preparation for employment in a range of fields addressing alcohol and drug-related problems. Students may pursue the Certificate independently or in conjunction with another graduate course of study.
The Program is interdisciplinary, involving faculty and courses from several academic departments, including criminology and criminal justice, public health, medicine, social work, and psychology. The Program’s faculty is composed of professionals and researchers prepared to provide students with a range of knowledge in the areas of education, prevention, treatment, and enforcement, both in traditional classroom and experiential contexts. The Program is designed for completion in three to four academic semesters during which students gain a broad perspective on the alcohol and drug field through the core curriculum and then specialize in one of three areas of emphasis – counseling, research, or prevention.
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THE CURRICULUM
The College of Social Work administers the Graduate Certificate Program in Drug and Addiction Studies. This is an 18-credit hour, interdisciplinary program. The goals of the program are to impart basic knowledge in prevention, education, treatment, and research and to offer the opportunity to develop competence in this subspecialty.
Graduate Certificate in Drug and Addictions Studies (18 hours)
Fifty percent of all courses taken have to be at the 700 level or higher.
All students are required to take:
• SOWK 758 – Family Dynamics of Substance Abuse
Students are required to take two of the following:
SOWK 752 - Social Work Intervention in Substance Abuse
HPEB 742 - Alcohol, Drugs, and Public Health Policy.
HPEB 540 - Drug Education
HPEB 542 - Tobacco Prevention and Control in Public Health
PSYC 503 - Psychology of Drug Use and Effects
NPSY 760 - Addictions Rehabilitation
NPSY 761 - Dual Disorders
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ADMISSIONS CRITERIA
In order to be admitted to the Graduate Certificate Program in Drug and Addiction Studies, the applicant must submit the following to The Graduate School:
• graduate application form
• two letters of reference from professors or employers
• an official transcript from each college or university previously attended.
If the student has already applied or been admitted to a graduate program at this University, previously submitted materials will be accepted.
It is the applicant’s responsibility to make sure that all required application materials have been received.

Admission to the Certificate program is on a selective basis and is determined by the academic preparation and personal qualifications of the applicant. The applicant must have a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution. A grade point average of 3.00 (on a 4.00 scale) on all advanced undergraduate courses is normally expected. An applicant who has not attained the required undergraduate grade point average may be required to submit a score of at least 800 on the verbal and quantitative portions of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE). The Miller Analogies Test ( MAT) may be substituted for the GRE.
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HOW TO APPLY
All students must apply through the University of South Carolina Graduate School, including students already enrolled at the USC in a separate graduate course of study. Applications should list “Graduate Certificate Program in Drug and Addiction Studies” on the application form under degree pursued. The Program accepts applications on a rolling basis (students may begin the Program in Fall, Spring, or Summer semesters.
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For Additional Information:
Dr. Nancy K. Brown
Graduate Certificate Program in Drug and Addiction Studies
College of Social Work
University of South Carolina
Columbia, South Carolina 29208
Phone: (803) 777-3511 nancyb@mailbox.sc.edu

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The Certificate of Graduate Study in Gerontology

An Interdisciplinary Program
Click here for printable brochure (in Adobe Acrobat)

