Competency 3 – Advance Human Rights and Social, Economic, and Environmental Justice
Competency 4 – Engage In Practice-informed Research and Research-informed Practice
Competency 6 – Engage with Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities
Competency 7 – Assess Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities
Competency 8 – Intervene with Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities
Competency 9 – Evaluate Practice with Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities
Competency 10 – Synthesize Social Work Values and One’s Biblical Worldview When Working with Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities.
Curricular Structure and Degree Requirements
The Master of Social Work program has two specializations: Advanced Child and Family Practice and Clinical Social Work. Depending on prior coursework, students enter the program as either Regular Standing or Advanced Standing. See the information below for more details.
Advanced Child and Family Practice, Regular Standing (60 credits)
Advanced Child and Family Practice builds upon the core generalist practice competencies and supports the development of practitioner effectiveness in all aspects of child and family practice. Practitioners are trained in multiple areas from policy development, advocacy, administrative work, and individual, family and group work for those client systems touched by the complex child and family system. This specialization touches all levels of practice, advancing the social work core values and supporting the vital purpose for which social work exists. The curriculum will provide opportunities for students to gain advanced knowledge by building upon their experiences in the field. Both coursework and fieldwork will offer students opportunities for skill refinement. Students will reflect on the importance of child and family staff at all levels of organizational as each member commits to the safety, permanency, and well-being of children to achieve positive outcomes. The curriculum will encourage the development of critical thinking and challenge the students’ affective responses to the complex issues that children and families face within the child and family system.
For the Regular Standing student, fourteen courses comprise the MSW degree with four internship placements addressing all three levels of practice. The 900 internship hours and the three 2-credit required elective courses complete the degree. To address the program’s tenth competency, students also complete three credits of Bible and theological coursework and are afforded opportunities throughout the program to synthesize a biblical worldview through their assignments.
| BTC 503 | Foundations for Integration | 3 |
| OR | |
| BTC 504 | Perspectives on Integration | 3 |
| | |
| SWK 500 | Foundations of Social Work | 3 |
| SWK 501 | MSW Orientation | 0 |
| SWK 510 | Human Diversity and Social Justice | 3 |
| SWK 515 | Theories and Life Stage Development | 3 |
| SWK 520 | Social Welfare Policy: Foundations | 3 |
| SWK 525 | Micro and Mezzo Generalist Practice | 3 |
| SWK 526 | Macro Generalist Practice | 3 |
| SWK 530 | Research Methods | 3 |
| SWK 550 | Foundation Field Seminar A | 3 |
| SWK 550F | Foundation Field Internship A | 0 |
| SWK 551 | Foundation Field Seminar B | 3 |
| SWK 551F | Foundation Field Internship B | 0 |
| SWK 611 | Diversity in Child and Family Settings | 3 |
| SWK 613 | Advanced Child and Family Policy | 3 |
| SWK 628 | Advanced Child and Family Practice: Individuals and Families | 3 |
| SWK 629 | Advanced Child and Family Practice: Systems and Groups | 3 |
| SWK 630 | Advanced Practice: Organizations and Communities | 3 |
| SWK 640 | Advanced Research and Program Evaluation | 3 |
| SWK 660 | Specialization Seminar A | 3 |
| SWK 660F | Specialization Internship A | 0 |
| SWK 661 | Specialization Seminar B | 3 |
| SWK 661F | Specialization Internship B | 0 |
SWK ELEC
| SWK Elective | 2 |
SWK ELEC
| SWK Elective | 2 |
SWK ELEC
| SWK Elective | 2 |
Advanced Child and Family Practice, Advanced Standing (33 credits)
Advanced Child and Family Practice builds upon the core generalist practice competencies and supports the development of practitioner effectiveness in all aspects of child and family practice. Practitioners are trained in multiple areas from policy development, advocacy, administrative work, and individual, family and group work for those client systems touched by the complex child and family system. This specialization touches all levels of practice, advancing the social work core values and supporting the vital purpose for which social work exists. The curriculum will provide opportunities for students to gain advanced knowledge by building upon their experiences in the field. Both coursework and fieldwork will offer students opportunities for skill refinement. Students will reflect on the importance of child and family staff at all levels of organizational as each member commits to the safety, permanency, and well-being of children to achieve positive outcomes. The curriculum will encourage the development of critical thinking and challenge the students’ affective responses to the complex issues that children and families face within the child and family system.
