The MSW degree program is designed to be a two-year full-time course of study. The program prepares students to become social work professionals, practitioners, and leaders to serve diverse population at various system levels—individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities. The program requires students to complete 45 credit hours of graduate coursework which includes 800 hours of advanced social work field education. The courses in the program focus on qualitative skills, critical thinking, quantitative analysis, and leadership abilities that involve knowledge, values, skills, as well as cognitive and affective processes.

Most courses in the MSW program would last 8 weeks each, so students could easily breeze through the required courses within two years of study. Further, students that do not have a bachelor’s degree in social work may be required to take additional foundation prerequisite courses.

The MSW program further focuses on advancing the knowledge, skills, and cognitive/affective processes of social workers by offering two specialized areas: (a) Mental Health; and (b) Alcohol and Drug Addiction Counseling. Both specializations employ ecological, and systems approaches to relate to other theoretical frameworks, e.g., developmental, and life-stage theories. After successfully finishing the program of study, graduates will be able to engage in social services (therapy, counseling, case management, research, advocate, crisis management, etc.). Social workers who are licensed to diagnose and treat mental, behavioral, and emotional disorders are called clinical social workers (CSW) or licensed clinical social workers (LCSW).

To apply to the 4+1 BSW/MSW social work program, students must be currently enrolled in FVSU’s BSW program and be apply to the 4+1 (Advanced Standing) program as early as the last semester of their senior year (Fort Valley State university policy stipulates that “Applicants who are currently in the last semester of undergraduate work when applying will be evaluated based on their completed academic work and their current course enrollment. Formal admissions decisions for these students cannot be made until their degree is conferred”), and as late as deadline for graduate admissions as specified in the graduate studies catalog or website.

Program of Study

Students that already have a Bachelor’s in Social Work (BSW) from an institution accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) will be required to complete 45 credit hours. Students with BSW degree from FVSU could be allowed to cross-list some of their 4000 level foundation courses in our 4+1 initiative. Advanced Standing MSW program for one year is also geared towards individuals who have graduated with a bachelor’s degree in social work from a Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) accredited program within the past five years and hold a minimum 3.25 GPA on a 4.0 scale in Social Work courses. In addition, students in the Master of Social Work program will be required to complete 800 hours of internship or hand-on field experiences to help them apply the knowledge and skills they have learned in class as well as qualify for their professional license.

The MSW program offers four completion plan of study options:

1. Advanced Standing or BSW/MSW 4+1 years Full-time Option (45 credits)
2. Two-Years Part-time Option (45 credits)
3. Three-Years Part-time Option (45 credits)
4. Four-Year Option Part-time Option (45 credits)

Admission Criteria

Current FVSU admission standards for recruiting students for the graduate level will apply.

• GPA of 2.7 or higher
• Graduate school application (online application)
• Transcripts verifying the award of bachelor’s degree
• Narrative self-statement and the interest in social work field
• For international students, official test scores of English as a foreign language (TOEFL) or scores from the international English language testing system (IELTS)
• Resumé
• Three letters of recommendation

          Specific admission standards for the Fort Valley State University Master of Social Work program:

• Apply and meet the general graduate study admission standards for the University
• A baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university is required (or the US equivalent with an approved, professional credential evaluation)
• Applicants should have a broad liberal arts background that includes study in the social, behavioral, and biological sciences with a minimum of 60 liberal arts credits.
• Course work relating to diverse cultures, social conditions, and social problems is favorably considered, although academic credit is not given for life experience in lieu of field education or course requirements.
• A strong academic record and demonstrated intellectual capacity for graduate education
• GPA requirements must be a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 (based on a 4.0 system) of undergraduate coursework, or a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 (based on a 4.0 system) in the last 60 hours of the undergraduate degree.

Note: (1) Applicants who have deficiencies may be admitted conditionally. All such students must complete the conditions on which the admission is granted during their matriculation in the MSW program.

Note (2): The MSW program does NOT permit academic credit for life or work experience.

Program Objectives

MSW program aims to prepare students to:

1. Become competent advanced social work professionals and practitioners.
2. Develop knowledge and skills to apply multiple theoretical frameworks and practice models to work with client systems at various levels.
3. Become ethical and culturally competent practitioners with diverse populations.
4. Promote and advocate for social, racial, and economic justice.
5. Gain social work research, knowledge, values, and analytical skills that will enable them to provide leadership in service delivery systems.
6. Use technology appropriately to maintain ethical and affective practice to comply with local, state, and national policies.

Student Learning Outcomes

MSW students will:

1. Demonstrate Ethical and Professional Behavior.
2. Advance Human Rights and Social, Racial, Economic, and Environmental Justice.
3. Engage Anti-Racism, Diversity, Equity, and Social Inclusion in Practice.
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.

The degree, Master of Social Work, is conferred by Fort Valley State University upon those students who have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher.

Course Requirements

1. Core Courses (24 Credit Hours)

1. SOWK 5101: Human Behavior in the Social Environment (3 credit hours)
2. SOWK 5102: Clinical Social Work Practice with Individuals (3 credit hours)
3. SOWK 5103: Clinical Social Work Practice with Families (3 credit hours)
4. SOWK 5104: Social Work Practice with Groups (3 credit hours)
5. SOWK 5105: Social Work Practice with Communities, Agencies, & Organizations (3 credit hours)
6. SOWK 5106: Social Welfare Policies (3 credit hours)
7. SOWK 5107: Social Work Leadership and Cultural Diversity (3 credit hours)
8. SOWK 5109: Clinical Social Work Practice & Psychopathology (3 credit hours)

  B.  Specialization (12 Credit Hours)

B.1. Mental Health (choose four of the following)

1. SOWK 5301: Community-based Practice in Mental Health and Addiction (3 credit hours)
2. SOWK 5302: Social Work Practice: Addiction (3 credit hours)
3. SOWK 5303: Mental Health & Addiction Practice: Individual & Family (3 credit hours)
4. SOWK 5304: Mental Health & Addictions Practice with Groups (3 credit hours)
5. SOWK 5305: Behavioral Health and Psychopathology: Practice, Policy, and Research (3 credit hours)

 

B.2. Alcohol and Drug Addiction Counseling (choose four of the following)

1. SOWK 5401: Special Issues in Alcohol and Drug Counseling (3 credit hours)
2. SOWK 5402: Substance use, and substance use disorder (3 credit hours)
3. SOWK 5403: Addiction Science (3 credit hours)
4. SOWK 5404: Substance Abuse, Addiction and Prevention Treatment Counselling (3 credit hours)
5. SOWK 5405 Advanced Clinical Social Work Practice in Integrated Healthcare (3 credit hours)

C. Social Work Internship/practicum (9 Credit Hours)

1. SOWK 5501: Social Work Field Education Internship-I (3 credit hours)
2. SOWK 5502: Social Work Field Education Internship-II (3 credit hours)
3. SOWK 5503: Social Work Field Education Internship-II (3 credit hours)