Advanced study in social work and gender violence intervention is available through a dual degree program co-sponsored by the School of Social Work and the L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs.
The program allows students to earn a Master of Social Work and Certificate in Gender Violence Intervention with 60 credits rather than the 75 credits necessary if the two degrees were pursued separately. This efficiency lowers the overall cost of tuition while also reducing time to earn both degrees.
Program goals
The objectives of this dual degree and certificate program are to:
- Apply gender violence academic concepts to practice
- Guide students in the development of professional behaviors and boundaries while working in gender violence intervention settings
- Develop knowledge of common types of gender violence and related policies
- Prepare graduates to work in gender violence settings with diverse populations
Among the many benefits offered by participation in the dual degree program are the following:
- The ability to gain special knowledge and skills focused on interpersonal violence that prepares students for work in agency community settings that serve people affected by interpersonal violence
- The opportunity for social work practicums in community agencies working with multidisciplinary teams and utilizing multitheoretical frameworks specifically with cases and clients impacted by interpersonal violence.
The diplomas for this dual degree and certificate program are awarded simultaneously, after completion of the requirements for each degree program. Students receive both degrees upon graduation from VCU.
Student learning outcomes
See the individual program pages for student learning outcomes.
Other information
Advising
The student is assigned an adviser from each program to develop a plan of study. Advisers coordinate regarding program curricula as appropriate. Primarily, the coordination occurs to ensure that M.S.W. students complete a social work field placement that aligns with the requirements of the Certificate in Gender Violence Intervention.
Once students are admitted and enrolled in the certificate program, they should consult the certificate adviser when they choose their field placements to ensure that at least one placement is conducted in a setting that addresses sexual or domestic violence.
Admission requirements
Students must meet the admission requirements for each program. Admission into one program does not guarantee admission into the other. See the individual program pages for admission deadlines and other requirements, as they may vary by concentration.
To view a list of the current admission deadlines, visit the School of Social Work’s website.
Application procedures
To enroll in the Certificate in Gender Violence Intervention simultaneously with the M.S.W., students must complete a graduate application for the certificate program and pay the required fee to Graduate Admissions; however, no supporting information is required for students who are already enrolled in good standing in the M.S.W. program.
Applicants will need to complete an online application through Graduate Admissions, pay the application fee and submit a personal statement expressing their interest in the program and indicating that they are currently in the M.S.W. program. Students may email the Graduate School to arrange for references, resume/CV and transcripts already on file from the M.S.W. program to be added to the application.
Dual degree and certificate requirements
As standalone programs, the M.S.W. comprises 60 credits while the certificate requires 15 credits. The dual degree and certificate program allows students to share 15 credits, therefore decreasing total credits to completion from 75 to 60.
In the dual degree and certificate program, these courses within the M.S.W. satisfy requirements in the certificate:
| Course | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Social work generalist courses satisfy certificate requirement PADM 650 | 3 | |
| Policy, Community and Organizational Practice I and Policy, Community and Organizational Practice II | ||
or SLWK 608 | Social Work Practice in Organizations and Communities for Advanced-standing Students | |
| Social work field placements satisfy certificate requirement GVPA 693 1 | 3 | |
| Generalist Field Instruction I and Generalist Field Instruction II | ||
or SLWK 695 | Block Generalist Field Instruction | |
| or | ||
| Specialization Field Instruction I and Specialization Field Instruction II | ||
or SLWK 795 | Specialization Block Field Instruction | |
| Social work concentration requirement satisfies GVPA 623 | 3 | |
| Specialization Research for Understanding and Assessing Social Work Interventions and Services | ||
| Certificate courses satisfy six credits of M.S.W. electives. | 6 | |
| Theorizing Gender Violence | ||
| Interpersonal Violence in Clinical Social Work Practice | ||
| Total Hours | 15 | |
Dual degree and certificate students will complete one of their two social work field practicums in an agency providing sexual or domestic violence services.
Curriculum requirements
| Course | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| M.S.W. requirements | ||
| • Generalist courses | ||
| SLWK 601 | Human Behavior in the Social Environment I | 3 |
| SLWK 602 | Policy, Community and Organizational Practice I (satisfies certificate requirement PADM 650) | 3 |
| SLWK 603 | Power, Privilege and Oppression | 3 |
| SLWK 604 | Social Work Practice with Individuals, Families and Groups I | 3 |
| SLWK 605 | Social Work Practice with Individuals, Families and Groups II | 3 |
| SLWK 606 | Policy, Community and Organizational Practice II (satisfies certificate requirement PADM 650) | 3 |
| SLWK 609 | Foundations of Research for Social Work Interventions and Services | 3 |
| SLWK 610 | Human Behavior in the Social Environment II | 3 |
| Field instruction (select one option) | 6 | |
| Generalist Field Instruction I and Generalist Field Instruction II (may satisfy certificate requirement GVPA 693) | ||
| Block Generalist Field Instruction (may satisfy certificate requirement GVPA 693) | ||
| • Concentration requirements (select one concentration) | 15 | |
Administration, planning and policy practice | ||
| Specialization Research for Understanding and Assessing Social Work Interventions and Services (satisfies certificate requirement GVPA 623) | ||
| Concentration Social Policy | ||
| Strategies for Social Work Planning and Administrative Practice | ||
| Social Work Planning and Administrative Practice I | ||
| Social Work Planning and Administrative Practice II | ||
Clinical practice concentration | ||
| Mental, Emotional and Behavioral Disorders | ||
| Clinical Social Work Practice I | ||
| Clinical Social Work Practice II | ||
| Specialization Research for Understanding and Assessing Social Work Interventions and Services (satisfies certificate requirement GVPA 623) | ||
| Concentration Social Policy | ||
| • Field instruction (required for either concentration; select one option) | 6 | |
| Specialization Field Instruction I and Specialization Field Instruction II (may satisfy certificate requirement GVPA 693) | ||
| Specialization Block Field Instruction (may satisfy certificate requirement GVPA 693) | ||
| Specialization Field Instruction Extended Semesters I and Specialization Field Instruction Extended Semesters II and Specialization Field Instruction Extended Semesters III | ||
| • Electives | 9 | |
| Six credits satisfied by certificate requirements GVPA 635 and SLWK 761. Students must select one additional approved elective from SLWK 717-SLWK 792. | ||
| Certificate requirements | ||
| GVPA 623 | Applied Research Methods (satisfied by SLWK 709) | 3 |
| GVPA 635 | Theorizing Gender Violence (satisfies M.S.W. elective) | 3 |
| GVPA 693 | Internship (satisfied by M.S.W. field placement; taken in an agency providing sexual or domestic violence services) | 3 |
| PADM 650 | Principles of Nonprofit Management (satisfied by M.S.W. generalist courses, including SLWK 608 for advanced standing students) | 3 |
| SLWK 761 | Interpersonal Violence in Clinical Social Work Practice (satisfies M.S.W. elective) | 3 |
| Total Hours | 60 | |
The minimum number of graduate credit hours required for this dual program is 60.
