Concentration Requirements: 21 Credits
- Contemporary Theories and Issues in Behavioral Health (3 credits)
- Behavioral Health Policies and Services
(3 credits)
- Management and Leadership of Organizations (3 credits)
- Social Policy Analysis and Evaluation OR Evaluation of Programs and Services
(3 credits)
- Three practice courses
(3 credits each; 9 credits total)
The specific theory, social policy and practice courses you choose will be determined by the Mental Health track you pursue, see below:
CLINICAL SOCIAL WORK
- Principles and Practices in Differential Diagnosis
- Principles of Clinical Interventions in Behavioral Health
- Principles, Practices, and Services in Substance Use Disorder Treatment
CHILD BEHAVIORAL HEALTH
This track requires the theory course: Theory and Empirical Bases for Practice with Children, Youth, and Families
- Principles and Practices in Differential Diagnosis
- Social Work Practice with Youth in Families OR Social Work Practice with Children in Families OR Social Work Practice in Early Childhood
- Contemporary Family Therapy OR Core Concepts in Trauma Treatment with Children and Adolescents
CLINICAL SOCIAL WORK IN SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER TREATMENT
This track requires that Foundation Practicum(360 hours), Concentration Practicum (600 hours), and one elective practicum credit (120 hours) are completed in an approved substance use disorder setting. This requirement is necessary for earning NCC AP credentials.
This track required the social policy course: Substance Use Policy
- Harm Reduction Community Practice
- Principles and Practices of Differential Diagnosis
- Principles, Practices, and Services in Substance Use Disorder Treatment
You will also have 9 elective credits, which can be used to broaden your expertise in other areas or to pursue additional mental health-related electives, such as:
- Cognitive Behavior Therapy
(3 credits)
- Pharmacology for Social Workers
(3 credits)
- Contemporary Family Therapy
(3 credits)
Concentration Practicum
The MSW program requires 600 hours of concentration practicum (in addition to 360 hours of foundation practicum). The concentration practicum must take place in a setting focused on mental health practice, management or advocacy.
Sample Mental Health practicum sites include:
- BJC Behavioral Health (community mental health center)
- Children’s Advocacy Center of St. Louis (trauma-focused treatments)
- Family Care Health Centers (integrated behavioral health)
- Independence Center (severe and persistent mental health)
- Missouri Institutes for Health (policy, advocacy, evaluation)
- St. Louis Center for Family Development (trauma and suicidality)
- St. Louis Veteran’s Affairs (veteran focused services)
