DP-Home and School Visitor/ School Social Worker Certificate

The MSW Program at the School of Social Work is accredited to offer two advanced specializations: Direct Practice with Individuals, Families, and Small Groups (DP) and Community, Organization, and Social Action (COSA). All students in the MSW must select a single specialization when they matriculate. The proposed COSA Community Organizing and Practice Certificate will be part of the COSA specialization.

The proposed Home and School Visitor/ School Social Work Certificate is designed to enhance professional competency in the development and delivery of high-quality social work services to diverse student populations in both public and private elementary and secondary schools. Through coursework and direct practice specialized field placements, students will gain advanced knowledge and skills in social work practice with individuals, families, and small groups in educational settings. Students in the proposed certificate will complete HBSE-Children and Families at Risk (SWBEH 2062) as their second-level human behavior course and Child and Family Policy (SWWEL 2059) as their second-level policy course.  They will also complete the exisitng (SWINT 2058) Social Work in a School Setting as one of their direct practice skill electives.  The HSV/SSW certificate is a part of the Direct Practice (DP) specialization and consistent with that, students must complete their 12 credits of specialized field placement in a school-based setting serving individuals, families, and groups. 

Additionally students who elect the HSV/SSW certificate will complete the following four courses from the School of Education: (TLL 2500) Foundations of Special Education, (TLL 2257) Instructing English Language Learners, (TLL 2101) PA School Law,  and (TLL 2501) Students with Disabilities in the Classroom or (TLL 2502)  Students with Disabilities in the Secondary Classroom.