Senate Bill No. 0304-21
UNIVERSITY SENATE
UNIVERSITY AT ALBANY
STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK
Introduced by: Graduate Academic Council
Date: March 2004
PROPOSAL TO ESTABLISH A REGISTERED DUAL DEGREE PROGRAM
M.S.W./M.A. PUBLIC AFFAIRS & POLICY
IT IS HEREBY PROPOSED THAT THE FOLLOWING BE ADOPTED:
1. That the University Senate approve the attached Proposal to Establish a Registered
“Dual Degree Program involving the Master of Social Work (MACRO Concentration)
and Master of Arts in Public Affairs and Policy,” as approved by the Graduate Academic
Council.
2. That this proposal be forwarded to the President for approval.
Proposed Dual Degree
Master of Social Work (MACRO Concentration) and Master of Public Affairs and Policy
University at Albany
PROPOSED PROGRAM TITLE: Dual Degree Program in Social Work and Public
Policy.
TITLES and Program Code Numbers of Currently Registered Programs which are to be
combined: M.S.W. in Social Work 03048. Master of Arts in Public Affairs and Policy
03040.
PROPOSED DEGREES: M.S.W./Master of Arts in Public Affairs and Policy
HEGIS Classification and Number: Public Affairs and Service, 2104 (M.S.W.); MA
Public Affairs and Policy 2102.
Academic Units That Will Offer the Program: School of Social Welfare, University at
Albany, State University of New York and Nelson A. Rockefeller College of Public
Affairs and Policy, University at Albany, State University of New York.
Proposed Beginning Date: September 1, 2004.
Summary of Program: The School of Social Welfare, University at Albany, State
University of New York, offers approved B.S., M.S.W., and Ph.D. programs in Social
Work. The Nelson A. Rockefeller College of Public Affairs and Policy, University at
Albany, offers approved B.A. degrees in Political Science and Public Policy; M.A.
degrees in Political Science, Public Administration, and Public Affairs and Policy; and
Ph.D. degrees in Political Science and Public Administration. This proposal is to offer a
combined masters-level program in Social Work (MACRO Concentration) and Public
Affairs and Policy. The proposed dual degree program is 87 credits: 51 credits (of 60) of
Master of Social Work courses and 36 credits (of 44 minimum) of Master of Public
Affairs and Policy courses. Students will take 16 of the 19 courses required toward the
Social Work degree. Students will take all of the courses required for the Public Affairs
and Policy degree because courses in Social Work will satisfy the degree’s requirements
for an elected substantive public policy field and an internship. The program will take 3
academic years if completed full-time. We anticipate admitting one or two students a
year. This program will be a Council on Social Work Education accredited M.S.W.
program under the School of Social Welfare’s current accreditation.
The curriculum for the proposed dual degree program is displayed in Tables 1 and 2.
Rationale for the program: The proposed dual degree will prepare students with a
commitment to humanitarian values, knowledge of U.S. social service delivery systems,
and advanced skills to analyze and formulate public policy relevant to social welfare.
The M.S.W. degree with a MACRO concentration prepares graduates for professional
social work in service delivery and management of human service organizations.
Additional skills include evaluation, resource development, advocacy and community
development. A recent survey of graduates indicated they held positions as providers of
direct service, administrators in social service agencies, educators or trainers, policy
development staff, and research and consulting. All but a few worked in human services.
The Masters of Public Affairs and Policy (henceforth referred to as the MPP) prepares
students for careers as policy analysts and leaders in public service. Skills include
analytic and quantitative skills to frame policy issues, deal with institutional and political
contexts, and effectively bring about actions to formulate, approve, implement and
evaluate policy. The MPP requires specialization in a choice of public policy fields, such
as education, environment, health, and welfare.
The proposed dual program would offer students the opportunity to combine a
commitment to public social policy with strong analytic skills in formulating and
analyzing policy. The first year of M.S.W. coursework includes a strong emphasis on
social work values and ethics, intervention skills, and organizational contexts that will
provide students with a perspective and skills to further human well-being and social
justice. The first-year coursework also prepares students to provide service delivery at a
beginning level, a useful understanding for analyzing the impact of social policy. The
second-year MSW MACRO coursework includes organizational and interorganizational
skills but does not heavily emphasize policy analysis. The MPP coursework will provide
students with strong statistical and analytic skills and background in economics and
public finance, as well as an understanding of the politics of public policy formation and
the challenges of public policy implementation. Substantive content for the required MPP
Master’s Essay will be from basic and advanced MSW courses in social welfare policy.
