MSW I Convocation Check-In

1. MSW I Convocation Check-In Dr. Bankhead, Graduate Program Director January 28, 2011 bankhead@csus.edu

2. How was your first semester? • Experience with the teaching styles of faculty • Received grades - know what is expected • Anxiety level is probably reduced • Began 72; 26 in 3 year cohort – roughly 100 students entering into final year • Differences in graduate education – depth, student colleagues, student driven • Challenging to work, engage in field and do well academically • Challenges with course substitutes b/c of the nature of program • Less hospitality to graduate students at university level • Fewer choices in classes, electives, sections, etc. than accustomed to as undergraduates

3. Advancement to Candidacy Form

4. Advancement to Candidacy • Acknowledged by University as a contract • If changes made to advisor, electives, course work, requires a “petition for exception” to change • If you change educational contract (ie. Sequencing of classes) that results in additional semester or year, requires petition to change • If conditions for admission not met – advancement to candidacy will be denied. ( BA/BS, less than 3.0 in 1st semester). • If you do not have your undergraduate degree – will be dropped from all rolls and need to reapply • In past we accepted, but now not so clear…… reduction in spaces on this campus for graduate students

5. Academic Standards • Field Professionalism • Academic Standards – 3 C policy • Must maintain a 3.0; Cannot receive more than 2 Cs or lower • Academic probation if below 3.0 • 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

6. 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

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

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

9. Thesis Alternative Dr. Bankhead MRP 4017 bankhead@csus.edu

10. Piloting Alternative to Traditional Thesis • 2 courses instead of guided study • 296A Advanced Methods of Evaluating Practice • 296B Social Work Graduate Capstone • Dr. Bankhead – Saturday class (20 students) • Dr. Antonyappan – Thursday evenings (20 students)

11. 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

12. Comparable Alternatives • Students requested this alternative and faculty responded to the request • Comparable academic rigor • Piloted form all professor’s teaching 296a/b also teach 500 for the personal experience/opportunity to reflect on differences and challenges • Same song played with a different instrument

13. 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?

14. 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

15. Organization of SW296A Advanced Methods of Evaluating Practice • SW 296A Advanced Research Methods course with a focus on practice evaluation • 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 • Offers a deepened investigation of the evaluation methods and appropriateness of their use b/c not first exposure • Interactive – group work with student colleagues • Lab work • Guest speakers from field with living laboratory research possibilities

16. SW296B Social Work Research Capstone • SW 212: Capstone Project • Spring semester • Group projects • Expedited human subjects review • Organized around similar group and faculty interests • 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, …