COSA Community Organizing and Practice Certificate

The COSA Community Organizing and Practice Certificate acknowledges community as a social environment that is broadly defined and rich in diversity. MSWs often find themselves working in community organizing and practice settings addressing a variety of planning, development, and social change issues. To prepare students to become leaders in this field, the School of Social Work offers a national Community Organizing and Practice Certificate, through a partnership with the Association for Community Organization and Social Action (ACOSA). Building on the School of Social Work’s historic strength as the first and longest-standing program in Community Organizing (CO), this national certificate helps to define and affirm community organizing and practice competencies that have become increasingly important to the careers and advancement of MSW professionals.  

 Students complete COSA specialization requirements as well as those of the certificate. COSA students pursuing this certificate complete 12 course credits and 12 practicum credits in the areas of community organizing; community planning; community development; and community social change. Students must complete a COSA specialization practicum placement in a community organizing and practice setting.