Social Work, Advanced Standing Plus–Two-Year Program MSW

MSW (Master of Social Work)

The Master of Social Work (MSW) degree is a professional degree enabling the graduate to enter practice as an advanced-level practitioner. Graduates are prepared to work in a variety of interpersonal clinical or administration and development practice emphases. The foundation curriculum for the MSW consists of 12 core competencies: (1) Professionalism, (2) Values and Ethics, (3) Critical Thinking, (4) Diversity and Differences, (5) Human Rights and Social Economic Justice, (6) Research, (7) Human Behavior and the Social Environment, (8) Social Welfare Policy and Services, (9) Contextualization, (10) Social Work Practice, (11) Global Worldview, and (12) Christian Perspective. Accreditation for the MSW degree has been granted through the Council on Social Work Education through 2019.

Assistantships

Students have the opportunity to apply for graduate assistantships—teaching or research. These assistantships give students the opportunity to develop their expertise. Students interested in becoming social-work educators—especially those with years of clinical experience—may teach undergraduate courses. Research assistantships offer experiences in community consulting, grant writing, and/or conducting research.

MSW Student Handbook

The MSW Student Handbook has been designed as the social work student’s aid in understanding the program requirements, Social Work Department, and relevant policies of Andrews University.  Inside the handbook you will find information such as expectations of students, the MSW curriculum, departmental policies, and other relevant information.

You are responsible for the information found in this handbook, so please take the time to familiarize yourself with the handbook and know where to find questions and answers if the need arises.

Field Manual

The Field Manual has been designed as your aid in understanding field education requirements, your role as a student in a field agency, and relevant policies of Andrews University.

You are responsible for the information found in this handbook, so please take the time to familiarize yourself with the handbook and know where to find questions and answers if the need arises.

Admissions Criteria

Applicants to the MSW program must meet the requirements in the Graduate Admission section of this bulletin. They must also meet the requirements outlined below.

• An overall minimum undergraduate GPA of 2.75
• All junior and senior level core Social Work courses must have a grade of B- or above or they must be repeated at the MSW level (and the grade received must be B- or above).

* Admissions criteria may be refined and changed as necessary to improve the process and address accreditation issues.

English Language Requirement

For those applicans whose native language is not English, the following is required:

1. Demonstration of English proficiency by obtaining at least a minimum score on any one of the following exams.  Exam must be taken within two years prior to enrollment.

• TOEFL ITP (paper-based) - A minimum score of 550
• TOEFL iBT (internet-based) - 80 with a minimum of 20 on each section
• MELAB - 80 with a minimum of 80 on each section
• IELTS (Academic version ) - 6.5
• PTE (Academic version) - 54

2. Nelson Denny - score of 13 and

3. Personal interview with MSW program director or designee

Applicants who fail to meet any of the above may be admitted only after committee consideration of the specific circumstances. Additional course work in English may be required.

A student who graduated from a four-year English-speaking high school, college or university may be exempted from all or parts of the above requirements.

Graduate Record Examination (GRE)

Students who are applying for admission to the MSW program have two options related to the Graduate Record Examination (GRE). For those students who are seeking a graduate scholarship, the GRE must be taken. The amount of a potential scholarship is related to the score achieved on the GRE as follows:

For students who do not seek a graduate scholarship based on the GRE score, the GRE examination is not required.

Advanced Standing Plus—Two-year Program

Students who have done generally very well in their BSW program, but do not meet the 3.0 GPA admission requirement for the one-year advanced standing program, may be eligible for the two-year advanced standing program designed to remediate any areas of academic weakness. Credit requirements are increased by six credits in addition to the one-year advanced program requirements, designated by the advisor in consultation with the student to strengthen identified areas for growth.

MSW Degree Requirements*

•  Satisfactory completion of the MSW curriculum listed by programs below:

MSW Areas of Emphasis

Students may choose to specialize in the following areas of emphasis: Administration & Development, Mental Health, School Social Work, Marriage & Family, Christian Ministry, International Social Work, Medical Social Work and Aging & Social Work. Please refer to the Department of Social Work website for further information: www.andrews.edu/cas/socialwork/. Students are not required to choose an emphasis area.

Degree Requirements

• A minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 in Social Work Program
• No grade of D or F (or U) may count toward a graduate degree.
• The maintenance at all times of professional conduct and behaviors appropriate for a social worker according to the National Association of Social Workers’ Code of Ethics.
• Defense of the professional degree portfolio. This portfolio is a demonstrative collection of professional competencies.
• Other Andrews University degree requirements as presented in the Graduate Academic Information section of this bulletin

* Subject to change as necessary to improve the process and address accreditation issues.

Past experience strengthens all MSW student applications. However, following Council on Social Work Education requirements, no social work course credit can be given for life experience or previous work experience.

Total Credits: 39