Master of Social Work - Policy, Planning and Administration

Western Michigan University

The PP&A Concentration is a program of study that builds on the Foundation curriculum and prepares students for leadership in human service organizations. The PP&A Concentration is methods-based and focuses on knowledge and skills required of PP&A practitioners to carry out a variety of roles in government, nonprofit, and community organizations. Students adapt course assignments and use their field placement experiences to pursue their interests in a particular field of practice, population group, or social problem. In addition, students may use their electives to enroll in an interdisciplinary specialization within the University, e.g., Non-profit Leadership, or Healthcare Administration.The PP&A Concentration is maintained and developed by the Policy Committee, a subcommittee of the Curriculum Committee. The Policy Committee is composed of full-time faculty members with teaching assignments in the PP&A curriculum. Students and part-time faculty members serve on the Policy Committee on an ad hoc basis. The Policy Chair administers the PP&A program and chairs Policy Committee meetings.The primary desired outcome of the PP&A Concentration is empowerment---the empowerment of practitioners to facilitate changes in the structures and processes of organizations, communities, and society. These changes are intended to contribute to (a) a just distribution of resources and opportunities, (b) the ability of officials and the citizenry to understand and respond appropriately to the human condition, and (c) the provision of opportunities and resources to troubled or disadvantaged people to help them cope with personal and social barriers to the betterment of their condition. Such empowerment requires that practitioners in leadership roles have the ability to carry out several major tasks: Analyze groups, communities, organizations, and social problems, programs, and policies, Plan, develop, implement, evaluate, change, and administer human service programs, organizations, and policies,Facilitate, manage, and influence interpersonal, intergroup, and inter-organizational relations.