In the proposed dual degree, students will take the required courses in each program. In
the social work program, these courses include those whose content is required for
accreditation. In the MPP, the students will take the standard program, using social work
courses to satisfy the program’s requirement for an elected public policy field and a social
work field instruction course to satisfy the requirement for an internship. In other words,
both degrees will count courses in the other program as meeting elective courses. The
program will be a fully accredited M.S.W. program under the School of Social Welfare’s
current accreditation.
Potential Demand: We expect one or two students a year.
Enrollment in the M.S.W. program has been steady between 350 and 375 and
applications for the entering class have been between 200 and 400.
The MPP program enrolls about 30 students a year. Students include both recent college
graduates and working professionals in state and local governments and nonprofit
agencies.
General requirements for program completion of each separate program:
The University at Albany School of Social Welfare currently offers a 60-credit degree,
Master of Social Work (M.S.W.). The M.S.W. degree includes 31 credits of required
coursework and 29 credits of coursework in an advanced concentration. Because this
proposal concerns only one advanced concentration, the MACRO concentration, the
model full-time curriculum for MACRO students only is presented in Table 4. In the
MACRO concentration (second-year), 6 courses (20 credits) are required of all students;
2 courses (6 credits) are selected from courses designated by the faculty as meeting
requirements for Advanced MACRO (1 course, 3 credits) and Advanced Policy (1 course,
3 credits); and one additional course (3 credits) is taken per advisement.
The Master of Arts in Public Affairs and Policy (MPP) offered by the Rockefeller College
includes nine core courses, three courses in a substantive public policy field chosen by
the student, and a master’s essay on a topic in the student’s elected policy policy field.
The public policy fields draw on courses offered by other departments on campus,
including the School of Social Welfare. The required courses are listed in Table 5. In
addition, students must complete a non-credit internship of at least one semester.
Specific requirements for the dual Master’s program:
a. Listing of all required courses.
The required courses for the proposed Dual Registered Master’s Program in Social Work
and Master of Arts in Public Affairs and Policy are listed in Table 1. The 87 credit degree
includes 14 required social work courses (courses listed as SSW with a number), 2 social
work courses that meet distributional requirements (listed as SSW 7xx), 9 required public
affairs and policy courses (courses listed as PUB), and a master’s essay.
b. Supporting courses and electives.
The courses that meet social work distributional requirements for Advanced MACRO and
Advanced Policy courses will be selected from those listed in Table 3. They will be the
same selection of courses offered to students in the MSW program at the same time.
c. Courses and credits that will be used to satisfy requirements for both degrees.
Table 2 indicates how credit will be allocated toward each degree. The 9 courses that
meet requirements of both degrees are in the center column of Table 2. Several
requirements for the social work advanced MACRO concentration are met with public
affairs and policy courses. The social work program evaluation course (SSW 665) is met
through data analysis courses in public affairs and policy (PUB 504 and 505). The social
work course in organizational contexts (SSW 790) is met through public affairs and
policy courses in policy implementation and politics (PUB 506 and PUB 522).
Several requirements for the MPP are met through social work courses. The required
internship is met through one of the two-semester social work internships (SSW 753)
This internship will involve policy analysis or implementation in a social welfare context.
The public policy field requirement of 3 courses is met through courses with social
welfare policy content in social work (SSW 600 and courses taken to meet the Advanced
MACRO and Advanced Policy distributional requirements).
In terms of completing degree requirements toward the M.S.W. Social Work degree,
students will take 16 of the 18 required social work courses (51 credits). The content of
two required courses is met through public affairs and policy. No required content will be
lost. In the regular degree program, students take one elective in social work or any
related graduate department. A public affairs and policy course is a suitable elective.
Toward the MPP degree, students take all 9 required core courses and write a master’s
essay. The internship and the public policy field courses will be in social work. No
required content is lost because, in the regular MPP program, one of the public policy
fields is social welfare and includes social work policy courses.
d. Number of semesters required for dual program completion. The model program is
laid out in Table 1. The degree will take three academic years and three summers to
complete.
e. Other program requirements. The required internship and master’s thesis are
included in the credit-bearing courses. There are no additional requirements. Students
must satisfactorily complete all courses, including courses in Field Instruction (internship
in an agency).