PURPOSE OF THE PROGRAM The Certificate of Graduate Study in Gerontology Program addresses the educational needs of full-time and part-time students who will be engaged in planning, administration, and provision of services for older adults. Students who are earning master's or doctoral degrees in related disciplines are offered the opportunity to obtain specialized preparation for career paths in the expanding fields of gerontology and geriatrics. Given the increasing number of older citizens in our society, human service professionals require current knowledge about the biological, health, psychosocial, economic, administrative, service delivery and social policy aspects of aging.
The Gerontology Certificate Program is administered by the Graduate School of the University of South Carolina and is planned by the University's Interdisciplinary Academic Committee on Gerontology. With a commitment to excellence, the Certificate of Graduate Study in Gerontology Program has been developed in relation to standards and guidelines established by the Association for Gerontology in Higher Education.
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THE PROGRAM
The Gerontology Certificate Program provides graduate students with rich opportunities to learn from gerontology educators within several academic units of The University of South Carolina. The interdisciplinary certificate is granted upon completion of a structured program of 21 credit hours of graduate level courses.
Each student's program must include at least l2 credit hours of required courses and 9 credit hours of electives. At least l2 of the 21 credit hours must be earned in courses at the 700 level or above. All students are assigned an academic advisor who provides assistance in constructing an individualized program of study. Retention standards parallel those in graduate degree programs. Candidates must achieve at least a "B" average on all USC courses taken for graduate credit before being awarded the certificate. No more than 6 hours of "C" or "C+" credit may be applied toward the certificate, and 9 hours with grades of below "B" will render a student ineligible to continue in the Certificate program.
The maximum time allowed for completion of a certificate is 6 years. Transfer credit will not be accepted toward this Certificate of Graduate Study. With the approval of the academic unit concerned and subject to the regulations of The Graduate School, courses taken in the Gerontology Certificate Program can be applied toward a graduate degree. The College of Social Work particpates in the Gerontology Certificate Program and some of the elective courses for the M.S.W. program can be used to fulfill requirements for the Certificate. Students participating in the Ph.D. program in Health Services Research in Aging may utilize some Gerontology Certificate Program courses to fulfill degree requirements.
Each student's program of study will be sponsored by one or more departments authorized to offer graduate study. All programs of study are finally approved by the Graduate School.
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CURRICULUM REQUIREMENTS
A. The Core Curriculum (four courses required)
1. PSYC 700 (equivalent to SOWK 77l)
Psychosocial Approaches to Gerontology (3 credits)
Co-prerequisite to other courses
2. MEDI 700
Health Aspects of Aging (3 credits)
Co-prerequisite to other courses
3. SOWK 772
Programs and Services for the Elderly (3 credits)
4. Practicum/Field Instruction or Supervised Research (3 credits)
Students can meet this requirement through a departmentally approved residency, field instruction, or supervised research course, exclusive of the student's thesis or dissertation. Social work students may apply one semester of field instruction in an approved aging agency setting to meet the requirement. Health administration students may complete the practicum through a public health residency. The practicum requirement for students in all disciplines must be jointly approved by the student's academic unit advisor and the Graduate Director of the Gerontology Certificate Program.
B. Elective Courses (three courses selected)
Nine credit hours of electives may be selected from a broad list of graduate level courses available throughout the University. Elective courses approved by the University's Academic Committee on Gerontology are offered in such academic units as social work, health administration, health promotion and education, exercise science, epidemiology, speech-language pathology and audiology, medicine, philosophy, psychology, sociology, education, and nursing. It is required that a student take one elective outside their academic discipline.
All Health Administration students are required to take HADM 764 (Long Term Care Administration).
Other courses, including Independent Study, may be considered for elective credit when the student sets forth in writing a formal request containing a cogent rationale; and the rationale is approved both by the academic advisor and the Graduate Director of the Gerontology Certificate Program.
Students are encouraged to choose elective courses carefully with their respective advisors in relation to specific career goals.
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ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS
Currently enrolled graduate students at The University of South Carolina normally are recommended for admission by an academic department, college, or school. Students currently enrolled in graduate programs, and others, must apply for admission to the Gerontology Certificate Program through The Graduate School. Requirements for admission include:
1. A baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university. A minimum GPA of 2.5 (on a 4.0 scale) or a GPA of 3.0 for the last two years of undergraduate coursework.
2. A written account of the applicant's past experience, including a statement of purpose for seeking the gerontology certificate and career goals.
3. Scores on the GRE (Graduate Record Examination), unless the applicant already has earned a graduate degree or is currently completing the requirements for a graduate degree. GRE scores are used primarily for advisement.
4. Two letters of recommendation which attest to the individual's ability to successfully undertake graduate study.
5. Official transcripts of all colleges attended.
The initial step in seeking admission to the program is to contact:

Ms. Nicole Cavanagh, LISW-CP
South Carolina Center for Gerontology
DeSaussure College
University of South Carolina
Columbia, SC 29208
Telephone: (803) 777-0433
Fax: (803) 777-3498
E-mail: nickcava@mailbox.sc.edu

Information will be provided for completing the application to The Graduate School.
The University of South Carolina System provides affirmative action and equal opportunity in education and employment for all qualified persons regardless of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability or veteran status.

