You study child and family development and the social policies affecting children and families. In studying families at risk or those with special problems, you also focus on such subjects as parents' rights and children's best interests. You must take 24 credits of required courses and 12 credits of elective courses, in addition to the foundation curriculum. The family mental health concentration prepares you for direct service roles with families and individuals. The program provides the specialized skills you need to assess stress points in individuals and in families, and in their relationships with other systems.
Coursework emphasizes designing, providing, and evaluating clinical services.
You can augment it with courses in psychology in the College of Arts and Sciences, and in child and family studies, and marriage and family therapy in the College for Human Development. You must take 24 credits of concentration courses and 12 credits of electives, in addition to the foundation curriculum. The gerontology concentration helps you understand the process of aging and the changing needs of an aging population, and then respond to those needs through a variety of social work strategies. In pursuing this concentration, you prepare for advanced roles in direct service or in organizing, planning, and administering services for the elderly. In addition, other graduate departments in the University offer more than 20 courses that provide different perspectives on gerontology.