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

HOD’s Desk

The Master of Social Work in Disability and Empowerment Program at Madras School of Social Work was started in 2021, to fulfil the long-term vision of the institution to empower persons with disabilities. The World Health Organization globally estimates that 1.5 percent of the population lives with some form of disability, while over 80 percent of them live in developing countries. India is home to over 1.36 billion residents of which more than 2.2 percent of this population endures some form of severe mental or physical disability. This population faces a range of challenges in aspects related to accessibility, social inclusion, employment and poverty, health care, education and opportunities and human right abuses. These barriers significantly impact their inclusion in family and society at large, leading to poor quality of life. Advocating for better understating, support and greater inclusivity for persons with disabilities is crucial to help them lead a meaningful life.

Master of Social Work in Disability and Empowerment is a unique professional two year program affiliated to the University of Madras. It is aimed at grooming leaders with the required knowledge, skills, competencies and values towards empowering person with disabilities. This is strategically achieved through the robust curriculum aimed at understanding and promoting inclusion, accessibility and ensuring opportunities and rights for the target group through experiential learning and innovative field work components. The program is focussed on capitalizing the growing scope and opportunities that exists both in the government, non-government and private sectors. The department’s goal is to nurture young professional social workers characterised by professional competencies, strong theoretical foundation backed with evidence based practice and above all democratic values and high ethical standards.

Contact Us

Mr. P. Jesuin John Bose

Head of the Department,
Master of Social Work in Disability and Empowerment

Phone : +91 90032 57813
Email : jesuin@mssw.in

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