f. Assuring program quality: Several means exist to assure program quality. First, the
M.S.W. degree program (including the variation proposed in this dual degree program) is
accredited by an external accrediting body, the Council on Social Work Education. It is
reviewed periodically by outside reviewers and must meet rigorous standards, especially
when variations to the regular degree programs are present. Secondly, as part of the
M.S.W. requirements, students must complete four semesters of field instruction, carrying
out social work duties in a social work agency (internship). Professional responsibility as
well as concerns for liability require careful monitoring of student preparation for and
supervision during the field practica. The Rockefeller College has elected not to pursue
accreditation for the MA in Public Affairs and Policy degree. However, the program was
reviewed and assessed in 2003 by the program’s faculty and a team of external site
visitors as part of a review of all campus programs required by the State University of
New York central administration. Finally, faculty at both programs have formal
mechanisms for periodic review of curriculum, including the content and relevance of
courses that fulfill degree requirements.
g. Admissions: Students must be eligible to matriculate in both programs and must be
accepted through the admissions process of each program.
Table 1
Proposed Dual Degree
Master of Social Work (MACRO) at the School of Social Welfare and
Master of Public Affairs and Policy
University at Albany-State University of New York
Curriculum and Model Program (87 credits)
Time
Frame
Master of Social Work
Master of Public Affairs and
Policy
Year 1
Fall
15 credits
SSW 600 Social Welfare
Policy and Services (3 credits)
SSW 610 Human Behavior
and Social Environment I (3
credits)
SSW 620 Micro Practice in
Social Work I (3 credits)
SSW 630 Macro Practice in
Social Work I (3 credits)
SSW 650 Field Instruction I (3
credits)
Year 1
SSW 611 Human Behavior
Spring
16 credits
and Social Environment II (3
credits)
SSW 621 Micro Practice in
Social Work II (3 credits)
SSW 631 Macro Practice in
Social Work II (3 credits)
SSW 651 Field Instruction II
(4 credits)
SSW 660 Introductory
Research Methodology (3
credits)
Year 2
Fall
13 credits
SSW 790 Human Service
Organizations (3 credits) OR
SSW 792 Community
Building (3 credits)
PUB 503 Economics and
Finance (4 credits)
PUB 504 Data, Models and
Decisions I (4 credits)
PUB 507 Professional
Applications (2 credits)
Year 2
Spring
15 credits
SSW 791 Managing Systems
in Human Service
Organizations (3 credits)
PUB 505 Data, Models and
Decisions II (4 credits)
PUB 506 Implementation and
Impact (4 credits)
PUB 514 Economic Analysis
for Public Affairs II (4 credits)
Year 3
Fall
15 credits
SSW 752 Field Education III
(4 credits)SSW 7xx Advanced
MACRO (3 credits)*
PUB 502 Philosophical and
Ethical Issues in Public Policy
OR PUB 529 Law and Policy
(4 credits)PUB 522 Politics
and Policy (4 credits)
Year 3
Spring
13 credits
SSW 743 Field Education IV
(4 credits)SSW 7xx Advanced
Policy (3 credits)
PUB 508 Current Topics (2
credits)
PUB 698 Master’s Essay (4
credits)
Total
credits87
51 credits
36 credits
Table 2
Proposed Dual Degree
Master of Social Work (MACRO) at the School of Social Welfare and
Master of Public Affairs and Policy
University at Albany-State University of New York
Allocation of Credits to the Degree Programs
Credits counting toward
Master of Social Work
only
Credits counting
toward both degrees
Credits counting
toward Master of
Public Affairs and
Policy only
SSW 610 Human
Behavior and Social
Environment I (3 credits)
SSW 620 Micro Practice
in Social Work I (3
credits)
SSW 630 Macro Practice
in Social Work I (3
credits)
SSW 650 Field
Instruction I (3
credits)SSW 611 Human
Behavior and Social
Environment II (3
credits)
SSW 621 Micro Practice
in Social Work II (3
credits)
SSW 631 Macro Practice
in Social Work II (3
credits)
SSW 651 Field
Instruction II (4 credits)
SSW 660 Introductory
Research Methodology (3
credits)
SSW 752 Field
Instruction III (4 credits )
SSW 753 Field
Instruction IV (4 credits)
SSW 790 Human Service
Organizations in a
Changing Environment
OR SSW 792
SSW 600 Social
Welfare Policy and
Services (3 credits)
SSW 7xx Advanced
MACRO (3 credits)
SSW 7xx Advanced
Policy (3 credits)
PUB 502 Philosophical
and Ethical Issues in
Public Policy OR PUB
529 Law and Policy (4
credits)
PUB 504 Data, Models
and Decisions I (4
credits)
PUB 505 Data, Models
and Decisions II (4
credits)
PUB 503 Economics
and Finance (4
credits)
PUB 506
Implementation and
Impact (4 credits)
PUB 507 Professional
Applications (2
credits)
PUB 508 Current
Topics in Public
Policy (2 credits)
PUB 514 Economic
Analysis for Public
Affairs II (4 credits)
PUB 522 Politics and
Policy (4 credits)
PUB 698 Master’s
Essay (4 credits)
Community Building (3
credits)
SSW 791 Managing
Systems in Human
Service Organizations (3
credits)
42 credits
21 credits
24 credits
Table 3
School of Social Welfare
University at Albany-State University of New York
Course Meeting Distributional Requirements for Advanced MACRO and Advanced
Policy
Advanced MACRO (students select one):
SSW 793 Leadership in Human Services
SSW 794 Community Economic Development
SSW 795 Development (Fundraising, Marketing, Grants)
SSW 796 Action Research
SSW 7xx Interprofessional Leadership for School, Family, and Community Partnerships
SSW 7xx Managed Care and Social Work.
