Certificate Programs

Optional certificates are available to students enrolled at the University of Houston who would like to develop specialized knowledge and skills essential to working effectively with specific populations and/or social issues. Certificates are available in Gerontology, Health Disparities, Political Social Work, and Trabajo Social. These optional certificates do not require additional hours; however, they are earned by completing 9 credit hours of select courses in the chosen certificate area, with a minimum of a “B” average. For MSW students, a related field practicum is encouraged. Descriptions of each certificate program are provided below.

For more information, contact:

Dr. Sheara Williams, Coordinator
Certificate Programs
Graduate College of Social Work
(713) 743-8120
swilliams3@uh.edu

 

MSW CERTIFICATE IN GERONTOLOGY

The Certificate in Gerontology program addresses the educational needs of students who will be engaged in practice with older adults by providing them with rich opportunities to learn from gerontology experts at the University of Houston. The certificate is granted upon completion of a structured program of 9 credit hours of graduate level courses. With a commitment to excellence, the Gerontology Certificate Program has been developed according to standards and guidelines established by the Association for Gerontology in Higher Education for currently enrolled graduate students at The University of Houston’s Graduate College of Social Work.

MSW CERTIFICATE IN HEALTH DISPARITIES

The University of Houston Graduate College of Social Work, in a collaborative effort with The Center for Research on Minority Health in the Department of Health Disparities Research at The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, offers a program leading to a certificate in Health Disparities. The goal of the certificate program is to train health care professionals to be more sensitive and culturally competent in understanding and addressing the needs of minorities and socioeconomically disadvantaged Americans. This structured program is comprised of 9 credit hours of graduate level courses.

MSW CERTIFICATE IN POLITICAL SOCIAL WORK

The Political Social Work certificate provides students with advanced knowledge for political, socio-economic, contextualized practice in both traditional and nontraditional settings. Students will gain knowledge and skills to examine patterns and system dynamics that are not readily apparent, to recognize that these patterns and dynamics are perpetuated mainly because of their invisibility, and to identify leverage points for change in systems, organizations, communities, groups and individuals. The certificate is granted upon completion of a structured program of 9 credit hours of graduate level courses.

MSW CERTIFICATE IN TRABAJO SOCIAL

The Trabajo Social Certificate aims to prepare social workers to work with the Latino population in a variety of community and social service settings. Through the courses in the certificate program, students will deepen their awareness and understanding of the historical, political, economic, social, and cultural contexts of Latinos, and gain practice-based knowledge by critically examining the variety of practice frameworks, socio-ecological concepts and theories, and cultural constructs that inform culturally-competent social work practices with different Latino groups. The certificate is granted upon completion of a structured program of 9 credit hours of graduate level courses.



Course Options

MSW CERTIFICATE IN GERONTOLOGY
Course listings coming soon

MSW CERTIFICATE IN HEALTH DISPARITIES

1. Required course: HLT 6397: Health Disparities OR attendance and completion of the workshop: Disparities in Health in America: Working Towards Social Justice, offered for one full week each year in June by The Center for Research on Minority Health.

2. In addition, six (6) credit hours (two classes) of electives of their choice taken from the following list:

Elective options within the Graduate College of Social Work
• SOCW 7320: Empowerment
• SOCW 7321: Multicultural Practice
• SOCW 7329: Affecting Social Policy
• SOCW 7338: Community Empowerment with Elders of Color
• SOCW 7353: Program Development and Proposal Writing
• SOCW 7363: Health Care Systems and Issues
• SOCW 7333: Bioethical Issues

Elective options within Graduate College of Education
• HLT 6323: Cross-Cultural Aspects of Health

MSW CERTIFICATE IN POLITICAL SOCIAL WORK

1. Two (2) courses, 3 SCH each, within the Graduate College of Social Work are required:
• SOCW 7372: Global Justice Issues
• SOCW 7320: Empowerment

2. One (1) elective course, 3 SCH, within the Graduate College of Social Work, may be selected from the following list:
• SOCW 6304: Women’s Issues
• SOCW 7321: Multicultural Practice
• SOCW 7338: Community Empowerment with Elders of Color
• SOCW 7344: Family Violence
• SOCW 7353: Program Development and Proposal Writing
• SOCW 7374: Mediation for Social Workers
• SOCW 7397: Shame, Empathy and Resilience
• SOCW 7366: Grief and Bereavement
• SOCW 7365: Crisis Intervention
• SOCW 7397: Group Dynamics
• SOCW 7313: Advocacy Based Social Work Research
• SOCW 7314: Historical/Social Policy Research
• SOCW 7322: Feminist Practice
• SOCW 7323: Organizational Behavior and Change
• SOCW 7369: Volunteer Programs and Management

3. With consultation and written permission from the certificate advisor, students may alternately take an elective course not on the above list(s) to fulfill the 3 SCH elective requirement. This course may be from another department or college, or one offered in the GCSW.

MSW CERTIFICATE IN TRABAJO SOCIAL
Course listings coming soon