拉丁美洲人专业化社会工作实践旨在使社会工作者在各种临床，社区和社会服务环境中与西班牙裔/拉丁美洲裔社区一起工作。通过该专业课程，学生将加深对拉丁裔/拉丁裔的历史，政治，经济，社区，社会和文化背景的认识和理解。学生还将批判性地研究各种实践框架，社会生态学概念和理论以及文化结构，这些文化结构可帮助具有拉丁裔和拉丁裔个人，团体和社区的具有文化能力的社会工作实践。通过实地考察，追求专业化的学生将能够展示在各种环境中与拉丁裔人口有效合作的技能。
The Face to Face MSW prepares students to move into clinical or macro practice. Students primarily attend face to face classes at the main UH campus and have access to two areas of specialized practice, four specializations and our four dual degree programs. Face to Face program students attend full-time. The Face to Face program is primarily a day-time program and cannot be completed only on evenings. Both program options, Advanced Standing and full program are available Face to Face.<br><br>Clinical Practice is the application of theories, methods, skills, values and ethics needed to enhance the cognitive, mental, emotional, behavioral, physical and social well-being of individuals, couples, families, groups and communities. Clinical practice requires leadership in promoting social, economic and political justice. Its methods are relationship-centered, contextualized, culturally sensitive and strengths focused. It includes knowledge about biopsychosocial functioning - and - evidence based interventions. Clinical practice includes, (but not limited to) assessment and intervention, diagnosis and treatment, education and prevention, advocacy, counseling and psychotherapy, supervision and consultation. <br> <br><br>The Social Work Practice with Latinos Specialization aims to prepare social workers to work with Hispanic/Latino/Latina populations in clinical, community, and social service settings. In the Greater Houston area, a professional with a Master's degree in Social Work will interact with diverse populations that include Latinos/as from Mexico, Central and South America, and the Caribbean. Houston is the 4th largest city in the United States and one of the most diverse. The Latino population is the fastest growing ethnic group in the U.S., expected to increase from 17% currently to 30% by the year 2050. Designated a Hispanic Serving Institution since 2012, the University of Houston is ripe with opportunities for networking with various Hispanic/Latino cultures on campus. The Social Work Practice with Latinos Specialization creates unique learning opportunities for students to gain effective advanced social work skills for engaging the Latino family and community in social service interventions from a cultural perspective. Through the focused coursework taken in the specialization, a required field component, optional study abroad opportunities, and active exchanges with faculty who teach in the specialization, students benefit from innovative opportunities for increasing professional cultural awareness and understanding of the historical, political, economic, community, social and cultural contexts of Hispanics/Latinos/Latinas.