Social Work

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Undergraduate Information

Gerontology

OFFICE: Hepner Hall 119
TELEPHONE: 619-594-6865 / FAX: 619-594-5991

Faculty

Emeritus: DuBois, Harbert, Stanford
Director: Min
Professors: Garrett, Min
Associate Professors: Ko, Li

The Major

Gerontology concerns itself with the study and application of knowledge about the physical, social, and economic conditions of older people. Since the process of aging touches all aspects of human activity, gerontology is interdisciplinary in nature. Gerontology is becoming a major area of research in the biological, behavioral, and social sciences. With a rapid increase of older people, has come a growing need for more trained professionals to apply new knowledge about the elderly. Such knowledge is needed for planning and developing programs and services which improve the quality of life for older Americans.

Gerontological training and research is an important link in meeting the social, physical, and psychological needs of the elderly. Students of gerontology benefit through the personal understanding of their own aging process. Those wishing to pursue careers in aging will find many exciting opportunities for serving the elderly in a variety of settings.

It is through research, teaching, and community involvement that faculty members from numerous disciplines provide for the intellectual development of students, the enhancement of community programs, and the assurance of a better quality of life for older people in the community, the state, and the nation.

Program Goals

• Provide academic programs and experiences through courses and field experiences, leading to an undergraduate degree in a major and minor in gerontology.
• Provide interdisciplinary education and training that meet the diverse needs of older people in California and in the U.S.
• Prepare students as generalist gerontologists for careers in a variety of gerontological settings such as senior centers, senior service organizations, area and state agencies on aging, supportive senior housing, public, non-profit and corporate settings, health and long term care facilities.
• Provide students with knowledge of aging network and programs on the local, state, and federal level.
• Provide students with knowledge and skills to identify and understand stereotypes and attitude toward older adults, and emphasize their places and contributions in society.
• Prepare students with knowledge needed in describing, assessing and critiquing various programs, intervention and services designed for older adults.
• Prepare students to meet the needs of older adults with cultural competence regarding age, gender, race and ethnicity, and/or diverse abilities.
• Prepare students for evidence-based practice with older adults with appropriate research methods to develop, implement, and evaluate the aging programs and services.

Program Outcomes

• Describe the process of physical (biological), psychological, social aging, and related theories of aging.
• Know about the diverse needs of the older population in terms of age, gender, race and ethnicity, and/or diverse abilities.
• Demonstrate knowledge of the aging network consisting of programs and policies for the aging population.
• Describe and understand own attitudes toward and beliefs about old age and older adults, and reflect and analyze stereotypes or attitudes towards old adults in the portrayal of aging by society.
• Understand basic concepts of research methods necessary to describe and discuss efficacy and effectiveness of the services and program for older adults as guided and informed by empirical evidence.
• Develop effective written, oral, and interpersonal communication skills with individuals, caregivers, families, and community through professional field experiences.
• Demonstrate case management skills such as interviewing, assessment, and report writing.
• Demonstrate knowledge and understanding necessary to describe, assess, and critique various programs, intervention and services to meet the needs of the growing aging population.
• Demonstrate knowledge and skills necessary to advocate for the needs of older adults and their families by engaging in policy formation, implementation, and analysis.
• Understand the ethical complexities that surround issues with respect to aging.

Advising

All College of Health and Human Services majors are urged to consult with their department adviser as soon as possible; they are required to meet with their department adviser within the first two semesters after declaration or change of major.

Retention Policy

The College of Health and Human Services expects that all gerontology majors will make reasonable academic progress towards the degree. Gerontology premajors who have completed major preparatory courses, earned 60 units, but have less than a 2.0 GPA may be removed from the premajor and placed in undeclared.

Impacted Program

The gerontology major is an impacted program. To be admitted to the gerontology major, students must meet the following criteria:

1. Complete preparation for the major;
2. Complete a minimum of 60 transferable semester units;
3. Have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0.

To complete the major, students must fulfill the degree requirements for the major described in the catalog in effect at the time they are accepted into the premajor at SDSU (assuming continuous enrollment).

Major Academic Plans (MAPs)

Visit http://www.sdsu.edu/mymap for the recommended courses needed to fulfill your major requirements. The MAPs website was created to help students navigate the course requirements for their majors and to identify which General Education course will also fulfill a major preparation course requirement.

Social Work

OFFICE: Hepner Hall 119
TELEPHONE: 619-594-6865

Accredited by the Council on Social Work Education.

