1. MSW I Convocation Check-In Dr. Dale Russell, Graduate Program Director drussell@csus.edu

2. Agenda for MSWI Convocation Check In Plan for next year Advancement to Candidacy Form Policies Review Field Orientation / Planning Culminating Experience Options (SW500 / 296A/B)

3. What is your appraisal at this point in your MSW experience? Experience with a range of the teaching styles of faculty Experience with your own learning style Anxiety level is probably reduced Going into last year with about 100 total students Learned that in graduate education – depth, student colleagues, student drive Challenging to work, engage in field and do well academically Effective management of your time is crucial Fewer choices in classes, electives, sections, etc. than is optimal

4. Advancement to Candidacy Acknowledged by University as a contract All sections of form must be completed accurately If changes made to advisor, electives, course work, requires a “petition for exception” to change If you change educational contract (i.e. Sequencing of classes) that results in additional semester or year, requires petition to change If you did not meet the conditions of admission – for ex. do not have your undergraduate degree – will be dropped from all rolls and need to reapply

5. Advancement to Candidacy Form

6. Academic Standards Field Professionalism Academic Standards Must maintain a 3.0; Cannot receive more than 2 Cs or lower Academic probation if below 3.0 Must retake any course with grade less than “B” Academic Disqualification when on probation and/or GPA is.9 or more points below 3.0 Also when a student receives 3 or more “C” grades during their graduate studies

7. Disqualification & Reinstatement Administrative-Academic Probation/Disqualification Withdrawal from most of courses in 2 successive semesters in 3 terms Repeated failure to progress toward degree Must satisfy a deficient grade in a sequence course before moving on (204 abcd, 235 a, 295 abcd, 250/51) Must pass 210 and advance to candidacy before beginning 500 or thesis/project/culminating experience Leave of Absence – medical, maternity, military, planned educational leaves

8. Grade Appeal Grade Appeals – 1) student/instructor, 2) student/director 6 th week following semester, 3) student/director/instructor possible Student grade appeal form & panel with student member

9. Pupil Personnel Credential Coursework Summer work and more costly per unit, however operated with fewer students. College of Continuing Education (CCE) College of Continuing Education (CCE)

10. Thesis Alternative Dr. Russell MRP 4004 drussell@csus.edu

11. Piloting Alternative to Traditional Thesis 2 courses instead of guided study 501 Advanced Methods of Evaluating Practice 502 Social Work Graduate Capstone Hold enrollment to 20 students

12. Decision to develop an alternative Interest in stronger exp. with research methods/tools/stats Possibility for deeper, classroom guided learning to evaluate practice once graduate Challenges with SW 500 for some learners Structure/absence of class meeting Isolation/independence Learning style Budget issues - labor intensive for faculty

13. Comparable Alternatives Students requested this alternative and faculty responded to the request Comparable academic rigor Same song played with a different instrument

14. Sign Up for Traditional Culminating Experience or Alternative Meet with a thesis advisor or email professor to explore that option Sign a special VORTA form Do student’s think they know which option they want? Are you flexible?

15. Self-assessment Considerations for Option 20 students Equivalent to SW500 in demand and rigor Work well with the structure of a regular class Strong student academically Interest in quantitative analysis Not wed to a particular topic for project Group work Flexibility during the pilot year

16. Organization of SW501 Advanced Methods of Evaluating Practice SW 501 Advanced Research Methods course with a focus on practice evaluation, either qualitative or quantitative focus. Ethnography, Narrative, Grounded Theory, Phenomenology Fall semester Must receive a B in 210 Begins with question of how to evaluate practice and which tools to use Extension of 210 in terms of methods; chi-square, t-tests, ANOVA, multivariate concepts (quantitative). Ethnography, Narrative, Grounded Theory, Phenomenology (qualitative) Offers a deepened investigation of the evaluation methods and appropriateness of their use b/c not first exposure Interactive – group work with student colleagues, as well as potential individual project work Lab work Guest speakers from field with living laboratory research possibilities

17. SW502 Social Work Research Capstone SW 502: Capstone Project Spring semester Group & Individual projects Expedited human subjects review Organized around similar group and faculty interests with some individual choices in certain classes. Integrated paper as a result, not filed in library or with grad. studies, no more than 2 students working on each – less choice in research topic Community service, secondary data, …