OVERVIEW
The mission of the Carver School of Social Work Master’s program (M.S.W.) is to expand career opportunities and prepare family practitioners and/or global social service providers and/or administrators through advanced social work academic preparation in a Christ-centered environment. In the spirit of Christian service, graduates apply advanced level professional social work skills in regional, national and/or international settings for the purposes of improving the quality of life.
Guided by the mission of the MSW program and influenced by the missions of the university, the baccalaureate social work program, the social work profession and the needs of the local, regional, state and international community’s the MSW program strives to attain the following goals:
1. To prepare advanced level social workers to lead and serve as advanced level practitioners, service coordinators, service administrators, policy analysts’ and program developers.
2. To equip graduates with advanced social work knowledge, values and skills in preparation for service with diverse, at-risk, marginalized, oppressed populations which exist in rural, urban, national and international locations;
3. To prepare social work practitioners that are skilled in evaluating and linking empirical knowledge, social work practice wisdom, social research and practice outcomes;
4. To stimulate a desire within graduates for the pursuit of life-long-learning and Christ-centered service.
ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS AND PROCEDURES, CURRICULA AND GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS
Unconditional Admission
1. Applicants must submit a completed University graduate application form.
2. Applicants must submit a completed Carver School MSW Graduate Program application form.
3. Applicants must have completed a Baccalaureate Degree with a minimum of 15 hours of liberal arts education
4. Applicants must submit official transcripts of all college work from accredited institutions (both undergraduate and graduate) confirming a minimum overall grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.
5. Applicants seeking Advanced Standing must have completed a Baccalaureate Social Work Degree at a CSWE accredited program.
6. International students must have a 213 computer generated score, a 79-80 Internet score, or a 550 paper generated TOEFL (Test of English as Foreign Language).
7. If student do not have the required GPA they may apply but should have a GRE aptitude score of 850 [combined verbal and quantitative scores]. The GRE is not required for those with a 3.0 or greater undergraduate GPA.
8. Applicants must submit three recommendations using the standardized social work program recommendation form as presented in the M.S.W. program application packet.
9. Applicants must submit a signed statement of understanding affirming the support for NASW Code of Ethics and the standards of this MSW program.
10. Applicants must type and submit a 500-1000 word essay indicating why they wish to practice professional social work and be considered for acceptance in this program.
11. Applicants must provide a statement indicating whether they have a legal history which contains a misdemeanor or felony conviction.
Provisional Admission
Applicants not meeting all of the above prerequisites may be considered by the MSW Graduate Council. Students provisionally accepted will:
• Have their course performance assessed regularly by their advisor who will report progress to the M.S.W. Graduate Committee.
• Maintain a 3.0 overall GPA or greater while in the graduate program.
The M.S.W. Program Director will assign an advisor to students accepted into the program. An appropriate graduate faculty or education tutor will be assigned by the Program Director if a grade lower than a B is awarded in any graduate course and the need for specialized mentoring is encountered.
Admission Notification
Applicants will receive notification of acceptance once all admission requirements are met. The Graduate Council recommends full, provisional or non acceptance. Applicants are advised to contact the Carver School of Social Work & Counseling occasionally to monitor the progress toward the completion of their application materials (letter of recommendation, transcripts and so forth) prior to receiving official notification of status.
CURRICULUM OF THE MASTER OF SOCIAL WORK
The Carver School of Social Work and Counseling at Campbellsville University is committed to providing a comprehensive social work education to all who meet eligibility requirements. Those who have obtained approval from the MSW Program Admissions Committee will be expected to follow the course sequence outlined in this section of the handbook. Upon meeting admittance criteria, the student will be assigned a Social Work Faculty Advisor. Each student is responsible for scheduling an appointment three weeks prior to the upcoming trimester to review and schedule classes for the next trimester.
The Masters in Social Work is a 60 credit-hour program; however, students holding a baccalaureate degree in social work from a Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) accredited undergraduate program may apply for advanced standing. Students having completed their accredited undergraduate social work degree over 10 years from application date may be requested to take a competency examination offered at the Carver School of Social Work in order to qualify for advanced standing. If an applicant is approved for advanced standing they may complete their degree in 32 credit-hours by enrolling in the MSW Advanced Year. Students with an undergraduate degree in any subject area are welcomed to pursue a master’s degree in social work.
Students are advised to adhere to one of the following sequence plans:
PROGRAM SEQUENCE
The 60 credit-hour MSW curriculum includes both the Foundation Year and the Advanced Standing Year and is required for applicants having completed an undergraduate non-social work degree or an undergraduate social work degree that was not accredited by the CSWE at the time of graduation.
MSW Foundation Year (28 credit hours)
The foundation year (first year) of the MSW program is for students that do not have an undergraduate degree in social work from a CSWE accredited undergraduate social work program. Undergraduates who do not have the BSW yet wish to pursue the MSW degree are provided this option. This curriculum is offered in the evening and online and requires one year of continuous study to complete. A student enrolled in one course or two courses per trimester will take at least two years to complete the foundation year and two or more years to complete the advanced professional year.
MSW Advanced Year (32 credit hours)
The advanced year MSW core curriculum consists of courses that prepare students with the knowledge and skills to assess, evaluate, coordinate, advocate, develop and implement social services and programs in national and international settings. This curriculum emphasizes social justice, social planning, policy development, program implementation in the context of social obligation and missions. The core emphasizes history, research, assessment, advocacy, diversity, policy analysis, development, evaluation and service. The core consists of 15 credit hours of specified courses taught by doctoral social work educators and 8 credit hours of practicum experience. In addition to the core and practicum, students must successfully complete one of two concentrations (6 credit hours), Family Services or Global Social Services, and one elective course.
MSW Electives
The MSW program includes one elective course. This provides students an opportunity to explore a particular topic of interest that complements the core and professional content selected by the student. The selection of the elective course is made in consultation with the student’s academic advisor. In addition to the knowledge and skills conveyed in the core curricula, students are required participation in one of two advanced practice concentrations. The practice concentrations are: Family Practice and Global Social Services.