Faculty

Emeritus: Ajemian, Archuletta, Baily, Butler, Carrilio, Davis, Dean, DeGennaro, Finnegan, Griffin, Guidry, Harbert, Harris, Haworth, Hohman, Hughes, Ishikawa, Jones, Kahn, Kelley, Landsverk, Packard, Raymer, Reilly, Shillington, Siman, Stanford, Sucato, Valle, Woodruff
Director: Min
Associate Director: Fuentes
Professors: Engstrom, Garrett, Mathiesen, Min, Reed, Zuniga
Associate Professors: Ko, Li, Rasmussen
Assistant Professors: Ciro, Nwabuzor Ogbonnaya, Urada, Villagrana
Lecturers: Barragan, Cosio, Fuentes, Lee, Siegel

The Major

The profession of social work is deeply committed to the relief of human distress and inequality, and to the assistance of people in the meeting of their social, psychological, and economic needs. The social work major prepares graduates who function effectively as entry-level professionals in beginning social work practice with client systems of various sizes and types; who demonstrate sensitivity to the diverse racial, ethnic, and cultural mix of the Southern California border region and are able to work effectively in a variety of roles in a range of agencies to meet the needs of the region’s varied communities; who understand and use social work values and ethics throughout their professional practice; who can identify, evaluate and apply existing research evidence to guide their practice decision-making; who understand the contexts and purposes of social work practice, the changing nature of those contexts, and the nature and the dynamics of organizational behavior; and who are committed to lifelong professional growth and learning.

The social work major is designed to apply to a wide variety of social work practice settings. Preparatory coursework for the major includes a basis in the liberal arts and sciences. The upper division curriculum is intensive, encompassing coursework in cultural pluralism, human behavior, social policy, social work practice, and social work research. Required field experience is an integral part of the program.

The B.A. degree prepares students for immediate employment in those social work positions which do not require graduate level preparation, as well as providing the foundation for graduate study.

Retention Policy

The College of Health and Human Services expects that all social work majors will make reasonable academic progress towards the degree. Social work premajors who have completed major preparatory courses, earned 60 units, but have less than a 2.70 GPA may be removed from the premajor and placed in undeclared.

Impacted Program

The social work major is an impacted program. To be admitted to the social work major, students must meet the following criteria:

1. Complete 21 to 23 units with a minimum GPA of 2.50 and a grade of C (2.0) or better: SWORK 110 , SWORK 120 ; BIOL 100 , BIOL 101 , BIOL 204 , or BIOL 261 ; ECON 101  or ECON 102 ; PSY 101 ; SOC 101 ; PSY 280  or SOC 201  or STAT 250 . These courses cannot be taken for credit/no credit (Cr/NC);
2. Complete a minimum of 60 transferable semester units;
3. Have a cumulative GPA of 2.70 or better;
4. To be admitted to the specialization in community corrections case management, students must, in addition to satisfying the criteria above, be a declared social work major, have an overall GPA of 3.0 or better, be able to pass a background check, and submit an approved application to the undergraduate coordinator.

To complete the major, students must fulfill the degree requirements for the major described in the catalog in effect at the time they are accepted into the premajor at SDSU (assuming continuous enrollment).

Major Academic Plans (MAPs)

Visit http://www.sdsu.edu/mymap for the recommended courses needed to fulfill your major requirements. The MAPs website was created to help students navigate the course requirements for their majors and to identify which General Education course will also fulfill a major preparation course requirement.

Graduate Information

OFFICE: Hepner Hall 119
TELEPHONE: (619) 594-6865
WEBSITE: http://socialwork.sdsu.edu

Accredited by the Council on Social Work Education.

Faculty

Jong Won Min, Ph.D., Professor of Social Work, Director of School
David W. Engstrom, Ph.D., Professor of Social Work
Mario D. Garrett, Ph.D., Professor of Social Work
Loring P. Jones, D.S.W., Professor of Social Work, Emeritus
Sally G. Mathiesen, Ph.D., Professor of Social Work
Thomas R. Packard, D.S.W., Professor of Social Work, Emeritus
Mark B. Reed, Ph.D., Professor of Social Work, Associate Dean of the College of Health and Human Services
Maria L. Zuñiga, Ph.D., Professor of Social Work
Daniel J. Finnegan, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Social Work, Emeritus
Eunjeong Ko, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Social Work
Yawen Li, Ph.D, Associate Professor of Social Work
Lucinda A. Rasmussen, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Social Work
Dianne Ciro, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Social Work
Ijeoma Nwabuzor Ogbonnaya, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Social Work
Lianne Urada, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Social Work
Margarita Villagrana, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Social Work

Admission to Graduate Study

Students applying for admission should electronically submit the university application available at http://www.calstate.edu/apply along with the $55 application fee.

All applicants must submit admissions materials separately to SDSU Graduate Admissions and to the School of Social Work.

Graduate Admissions

The following materials should be submitted as a complete package directly to:

Graduate Admissions

Enrollment Services
San Diego State University
San Diego, CA 92182-7416

1. Official transcripts (in sealed envelopes or electronically) from all postsecondary institutions attended;
   • Students who attended SDSU need only submit transcripts for work completed since last attendance.
   • Students with international coursework must submit both the official transcript and proof of degree. If documents are in a language other than English, they must be accompanied by a certified English translation.
2. GRE scores (http://www.ets.org SDSU institution code 4682);
3. English language score, if medium of instruction was in a language other than English (http://www.ets.org SDSU institution code 4682).

Master of Social Work Degree

The following admissions materials must be submitted electronically:

1. Department application;
2. Letters of recommendation;
3. Personal statement.

For information regarding the admissions process, visit the school website at http://socialwork.sdsu.edu.

