Social Work - Community Mental Health

Social Work - Community Mental Health

The Master of Social Work (MSW) program at California State University, Dominguez Hills is intentionally designed to address the diverse social service needs, issues and problems particular to a large metropolitan area such as Los Angeles County. Building on the diversity of the various ethnic groups and cultures residing in the area, the program will prepare social work students for contextually competent social work practice, inclusive of the issues of culture, race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, religion, class, sexual orientation and gender. The effects of bias, prejudice and institutionalized racism are examined so that students understand how these issues can affect social work practice, policy development and program implementation. Students learn a variety of perspectives and ways of identifying strategies and interventions for addressing these concerns and other problems in social work practice with individuals, families and communities.

The Department of Social Work promotes a psychosocial, ecological and cross-cultural approach to social work practice with Critical Race Theory and Intersectionality serving as the theoretical framework for contextually competent practice. The curriculum is developed and organized as a coherent and integrated whole consistent with program goals and objectives. California State University, Dominguez Hills offers one concentration: Social Work Practice in Communities (SWPC) and three specializations that students can choose from: Children, Youth and Families, Community Mental Health and Community Capacity Building.