MSW Concentrations
The UConn School of Social Work offers specialized concentrations to match your interests and career goals. Students can choose one of three areas of concentration:
Individuals, Groups and Families Practice (IGFP)
This method of social work practice teaches students to use the professional relationship to improve the well-being of individuals, families and groups. Clients are supported to:
- Strengthen and reach their personal potential
- Understand and cope with specific situations and stressors
- Develop effective forms of self-expression and communication
- Develop positive interpersonal relationships
- Influence their physical and social environments to better meet their needs
- Understand and secure their rights and entitlements
- Utilize personal, interpersonal and environmental resources
Who Should Consider Individuals, Groups and Families Practice?
IGFP can be an ideal choice for students or working adults who have a passion for using their skills and strengths to help individuals or groups build healthy relationships and create positive change. Undergraduates in disciplines such as psychology or human development and family sciences (HDFS) should consider an MSW with a IGFP concentration for their graduate studies.
Community Organizing (CORG)
Community Organizing is a process of building relationships with individuals and across organizations to bring people together to collectively recognize and use power to create structural change for more equitable and just communities. Community organizing activities include:
- Building equitable relationships and partnerships with community members
- Shifting power relationships to benefit the community
- Supporting community leaders and leadership development
- Collaborating with communities on needs assessments and identifying solutions
- Increasing access to programs and services
- Engaging in outreach and community involvement
- Organizing public meetings and other public actions
Who Should Consider Community Organizing Practice?
Community Organizing is an ideal choice for individuals who want to work with people to build relationships, create community, and promote a more equitable society. CORG students learn to use their strengths to support individuals and groups to change their own communities, laws, and environments, and to make systems more equitable and just.
Policy Practice
This method of social work practice leads to change in public and private institutions and systems to reduce discrimination and increase equity. Policy practice activities include:
- Analyzing existing policies and crafting policy proposals
- Administering social programs
- Conducting needs and community assessments
- Using research and data in policymaking
- Learning grant proposal writing
- Implementing political strategies
- Writing legislative policy briefs
Who Should Consider Policy Practice?
Undergraduates in disciplines such as political science, public policy, sociology, urban studies, women’s and gender studies, human rights, or human development and family sciences (HDFS) should consider an MSW with a Policy Practice concentration for their graduate studies.