M.S.W. Disability & Empowerment (SF)

HOD’s Desk

The Master of Social Work in Disability and Empowerment Program at the Madras School of Social Work, established in 2021, reflects the institution’s long-term vision to equip the MSW students with the knowledge, skills, competencies, and values required to empower persons with disabilities. According to the World Health Organization, approximately 1.5 percent of the global population lives with some form of disability, with over 80 percent residing in developing countries. In India, home to more than 1.36 billion people, over 2.2 percent experience severe mental or physical disabilities. This population faces persistent challenges in accessibility, social inclusion, employment, poverty, health care, education, and human rights protection. These barriers often limit their participation in family and community life, resulting in a diminished quality of living. Promoting understanding, support, and inclusivity is essential to help persons with disabilities lead meaningful and dignified lives.

The Master of Social Work in Disability and Empowerment is a two-year professional program affiliated with the University of Madras. It aims to develop globally competent social work professionals equipped with the knowledge, skills, competencies, values, and leadership abilities required to advance the empowerment and inclusion of persons with disabilities. The department is committed to nurturing social work professionals who demonstrate strong theoretical foundations, evidence-based practice, democratic values, and high ethical standards. The program’s robust curriculum emphasizes inclusion, accessibility, and rights-based approaches, combining experiential learning with innovative fieldwork. It prepares students to engage effectively across government, non-government, and private sectors, capitalizing on the expanding opportunities in the field.

Ms. Aswani B Nair

Program Head & Assistant Professor
Master of Social Work in Disability and Empowerment

Courses Offered

The first year courses cover the generic social work methods and practices and the second year offers specialized in-depth knowledge focussed on understanding the 21 types of disabilities, policies and legislations and their rehabilitation process. It also provides insights into the social work interventions, health and well-being of persons with disabilities and care givers. The curricular inputs are offered as core, inter-disciplinary and elective courses with a major focus on field work. Ample opportunities are provided for students through filed work exposure, workshops, skills trainings and through the Students’ Forum to learn and develop student’s as seasoned professionals with the right attitude and value framework.

Programme Pattern
SEMESTER I	SEMESTER II	SEMESTER III	SEMESTER IV
Social Work Profession	Social Work with Communities	Specialization Paper-I Introduction to Disabilities	Specialization Paper-5 Mental Disabilities and Social Work Interventions
Social Work with	Social Research and Statistics	Specialization Paper-2 Physical Disabilities and Social Work Interventions	Specialization Paper-6 Counselling and Guidance for Persons with Disabilities
Individuals	Social Policy & Legislations	Specialization Paper-3 Rehabilitation for Persons with Disabilities	Specialization Paper-7 Gender Perspectives on Disability
Social work with Groups	Basics of Counselling / Corporate Social Responsibility for Sustainable Development	Specialization Paper-4 Community Development Approaches and Tools	Interdisciplinary Paper Social Entrepreneurship / Environmental Social Work
Sociology	Management of Organizations	Research Monograph	Research Project
Psychology	Field Work –II	Field Work – III	Field Work – IV
Field Work – I	Ability Enhancement Course –II	Ability Enhancement Course – III	Ability Enhancement Course–IV
Ability Enhancement Course –I	Summer Internship (Block Pattern)	Professional Forum Activities – I	Participation in Professional Forum Activities – II