Dual Degree Programs

The College of Social Work participates in three dual degree programs which make it possible for students to earn both the Master of Social Work (MSW) and a second degree in public health (MPH), public administration (MPA), or law (JD) in less time and with fewer credit hours than would be necessary to complete the two degrees separately.
In all three dual degree programs, students must meet the admissions requirements and maintain the educational standards of each academic unit in order to earn both degrees.
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MSW/MPH
Graduates of the dual degree MSW/MPH program can expect to find employment in traditional health care settings that rely on the medical model of intervention as well as in settings that use a social health mode. Students may choose either the Health Promotion and Education (HPEB) track or the Health Services Policy and Management (HSPM) track in the MPH program. The HPEB track requires students to concentrate, during their second year of studies, in Social Work Practice with Individuals, Families, and Groups OR to concentrate on Social Work Organizations and Communities. The HSPM track requires students to concentrate, during the second year of their studies, in Social Work Practice with Organizations and Communities.
Students normally spend the equivalent of three years in their studies for their dual MSW/MPH degrees. Students complete the MSW/MPH with the HSPM track in 81 hours as opposed to the 99 hours that would be required to complete the two degree programs separately. Students complete the MSW/MPH with the HPEB track in 84 hours instead of the 105 hours required to complete the two degree programs separately. Students participate in two field placements, one in public health and one in social work, in addition to completing the special research project in public health.

Click here to see the course listings for the MSW/MPH - HPEB Degree
Click here to see the course listings for the MSW/MPH - HSPM Degree
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MSW/MPA
The Public Administration degree requires students to concentrate, during the second year of their studies, in Social Work Practice with Organizations and Communities. In Public Administration, students complete the two degrees, the MSW and the Master of Public Administration, in approximately one year less than would be required to complete both degrees. Public administrators often become managers of human services agencies as well as managers of local, state, and national government organizations. Students use some Public Administration courses as electives in their MSW studies and use some of their MSW courses as electives in the MPA.
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MSW/JD
The College of Social Work and the School of Law offer the dual degrees of MSW and Juris Doctor (JD). Students are able to complete both degrees in approximately one semester less than would be required for completion of the two degrees independently. Students count six hours of elective credits law toward the MSW and up to nine hours of social work as electives in the JD program. Students may specialize in either of the two advanced concentration tracks for the dual degree in law, Advanced Social Work Practice with Individuals, Families, and Groups or Advanced Social Work Practice with Organizations and Communities.
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Advanced standing students are eligible for all three dual degree programs. In addition, some studies for full two-year students can be completed during the summer sessions in all three of the dual degree programs.
Enrolling in dual degree programs can sometimes be accomplished while the student is completing the first year of studies towards the MSW. Normally, however, students should apply to both programs of interest at the same time. Substantial lead time is required for completing the admissions process. The JD degree, in particular, requires early planning because of the special application procedures used in Law School admissions.
For information about the dual degree program students should contact:

Ms. Frances Spann
College of South Work
University of South Carolina
Columbia, SC 29208
telephone:(803) 777-1545
E-mail: francess@mailbox.sc.edu
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LINKS:
Public Health Dual Degree in Social Work and Public Health Page

International Programs

For many years the College of Social Work has been involved in a variety of international social work activities. Such activities are of growing importance to social work education for a number of reasons. The shrinking of the world requires that social workers have an understanding of social problems, issues, and social structures worldwide. Rapid globalization, facilitated in particular by developments in technology, has enhanced the interconnectedness of people around the world. Our clients come from an increasing number of cultures and, in order to serve them effectively, we need to have an understanding and appreciation of their backgrounds. The importance of international content in social work curricula is so important that the Council of Social Work Education’s Commission on Accreditation has mandated it.