Advanced Policy (students select one):
SSW 740 Social Gerontology: Policies, Programs and Services
SSW 780 Child Welfare
SSW 781732 Poverty, Health and Health Policy
SSW 782 International Social Welfare Policy
SSW 783 Social Work in Rural Settings
SSW 784 Women and Social Policy
SSW 785 Mental Health Policy
Table 4
School of Social Welfare
University at Albany-State University of New York
M.S.W. Curriculum with Concentration in MACRO
First-Year Generalist Curriculum
First Semester (Fall)
SSW 600 Social Welfare Policy and Services (3 credits)
SSW 610 Human Behavior and Social Environment I (3 credits)
SSW 620 Micro Practice in Social Work I (3 credits)
SSW 630 Macro Practice in Social Work I (3 credits)
SSW 650 Field Instruction I (3 credits)
Second Semester (Spring)
SSW 611 Human Behavior and Social Environment II (3 credits)
SSW 621 Micro Practice in Social Work II (3 credits)
SSW 631 Macro Practice in Social Work II (3 credits)
SSW 660 Introductory Research Methodology (3 credits)
SSW 651 Field Instruction II (4 credits)
Second-Year MACRO Practice Program
Third Semester (Fall)
SSW 665 Research Methods in Social Work Management (3 credits)
SSW 752 Field Instruction III (4 credits)
SSW 790 Human Service Organizations in a Changing Environment (3 credits)
SSW 792 Community Building (3 credits)
SSW 7xx Advanced MACRO course* (3 credits)
Fourth Semester (Spring)
SSW 753 Field Instruction IV (4 credits)
SSW 791 Managing Systems in Human Service Organizations (3 credits)
SSW 7xx Advanced Policy** (3 credits)
SSW xxx Elective (3 credits)
*Advanced MACRO courses may be selected from the following approved courses: SSW
793 Leadership in Human Services, SSW 794 Community Economic Development, SSW
795 Development (Fundraising, Marketing, Grants), SSW 796 Action Research, SSW
7xx Interprofessional Leadership for School, Family, and Community Partnerships, or
SSW 7xx Managed Care and Social Work.
**Advanced Policy courses may be selected from the following approved courses: SSW
740 Social Gerontology: Policies, Programs and Services; SSW 780 Child Welfare; SSW
781 Poverty, Health and Health Policy; SSW 782 International Social Welfare Policy;
SSW 783 SW in Rural Settings; SSW 784 Women and Social Policy; SSW 785 Mental
Health Policy
Table 5
Nelson A. Rockefeller College of Public Affairs and Policy
University at Albany-State University of New York
Master of Public Affairs and Policy
Curriculum
First Semester (Fall)
PUB 503 Economics and Finance (4 credits)
PUB 504 Data, Models and Decisions I (4 credits)
PUB 507 Professional Applications (2 credits)
PUB 522 Politics and Policy (4 credits)
Second Semester (Spring)
PUB 514 Economic Analysis for Public Affairs II (4 credits)
PUB 505 Data, Models and Decisions II (4 credits)
PUB 506 Implementation and Impact (4 credits)
PUB 508 Current Topics in Public Policy (2 credits)
Third Semester (Fall)
PUB 502 Philosophical and Ethical Issues in Public Policy OR PUB 529 Law and Policy
(4
credits)
Policy Field course (3 or 4 credits)
Policy Field course (3 or 4 credits)
Fourth Semester (Spring)
Policy Field course (3 or 4 credits)
PUB 698 Master’s Essay (4 credits)
Public Policy Internship
