SP2 is the first US-based social work program to offer an LGBTQ+ Certificate. Students who complete the certificate will be positioned to work with LGBTQ+ populations and LGBTQ+-related issues across a wide array of job titles and roles relating to counseling, health care, education, and law.

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Byers, DS, McInroy, LB, Craig, SL, Slates S, and Kattari, SK (2019). Naming and Addressing Homophobic and Transphobic Microaggressions in Social Work. Journal of Social Work Education.

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Philadelphians celebrate the outcome of 2020’s presidential election, waving the Progress Pride Flag while marching through Center City.

Completing the Certificate

MSW Certificate Requirements

MSW Certificate Requirements

Students customize their course of study, with guidance from specialization faculty, by choosing from a wide range of electives while completing the following requirements.

Course requirements

Students must complete three courses related to gender, sexuality, and/or LGBTQ+ communities including:

Course in human sexuality

Existing courses that would meet this requirement include:

  • SWRK 7560: Human Sexuality
  • EDUC 5587: Human Sexuality

Course in advanced clinical (physical and mental health) or applied practice (legal, policy) with LGBTQ+ communities

Existing courses that would meet this requirement include:

  • SWRK 7330: Supporting LGBTQ+ Individuals over the Lifespan
  • SWRK 7470: LGBTQ+ Communities & Social Policy
  • MSSP/SWRK 7410: Gender & Social Policy

Elective related to gender, sexuality and/or LGBTQ+ communities

Existing courses that would meet this requirement include:

  • MSSP 7980: Reproductive Justice Policy
  • EDUC 6178: Gender and Sexuality in Education
  • EDUC 5190: Gender and Education
  • An additional course from the lists above

Students can meet this requirement by taking a second clinical or applied practice course as described above.

Pro-seminar requirement

Field requirement

NPL certificate requirements

NPL Certificate Requirements

Students customize their course of study, with guidance from specialization faculty, by choosing from a wide range of electives while completing the following requirements.

Course requirements

Students must complete three courses related to gender, sexuality, and/or LGBTQ+ communities. NPL students must petition their advisor to have one SWRK or MSSP course that meets the certificate requirements count as one of their four NPLD elective credit units.

Course in human sexuality

Existing courses that would meet this requirement include:

  • SWRK 7560: Human Sexuality
  • EDUC 5587: Human Sexuality

Course in advanced clinical (physical and mental health) or applied practice (legal, policy) with LGBTQ+ communities

Existing courses that would meet this requirement include:

  • SWRK 7980: Supporting LGBTQ+ Individuals over the Lifespan
  • SWRK 7470: LGBTQ+ Communities & Social Policy
  • MSSP/SWRK 7410: Gender & Social Policy

Elective related to gender, sexuality and/or LGBTQ+ communities

Existing courses that would meet this requirement include:

  • MSSP 7980: Reproductive Justice Policy
  • EDUC 6178: Gender and Sexuality in Education
  • EDUC 5190: Gender and Education
  • An additional course from the lists above

Pro-seminar requirement

Field requirement

MSSP Certificate Requirements

MSSP Certificate Requirements

Students customize their course of study, with guidance from specialization faculty, by choosing from a wide range of electives while completing the following requirements.

Course requirements

Students must complete three courses related to gender, sexuality, and/or LGBTQ+ communities. Due to the one-year schedule of the MSSP program, MSSP students will need to follow this course schedule for 2023-2024:

Fall 2023

MSSP 7980: Special Topics: Reproductive Justice Policy

Spring 2024

SWRK 7560: Human Sexuality

Choose one elective:

  • MSSP/SWRK 7410: Gender & Social Policy
  • SWRK 7470: LGBTQIA+ Communities & Social Policy

Pro-seminar requirement

Field requirement