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Continuing Education

Are you a CUSSW alumna/us interested in

  • Advancing your clinical knowledge and skills?
  • Fulfilling course requirements for the LCSW in New York State?

Our Office of Professional Excellence offers courses every semester (spring, summer and fall) to CUSSW alumni.

Next Registration

Registration for Summer 2013 courses is now open. The deadline for registering is May 31, 2013.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • What kinds of courses are typically offered?

    These two courses are typically offered and also tend to be popular with CUSSW alumni:

    Normal and Pathological Aspects of Childhood

    This course takes a developmental approach to childhood psychopathology from infancy until adolescence. Biological and environmental influences on psychopathology, current concepts in using psychopathological criteria for diagnosis, issues of co-morbidity and of continuity and discontinuity of disorders are addressed from the developmental perspective. Actual case material is used to illustrate various clinical entities and to relate them to situations confronting the social worker.

    Adult Psychopathology and Pathways to Wellness

    Designed to give students an overall view of the psychopathology demonstrated by patients with the major psychiatric conditions, this course emphasizes background information concerning concepts of diagnosis in their historical context, and current concepts using specific psychopathological criteria to reach a diagnosis as expounded by DSM IV.

  • Are these courses open to all alumni, regardless of when they have graduated?

    Yes, all CUSSW alumni are eligible to take these courses, regardless of their graduation year.

  • How many courses can I take per semester?

    Alumni may take a maximum of THREE three-credit courses per semester.

  • How much does each course cost?

    The minimum charge is $990. This covers:

    1. One full-semester, 3-credit course OR
    2. Two half-semester, 1.5-credit courses.

    NOTE: If you are already planning to take one 1.5 credit course, we recommend that you take two of them to get the full benefit of the $990 fee.

  • How does payment work?

    Once your online registration form has been processed, you will receive an e-bill from the University. NOTE: The University only sends out e-bills once a month. For the schedule, go to 2012-2013 Billing Statement Schedule, issued by CUSSW's Office of Student Services.

    For complete information about payment methods, go to PAYMENT OPTIONS on the Student Financial Services site.

    NOTE: Once you are registered, you will have access to Student Services Online (SSOL). Whenever you wish to check on your account details, log in to SSOL and click on "Account Details."

  • Where can I find information about the syllabus for the course(s) I've selected and required textbooks?

    Course information is available only to those who have registered. Once you are registered, you will be able to view all information about the class by logging into Courseworks (uni & PW required).

  • May I audit the courses instead?

    No, courses cannot be audited. They must be taken for a grade.

  • What if I sign up and then have to withdraw?

    Early cancellations or a withdrawal from the program up to five days after the start of the first class will result in a tuition refund minus a 10 percent cancellation fee.

  • Still have questions?

    Still have questions?

    You are welcome to contact us with additional questions at swope@columbia.edu or call the Office of Professional Excellence in the Associate Dean's Office at (212) 851-2324. And if you have suggestions for improving the contents of this page, please let us know via the Contact Us form.