Curriculum

NYU Silver’s MSW curriculum consists of a Generalist Practice level followed by a Specialized Practice level.

The Generalist Practice curriculum provides a foundation for practice through learning a range of professional roles and methods with diverse populations in a variety of settings, informed by knowledge about the social, cultural, and political context, as well as theories of human development and behavior. Learning how to apply the core social work values and ethical standards in practice is a key aspect of the curriculum, as is the use of research-based knowledge to inform practice. The Generalist Practice Field Placement provides the opportunity to integrate and practice in a real-world agency setting the knowledge and skills gained from every Generalist Practice course.

The Specialized Practice curriculum focuses on clinical social work within a social justice perspective, and it extends and deepens students’ assessment, intervention, and evaluation skills. Students gain a critical understanding of mental health and illness, including the social, economic, and political factors that impact them. They also learn to critically examine social policies and the links between policies and practice. Consolidation of students’ professional identity occurs at this level, including implementation of professional judgment and how to identify and manage ethical conflicts that may emerge in practice. A wide variety of electives allow students to enhance their learning about specific populations, theories, and methods. The Specialized Practice Field Placement provides the opportunity to integrate and practice the knowledge and skills gained from every Specialized Practice course.