SR 743 Introduction to Social Work Research I Waiver Exam Information
If you are interested in taking the SR 743 waiver exam, carefully read the following information.
Overview
Our program offers entering students with a strong research methods background the opportunity to demonstrate their proficiency by passing a research examination. Those who pass may waive the Research I (SR743) course requirement. To pass, you must receive a threshold grade of 70 or higher, and you then must replace SR 743 with an elective in your program.
Please note: If you are an Advanced Standing student who would like to test out of Research I, you must still take the exam, and, if passed, you will not need to replace SR 743 with an elective class.
The waiver exam is available online to those enrolling in any of BUSSW’s four MSW programs: Charles River Campus, Off-Campus, Online and Worcester Hybrid.
The approximate cost of the waiver exam is $25.
You may only take the exam once.
To find out which dates you can take the exam, read through your program’s information in the drop-down boxes below.
FIRST STEP: Creating a BU email address
In order to take the waiver exam, you must have a Boston University email address. This is because the exam will be taken on Blackboard, an online database system that requires a BU login.
To create your BU email, you must follow the instructions in your MSW acceptance letter and, if required, pay your deposit. You will then receive welcome materials and information from the Registrar on how to create your BU email address.
Please note: Each program receives their acceptance letter and BU email set-up instructions at different times. |
Registration Info & Dates by Program
Charles River Campus
Next offering: April 17-20, 2023
Students can take this exam only once.
To register for the exam, you must submit the mandatory Research Waiver Exam Interest Form by April 3, 2022. If you plan to take the exam, you should still register for the Research I course (SR743) to reserve a space in case you do not pass the exam. Students are expected to attend the Research I course until exam results are received.
After you’ve completed the Research Waiver Exam Interest Form, there is nothing more you need to do. Once the exam sign-up deadline passes, we will send emails to all interested students with further instructions on how to access the exam, select date and time, and the exam requirements.
Off-Campus & Worcester Hybrid
Next offering: April 17-20, 2023
Students can take this exam only once.
To register for the exam, you must submit the mandatory Research Waiver Exam Interest Form by April 3, 2023. If you plan to take the exam, you should still register for the Research I course (SR743) to reserve a space in case you do not pass the exam. Students are expected to attend the Research I course until exam results are received.
After you’ve completed the Research Waiver Exam Interest Form, there is nothing more you need to do. Once the exam sign-up deadline passes, we will send emails to all interested students with further instructions on how to access the exam, select date and time, and the exam requirements.
Online Program
Next offering: April 17-20, 2023
Students can take this exam only once.
To register for the exam, you must submit the mandatory Research Waiver Exam Interest Form by April 3, 2023. If you plan to take the exam, you should still register for the Research I course (SR743) to reserve a space in case you do not pass the exam. Students are expected to attend the Research I course until exam results are received.
After you’ve completed the Research Waiver Exam Interest Form, there is nothing more you need to do. Once the exam sign-up deadline passes, we will send emails to all interested students with further instructions on how to access the exam, select date and time, and the exam requirements.
All Dates
We offer three Social Work Research Waiver Exams per year in December, April, and August.
December exam – The deadline to complete the mandatory Research Waiver Exam Interest Form is November 28, 2022. The exam dates are December 12-15, 2022.
April exam – The deadline to complete the mandatory Research Waiver Exam Interest Form is April 3, 2023. The exam dates are April 17-20, 2023.
August exam – The deadline to complete the mandatory Research Waiver Exam Interest Form is August 7, 2023. The exam dates are August 21–24, 2023.
Prepare for the Exam
The exam consists of multiple choice and true-false questions. To prepare for the exam, we suggest:
- Review course concepts in the assigned textbook, Engel, R.J. & Schutt, R.J. (2017) The Practice of Research in Social Work 4th ed.
- You may also opt to get an earlier or later version of the textbook at a lower cost; either textbook will provide valuable study content.
Concepts to Know
Concepts you may be tested on include:
- Research questions and hypotheses
- Quantitative and qualitative methods of inquiry
- Independent and dependent variables
- Variables’ level of measurement
- Measurement reliability and validity
- Instrument construction
- Data collection methods
- Sampling strategies
- Research design
- Threats to internal and external validity
- Single subject design
SR 743 Condensed Syllabus
| Week |
Topic |
Readings Completed Prior to Class Session |
| 1 |
Introduction to course
Using research to answer social questions
Social work research in practice
Developing a research focus for the course assignment |
Chapter 1 |
| 2 |
Overview of the research process
Development of research questions and hypotheses
Inductive and deductive logic
Conducting a literature review in the Behavioral & Social Sciences |
Chapter 2 |
| 3 |
Independent and dependent variables
Variable conceptualization and operationalization
Levels of measurement |
Chapter 4 |
| 4 |
Instrument reliability and validity
Questionnaire and survey construction
Survey research |
Chapter 9 |
| 5 |
Dynamics of class, culture and gender
In class workshop: Interview Questionnaire |
Chapter 9 |
| 6 |
Research Populations and Samples
Sampling Methods
Probability and Nonprobability Samples |
Chapter 5 |
| 7 |
Methods of Qualitative Research and Mixed Methodology |
Chapter 10 & 12 |
| 8 |
Ethics of Social Work Research
Workshop on Informed Consent |
Chapter 3 |
| 9 |
Causal inference, internal validity and research design |
Chapter 6 |
| 10 |
Group experimental designs |
Chapter 7 |
| 11 |
In-class exercise: Critiquing a quantitative and qualitative study |
|
| 12 |
Single subject designs
Program evaluation
Link to Research II |
Chapter 8 |
| 13 |
Final Presentations Week 1 |
Chapter 13 |
| 14 |
Final Presentations Week 2
Course Evaluations |
|
PLEASE NOTE:
To register for the exam, all students must submit the mandatory Research Waiver Exam Interest Form by the date listed in their program’s drop-down box above.
After you’ve completed the Research Waiver Exam Interest Form, there is nothing more you need to do. Once the exam sign-up deadline passes, we will send emails to all interested students with further instructions on how to access the exam, select date and time, and the exam requirements.
WAIVER EXAM INTEREST FORM
Contact Us
If you have questions about the research waiver exam, please contact Teisha Albert Pankey at sswsupp@bu.edu.