The MSW curriculum is comprised of a foundation year and an advanced year. The core courses in both of these years provide students with the requisite knowledge to think critically and practice as a social worker. In the advanced year, students choose either the clinical or macro concentration. Outside of the core required courses, students have a great deal of flexibility in putting together their course of study. For example, students may choose to take electives outside of the School of Social Policy & Practice at Penn's other eleven graduate schools, or they may choose to participate in one the certificate programs focusing on aging, child welfare, criminal justice, global human rights, prisoner re-entry, health care, school social work, and more. The Master of Social Work curriculum has been developed with a strong conviction that preparation for professional practice necessitates the integration of knowledge, values and skills. This integration is purposefully facilitated by structuring classroom instruction and field experiences so that they can mutually support and reinforce students educational learning objectives. The MSW curriculum is divided into two parts: the foundation curriculum, which provides an orientation to the profession and a basis for understanding practice with individuals, families, groups, and communities, and the advanced curriculum, which enables students to focus on their chosen area of practice.