MASTER OF SOCIAL WORK (MSW) PROGRAM

ANNA R. McPHATTER, Ph.D, LCSW
Chair, Department of Social Work
Jenkins Behavioral Sciences Building, Room 422
Baltimore, Maryland 21251
Tel: 443.885.3537; Fax: 443.885.8241
E-Mail: AMcPhatter@moac.morgan.edu

PROGRAM GOALS AND OBJECTIVES

The goal of the Master of Social Work Program is to prepare advanced social work practitioners to practice competently and effectively with urban families, groups, organizations, and communities. The program is committed to the alleviation of human suffering and the improvement of the quality of life for urban residents. Because African Americans make up a substantial percentage of the urban population, and are also over-represented among urban residents facing unrelenting social and economic problems, the program has a major focus on preparing its graduates to address, systematically and strategically, issues of poverty and socioeconomic disadvantage, interpersonal and community violence, substance abuse and mental health problems, social injustice and discrimination.

ADMISSION

Admission to the MSW Program is granted only in the fall semester and, in addition to the requirements of the School of Graduate Studies, is based on the following:

• Three letters of recommendations from social work professionals, employers or academicians
• Career objectives as outlined in an entrance essay to be completed by the applicant
• Documentation of previous academic achievement, professional accomplishments, and earned degrees (official transcripts)
• Interviews may be required with the Social Work Admissions Committee
• Students who have completed the BSW degree from a program accredited by the Council on Social Work Education may qualify for admission into the Advanced Standing Program if they meet the following criteria:
• Completed the BSW within the past seven years
• Graduated with a 3.0 overall grade point average or better
• Recommendation from the Chair/ Program Director of the BSW Program from which student matriculated
• Recommendation from Social Work professional

Students admitted under the above criteria for Advanced Standing may receive up to 30 credits of the Foundation Year of the program.

GENERAL REQUIREMENTS

Students admitted to the Master of Social Work degree program who are not admitted for Advanced Standing must complete 48 credits of course work and 12 credits of supervised internship. The program may be completed in two years of full time course and field work or three years of part-time course and field work. Students accepted for Advanced Standing must have their social work courses evaluated for acceptance toward the degree requirements. There is a five-year statute of limitation on the completion of the program. Students are not given credit for life experience in the program and may not receive credit for course work completed at a non-accredited social work program.

PROGRAM OF STUDY

The MSW Program is designed around the Foundation Year, which requires students to complete course work and field practicum focused on generalist social work practice, and the Concentration Year in which students select a Concentration. Concentrations build on the Foundation curriculum, increasing in depth and breadth, by providing specialized course content and practicum experience in a field of practice. Concentration options include Urban Children, Youth and Families, School Social Work, Gerontology, and Public Health Social Work and require 12 credits of concentration specific course work and 6 credits of concentration field practicum. The following courses make up the Foundation Year of the program:

Please note that a field practicum is required for each semester of the program. Sixteen (16) hours per week for the Foundation Practicum and twenty-four (24) hours per week for the Advanced Practicum are required.

Please note that a field practicum is required for each semester of the program. Sixteen (16) hours per week for the Foundation Practicum and twenty-four (24) hours per week for the Advanced Practicum are required.

Please note that students who elect the 3- year program are required to complete sixteen (16) hours per week of field practicum each semester in the foundation year (second year) and twenty-four (24) hours her week in the advanced year (third year).

Note:
Students who select the 3-year program must plan for the third year, which is full time. The statute of limitations for graduate studies is five years.