Social Work, M.S.W.
Admission Requirements
All M.S.W. program options are offered utilizing a cohort model and those admitted begin the M.S.W. program in the Fall Semester of each academic year. Applicants should follow the admissions process described in this catalog or at the Graduate Admissions website: http://www.marshall.edu/graduate/admissions/how-to-apply-for-admission. Applications are received in the Marshall University Office of Graduate Admissions via the online application www.marshall.edu/admissions/graduate/ and cc’d to Leslie Lucas beginning in October of the year prior to the applicant’s desired admission date. It is recommended that applications be submitted as soon as possible so that they are forwarded by the Office of Graduate Admissions to the M.S.W. Admissions Committee to be reviewed for priority admission by January 30th. Applications will be received and reviewed after the priority date, but it is highly recommended that applications be submitted as early as possible. Applicants are encouraged to check with the Office of Graduate Admissions regarding the completion of their applications. Applications need to be completed prior to being sent to the MSW Admissions Committee and need to include: Two professional references, resume, personal statement, all transcripts (from all colleges and universities attended) sent directly to Graduate Admissions.
Graduate Admissions Application Procedures and Performance Standards
The receipt of a bachelor’s degree from an accepted, accredited college or university is the basic requirement for admission as a graduate student to Marshall University and cannot be waived. Applicants must fulfill all admission requirements as specified in the Graduate Catalog. Students enrolled in the last semester of an undergraduate program may be admitted to some programs conditionally for one term subject to completion of the bachelor’s degree program and subject to departmental approval.
- Complete and return all pages of the Graduate Application for Admission form to the Graduate Admissions Office.
- When you submit the application, request the Registrar at the institution which awarded your bachelor’s degree (except Marshall University) to send an official transcript directly to the Graduate Admissions Office. The transcript from the institution that awarded your bachelor’s degree must contain the name of the degree earned and the date the degree was conferred. The Graduate Admissions Office cannot accept unofficial transcripts, including transcripts that are faxed or stamped “Issued to Student,” or transcripts mailed or delivered by the student or a third party. Individual schools and programs may require additional credentials or documentation.
- Provide all other admission materials and letters of recommendation that may be required by the program to which you are applying. NOTE: If your program requires letters of reference, the letters must be original, must be signed and be sent directly to Graduate Admissions. These may be emailed from an identifiable email account of the person providing the reference. Reference letters sent via email need to have the signature of the person providing the reference (signed and scanned). These may be sent to services@marshall.edu and cc’d to Leslie Lucas.
- Note: Applicants may apply online at www.marshall.edu/admissions/graduate/.
Summary of Admissions Policy and Procedures for Notifying Applicants of Admission or Contingency Conditions
- Applicant submits application and all required credentials (as published by program) to Marshall University Graduate Admissions;
- Graduate admissions will review the application and request any additional credentials needed or other items needed to make the application complete;
- When the application is complete, graduate admissions determines if applicants meets basic university admission requirements (baccalaureate degree from accredited school and English proficiency requirement);
- The file is sent to the MSW Program Director, Department of Social Work, via share point, for review and for admission decision;
- Department of Social Work notifies graduate admissions of their decision, via decision sheet with signature (two week turnaround required, unless there is a program deadline that has not yet passed);
- Graduate admissions enters the decision in Banner, sends official, standard Marshall University decision letter with all needed info (901, residency, admission status, etc.);
- Program should then (after Marshall University letter is sent) send the accepted applicant a follow-up letter welcoming them to the program and explaining next steps.
Specialist/Advanced Standing Program
An applicant for admission to the Master of Social Work program who holds a baccalaureate degree from an undergraduate social work program accredited by the Council of Social Work Education may be admitted to with advanced standing. The social work baccalaureate degree from a CSWE accredited institution fulfills the requirements for the MSW foundation year.
The Marshall University Department of Social Work seeks mature students with a demonstrated ability to work with people, emotional stability, good interpersonal skills and the ability to perform well academically. To ensure that entering students meet these standards, the faculty has set the following requirements for Specialist/Advanced Standing applicants holding a BSW degree from a CSWE accredited program:
- A bachelor’s degree from an accepted, accredited institution of higher learning;
- A minimum of 27 credit hours in the social sciences, i.e. communications (6), natural sciences (3), humanities (9), and social sciences (9);
- A minimum of three credit hours in each of the following courses: research methodology, and human biology.