For the Advanced Standing student, they participate in six core courses, two advanced internship courses (500 hours of field work) and three, 2-credit electives to complete the degree. To address the program’s tenth competency, students also complete three credits of Bible and theological coursework and are afforded opportunities throughout the program to synthesize a biblical worldview through their assignments.
| BTC 503 | Foundations for Integration | 3 |
| OR | |
| BTC 504 | Perspectives on Integration | 3 |
| | |
| SWK 501 | MSW Orientation | 0 |
| SWK 611 | Diversity in Child and Family Settings | 3 |
| SWK 613 | Advanced Child and Family Policy | 3 |
| SWK 628 | Advanced Child and Family Practice: Individuals and Families | 3 |
| SWK 629 | Advanced Child and Family Practice: Systems and Groups | 3 |
| SWK 630 | Advanced Practice: Organizations and Communities | 3 |
| SWK 640 | Advanced Research and Program Evaluation | 3 |
| SWK 660 | Specialization Seminar A | 3 |
| SWK 660F | Specialization Internship A | 0 |
| SWK 661 | Specialization Seminar B | 3 |
| SWK 661F | Specialization Internship B | 0 |
SWK ELEC
| SWK Elective | 2 |
SWK ELEC
| SWK Elective | 2 |
SWK ELEC
| SWK Elective | 2 |
Clinical Social Work, Regular Standing (60 credits)
Clinical Social Work builds upon the core generalist practice competencies and supports the development of student understanding of the social work purpose and values inherent in the profession. This specialization will support student learning at all three levels of practice: micro, mezzo, and macro. Coursework design is shaped by the social work core values with an emphasis on service, social justice, dignity and worth of all people, valuing human relationships, supporting integrity and competence, and utilizing a scientific approach to knowledge and skill demonstration. Knowledge, values, skills and cognitive/affective processes are integrated into the curriculum which advances the student’s clinical skills through course assignments and field experiences.
For the Regular Standing student, thirteen courses comprise the MSW degree in addition to four internship placements addressing all three levels of practice with a total of 900 hours of internship. Each student will be required to complete three two-credit electives to complete the degree. Given the context of the Program within the institution, all graduate students are required to complete three credits of Biblical and theological coursework and are afforded opportunities through coursework to synthesize a biblical worldview through their assignments.
| BTC 503 | Foundations for Integration | 3 |
| OR | |
| BTC 504 | Perspectives on Integration | 3 |
| | |
| SWK 500 | Foundations of Social Work | 3 |
| SWK 501 | MSW Orientation | 0 |
| SWK 510 | Human Diversity and Social Justice | 3 |
| SWK 515 | Theories and Life Stage Development | 3 |
| SWK 520 | Social Welfare Policy: Foundations | 3 |
| SWK 525 | Micro and Mezzo Generalist Practice | 3 |
| SWK 526 | Macro Generalist Practice | 3 |
| SWK 530 | Research Methods | 3 |
| SWK 550 | Foundation Field Seminar A | 3 |
| SWK 550F | Foundation Field Internship A | 0 |
| SWK 551 | Foundation Field Seminar B | 3 |
| SWK 551F | Foundation Field Internship B | 0 |
| SWK 610 | Cross Cultural Counseling | 3 |
| SWK 620 | Advanced Policy: Social, Economic, and Environmental Justice | 3 |
| SWK 625 | Clinical Practice: Individuals and Families | 3 |
| SWK 626 | Clinical Practice: Groups | 3 |
| SWK 630 | Advanced Practice: Organizations and Communities | 3 |
| SWK 640 | Advanced Research and Program Evaluation | 3 |
| SWK 660 | Specialization Seminar A | 3 |
| SWK 660F | Specialization Internship A | 0 |
| SWK 661 | Specialization Seminar B | 3 |
| SWK 661F | Specialization Internship B | 0 |
SWK ELEC
| SWK Elective | 2 |
SWK ELEC
| SWK Elective | 2 |
SWK ELEC
| SWK Elective | 2 |
Clinical Social Work, Advanced Standing (33 credits)
Clinical Social Work builds upon the core generalist practice competencies and supports the development of student understanding of the social work purpose and values inherent in the profession. This specialization will support student learning at all three levels of practice: micro, mezzo, and macro. Coursework design is shaped by the social work core values with an emphasis on service, social justice, dignity and worth of all people, valuing human relationships, supporting integrity and competence, and utilizing a scientific approach to knowledge and skill demonstration. Knowledge, values, skills and cognitive/affective processes are integrated into the curriculum which advances the student’s clinical skills through course assignments and field experiences.
