Certificate Programs

We offer three types of certificate programs:

Certificate in Child Welfare Practice
Certificate in Gerontology
Certificate in Jewish Communal Service 

Certificate in Child Welfare Practice

The certificate, which is granted upon graduation, is open to any Wurzweiler student who is in good academic standing and demonstrates the following criteria:

1. Commitment to the field of child welfare and a commitment to serving Latino and African American families
2. Awareness of the over-representation of children and families of color in the child welfare system
3. Incorporation of NYS Child Welfare Competencies into social work practice
4. One or two field placements in public or voluntary child welfare agencies
5. Enrollment in child welfare specific MSW core courses (Foundation Practice I & II, Human Behavior I & II, Social Welfare Organization, and both Research courses)
6. Enrollment in specialized elective courses (see below)
7. Completion of a capstone essay project that focuses on child welfare practice

Elective Courses

Certificate in Child Welfare Practice students should take three of the following electives:
SWK 6139 Immigration
SWK 6630 Social Work Practice in Schools
SWK 6683 Substance Abuse
SWK 6684 Child and Family Welfare
SWK 6281 Law and Social Work
SWK 6702 Coping with Loss
SWK 6682 Evidence-Based Mental Health Practice
SWK 6685 Social Work Practice with Trauma & Interpersonal Violence
SWK 6141 Family Systems
SWK 6328 Social Work with Groups
SWK 6681 Community Mental Health
SWK 6704 Social Work Practice with Children

BACK TO TOP

Certificate in Gerontology

The certificate, which is granted upon graduation, is open to any Wurzweiler student who is in good academic standing and demonstrates the following criteria:

1. One or two field placements in agencies serving older adults
2. Enrollment in MSW core courses (Foundation Practice I & II, Human Behavior I & II, and Social Welfare Organization) that infuse content on aging into their syllabi
3. Enrollment in specialized elective courses (see below)
4. Completion of a capstone essay project that focuses on some aspect of social work practice in gerontology

Elective Courses

Students should take three of the following electives
SWK 6686 Social Gerontology
SWK 6688 Advanced Policy and Practice in Gerontology
SWK 6702 Coping with Loss
SWK 6820 Social Work Practice in Palliative Care

BACK TO TOP

Certificate in Jewish Communal Service

This certificate, which is granted upon graduation, is open to any Wurzweiler student who is in good academic standing and demonstrates the following criteria:

1. Commitment to professional excellence in the field of Jewish communal service in either direct practice or leadership positions in the Jewish community
2. Dedication to the Jewish community and passion for vibrant Jewish life
3. One field placement in a Jewish communal agency in the NY metropolitan area or in students’ home communities
4. Enrollment in MSW core courses (Foundation Practice I & II, Human Behavior I & II, Social Welfare Organization, and both Research courses)
5. Enrollment in specialized elective courses (see below)
6. Participation in an educational enrichment seminar

Elective Courses

Jewish Communal Service students should take three of the following electives:
SWK 6136 Jewish Response to Communal Needs
SWK 6191 Major Concepts in Jewish Cultural History
SWK 6180 Organizational Structure of the American Jewish Community
(or)
SWK 6145 The Changing American Jewish Family

BACK TO TOP