Additionally, an undergraduate GPA of 3.00 is recommended to be considered for admission to the Marshall University Master of Social Work program. While we consider applicants whose undergraduate GPA does not meet this standard, applicants with GPAs less than 2.75 will be considered on a case by case basis.
The application file is complete when all of the following are received by Graduate Admissions:
- Completed Graduate Admission application. Application forms are available online.
- An official academic transcript is required from each college/university you have attended, including those at which you were enrolled for academic credit as a non-degree student and/or credits which you transferred to another college. All transcripts must bear the official seal and signature of the institution attended. You must request these transcripts directly from the Registrar or appropriate officer of each institution and ask that they send them directly to Graduate Admissions at Marshall University.
- Advanced Standing Admissions: Applicants who obtained a BSW within the last 7 years from an undergraduate social work program accredited or in candidacy by CSWE with a cumulative GPA of 3.00 and a social work GPA of 3.25 may be eligible to apply to the Advanced Standing 36-hour program. BSW applicants with less than a cumulative 3.0 GPA and a social work GPA of less than 3.25 will rarely be considered for the 30-hour program and will rarely be allowed to transfer social work coursework from their undergraduate degree toward their MSW degree. Additionally, if an Advanced Standing applicant received a grade of “C” or lower in any social work foundation courses as a BSW, they may be asked to re-take these courses by the Admissions Committee as a condition of admission. Applicants who wish to be considered for the 36 hour Advanced Standing program should submit their field evaluations if available, or one of their three letters of recommendation should be from their Director of Field Education, on-site Practicum Supervisor, or Practicum/Practice Instructor if the field evaluation is not accessible.
- Admissions Statement: This statement must be submitted with the application for admission. Submit a carefully written personal statement that addressing the following four topics:
- Describe a social problem or problem strategy that is of greatest interest to you.
- Describe your commitment to engage in social work roles that involve social welfare institutions and systems most likely to have an effect on major social problems.
- Describe in detail how you would insure that your work is relevant to the most economically and socially disadvantaged groups in our society.
- Describe the intellectual and personal qualifications that will enable you to practice social work successfully.
Note: If there are gaps or deficiencies in your academic record of if you have ever had an academic review, please address these in an addendum to your statement (recommended for all applicants with a GPA of 3.0 or less).
- Resume: Please include current/past employment as well as volunteer and service roles served. This can be emailed to Dr. Peggy Proudfoot Harman at harman@marshall.edu after you have submitted your online application.
- All Applicants: If there are gaps or deficiencies in your academic record or if you have ever had an academic review, please explain (recommended for all applicants with a GPA of 3.0 or less)
- Two Recommendations: Provide all admission materials and letters of recommendation. The letters must be original, must be signed and be sent directly to Graduate Admissions. These may be emailed from an identifiable email account of the person providing the reference. Reference letters sent via email need to have the signature of the person providing the reference (signed and scanned). These may be sent to services@marshall.edu and cc’d to Leslie Lucas. Click to access the Letter of Recommendation Request Form.
- Note: Applicants may apply online at www.marshall.edu/admissions/graduate/.
- Applicants are encouraged to submit at least one academic recommendation. If the applicant has not enrolled in classes within the past 5 years, this requirement may be waived and an additional work reference substituted. Evaluations should be submitted from persons who have been directly responsible for assessing and supervising your human service related work/volunteer experience and academic performance. Avoid personal references (coworkers, advisors, friends, clergy, personal therapists, etc.). The Marshall University Department of Social Work MSW program requires three recommendation forms, however letters accompanying the forms are welcomed and strongly encouraged. It is highly recommended that applicants who wish to be considered for the 30-hour Specialist/Advanced Standing program should submit their field evaluations if available, or one of their three letters of recommendation should be from their Director of Field Education, on-site Practicum Supervisor, or Practicum/Practice Instructor if the field evaluation is not accessible. The school reserves the right to request additional supportive material from persons acquainted with the applicant’s academic and/or practice capabilities.
Specialist/Advanced Standing Online Program
Admission requirements for the Advanced Standing online program are the same as those for the Advanced Standing hybrid/face-to-face program.