Sample plan of study
General sequence of dual degree program
Students in the Master of Social Work and Certificate in Gender Violence Intervention program spend the first year immersed in the M.S.W curriculum. Beginning in the second year, student registration is primarily in the M.S.W. curriculum, with an elective course in the L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs. During the fall semester of their concentration year, students complete SLWK 761; during the spring semester of their concentration year, students complete GVPA 635. These certificate requirements satisfy the electives for the M.S.W. Students are required to complete one of their two social work field practicums in an agency providing sexual or domestic violence services during their time in the program.
| Year one | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall semester | Hours | |
| SLWK 601 | Human Behavior in the Social Environment I | 3 |
| SLWK 602 | Policy, Community and Organizational Practice I (partially satisfies certificate requirement PADM 650; students must also complete SLWK 606.) | 3 |
| SLWK 603 | Power, Privilege and Oppression | 3 |
| SLWK 604 | Social Work Practice with Individuals, Families and Groups I | 3 |
| SLWK 693 | Generalist Field Instruction I (may satisfy certificate requirement GVPA 693) | 3 |
| Term Hours: | 15 | |
| Spring semester | ||
| SLWK 605 | Social Work Practice with Individuals, Families and Groups II | 3 |
| SLWK 606 | Policy, Community and Organizational Practice II (satisfies certificate requirement PADM 650) | 3 |
| SLWK 609 | Foundations of Research for Social Work Interventions and Services | 3 |
| SLWK 610 | Human Behavior in the Social Environment II | 3 |
| SLWK 694 | Generalist Field Instruction II (may satisfy certificate requirement GVPA 693) | 3 |
| Term Hours: | 15 | |
| Year two | ||
| Fall semester | ||
| Concentration year (select appropriate concentration courses) | 15 | |
| • Administration, planning and policy practice | ||
| SLWK 709 | Specialization Research for Understanding and Assessing Social Work Interventions and Services (satisfies certificate requirement GVPA 623) | 3 |
| SLWK 711 | Strategies for Social Work Planning and Administrative Practice | 3 |
| SLWK 712 | Social Work Planning and Administrative Practice I | 3 |
| SLWK 793 | Specialization Field Instruction I | 3 |
| Elective (satisfied by certificate requirement GVPA 635 or SLWK 761) | 3 | |
| • Clinical practice | ||
| SLWK 703 | Mental, Emotional and Behavioral Disorders | 3 |
| SLWK 704 | Clinical Social Work Practice I | 3 |
| SLWK 709 | Specialization Research for Understanding and Assessing Social Work Interventions and Services (satisfies certificate requirement GVPA 623) | 3 |
| SLWK 793 | Specialization Field Instruction I (may satisfy certificate requirement GVPA 693) | 3 |
| Elective (satisfied by certificate requirement GVPA 635 or SLWK 761) | 3 | |
| Term Hours: | 15 | |
| Spring semester | ||
| Concentration year (select appropriate concentration courses) | 15 | |
| • Administration, planning and policy practice | ||
| SLWK 710 | Concentration Social Policy | 3 |
| SLWK 713 | Social Work Planning and Administrative Practice II | 3 |
| SLWK 794 | Specialization Field Instruction II | 3 |
| Elective (satisfied by certificate requirement GVPA 635 or SLWK 761) | 3 | |
| Additional elective from from approved list: SLWK 717-SLWK 792 | 3 | |
| • Clinical practice | ||
| SLWK 705 | Clinical Social Work Practice II | 3 |
| SLWK 710 | Concentration Social Policy | 3 |
| SLWK 794 | Specialization Field Instruction II | 3 |
| Elective (satisfied by certificate requirement GVPA 635 or SLWK 761) | 3 | |
| Additional elective from approved list: SLWK 717-SLWK 792 | 3 | |
| Term Hours: | 15 | |
| Total Hours: | 60 | |
The minimum number of graduate credit hours required for this dual program is 60.
Contact
Qasarah Bey Spencer, Ed.D.
Director, M.S.W. program
beyqd@vcu.edu
(804) 828-2007
Additional contacts
Sarah Jane Brubaker, Ph.D.
Associate professor and graduate program director, L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs
sbrubaker@vcu.edu
(804) 827-2400
Wilder School recruitment
wsrecruit@vcu.edu
(804) 827-0364