For the Advanced Standing student there are six core courses, two advanced internship courses (500 hours of field work) and three two-credit electives to complete the degree. Given the context of the Program within the institution, all graduate students are required to complete three credits of Biblical and theological coursework and are afforded opportunities through coursework to synthesize a biblical worldview through their assignments.
| BTC 503 | Foundations for Integration | 3 |
| OR | |
| BTC 504 | Perspectives on Integration | 3 |
| | |
| SWK 501 | MSW Orientation | 0 |
| SWK 610 | Cross Cultural Counseling | 3 |
| SWK 620 | Advanced Policy: Social, Economic, and Environmental Justice | 3 |
| SWK 625 | Clinical Practice: Individuals and Families | 3 |
| SWK 626 | Clinical Practice: Groups | 3 |
| SWK 630 | Advanced Practice: Organizations and Communities | 3 |
| SWK 640 | Advanced Research and Program Evaluation | 3 |
| SWK 660 | Specialization Seminar A | 3 |
| SWK 660F | Specialization Internship A | 0 |
| SWK 661 | Specialization Seminar B | 3 |
| SWK 661F | Specialization Internship B | 0 |
SWK ELEC
| SWK Elective | 2 |
SWK ELEC
| SWK Elective | 2 |
SWK ELEC
| SWK Elective | 2 |
Admissions, Retention, and Graduation
Admission Requirements
Admission into a master's degree program is consistent with the general admissions policy and practice of LBC | Capital. Admission criteria is located in the Admissions Information section of the catalog.
In addition, the MSW Program identifies the following criteria used for admission:
- Applicants must complete an online application form with a $40 application fee. To apply online, go to the following link: https://www.lbc.edu/capital/admissions/. Applicants follow the process for the application which outlines the process for gathering documentation outlined below.
- Applicants must produce transcript(s) that verify that they have earned a baccalaureate degree from a college or university accredited by a recognized regional accrediting association. Applicants who have earned degrees through CSWE’s International Social Work Degree Recognition and Evaluation Service or those covered under a memorandum of understanding with international social work accreditors can apply. Applicants provide this documentation on their initial application that is reviewed by the LBC Capital Enrollment office.
- Regular Standing status: Students must have earned an overall GPA of 2.5 or greater on a 4.0 scale in their undergraduate studies to be admitted. Applicants who are otherwise qualified but lack the requisite GPA average may be granted provisional admission. If granted provisional admission, the applicant must earn a 3.0 or greater GPA by the conclusion of the first 12 credits.
- Advanced Standing status: To be considered for advanced standing enrollment, applicants will have earned a baccalaureate degree from a CSWE accredited social work program with an overall GPA of 3.0 and a major GPA of 3.25 or higher (on a 4.0 scale). A letter of recommendation from the applicant’s BSW Program Director or designee is required. Applicants who are otherwise qualified but lack the requisite GPA average may be granted provisional admission. If granted provisional admission, the applicant must earn a 3.0 or greater GPA by the conclusion of the first 12 credits.
- Applicants must complete an autobiographical statement which includes their spiritual journey and statement of faith that is included in the initial application, reviewed by the LBC | Capital Enrollment office.
- Applicants provide two professional references completed online by someone who has supervised their work in the past (professional reference) and by a pastor/spiritual mentor who personally attests to their character.
- The TOEFL examination is required if English is not the applicant’s native language or if the applicant has not completed a degree program taught in English. TOEFL scores must be from tests administered within two years of the application deadline. The official TOEFL score report must be sent directly from the Educational Testing Service.
Applicants seeking admission to the MSW program must complete each step of the application process by submitting a complete application by:
| Fall Semester Start |
August 1 |
| Spring Semester Start |
December 1 |
| Summer Semester Start |
April 1 |
Once applicants complete all the steps outlined above, then the student services office forwards the information to the MSW Program Director who reviews the application and either approves the application to go through the MSW Admissions Committee process or denies the application because previous criteria were not met. If an application is denied by the MSW Program Director, direct contact will be made with the applicant within 72 hours of information to deny further processing.
