Advanced Clinical Social Work Practice Graduate Certificate

Print Degree Planner (opens a new window) |

The graduate certificate in Advanced Clinical Social Work Practice prepares students for practice in clinical settings by enhancing their theoretical, empirical and practice knowledge relevant to these settings and by offering a blend of didactic and experiential learning. Through an intersectional lens, students enhance their understanding of critical elements of advanced clinical practice, such as assessment and conceptualization, diagnosis and treatment. Given that social workers treat diverse client populations, this certificate also encompasses a commitment to social justice and addressing barriers to mental health treatment.

The USC Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work offers university certificates that provide students advanced practice or research training through a social justice and intercultural competence lens that emphasizes community, organizational and environmental justice. Certificates are designed to complement and deepen training provided through our degree programs by focusing on experiential application of concepts in relation to particular and diverse client populations, settings, and systems. Each certificate consists of at least 12 units, which may in part be satisfied by courses completed for a degree program. Certificates are also available to graduate students from other disciplines and to employed professionals.

The graduate certificate in Advanced Clinical Social Work Practice requires a minimum of 17 units.

Foundational Clinical Practice Courses (6 units):

Comparable courses may be considered as substitutes for these courses at the discretion of the instructor.

Assessment and Diagnosis Course (3 units)

MSW students enrolled in the Adult Mental Health and Wellness (AMHW) track will complete SOWK 612 to satisfy requirements for the track. These students, therefore, should complete an alternative course (3 units) selected from among available advanced clinical practice courses.

A comparable course may be considered as substitute for this course at the discretion of the instructor.

SOWK 612 Assessment and Diagnosis of Mental Disorder Units: 3

Advanced Clinical Practice Courses (6 units):

Comparable courses may be considered as substitutes for these courses at the discretion of the instructor.

Clinical Lab (2 units):

A comparable course may be considered as substitute for this course at the discretion of the instructor.

SOWK 697 Advanced Clinical Social Work Practice Certificate Lab Units: 2