Program Requirements
For Conditional and/or Provisional admissions: The student and advisor will develop a Plan of Study or blueprint for graduation requirements. The Plan of Study must be on file in the Graduate College office before the student registers for the 12th semester hour.
Behavioral Health Area of Specialized Practice in:
Behavioral Health Practice OR Behavioral Health Administration
The Behavioral Health Area of Specialized Practice in Behavioral Health Practice (face-to-face/hybrid) OR Behavioral Health Administration (online only) prepares students to conduct clinical social work practice in assessing, treating, and evaluating mental health, substance abuse, and physical health in relation to one another across practice settings. A focus throughout the specialization will be on understanding the multiple factors that influence health disparities and best practices to increase health equity, particularly for marginalized populations. There will be a special emphasis on effectively serving vulnerable populations with multiple needs. The Behavioral Health specialization integrates Generalist practice by enhancing and expanding on Generalist knowledge, values, and skills in the application of the planned change process across all size systems.
The Behavioral Health specialization extends and enhances the Generalist practice skills of engagement, assessment, planning, intervention, evaluation and termination across all sized systems by incorporating clinical courses focused on Advanced Clinical Social Work in Behavioral Health with Individuals and Families.
Plan of Study
Composition of the Master of Social Work Program Generalist/Foundation
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Curriculum | 15 | |
| Field | 9 | |
| Electives | 6 | |
| Total Credit Hours | 30 | |
Generalist
The M.S.W. program consists of a foundation-level Generalist curriculum to include the following:
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| SWK 501 | Foundations of Gen Practice I | 3 |
| SWK 511 | Foundations of HBSE | 3 |
| SWK 521 | Foundations of Social Policy | 3 |
| SWK 531 | Foundations of Gen Practice II | 3 |
| SWK 541 | Foundations of Research | 3 |
| SWK 551 | Foundations of Field Practicum (450 work hours) | 9 |
All Generalist 2-year students must complete 66 credits in order to graduate from the program. All students enrolled in the regular 66 credit program must complete two separate (2-3 semesters each) academic yearlong field placements.
Advanced Curriculum - Behavioral Health Practice (Face-to-Face/Hybrid Only)
Advanced Standing status students are granted 30 credit hours for their BSW and take 36 hours of M.S.W. curriculum in an Area of Specialization either in behavioral health practice or behavioral health administration. Advanced Standing status students begin study in the fall and complete the program in the summer of the following year.
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| SWK 615 | Psychopathology | 3 |
| SWK 631 | Int Health Models & Pract | 3 |
| SWK 633 | Adv Clin SW Prac Ind Fam | 3 |
The spring semester includes the following courses:
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| SWK 634 | Adv SW Prac Gps Com & Org | 3 |
| SWK 670 | Adv Theory & Pract Child | 3 |
| SWK 673 | Family & Community Violence | 3 |
| SWK 655 | Comorb Ment & Phy Disorders | 3 |
| SWK 653 | Adv Field Practicum (450 work hours) | 9 |
| Electives | 6 | |
Students who enter the program with Advanced Standing (30 credit hours total) complete only one (1) academic (two semesters) year-long field placement (9 credit hours, 450 work hours).
Advanced Curriculum - Behavioral Health Administration (Online Only)
Advanced Standing status students are granted 30 credit hours for their BSW and take 36 hours of M.S.W. curriculum in an Area of Specialization either in behavioral health practice or behavioral health administration. Advanced Standing status students begin study in the fall and complete the program in the summer of the following year.
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| SWK 613 | Adv Human Behavior Social Env | 3 |
| SWK 614 | Adm SWK Pract Behav Health | 3 |
| SWK 615 | Psychopathology | 3 |
| SWK 616 | Policy Prac in Beh Health | 3 |
| SWK 622 | Int Health Policy & Services | 3 |
| SWK 642 | Adv Social Research I | 3 |
| SWK 643 | Adv SW Research II | 3 |
| SWK 653 | Adv Field Practicum | 9 |
| Electives | 6 | |
| Total Credit Hours | 36 | |
Students who enter the program with Advanced Standing (30 credit hours total) complete only one (1) academic (two semesters) year-long field placement (9 credit hours, 450 work hours).