Application Process
Once a prospective student application is received by the MSW Program Director, the application review process is initiated. An electronic file with the applicant’s information will be created, and the file will be kept in a password protected computer maintained by the MSW Program Director and Department Assistant. The following steps and procedures are then completed:
- The MSW Program Director acknowledges the application is received via e-mail to the applicant with information describing the next steps of the application process.
- The MSW Program Director completes an initial application checklist to determine if the student meets Regular Standing or Advanced Standing criteria as well as other program requirements (i.e., GPA, bachelor’s degree, etc.).
- The MSW Program Director forwards the applications to the MSW Program Admissions Committee for initial review.
- The MSW Program Director will schedule an admission interview with the applicant upon the MSW Admission Committee’s approval from the initial evaluation. During the interview, the committee assesses the applicants’ interpersonal and critical thinking skills, level of self-awareness, and the intended focus of study. Those who have met the interview criteria will be welcomed to the Program in either the Regular or Advanced Standing program. Those who do not meet the interview criteria will be informed of the concerns and/or challenges presented for admission by the committee but will be formally notified by written correspondence.
- After completion of the Interview Phase 2, the MSW Admission Committee will inform the LBC | Capital Enrollment office of the decision which will communicate the MSW admission committee’s decision to the applicants within 7-15 days.
MSW Program applications will be processed through the LBC | Capital Enrollment office. There is no alternative application process. Additionally, each graduate program describes its own admission process.
Transferring students: The MSW Program will review applications from prospective students who express interest in transferring from other graduate programs. Prospective students expressing interest in transferring from other CSWE-Accredited programs will be reviewed by the MSW Program Director and the MSW admissions committee prior to a formal invitation to interview.
Application Response
Once a prospective student is interviewed by the MSW Program Admissions Committee, the outcome of the decision is reviewed in the following manner:
After the applicant interview, the MSW Program admissions committee will confer their decision. During this conversation, the committee will discuss the following:
Quality of initial paperwork
Quality of the interview
Fit within the broader institution (i.e., spiritual journey and faith communication)
Fit within the Program
Conditions for admission
The MSW Program Director will maintain the rating scales in the applicant’s electronic file.
If accepted, the MSW Program Director will notify the Global Admissions team. For applicants with contingent conditions outlined by the MSW admissions committee, the MSW Program Director will communicate the conditions to the applicant in written form.
If denied acceptance, MSW Program Director will inform the applicant with an official letter of denial through electronic mail.
Transfer Credits
Transfer credit is awarded in accordance with the general transfer policy in the Academic Policies and Procedures section of the catalog. Transfer credits are reviewed and approved by the MSW Program Director. This program has the following program specific transfer credit information.
| Graduate Program |
Program Credits |
# of Transfer Credits |
Min. Grade of Transfer Credits |
| Social Work (MSW) |
33 cr. or 60 cr. |
up to 12 graduate level, social work credits |
B |
The credits must be relevant to the degree program as determined by the MSW Program Director. The MSW Program reserves the right to approve or decline the transfer credits, which will be communicated to the students during the interview process.
Biblical and Theological Foundations Course Requirement
This chart outlines how prior college-level credits in Bible and theology, as represented on a transcript, apply to the Biblical and Theological Foundations course requirement.
| 15 or less credits of Bible and theology |
BTC 503 Foundations for Integration |
| 16-29 credits of Bible and theology |
BTC 504 Perspectives on Integration |
| 30 or more credits of Bible and theology |
Requirement satisfied
|
Advanced Standing
To be considered for advanced standing enrollment, applicants will have earned a baccalaureate degree from a CSWE accredited social work program with an overall GPA of 3.0 and a major GPA of 3.25 or higher (on a 4.0 scale). A letter of recommendation from the applicant’s BSW Program Director or designee is required.
Potential applicants can indicate their interest in Advanced Standing, either part-time or full-time. The following procedures are in place to notify students of Advanced Standing status.
- Upon receipt of the application, the MSW Program Director will review transcripts and verify that the applicant completed a BSW degree from a CSWE accredited school.
- Students who provided documentation that they have had their international degrees recognized through CSWE’s International Social Work Degree Recognition and Evaluation Service or covered under a memorandum of understanding with international social work accreditors, are eligible for Advanced Standing status.
- Once verified, the MSW Program Director brings this information to the MSW Admissions Committee for discussion and approval.
