CSUDH Social Work Programs

CSUDH Social Work Programs offer the nation’s only MSW program based on Critical Race Theory and Intersectionality. Over the last several years, this nationally accredited program has served communities throughout Los Angeles with excellence.

CSUDH social work program stands out among California’s master’s options. The program teaches students to deliver ethical social work practice through analysis, intervention, and advocacy. The student body is remarkably diverse. Almost 90% of students come from different backgrounds, and 47% are first-generation college students. The curriculum takes an integrated approach with psychosocial, ecological, and cross-cultural elements that set it apart from other California MSW programs.

The program’s commitment to anti-racist social work education gives you the skills to handle complex societal issues that stem from intersectional oppression. CSUDH’s strong academic foundation shows in its results – 32% of undergraduate students advance to postgraduate health professions programs. This success rate proves the program’s effectiveness in preparing students for their professional careers.

Types of Social Work Degrees Offered at CSU – Dominguez Hills

California State University – Dominguez Hills helps students become licensed social work professionals through multiple programs. The Social Work Department has well-laid-out educational options that meet California’s licensing requirements and various career goals.

The Bachelor of Arts in Social Work (BASW) program welcomes undergraduate students. This four-year degree builds a strong foundation in social work theory, ethics, and practice. Students get hands-on experience through fieldwork while completing their studies. The Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) has fully accredited this program, which ensures the degree meets national standards.

The Master of Social Work (MSW) program is the life-blood of CSUDH’s social work education. This respected program gives students advanced training they need for clinical licensure. Students can choose between two main tracks:

• Two-Year Option: Full-time study for students with bachelor’s degrees in other fields
• One-Year Advanced Standing Option: A faster path for students who have a BASW/BSW from a CSWE-accredited program

The Cal State Dominguez Hills MSW program partners with over 200 agencies in Los Angeles County and nearby areas. Students complete about 1,000 supervised practice hours in different settings through these partnerships.

CSUDH’s social work master’s programs maintain a 15:1 student-to-faculty ratio that ensures individual attention throughout your studies. Faculty members bring their research and community practice experience directly to the classroom.

Both programs use Critical Race Theory and Intersectionality frameworks to prepare students for culturally responsive practice. Graduates can pursue various licensing paths, including the Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) credential in California.

CSUDH’s masters in social work gives students complete preparation for professional practice. The curriculum meets state licensing requirements and addresses today’s social work challenges.

Degree Specializations

The Cal State Dominguez Hills MSW program stands out among other social work master’s programs in California through its unique approach to advanced training. Students can choose from three distinct specializations within the Social Work Practice in Communities (SWPC) concentration.

The program welcomes both full-time and part-time students. Full-time students can select any specialization, while part-time students focus on the Community Mental Health track. Each path requires core courses plus specialized classes:

Children, Youth and Families (CYF) helps students work in traditional and non-traditional child welfare services, family preservation, and adolescent services. The key courses include:

• Advanced Research (MSW 531)
• Social Welfare Policy III: Children, Youth and Families (MSW 560)
• Child Welfare Issues (MSW 580)

Community Mental Health (CMH) gives you the skills for roles in mental health agencies, crisis intervention, and case management with chronically mentally ill populations. This track requires:

• Diagnostic Assessment in Social Work Practice (MSW 592)
• Social Welfare Policy III: Community Health/Mental Health (MSW 561)
• Seminar in Mental Health Issues (MSW 582)

Community Capacity Building (CCB) teaches community organizing, service design, and strategies to enable change. The curriculum includes:

• Seminar in Community Capacity Building (MSW 581)
• Social Welfare Policy III: Community Capacity Building (MSW 551)
• Advanced Social Work Practice in Communities (MSW 550)

All students take Advanced Research, Fieldwork Practicum III and IV, and Advanced Practice in Administration and Leadership courses. The second-year field placement matches your chosen specialization and provides real-life experience in your focus area.

