{"id":34488,"date":"2024-10-08T22:42:21","date_gmt":"2024-10-08T22:42:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.writemyessays.app\/blog\/questions\/summer-fall-2025-master-of-social-work-program-case-study-requirements-prompts\/"},"modified":"2024-10-08T22:42:21","modified_gmt":"2024-10-08T22:42:21","slug":"summer-fall-2025-master-of-social-work-program-case-study-requirements-prompts","status":"publish","type":"questions","link":"https:\/\/www.writemyessays.app\/blog\/questions\/summer-fall-2025-master-of-social-work-program-case-study-requirements-prompts\/","title":{"rendered":"Summer\/Fall 2025 Master of Social Work Program Case Study Requirements & Prompts"},"content":{"rendered":"

  The Case Study should be completed by Advanced Standing applicants and must be written and saved to the
\napplicant\u2019s computer as a Word or PDF file prior to being uploaded to the application checklist. You will
\nupload the case study after you submit your MSU Denver graduate application. The case study is only a
\nrequirement for Advanced Standing applicants.
\nCase Study Requirements
\nThe case study is an important part of your application because it reflects your ability to think critically about a
\nsituation and indicates your level of knowledge about social work. The case study is assessed based upon its
\nlevel and quality of comprehensiveness, appropriateness, clarity, and academic writing.
\nYour essay must incorporate the following:
\n\u2022 not to exceed 4 double-spaced pages, using one of the following fonts: 11-point Arial, 11-point Calibri,
\n10-point Lucinda Sans Unicode, 12-point Times New Roman, 11-point Georgia, or 10-point Computer
\nModern;
\n\u2022 provide the Admissions Committee a clear picture of your ability to construct a cohesive, academic
\nessay that demonstrates your readiness for graduate-level work;
\n\u2022 synthesize your foundational social work knowledge and combine academic sources to support your
\nrational (references are expected and APA 7th Edition style should be followed); and
\n\u2022 provide the information requested below in a well-formed essay (that is, incorporate the required
\ninformation into an essay) and NOT in short answer form.
\nCase Study Prompts
\nReflect on the elements of a bio-psychosocial-spiritual assessment as you read and then write your case
\npresentation from the perspective of a hospital social worker.
\nBio-psychosocial-spiritual Assessment Example:
\n1. Identifying Information
\na. Demographic information: age, sex, ethnic group, current employment, marital status, physical
\nenvironment\/housing: nature of living circumstances (apartment, group home or other shared
\nliving arrangement, homeless); neighborhood.
\nb. Referral information: referral source (self or other), reason for referral. Other professionals or
\nindigenous helpers currently involved. <\/p>\n

c. Data sources used in writing this assessment: interviews with others involved (list dates and
\npersons), tests performed, other data used.
\n2. Presenting Problem
\na. Description of the problem, and situation for which help is sought as presented by the client.
\nUse the client\u2019s words. What precipitated the current difficulty? What feelings and thoughts have
\nbeen aroused? How has the client coped so far?
\nb. Who else is involved in the problem? How are they involved? How do they view the problem?
\nHow have they reacted? How have they contributed to the problem or solution?
\nc. Past experiences related to current difficulty. Has something like this ever happened before? If
\nso, how was it handled then? What were the consequences?
\n3. Background History
\na. Developmental history: from early life to present (if obtainable)
\nb. Family background: description of family of origin and current family. Extent of support.Family
\nperspective on client and client\u2019s perspective on family. Family communication patterns.
\nFamily\u2019s influence on client and intergenerational factors.
\nc. Educational
\nd. Use and abuse of alcohol or drugs by client or family members
\ne. Medical history: birth information, illnesses, accidents, surgery, allergies, disabilities, health
\nproblems in family, nutrition, exercise, sleep, observed physical injuries
\nf. Mental Health history: previous mental health problems and treatment, hospitalizations,
\noutcome of treatment, family mental health issues.
\ng. Nodal events: deaths of significant others, family separations, serious losses or traumas,
\nsignificant life achievements
\nh. Cultural background: race\/ethnicity, class, social orientation, primary language\/other languages
\nspoken, significance of cultural identity, cultural strengths, experiences of discrimination or
\noppression, migration experience and impact of migration on individual and family life cycle.
\ni. Religion: denomination, church membership, extent of involvement, spiritual perspective,
\nspecial observances
\n4. Assessment
\na. What is the key issue or problem from the client\u2019s perspective? From the worker\u2019s perspective?
\nb. How effectively is the client functioning?
\nc. What factors, including thoughts, behaviors, personality issues, environmental circumstances,
\nstressors, vulnerabilities, and needs seem to be contributing to the problem(s)?<\/p>\n