Master of Social Work Degree and Juris Doctor Degree

The following admissions materials must be submitted electronically:

1. Department application;
2. Letters of recommendation;
3. Personal statement;
4. Contact the Office of Admissions at California Western School of Law at 619-525-1463 for a separate application.

For information regarding the admissions process, visit the school website at http://socialwork.sdsu.edu.

Master of Social Work Degree and Master of Public Health Degree

The following admissions materials must be submitted electronically:

1. Department application;
2. Personal statement;
3. Three letters of recommendation.

Students must also complete the SOPHAS application found on the public health website at https://publichealth.sdsu.edu/programs/mph/admissions-mph-ms. Applications for the concurrent program are reviewed by the School of Public Health and School of Social Work.

Section II. Doctoral Program

http://socialwork.sdsu.edu/degrees-programs/graduateprograms/phd-substance-use-studies

Doctor of Philosophy Degree in Interdisciplinary Research on Substance Use

General Information

The School of Social Work at San Diego State University and the Division of Global Public Health at the University of California, San Diego, offer a joint doctoral program in interdisciplinary research on substance use. This program is designed to prepare the next generation of leaders in substance use research with the knowledge and skills to improve health and develop substance use interventions, policies, and programs that are relevant to impacted populations and reduce suffering related to addiction and substance use.

The program focuses on interdisciplinary approaches to address the use and misuse of substances and the social and health consequences of such use and related policies. Interdisciplinary training opportunities draw from a variety of disciplines including anthropology, economics, global health, Latin American studies, neuroscience, pharmacology, political science, psychology and psychiatry, public health, and social work. The program will include a prevention research orientation focusing on the development and evaluation of disease prevention and health promotion recommendations and public health policies and programs. A harm reduction research perspective is also emphasized to reduce health problems associated with drug use and co-occurring disorders. Students acquire advanced skills and knowledge in these areas, building on a solid foundation of current and emerging theory, research methods, and analytic approaches related to scientific and cultural understanding of substance use and related problems. Using a socio-ecological perspective, students will gain critical understanding of the etiology and epidemiology of substance use, and its related problems, as well as the effectiveness of interventions, policies, and programs designed to ameliorate such problems. Graduates of the program will be prepared to take leadership roles in areas such as academics, clinical practice, governmental and non-governmental agencies, policy, and research.

Admission to the Degree Curriculum

Applicants must hold a master’s degree from an accredited (U.S. or equivalent) college or university from a related social/behavioral science or professional program (e.g., social work, public health, psychology, sociology, anthropology, economics). It is expected that applicants will have minimum grade point averages of 3.2 (undergraduate) and 3.5 (graduate) or better, and sufficient research experience (e.g., peer-reviewed publication record, prior coursework in graduate-level statistics, and research methodology) to successfully complete degree requirements in a timely manner. Minimum acceptable GRE scores are at the 55th percentile. Students who speak English as a second language will be required to demonstrate proficiency in spoken and written English through the TOEFL examination, TOEFL scores must be submitted to SDSU, Institution Code 4682, http://www.ets.org.

Advancement to Candidacy

In order to advance to candidacy, students must (1) complete their coursework, (2) pass a comprehensive examination, (3) develop a proposal of their dissertation research (NIH-style proposal format), and (4) pass an oral defense of their dissertation proposal with their committee. The comprehensive examination will be objective and cover areas including data analysis, research methods, pharmacology, and theory. The material for this examination will be taken from course materials related to each of these respective sequences. Students must achieve at least 80 percent within two attempts in order to pass.

Imperial Valley

In cooperation with the San Diego campus, SDSU Imperial Valley and the School of Social Work offer the Master of Social Work (MSW) program. The program accepts students every three years and is run as a cohort. The focus is direct practice/clinical practice in the areas of children/youth/families, health/aging, and mental health. The SDSU-IV program includes summer classes and two years of internship (total of 60 units).

For more information, visit the SDSU School of Social Work website at http://socialwork.sdsu.edu or contact Ernie L. Zuñiga, site/field coordinator and field education faculty, SDSU School of Social Work, 760-768-5526 or ezuniga@sdsu.edu.

Programs

• Applied Gerontology Certificate
• Gerontology Minor
• Gerontology, B.A. in Liberal Arts and Sciences
• Pupil Personnel Services Credential
• Social Work Administration Certificate
• Social Work Minor
• Social Work, Administration and Community Development, M.S.W.
• Social Work, B.A. in Liberal Arts and Sciences
• Social Work, Direct Practice, M.S.W.
• Social Work, Direct Practice, M.S.W.
• Social Work, Direct Practice/EC-TEaMH, M.S.W.
• Social Work, M.S.W.
• Social Work, M.S.W./J.D.
• Social Work, Ph.D.
• Social Work, Specialization in Community Corrections Case Management, B.A. in Liberal Arts and Sciences
• Social Work, Specialization in Environmental Social Work and Community Engagement, B.A. in Liberal Arts and Sciences

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