Once an applicant has been approved for Advanced Standing status, the MSW Program Director will notify the Global Admissions team in writing of the decision of the Admission Committee. For those applicants with contingent conditions outlined by the MSW Admissions Committee, the MSW Program Director will communicate them to the applicant in written form.
The MSW Program reserves the right to accept individuals into Regular Standing and Advanced Standing status. Only those students who provide documentation that they have had their international degrees recognized through CSWE’s International Social Work Degree Recognition and Evaluation Services or covered under a memorandum of understanding with international social work accreditors are eligible for Advanced Standing status.
Program Retention
Academic progress in this program is monitored after each term. The Academic Probation policy and Academic Dismissal policy found in this catalog are applied to all LBC | Capital students.
Students must PASS their field internship in order to progress onto the next field internship placement or to graduate.
Graduation Requirements
The following requirements must be successfully completed in order to receive a graduate degree:
1. Satisfactory completion of all course work
2. Students must PASS their field internship in order to progress onto the next field internship placement or to graduate.
3. A minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0
4. Fulfillment of all financial obligations
5. Adherence to biblical standards and ethics in living one’s lifestyle
Faculty
Program Director: Kurt Miller, DSW
Dr. Miller has over 30 years of experience in the field of social work. He has spent 11 years in direct service within the field of foster care programming, aging services, and child welfare. He served in middle and upper management within the field of child welfare for 13 years within a public organization. Concurrently, he served in the role of an interim executive director for a local non-profit counseling service while the agency searched for an executive director. He retired from the role of Director of Social Service in 2012 after 20 years from that organization to assume leadership in the Social Work Program at Lancaster Bible College. Dr. Miller completed his MSW at Temple University with a specific concentration of focus was on Administration. He completed his DSW in 2019 from Capella University with a focus on public service leadership.
Faculty:
Professor Lisa Hanna Witmer, MSW Field Director
Professor Witmer has extensive work in the field of child welfare and clinical consultation, specifically with victims of abuse. She provided direct service as a caseworker, group coordinator, family support worker, and family therapist at Lancaster County Children and Youth Agency. She continued her experience as a clinical consultant at Samaritan Counseling Center/Samaritan Safe Places. Currently, she serves as the Field Instructor for student interns in their various MSW Program who are part of the Child Welfare Excellence for Leadership (CWEL) program administered through the University of Pittsburgh through her consultation with Lancaster CYA. Professor Witmer received her BSW from Elizabethtown College, her MSW from Widener University and is a licensed social worker.
Dr. Christina Helfrick, LSW
Dr. Helfrick received her Master's in Social Work from Shippensburg University in 2012, and her Bachelor's in Psychology from Penn State University in 2010. In 2022, she completed her doctoral journey at Millersville University, studying intervention research with the goal of building the social capital of homeless youth in school systems. She is a licensed social worker, spending nearly a decade in practice as a school social worker. Christina has been working with at-risk children and youth for more than 20 years, with experience that spans the mental health, foster care, homeless, and immigrant serving systems. She is currently the board president for the Pennsylvania Association of School Social Work Personnel, and vice president of Friends of Donegal, a grassroots community collaborative that is addressing poverty and homelessness in the Donegal community. Christina continues to develop Champions for Teens, a homeless advocate program she created through her doctoral research and collaborates with researchers and community members to innovate programs locally and nationally.
Dr. Vanessa Saylor, EdD, MSW, LSW, CCM
Dr. Saylor has more than 30 years of experience in the social services field, of which she has been a degreed professional social worker for 26 of these years. Dr. Saylor has worked in a variety of direct service settings including welfare to work, housing, foster care, youth development, and school social work. Dr. Saylor is an experienced leader in program development, grant-writing and administration, supervision and management, and community collaboration and mobilization. Dr. Saylor has experience in the health care industry where she has practiced in inpatient and ambulatory settings and health equity program management. She is a Certified Case Manager (CCM) which is the industry certification for case management. She was recognized both at the hospital-level and in the regional suburban Philadelphia area for her health care work. Dr. Saylor holds BSW and MSW degrees from Temple University. Her MSW concentration was in administration, planning, and policy. She holds a Doctor of Education in Pastoral Care and Counseling from Liberty University. She has been an adjunct instructor in the Human Services program at Montgomery County Community College; adjunct professor, external field instructor, and subject matter expert for the undergraduate Social Work program at Liberty University.