Program Description

KSU is committed to developing innovative programs responsive to the rapidly changing economic, social, and political climate and to the interdependence of sectors (public, private, and nonprofit). Therefore, KSU is offering the first dual degree MSW/MBA program in the state of Georgia. “In recent decades, social work practitioners have increasingly been called upon to think entrepreneurially to seek private funding and to collaborate with nongovernmental organizations to provide social services and goods” (c.f. Lee, 2016, p. 209). Similarly, companies have become more socially responsible because of consumer demand, employee morale, the potential to develop new markets, and a desire to create sustainable business practices that focus on the triple bottom line (preserving the well-being of people and the planet while making a profit).

The Master of Social Work and Master of Business Administration (MSW/MBA) Program is a dual degree offered by the WellStar College of Health and Human Service and the Coles College of Business Administration to meet this need. The dual degree program aims to create future leaders and change agents who create “social value” by focusing on the triple-bottom-line and initiating purposeful “social change.” The competencies acquired through the dual degrees will be sought after by Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) units in companies, Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs), and large managed care organizations (behavioral and physical health), to name a few. Graduates can also launch their social entrepreneurial ventures, social enterprises, and private practices. Hence, graduates can be employed by organizations in all three sectors (private, nonprofit, and public).

Program Student Learning Outcomes

Students who successfully complete this program will be able to: 

MSW: 

1. Demonstrate ethical and professional behavior.
2. Advance human rights and social, racial, economic, and environmental justice.
3. Engage in practice that has intercultural fluency. 
4. Engage in practice-informed research and research-informed practice.
5. Engage in policy practice.
6. Engage with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities.
7. Assess individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities.
8. Intervene with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities.
9. Evaluate practice with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities.

MBA: 

1. Evaluate relationship among value chain component and design value chains to increase overall value.
2. Choose a profit maximizing level of inputs by balancing marginal revenue and marginal costs.
3. Analyze a company’s internal and external environments and formulate appropriate plans.
4. Analyze, interpret, and communicate business data using descriptive or inferential statistics.
5. Evaluate resource allocation, marketing, or production or service management decision using an appropriate quantitative tool.
6. In a global business context, analyze information, identify threats and opportunities and formulate appropriate organizational responses.
7. Effectively influence group members’ behaviors toward the accomplishment of a goal(s).
8. Analyze business situations and recommend leadership skills and competencies most likely to be effective.
9. Compare and contrast ethical issues of a business problem and choose an ethical solution.
10. Exhibit professional communication skills, balancing content and style components, in written and/or oral presentations.

 This program is a part of the Wellstar College of Health and Human Services.

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Admissions, Enrollment, and Graduation Criteria

Admissions Criteria

To be admitted into the dual degree program, the applicant must specify the option when applying to the Graduate College. Students interested in applying for the dual degree option MSW/MBA Program should consult with the MSW and the MBA Program Directors about admission requirements and course sequence. The following are program-specific requirements beyond the general Graduate Admissions requirements. To be considered for admission to this program, the following application materials must be submitted to the KSU Graduate Admissions Office:

The following are MSW program-specific criteria beyond the general Graduate Admissions requirements. To be considered for admission to this program, the following application materials must be submitted to the KSU Graduate Admissions Office:

• Admissions Criteria

  The following are program-specific criteria beyond the general Graduate Admissions requirements. To be considered for admission to this program, the following application materials must be submitted to the KSU Graduate Admissions Office:

• An undergraduate grade point average of at least 3.0 or better on a 4.0 scale, as indicated on the official college or university transcript received directly from the degree-granting institution. Coursework from all two- and four-year institutions should be submitted directly by the institutions.
• Traditional MSW: 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. 
• Advanced Standing MSW: Hold a baccalaureate degree in Social Work (BSW) from a CSWE-accredited program. The BSW degree must be conferred within the last 5 years. Applicants holding the BSW degree awarded more than 5 years ago must apply for the Traditional MSW program.
• One letter of recommendation from a faculty member familiar with the applicant’s academic work (Note: if you cannot locate an academic reference, you may add a professional supervisor-related reference from a current or former employer or field supervisor).
• A writing sample, maximum 6 pages, double-spaced, explicitly addressing the following 5 dimensions. You can use subheadings for each dimension. Identify a current social issue that has caught your attention.
  1. Briefly describe the history of the current social issue, citing relevant sources (research, news media, etc.).
  2. Specifically discuss some key elements of the issue that got your attention (e.g., the number of people impacted; the impact of the issue on specific populations) and why.
  3. Describe how the current issue or specific elements mentioned above align with your personal values.
  4. Discuss how the social issue is perceived from multiple perspectives (e.g., as described in the media, on social media, in a research article, etc.).
  5. Explain how social work as a profession and you as a future social worker would approach resolving the issue.
• Nature and total years of full-time professional experience may also be considered. 
• At any point before beginning classes in the dual degree program, an applicant or admitted student submits an official GMAT or GRE score to KSU, the submitted GMAT or GRE score may be used for consideration of an admissions decision.

Admissions Requirements for Unique Cases

For the MSW/MBA program, additional information may be requested in order to better assess the candidate’s preparedness to enter the programs. For example, the program does not generally require standardized tests for admissions consideration, however, in certain cases the program may request candidates to take the GMAT or GRE exam in order for the admissions committee to assess their suitability for the programs.

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 transfer requests are made to the Social Work Program Director and will be handled case-by-case. The courses requested for transfer must match the courses offered within the foundation year curriculum at KSU. 

Students enrolled in the Master of Business Administration program: No credit from outside institutions is accepted for this degree/certificate/endorsement/program.

Enrollment Criteria

In addition to meeting the requirements of Academic Policy 4.0 ACADEMIC STANDING, DISMISSAL, & REINSTATEMENT, students are expected to meet the following enrollment criteria: 

The Master of Social Work program consists of three areas - foundation courses, advanced clinical courses, and fieldwork courses. The following is a brief description of each area:

1. Foundation Course Sequence - This sequence is designed to introduce the student to the field of social work and provide a firm foundation for professional training. 
2. Advanced Clinical Course Sequence - This sequence of courses assumes mastery of foundation courses and moves the student into more complex and advanced clinical specialization. 
   • Elective courses are offered to enrich the student’s understanding of the clinical specialization.
3. Fieldwork Courses - The 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 an agency setting during the foundation year, and it focuses on clinical work in the second clinical specialization year.

• A student must receive an overall grade of “B” or above to successfully pass the MSW field seminar courses.
• Students who receive an overall grade of “C” in a field seminar course will be placed on a performance improvement plan (PIP) for the following semester to stay enrolled in the MSW Program.
• Students who receive an overall grade of “C” in two field seminar courses will automatically be terminated from the MSW Program.
• Students who receive an overall grade of “D” or below in any field seminar course will automatically be terminated from the MSW Program.
• Performance improvement plan (PIP) does NOT APPLY when a student receives two “C’s” a “D” or an “F” in field seminar courses.
• For appeal and reinstatement policies, see the Graduate Catalog and/or contact the Graduate College.

Graduation Criteria

Each student is expected to meet the requirements outlined in Academic Policy 5.0 PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS & GRADUATION.

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Program Course Requirements