Introduction

More than ever, social workers and other human service and health professionals need up-to-date information about the challenges veterans, military personnel and their families encounter currently and throughout the lifespan. The projected need for human service professionals trained in the specific problems associated with military members, veterans and military families will continue to expand. This graduate certificate program will provide social workers with essential knowledge to meet the emerging needs of all military personnel, veterans and military families.

The Program

The Graduate Certificate for Social and Behavorial Health with Military Members, Veterans and Military Families is administered by the College of Social Work. It provides MSW students with specific knowledge and skills necessary to interact in military and community settings where the needs of veterans and their families are met. The program is designed to develop competency in knowledge about the military and military culture, understand the signature injuries associated with different military conflicts and those associated with military life, and understand intervention and rehabilitation strategies that are effective when working with this diverse population.

Learning Outcomes

Admissions Criteria

A student in good academic standing, enrolled in the MSW program may request concurrent enrollment in both the MSW and Graduate Certificate for Social and Behavioral Health with Military Members, Veterans and Military Families.

For students not currently enrolled in the MSW program, the applicant must submit the following to the Graduate School:

• Graduate application form
• Two letters of reference from professors or employers
• An official transcript from each college of university previously attended
• A statement of interest

It is the applicant’s responsibility to ensure all required steps for enrollment are taken.

How to Apply

The MSW student in good standing will send an E-mail requesting concurrent enrollment to the program director who evaluates the request with affiliated faculty. If approved, the request is forwarded to the Graduate School.

If the student has already applied or been admitted to a graduate program at this university, previously submitted letters of recommendation will be accepted. It is the applicant’s responsibility to make sure that all required application materials have been received.

Admission to the Certificate program is on a selective basis and is determined by the academic preparation and personal qualifications of the applicant. The applicant must have a bachelor’s (undergraduate) degree from an accredited institution. A cumulative grade point average of 3.00 (on a 4.00 scale) is normally expected. Applicants whose undergraduate GPA is below 3.0 must submit GRE scores. Successful applicants typically have a combined score of 800 on the GRE taken prior to August 2011, or a score of “4” on the analytical writing portion of the current general GRE.

Experience in working with military populations will also be considered as an additional basis for admission to the program.

For Additional Information:

Nancy K. Brown, PhD, MSW, LISW-CP, CASAC, ICADC
College of Social Work
University of South Carolina
Columbia, South Carolina 29208
Phone: (803)622-2573 work cell
(803) 777-3511
nancyb@mailbox.sc.edu

Certificate Requirements (18 hours):

The Certificate requires 18 credit hours of coursework. Four courses are required and two are electives chosen based on the student’s personal interests. These electives can be taken within the College of Social Work, or may be taken in other university units as approved by the Program Director.

All students are required to take:

• SOWK 737 - Overview of Social Work Practice with the Military, Veterans, and their Families
    
• SOWK 738 - Military Mental Health and the Impact of Trauma
    
• SOWK 739 - Intervention Strategies in Military Behavioral Health
    
• SOWK 758 - Dynamics and Substance Abuse
    

Two additional electives may be chosen or transferred in from current graduate study.