Enrollment Period

1. During the enrollment period, how many units can I enroll in one semester?

Students may enroll in up to 6 units of courses (2 courses) in one semester. Additional units will be subject to the approval of the Program Chair and the Faculty Dean.

2. How do I know what to enroll in during the enrollment period?

Students may refer to FAQs with the titles starting with "What courses will I take as..?" to know which courses can be taken. Students may also consult with the Program Chair at dmswpc@upou.edu.ph for the courses that they can enroll in for the semester. 

Important courses that need to be taken in the 1st year of enrollment (1st semester and 2nd semester) are the 1st four core courses: SW 202, 210, 201, 220 (FAQs 1,2,3), and the last course towards the last year of studies which should be Field Instruction (FAQ 13)

In the student's 2nd and 3rd year of study, the order of taking the courses can be interchanged depending on the course offering for the semester (electives, major courses, cognate, remaining core courses, survey courses). 

3. What are the possible areas of specialization I could take in my Master of Social Work?

There are three areas of specialization for MSW following the important areas for advanced practice in Social Work: Social Administration, Clinical Practice, and Community Organizing (for the list of courses under each specialization, you may refer to FAQs with the titles starting with "What courses will I take as..?". Hopefully, the student can decide the Area of Specialization during the 1st year of enrollment or even upon enrollment. 

4.  When and where will I conduct my Field Instruction?

Students may take their Field Instruction courses towards the last year of their studies (or after finishing their coursework). Students are encouraged to recommend an FI agency or community where they wish to conduct their Field Instruction for approval of the Program Chair. Following the work-study scheme, the FI agency/ community can be the agency where the student is working, in consideration of the nature of the UPOU DMSW students, subject to the approval of the Program Chair. Once approved, the program chair will write to the agency representative to formally request that the student be allowed to conduct his/her FI in the agency. A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) will be drafted and signed by UPOU and the Agency before the students can start their FI.

Order of taking Field instruction courses (280, 280.1, 281) does not matter (e.g. SW 280.1 can come before 280 and vice versa or 281 can come before 280 and vice versa) as long as it is taken towards the last year of Social Work studies (such as when the coursework is finished).