Master of Science in Community and International Development/Master of Social Work Dual Degree MSCID/MSW

Dual Degree Program Description

Andrews University has chosen to explore a collaborative between the Community & International Development Program (CIDP) and the Department of Social Work in the College of Arts & Sciences to prepare students for service in occupations where social work and international development intersect. Social Workers, particularly those in the areas of Administration and Development and International Social Work, may have an interest in international work. In such situations, the MSCID could equip them with a complementary skill set. Likewise, development and relief workers often find themselves in situations where social work skills in counseling and therapy would be useful. In addition, the MSCID/MSW collaborative allows for a greater breadth of employment opportunities for students.

Since both the MSW and MSCID programs reduce the total credits in order to reduce costs and achieve a more streamlined and efficient program, both degrees must be received simultaneously in order to fulfill the requirements of either degree.  In the event that one degree was completed prior to enrollment for the dual degree program, the requirements for the second degree would be met through completion of the requirements shown below.

MSCID Degree Requirements - 39-40 Credits

MSW Degree Requirements

MSW Emphasis Options

Collaborative Program Objectives

1. To prepare students for various forms of work in which clinical and administrative skills in development and social work are needed;
2. To enable students to integrate development and social work knowledge, values, and skills into a multifaceted approach to service, thereby enhancing their value in the world.

Distinctive Features of the Program

The program is designed to give students an integrated approach to both international development and social work. Students who take a social work emphasis in Administration and Development and International Social Work can choose a dual degree with CIDP.

Admission Requirements

Applicants to the MSCID/MSW dual degree program typically will have received a bachelor’s degree (BA, BS, BSW) from an accredited four-year college or university in the U.S., or hold an equivalent educational credential from another country. Application must be made separately to both the MSDIC and MSW programs. Acceptance into one program does not guarantee acceptance into the other. Applicants must meet the admissions requirements for each program, including all required prerequisites for each degree. Students in both programs must meet the following minimum requirements:

1. Students must maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0;
2. No grade of D or F (or U) may count toward either degree.

Credits for Each Program

MSCID students are required to complete 39-40 credit hours for the two-year regular program, which includes 12 elective credits (minimum of 4 courses). Students with certain prerequisites may qualify for the 30-credit advanced standing program. The two-year regular MSW degree requires 46 core credit hours, plus 10 elective hours. Due to the strict requirements of the Council on Social Work Education’s accrediting mandates, these core courses must all be taught or co-taught within the department by faculty holding an MSW degree. Occasionally, a student who has already earned a BSW from an accredited program may apply to this program. In this case, the student would be placed in the Advanced Standing program, and take either 33 credits (Advanced Standing) or 39 credits (Advanced Standing Plus). Students with an undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher are eligible to complete the Advanced Standing Program, while those with a lower GPA must complete the Advanced Standing Plus requirements.

These program models create a curriculum that allows for the integration of 21–24 Social Work and CIDP credits, giving students the advantage of being able to reduce their total credit load. Since both MSCID and MSW programs already share courses in order to reduce costs and achieve a more streamlined and efficient program, the course work for both degrees must be taken either simultaneously or within one academic year of completion of one of the degrees in order to fulfill the requirements of either degree.

Because of CSWE requirements, students in the MSCID/MSW SOCIAL WORK COURSES 215 dual degree program would register for social work core classes in lieu of certain CIDP courses and would take an emphasis in either Administration & Development or International Social Work. Students will take shared courses as outlined below.

MSW Requirements

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.

English Language Requirement

For those applicants 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.