The Doctor of Social Work (DSW) Program at the University at Buffalo School of Social Work prepares experienced social workers to advance the use of evidence-informed interventions in their professional practice and promote the responsiveness of organizations and communities to fostering diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility. The program applies implementation science and a trauma-informed human rights perspective to translate evidence into best practice interventions that address factors influencing the uptake, use, and sustainability of programs, policies, and services. DSW practitioner-scholar graduates are equipped with the expertise and skills to advance social, racial, economic, and environmental justice through leadership, scholarship, partnership, and innovation.
SW 632 DSW Capstone II: Designing Implementation Strategies
SW XXX Elective*
*Electives: DSW students must complete one 3-credit elective throughout the program, selected in consultation with the DSW Program Director. The elective should have direct relevance to your substantive area or enable you to expand your pedagogical skills. You should have a clear rationale for electives you select.
Suggested elective:
In general, electives should be taken at the graduate level and from within the UB School of Social Work DSW or MSW program. In order to take a MSW course for DSW elective credit:
Select DSW courses are approved for NYSED social work contact hours to renew your license registration. If you have a license in another state, check with your state regulatory board to determine if New York hours are accepted in your state.
Follow the directions on the MSW and DSW Credit Course CE Application page to request a contact hours certificate upon completion of DSW coursework. Each 3-credit online DSW course listed on the MSW/DSW course CE application form is approved for 45 NYSED live online social work contact hours.
The Capstone Project is a four-semester process incorporating implementation science principles and strategies to promote the adoption and integration of evidence-based interventions in direct practice settings and advance trauma-informed and human rights perspectives.
Under guidance from DSW program faculty, you will independently identify and pursue a problem, intervention and implementation research question(s) of your choice. You will then implement the intervention at your agency with a target population of clients, practitioners, administrators, volunteers or other individuals associated with or served by your agency.
During the first two semesters of the capstone project, you will develop a Capstone Project Proposal. The proposal must include a literature review; theory, model or conceptual framework; implementation science strategies; methodology; analytic strategy; and timeline for completion. You must also complete requisite university Institutional Review Board (IRB) steps, as well as any agency-required IRB approvals (if applicable).
Once granted faculty approval, you will move forward with the implementation, evaluation and dissemination phase of your capstone project during your last two semesters. With continued faculty support and mentorship, you will implement your proposed project, collect and analyze data, and critically evaluate your results.
During this final phase of the program, you will develop and submit a Capstone Project Final Paper, which is a written description of your project that can provide the basis for a manuscript for publication or other means of dissemination. You will also be required to develop two additional dissemination products.