Social Work, M.S.W.
[Social Work-2104]
The Master of Social Work has a vision to lead the advancement of integrating Christian faith with social work practice, scholarship, and service locally, nationally and internationally. The mission of the program is to provide a creative and supportive learning environment that integrates Christian faith and equips students to master requisite practice competencies while encouraging compassionate service. The program offers concentrations in both Child and Family and Mental Health, preparing students for exemplary service and leadership in private and public agencies.
Admission Criteria:
For the 2-Year Program (including Part-Time format):
- Bachelor’s degree in a liberal arts discipline
- Accumulated grade point average (GPA) of 2.75 on a scale of 4.00 or 3.00 during the last 60 completed credit hours
- Prerequisite courses: Introduction to Psychology, Introduction to Sociology, Statistics or Research Methods, and 9-12 credits of Humanities (e.g. English, Writing, History, etc)
For Advanced Standing:
- Bachelor's degree from an undergraduate social work program accredited by the Council on Social Work Education*, with an overall GPA of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale
- Provide recommendations and autobiography that exhibits readiness to begin at the advanced level of graduate education and social work practice
- Demonstrate that the foundation knowledge, values, and skills provided at the B.S.W. level is comparable to, and has been sufficiently mastered to, begin the MSW concentration year
- Master foundational knowledge, values, and skills unique to the mission of the Roberts Wesleyan College MSW program prior to beginning the concentration year
*B.S.W. must have been completed within five years of enrollment in Robert’s program. This limit may be extended for up to 8 years if the student has post-BSW social work experience.
For Part-time enrollment:
The admissions standards for the part-time program are the same as the full-time program. Once accepted into part-time status, students must take a minimum of 6 hours per term (fall and spring terms) until they have graduated. All courses must be taken within 12 terms from the time they begin as matriculated part-time students (summer is included as a term).
Transfer Credit:
A formal course description (for example, from a course catalog or course syllabus) must be provided for each course that the applicant wishes Roberts to consider. The Program Advisor and the Director will compare the course description with that of similar courses in the Roberts M.S.W. program to determine equivalence. The course description will also be presented to the Registrar’s office as evidence of equivalence, just as an official transcript is presented as evidence of success course completion.
Transfer courses may be accepted for credit if they have been completed five years from the time of acceptance into the MSW Program. Transfer credits earned following matriculation at Roberts will not be accepted. Applicants to the 2-year program may transfer up to one full year of credit from another CSWE-accredited MSW program in which they were matriculated graduate students in good standing.A minimum of 30 credits of graduate coursework is required from Roberts Wesleyan College.
SPECIFICS OF THE SOCIAL WORK, M.S.W. DEGREE
Minimum Total Hours: 38 for those admiited with Advanced Standing, 60 for two year program
Minimum Requirements:
A cumulative GPA of 3.0 on a scale of 4.0 must be maintained, with no grade less than a B-. Any required course with a grade less than B- will need to be repeated. Elective courses with a grade lower than B- need need not be repeated, but no credit will be given toward graduation. Students who receive less than a B- in field practice courses will be referred to the Social Work Department’s Academic and Professional Evaluation Committee (APEC) for special action, which may include termination from the program. Students whose cumulative GPA falls below 3.0 will be referred to APEC who will act in accordance with the policies identified in the Termination Policy. At a minimum, students with GPAs below 3.0 will be placed on probation. The student's curriculum plan will be reviewed and necessary adjustments made. Students who are on academic probation for two consecutive terms will be terminated. At least one term (excluding summer) must transpire before reapplying.
Advanced standing students whose GPA for the three required courses (SWK 545, SWK 557, SWK 560) is below 3.0 will not be permitted to move into the concentration year.
Credits in the Program:
Advanced Standing Courses: 38
- SWK 545 (3) Advanced Standing Seminar I
- SWK 557 (2) Advanced Standing Seminar II
- SWK 560 (3) Social Work Practice & Religion
- SWK 565 (3) Psychopathology
- SWK 615 or 715 (3) (615) Justice, Values and Ethics (715) Integration of SW & Christian Theology
- SWK 642 (2) Applied Social Work Research
- SWK 664 (2) Group Work
- SWK 670 (3) Field Instruction III
- SWK 675 (3) Field Instruction IV
- Elective (3)
Concentration Courses (choose one concentration):
Child and Family Concentration:
- SWK 625 (3) Child-Family Multidimensional Assessment
- SWK 630 (2) Child and Family Policy
- SWK 651 (3) Family Therapy
- SWK 652 (3) Child and Family Interventions
Mental Health Concentration:
- SWK 626 (3) Mental Health Multidimensional Assessment
- SWK 635 (2) Mental Health Policy
- SWK 661 (3) Mental Health Theories
- SWK 662 (3) Mental Health Interventions
Two Year Program Courses: 60
- SWK 520 (3) Social & Cultural Diversity
- SWK 525 (3) Human Behavior and Social Environment I
- SWK 530 (3) Social Welfare Policy and Services
- SWK 540 (3) Social Work Research
- SWK 550 (3) Individual, Family, & Group Intervention
- SWK 552 (3) Organization & Community Intervention
- SWK 560 (3) Social Work Practice & Religion
- SWK 565 (3) Psychopathology
- SWK 570 (3) Field Instruction I
- SWK 575 (3) Field Instruction II
- SWK 615 or 715 (3) (615) Justice, Values and Ethics (715) Integration of SW & Christian Theology
- SWK 642 (2) Applied Social Work Research
- SWK 664 (2) Group Work
- SWK 670 (3) Field Instruction III
- SWK 675 (3) Field Instruction IV
- Elective (6)
Concentration Courses (choose one concentration):
Child and Family Concentration:
- SWK 625 (3) Child-Family Multidimensional Assessment
- SWK 630 (2) Child and Family Policy
- SWK 651 (3) Family Therapy
- SWK 652 (3) Child and Family Interventions
Mental Health Concentration:
- SWK 626 (3) Mental Health Multidimensional Assessment
- SWK 635 (2) Mental Health Policy
- SWK 661 (3) Mental Health Theories
- SWK 662 (3) Mental Health Interventions