Social Work, MSW

Contact: Dr. Irene McClatchey, Program Director
Office: 470-578-6630
Fax: 470-578-6630
imcclatc@kennesaw.edu
http://wellstarcollege.kennesaw.edu/swhs/ 

The vision for the Department of Social Work and Human Services is to prepare engaged, innovative professionals and global citizens who are educated to enrich the lives of individuals and families and enhance the quality of communities. The Department’s core values reflect the values of the University, the National Association of Social Workers and the National Organization of Human Services. These values include academic excellence, student-centered, service, human relationships, social justice, the dignity and worth of the individual, client and community well-being, client self-determination and confidentiality, promotion of ethical standards, integrity, competency, and professional growth.

The Master of Social Work program is designed to prepare students for entry-level professional practice in social work. Upon graduation, students are eligible for taking the Licensed Master of Social Work (LMSW) exam and they may also pursue further clinical supervision requirements to become a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW). The MSW program offers specializations in children and families and mental health, with a subspecialty in substance abuse. The KSU Master of Social Work program is fully accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE).

The Master of Social Work program offers a full-time (2 year) study plan. The MSW requires completion of 60 semester hours of graduate study. Note: KSU does not offer part-time or advanced standing MSW programs.

General Requirements for Admission

MSW Program admission requires:

1. A GPA of 3.0 or better on a 4.0 scale over the last 60 hours of undergraduate study, as indicated on official college or university transcript received directly from the degree-granting institution. Course work from all two and four year institutions should be submitted directly by the institutions.
2. A minimum combined score of 285 on Graduate Record Examination (GRE) taken within five years prior to application for admission. Please note: You may receive a waiver if you already have a graduate degree from an accredited US institution.
3. Hold a baccalaureate degree that reflects a broad liberal arts base in the social, behavioral or psychological sciences, human biology, the humanities or statistics. The baccalaureate degree should be from an institution accredited in a manner accepted by Kennesaw State University.
4. Three letters of recommendation
   • At least one from a faculty member familiar with the applicant’s academic work (Note: if you are unable to locate an academic reference, you may add a professional reference);
   • Two from a former employer, field supervisor or someone else with expertise in social work
5. An autobiographical statement, maximum 1500 words, double-spaced, that includes the following:
   • Your experience in social work, including volunteer experience.
   • The life experiences impacted your interest in social work.
   • Your personal qualities that will be useful in serving others as a social work professional.
   • Your values that will be useful in serving others as a social worker
   • Your career goals and how social work education will help you realize these goals.
6. International applicants: Refer to KSU policies for additional application requirements. http://www.kennesaw.edu/graduate/admissions/international_admissions.shtml

Non-Degree Admission

Students classified as non-degree students are not permitted to enroll in the Master of Social Work program.

Transfer Credit

Students enrolled in the Master of Social Work program may be given credit for up to 6 semester hours taken at other CSWE-accredited programs. All requests for transfer are made to the Social Work Program Director and will be handled on a case-by-case basis. The courses requested for transfer must match the courses offered within the foundation year curriculum at KSU.

Grades

Expectations for satisfactory graduate level student performance are detailed in Academic Policies section of this catalog.

Petition to Graduate

MSW candidates must petition to graduate at least one semester prior to completion of their degree requirements. Petition to graduate forms are available in the program director’s office.

 

Program of Study

The full-time MSW program is completed in two years (4 semesters)-foundation year and concentration year. There is no part-time study plan for the MSW degree. The Master of Social Work program consists of three areas - foundation courses; advanced clinical courses with specialization areas; and the fieldwork courses. The following is a brief description of each area:

1. Foundation Course Sequence - designed to introduce the student to the field of social work and provide a firm foundation to professional training.

2. Advance Clinical Course Sequence - this sequence of courses assumes mastery of foundation courses and moves the student into more complex and advanced practice in specialization areas.

a. Specialization areas - these consist of two specialization areas - 1) Children and Family Services; and 2) Behavioral Health Services.

The Children and Family Services specialization prepares students for advanced clinical social work practice with families, children, and youth in a variety of family focused agency settings.

The Behavioral Health Services specialization has a sub-specialty in substance abuse. The Behavioral Health Services specialization prepares students for advanced clinical practice in a variety of behavioral health settings.

b. Elective courses - clinical elective courses are offered to enrich the student’s understanding of the specialization areas.

3. Fieldwork Courses - internship site placements are an integral aspect of the MSW program. Under the supervision of experienced master’s level social workers, fieldwork/internships offer students direct practice experiences in agency setting during the foundation year, and it focuses on areas of specialization in the concentration or second year.