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Challenging Himself In His Education & His Career

Challenging Himself In His Education & His Career

Posted April 22, 2010 by Tamara Burns – Comments

In his work as a therapist with the Pikes Peak Pathways Program, Earl Poteet works with young children in a variety of therapeutic settings. Through this unique program, Poteet helps to provide mental health, behavioral, and educational services to students and their families to help them discover and work to their potential.

"I provide individual, group, and family therapy for students in both elementary and secondary settings," says Poteet. "Every day is a new challenge with the behavioral issues that these students present."

Poteet began his work with the Pikes Peak Pathways Program after completing his Master of Social Work through Colorado State University Continuing Education. A licensed teacher for more than 20 years, Poteet decided he wanted to shift his career toward therapy. Poteet says he was attracted to Continuing Education's MSW program because it offered a flexible way to continue his education while continuing to work full-time. Poteet was also impressed by the practical knowledge and skills he gained through the program. Students in the MSW program learn in a model that is centered on problem solving rather than methods, and are prepared for direct and indirect interventions that are client-centered, problem-focused, and research-based.

"Since starting this program, I have a better understanding and more tools for helping my clients," says Poteet. "I have so many more tools now than I ever had in the previous 25 years of working in this field."

Colorado Springs

The Master of Social Work (MSW) offered by CSU Continuing Education offers a unique opportunity for working professionals to obtain an advanced degree in their field while maintaining existing work and personal responsibilities. The program teaches a nationally recognized advanced generalist curriculum, which prepares students to be employed in a wide range of social services sectors and is very versatile in its applications. Through this program, students are prepared to work with a wide variety of clientele, including individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities.

"I was attracted by the diversity of the degree, combined with the outstanding curriculum," says Poteet. "That allowed for so many career options upon graduation."

The program's faculty reflects the diversity and versatility of the advanced generalist curriculum, representing a wide range of talents, expertise, and interests. Students learn from faculty with extensive social work training and experience in child welfare, mental health, disabilities, social policy, human service administration, community and organizational change, populations at risk, and social work research.

Continuing Education's MSW program is a part-time program with cohorts based in Brighton and Colorado Springs. This nationally-ranked program is fully accredited by the Council on Social Work Education and is structured to enable professionals to pursue an advanced social work degree without sacrificing other priorities.

"With my work schedule, this program was the best fit for me," says Poteet. "It worked out so very well!"

Because the MSW program is cohort-based, students move through courses in an established order and progress through the program with the same classmates. As part of a cohort, students' individual and professional growth is stimulated through networking and collaboration with a consistent group of professionals throughout the program.

The majority of instruction for this program is received face-to-face and is classroom-based, with some additional instruction delivered using distance methods. Both regular and advanced standing cohorts meet one weekend per month, four weekends per semester. The first weekend is typically held in Fort Collins, with subsequent meetings held in Brighton for the Brighton cohort and Colorado Springs for the Colorado Springs cohort.

"What I enjoyed most about the MSW program was building and maintaining relationships with both instructors and the people who I was fortunate enough to have been their peer!" says Poteet.

There are two programs within Continuing Education's MSW program that students may choose from, depending on past education and experience. The three-year regular admission program is designed for students who are interested in social work but do not have a bachelor’s degree in the field. The two-year advanced standing program is designed for students who have already earned a degree in social work and have worked in the field. The two programs join after regular admission students have completed foundation courses during their first year. Students in both programs graduate together.

"The thirst for knowledge and the opportunity provided to better myself" were the motivation to pursue courses in this program, says Poteet. "This was a fantastic, well-rounded program."

Foundation courses in the first year of the three-year regular program follow the areas of social work practice, human behavior and the social environment, social welfare policy and services, and social work research. Other required content includes social work values and ethics, populations at risk, diversity, social and economic justice, critical thinking, and communication skills. During the second year of the regular program and the first year of the advanced standing program, the concentration courses build on the foundation courses to include advanced content on individual, group, and family practice, community practice, organizational practice, social welfare policy, and organizational research. Students also participate in a field placement during this year as well as the final year. Courses during the final year for both programs further advance knowledge in these key areas of social work study.

"Don't wait as long as I did to start this program!" says Poteet. "Get in as soon as you can – you will not regret it!"