The CSUDH social work program offers additional stipend opportunities for students interested in Child Welfare. Full-time students can apply for CalSWEC and LA County DCFS stipend programs. Both full and part-time students may qualify for mental health or geriatric social work stipends during their second year.

The masters program at CSUDH builds competent practitioners through Critical Race Theory and Intersectionality frameworks across all specializations.

Online and Hybrid Options

Cal State University – Dominguez Hills ranks as one of the most prominent distance learning institutions in the country. However, their CSUDH social work programs run through traditional on-campus classes.

The university offers 10 degree programs and various certificate options through distance education. Yet the Bachelor of Social Work program doesn’t have any online options right now. Students looking for BSW programs might want to check other CSUDH departments that let you study remotely.

The Cal State Dominguez Hills MSW program stays true to an in-person learning model with two schedule choices:

Students in the two-year full-time track attend classes on campus every Tuesday and Thursday. They complete their practicum hours on Mondays, Wednesdays, and some Fridays.

The three-year part-time option works well with evening and weekend classes year-round. Students do their practicum during regular business hours on weekdays, but this starts only in their second and third years.

The department clearly states: “We are not currently offering an online program option as part of our curriculum”. This approach shows their focus on hands-on, in-person training that lines up with their unique teaching philosophy.

Unlike CSUDH, other MSW programs in California have created online and hybrid options. Eight California universities now offer distance learning formats for their social work master’s programs. CSU Northridge, CSU San Bernardino, and the University of Southern California are among these schools. These programs usually need 900-1300 hours of field education along with online classes.

CSUDH’s traditional format gives students valuable advantages through direct classroom experience and face-to-face mentoring. This becomes especially important when you have the program’s focus on critical analysis and community involvement. Students often build stronger professional networks and connect better with the material through this immersive campus experience.

Graduation Rates

A closer look at graduation outcomes at the CSU – Dominguez Hills Social Work Programs reveals key insights about student success. The MSW students complete at CSUDH show remarkable diversity. Recent statistics from 2021-2022 show that among 98 social work graduates with master’s degrees, about 9% were men and 91% were women. Hispanic or Latino students led the graduating class at 59%.

CSUDH has made remarkable strides in improving completion rates. The six-year graduation rate for first-time freshmen now stands at 61%. These numbers paint an encouraging picture for prospective Cal State students who want to learn about the institution’s performance.

Student retention rates tell an equally positive story. The university retains 78% of freshmen through their sophomore year. This number exceeds both the national average of 70.57% and California’s state average of 73.07%. Such success highlights the strong support systems available throughout the university where CSUDH social work programs operate.

Graduation rates vary among different ethnic groups. Asian and White students achieve a 58% graduation rate, while Black/African-American students graduate at 43%. Native Hawaiian students lead with a 67% completion rate, and Hispanic students follow at 48%.

Some challenges remain, particularly with four-year graduation rates that hover at 6% for traditional students. Transfer students show better outcomes with two-year graduation rates reaching 40%, meeting institutional targets.

The university’s Institutional Research, Assessment, and Planning office keeps detailed records of graduation and retention rates. This informed assessment helps ensure social work master’s students receive education from an institution committed to measuring and improving outcomes.

Many of the masters in social work program participants are first-generation college students. They benefit from CSUDH’s emphasis on supporting diverse student populations through their experience toward professional licensure and practice.

Career Outcomes

CSUDH graduates with social work degrees find rewarding career paths with competitive pay. MSW graduates from the Dominguez Hills MSW program earn a median salary of $66,121 annually. This amount is by a lot higher than the national median of $51,347 for social work master’s graduates.

These programs open doors to careers in many sectors. Our graduates excel in these key areas:

• Public Welfare – Case management, policy development, program evaluation in government agencies
• Healthcare – Hospital social work, hospice care, rehabilitation services
• Community Mental Health – Counseling, therapy, crisis intervention
• School Social Work – Student advocacy, mental health services, instructional support
• Child Welfare – Family preservation, youth services, child protection
• Gerontology – Services for older adults in various settings

CSUDH Career Center runs first destination surveys each year. These track how new graduates start their careers within six months after graduation. The surveys show employment types, further education choices, and starting salaries for full-time workers.