d. What theories inform your assessment?
\ni. Psychological Developmental Theory
\nii. Social Learning Theory
\niii. Maslow\/Kohlberg
\ne. Identify the strengths, sources of meaning, coping ability, and resources
\n3
\nf. Assess client\u2019s motivation and potential to benefit from intervention
\n5. Plan of action
\na. Discuss how your plan to address the Johnson family\u2019s situation aligns with or deviates from
\nthe social worker in this case. Why\/Why Not?
\nb. What cultural considerations may be informing the social worker in this case consultation?
\nSupport with scholarly sources.
\n6. Identify an organization or a collaboration of government\/private partnerships that can positively impact
\na response to the Johnson family?
\na. Identify a policy which either creates a barrier or a support to the Johnson family.
\nb. What implicit biases and macro systems may be impacting the way this family is being
\nassessed and interacted with?
\nc. What changes would you like to see in these systems and how would you go about creating
\nchange\/getting into Good Trouble?<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n
Case Presentation<\/div>\n
The Johnsons, Mary and James, are a Black\/African American couple who have been married for almost 60
\nyears. James is a veteran; having served in the Army for two years during the Korean war. Upon returning from
\nthe war, he secured employment in a warehouse for a large manufacturing company where he met Mary. They
\nmarried and Mary took on the roles of mother and homemaker. They have two children: Clarice, a daughter
\nwho is 50 and a single parent. Clarice has three children and works full-time as a dental hygienist in Colorado
\nSprings. Her two youngest children are in high school and live at home. One of the children, Sondra, is
\nstruggling in school and Clarice is concerned about her ability to graduate this year. Clarice is also concerned
\nabout Sondra\u2019s friends and feels she has to keep a close eye on them to keep Sondra out of trouble. Clarice
\ncalls her mom every day and visits her parents every weekend. Although she also has high blood pressure and
\ndiabetes and is exhausted much of the time, she helps run errands and clean the house for her parents when
\nshe visits. Clarence, a son who is 39 and has Down\u2019s Syndrome. He has low cognitive functioning and has
\nlived with his parents all of his life. He has some heart problems that are controlled by medication. He has a
\ngood relationship with his parents and is functional in the household setting. With his father\u2019s decline, he has
\nbeen experiencing deep sadness and frustration that only his mother seems to be able to soothe. Mary is
\ncommitted to her son and fears for his care when she is no longer around. Additionally, Mary manages the
\nfamily\u2019s finances. James rose to the level of warehouse supervisor and retired at the age of 70. Upon
\nretirement, he discovered that his company\u2019s pension fund had been dissolved and he received a small
\npercentage of its original value. The couple income is fixed; they receive pension payments of $100 monthly
\nand Social Security in the amount of $1000 (James) and $500 (Mary). They own a small two-bedroom home in
\nSouthwest Denver in the Harvey Park South neighborhood, which is their most valuable asset. They have
\nabout $50,000 in savings.
\nMary Johnson, 79, has been in generally good health. She attends church every Sunday and has a small
\ngroup of friends who are around her age and attend the same church. She takes medicine for diabetes and
\nhigh blood pressure and wears glasses for farsightedness. She has been feeling weak and tired lately. James
\nJohnson is 84 and his health is declining. He has been taking medicine for high cholesterol and high blood
\npressure for over forty years. About ten years ago, he fell off the porch and broke his leg. The recovery period
\nwas long and painful, and he started exhibiting some cognitive decline at that time. He stopped driving about
\nfive years ago when he had begun forgetting things, stumbling into furniture, and having bouts of confusion
\n(e.g., not knowing where he is, who his wife and children are, etc.). These episodes have been increasing
\nlately and Mary is having difficulty in managing his needs. In the past month, he has wandered from the house
\nnumerous times and was found by neighbors blocks away. On one of these occasions, he fell and had some
\nminor cuts and bruises. One of her neighbors threatened to call Adult Protective Services on Mary. Now Mary
\nkeeps all the doors and windows locked at all times.
\nOn Monday, Mary was in a car accident. She began to feel weak and passed out while driving. She hit a curb
\nand a tree and is currently in the hospital. Her injuries include some minor cuts and bruises, and she has a
\nbroken clavicle and whiplash. The medical team believes she passed out due to low insulin levels. The family\u2019s
\nonly car is totaled, and they did not have physical damage coverage on the car.
\nAlthough walking is difficult for her right now, Mary is medically stable and able to be released from the
\nhospital. Clarice is concerned about her mother\u2019s care and her mother\u2019s long-term ability to continue caring for
\nJames and Clarence. Her mother refuses to talk about this and maintains that everything is fine.
\nThe hospital social worker is working on discharge planning. Clarice is taking her mother back to her mother\u2019s
\nhouse and can stay with her for two days. In consultation with Clarice, the hospital social worker contacts Adult
\nProtective Services. The hospital social worker has a number of concerns about the safety and well-being, both short-term and long-term, for the family.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

  The Case Study should be completed by Advanced Standing applicants and must be written and saved to the applicant\u2019s computer as a Word or PDF file prior to being uploaded to the application checklist. You will upload the case study after you submit your MSU Denver graduate application. The case study is only a […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":[],"disciplines":[50],"paper_types":[],"tagged":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.writemyessays.app\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/questions\/34488"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.writemyessays.app\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/questions"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.writemyessays.app\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/questions"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.writemyessays.app\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.writemyessays.app\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=34488"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.writemyessays.app\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/questions\/34488\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.writemyessays.app\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=34488"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"disciplines","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.writemyessays.app\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/disciplines?post=34488"},{"taxonomy":"paper_types","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.writemyessays.app\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/paper_types?post=34488"},{"taxonomy":"tagged","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.writemyessays.app\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tagged?post=34488"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}