The College of Social Work saw the importance of providing experiences to increase educational awareness many years ago. Beginning in 1986 the College initiated a study-abroad program. Since that time the college has sponsored overseas study for social work students and practitioners on a steady basis. This overseas study has been offered for course credit to graduate and undergraduate students from the University of South Carolina and from other colleges and universities. Through these study-abroad trips, continuing education credits are awarded to social work practitioners and educators. Over the years hundreds of students and social workers have participated in these international courses. These trips have enabled participants to learn about social work and human services in other countries through visits to social agencies and lectures by social work professors and agency officials. The trips have also made it possible for participants to learn about other cultures though visits to the countries of Mexico, Israel, Greece, England, Scotland, France, Russia, Sweden, India, Ghana, and Ireland. In 2005 there were study-abroad trips to Italy and Greece, to Mexico, and to Brazil (in conjunction with the annual meeting of the Consortium for Social Development).


Above: Study Abroad Mexico, 2005

A second way in which the College has been involved at the international level is through the development of partnerships with universities in other countries. Beginning in 1988, with a partnership with Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico, the College has expanded this program to include partnerships with 15 universities throughout the world. These partnerships make it possible for a large variety of collaborative activities to take place, including faculty exchanges, student exchanges, curriculum sharing, cross-cultural research, and joint service projects. Though these partnerships a number of faculty from foreign universities have come to South Carolina to study during their sabbaticals. Similarly, faculty members from this College have spent their sabbaticals in other countries. The enrollment of foreign students in our MSW and Ph.D. programs has expanded dramatically as a result of these partnerships.
The College has also been a leader in the arena of international social work in a third way is through the sponsorship with international conferences. In 2001, the College hosted the annual meeting of Human Services Information Technology Applications (HUSITA). HUSITA is an international cultural association that promotes the ethical and effective use of information technology to serve humanity. The organization, which was created in 1983, focuses on the development of knowledge and the transfer of technology within human services. HUSITA meets at locations throughout the world to bring together social work education and practitioners as well as professionals from other areas of human services. (For more information on HUSITA, visit www.husita.org.)


Above: Study Abroad India 2003

In 2004, the College and its Korean partner, Kangnam University, co-sponsored a conference in Korea. This meeting, with the theme of "Social Welfare Issues and Social Worker's New Roles in the Era of Globalization," brought together social work educators and practitioners from countries throughout the worls.
The College has also served as a sponsor of two international meetings of the International Consortium for Social Development—ICSD (formerly known as the Inter-University Consortium for International Social Development). ICSD is an international organization that is concerned with empowering people to bring about economic and social improvement in their lives. It is comprised of scholars, practitioners and students from social work and other disciplines from throughout the world. In 2003 the College, under the leadership of Dr. Goutham Menon, planned the biennial meeting which was held in India. In 2005, with Dr. Julie Miller-Cribbs serving as planner, the College, planned the organization’s meeting in Brazil. In both instances local schools of social work served as co-planners and sponsors of the meetings. The College’s Director of International Programs, Dean Emeritus Frank Raymond, is currently President of ICSD, and is involved in the planning of the 2007 conference, which will be held in Hangzhou, China. The College of Social Work will be a co-sponsor of that conference, along with Boston College. (For more information regarding ICSD, visit www.IUCISD.org.)


Above: Study Abroad Ghana 2001

The fourth major way in which the college has been involved at the international level is through its Korea-based MSW program. At the request of the Korean Association of Social Workers, the College developed this program and began offering courses to the first cohort of students in 1993. Through this program the college offers its MSW degree on site in Seoul, Korea. The curriculum is exactly the same as that offered in South Carolina. However, all courses are taught in English and translated into Korean by Korean-American social work educators. Applicants to the program are not required to pass the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) examination as would be true if they came to South Carolina to study. Since they plan to continue living in Korea, this requirement is waived.
Our college is the only school of social work to offer its master’s degree in its entirety in a foreign country. The program has been fully approved by the South Carolina Commission on Higher Education, the Council of Social Work Education, and the Korean Ministry of Education. With the graduation of the forth cohort of students in December 2003, over 100 students have received their MSW degrees through this program. The fifth class began its studies in June 2004 and will graduate in December 2006.