The university’s career support comes from seven full-time and one part-time career center staff members. Students get individual career counseling, resume help, interview practice, and chances to meet employers on campus. The job bank and career fairs help social work students connect with future employers directly.

CSUDH provides competitive pay and benefits for qualifying positions. The university welcomes applications from people of all backgrounds, which matches the program’s commitment to equity.

BSW graduates qualify for entry-level direct practice positions. The masters in social work program leads to clinical therapy roles and supervisor positions. Students who want academic or research careers should look into doctorate programs (DSW or Ph.D.). These degrees are needed for teaching, research, and administration roles.

The CSUDH social work program teaches critical analysis and intersectionality. This approach helps graduates tackle complex social issues while building successful, well-paid careers.

What’s Unique about the Social Work Programs at California State University – Dominguez Hills

The programs stand out with several unique qualities that make them different from other MSW programs California offers.

The CSUDH social work curriculum’s groundbreaking theoretical foundation makes it special. This program is the only MSW program in the nation built on Critical Race Theory and Intersectionality frameworks. Students get the analytical tools to understand how different forms of oppression connect and impact communities.

The program’s student diversity is exceptional. All but one of these social work master’s programs match CSUDH’s demographic makeup, where nearly 90% of students come from diverse backgrounds and 47% are first-generation college students. Such diversity makes classroom discussions richer and prepares students to practice with cultural awareness.

Social Work Practice in Communities forms the program’s concentration, showing its steadfast dedication to community-based interventions. CSUDH focuses resources on building expertise in community-centered approaches instead of splitting attention across multiple areas. Students can still choose specialized tracks in mental health, child welfare, and community capacity building.

The program’s strategic collaborations with over 200 agencies across Los Angeles County create strong community bonds. These partnerships give students excellent field placement options and job opportunities after graduation.

The faculty’s expertise adds another distinctive quality. Professors conduct research and work with marginalized populations. They bring fresh insights to the classroom. The program’s small size means students get individual attention with a 15:1 student-to-faculty ratio.

The MSW program at CSUDH emphasizes practical skill development strongly. Students complete around 1,000 supervised practice hours – this is a big deal as it means that the requirements exceed many similar institutions’ standards. Students gain extensive ground experience before graduating.

These distinctive features create a program that prepares social work professionals who can tackle complex societal challenges with both theoretical knowledge and practical skills.

Next Steps

Getting your clinical social worker license in California starts with the right education and training. Students who want to join CSUDH Social Work Programs should know the specific admissions criteria and licensing requirements.

Students can apply to the program starting October 1st through Cal State Apply. The BSW program welcomes applications until March 2nd. This gives you plenty of time to get your materials ready. The MSW program has an earlier deadline of January 15th to be considered for fall admission.

Competition runs high for the Cal State Dominguez Hills MSW program. Each year, about 500 people apply for just 60-70 spots. Meeting basic requirements won’t guarantee you’ll get in. The MSW program looks for:

• A GPA of 2.5 minimum (3.0 makes your application more competitive)
• Completed prerequisites in statistics and human biology
• Statement of purpose
• Three professional references
• Resume showing relevant experience

Your path to clinical licensure has several steps after admission. The masters in social work degree leads to registration as an Associate Clinical Social Worker (ACSW) with the California Board of Behavioral Sciences. You’ll then need 3,000 supervised hours spread over at least 104 weeks across different clinical categories.

Two exams mark the final stretch: the California Law and Ethics Exam and the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Clinical Exam. California’s licensing process follows a clear path when planned well.

Most social work master’s graduates complete their licensing in 2-4 years after graduation. This investment pays off well. Licensed clinical social workers earn better salaries and can work in more settings, including their own private practice.

CSUDH’s program sets you up for success through coursework that matches state requirements. The program stands out with its focus on Critical Race Theory and Intersectionality. These elements help you serve California’s diverse communities effectively.