The Korea-based program has been beneficial to all parties. Non-traditional working students are able to receive MSW degrees that would otherwise be unavailable to them from schools in the United States. Furthermore, it is considerably less expensive for students to enroll in this program than it would be for them to come to the United States to receive their MSW degree. Faculty from the College have enjoyed the experience of teaching abroad. They have found that they are better social work educators as a result of insights they acquire from living, studying, and teaching in another country. Similarly, faculty from Korean universities who participate in the program also benefit from these cross-cultural activities. Several faculty members from both countries have engaged in joint research projects, which have resulted in scholarly publications and papers presented at national and international conferences. This is an excellent example of how international partners can benefit from international exchanges and collaboration. The Korean program has two webpages, one in English only, the other in both Korean and English.

Undergraduate Social Work Minor

Undergraduate students at the University of South Carolina can now complete a minor in social work. The minor provides students in other academic majors a background in social work. This background will open the window to advanced academic study that leads to a professional career.
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Students Making a Difference, Right Here, Right Now! The social work minor is designed for undergraduate students who want to explore the field of human services and the issues that service providers address. Social Justice, strengths perspective, risk and resilience, and empowerment in the social environment are the foci of the minor. Some courses include a service-learning component that allows students to experience practice settings firsthand.
The practice of the profession of social work is to enhance the social functioning and interactions of individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities by involving them in setting and accomplishing goals, developing and managing resources, and preventing and alleviating distress. Core values of the profession include service, social and economic justice, the dignity and worth of each person, and the importance of human relationships.
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Core Course Requirements for the Social Work Minor There are two required courses in the social work minor: SOWK 302 Foundations of Social Welfare and SOWK 308 History and Philosophy of Social Welfare. Other courses are listed in the recommended course sequence.
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Recommended Course Sequence Students following the course sequence shown below usually complete the minor or cognate within a two-year period.
SOWK 302 Foundations of Social Welfare
SOWK 303 Social Welfare Services for Children and Youth
SOWK 304 Social Welfare Services for Families and the Aged
SOWK 305 Social Welfare Services for Women and Minorities (=WOST 306)
SOWK 306 Social Work in Other Nations
SOWK 307 International Social Work and Social Justice
SOWK 308 History and Philosophy of Social Welfare
SOWK 309 Life Transitions: Loss and Grief
SOWK 399 Independent Study
SOWK 402 Non-Professional Participation in Social Welfare agencies
SOWK 403 Social Welfare in Literature
SOWK 404 Current Issues in Social Welfare
SOWK 421 Social Work Practice Methods
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Other Social Work Minor Information:
Social Work Minor Flyer (in Adobe Acrobat)
USC's Listing of Social Work Undergraduate Credit Courses
Click on the Frequently Asked Questions page for answers to these questions:

What is Social Work?
What do Social Workers do?
What do Social Workers need to know?
What social work degrees can I get at USC Columbia Campus?
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Contact Information:
If you are interested in more information about the social work minor and wish to talk with someone directly, please contact:
Susan Parlier, MSW
Social Work Minor Program
College of Social Work
University of South Carolina
phone: (803) 777-1384
E-mail: COSWAdmissions@mailbox.sc.edu

IT Resources

Here are few links for the COSW IT resources

 

Field Education @ COSW	The Field Education Program at the College of Social Work provides an opportunity for students to integrate their curriculum knowledge with real-life experiences in a variety of field practice settings. Students are supervised by experienced social work field instructors at human services agencies where they refine their social work skills. The field placement is a vital part of the professional development of the student. Through our collaborative efforts the College and human service organizations will continue to offer field education of the highest quality to enhance human well-being and meet the basic human needs of all people.
2009-2010 Field Education Manual	2009-2010 Field Education Forms