When are classes in the MSW program offered?
Most MSW classes on the Springfield campus are offered as evening classes with an occasional class offered in the afternoon (usually preceding another core course). On Joplin campus, all classes are offered in the evening. We also offer a few classes on-line and a few as “blended” classes, which do not meet every week and combine classroom and out-of-classroom or on-line teaching methods. All classroom-based classes meet once a week for 3 hours each time.
How long does the program take? How many classes are there?
The full (regular) MSW program can be completed in two years full-time and four years part-time. The advanced standing program can be completed in one year full-time and two years part-time. The full-time option typically involves four classes in the Fall, one to two classes plus the practicum placement in the Spring terms, and two classes in the Summer term (either the first semester if Advanced Standing or the third term if Regular program status). The part-time option typically involves two classes each Fall semester, one to two classes every other Spring term with only the practicum placement in the alternating Spring terms, and one class in the last two Summers (either the first and second summer terms if Advanced Standing or the second and third summer terms if Regular program status). The part-time option is recommended for anyone with substantial work or other non-school related time commitments.
How many days a week do student attend classes?
Schedules vary depending on the exact classes being offered and needing to be taken by a particular student. However, for full time status, most students are able to attend classes three to four days during the week in the Fall but many times only one (possibly two) in the Spring. Since practicum placements can often be scheduled close to home, commuters often find they do not need to travel to campus much during the Spring term. In the summer, since each class meets two times a week (condensed semester), most students need to attend to three to four days a week.
In part-time status, the above times are cut roughly in half, with students attending classes one to two days per week in the Fall and many times only one or two in the Spring where they take classes and none in the semester they do their practicum placements. In the two of the three summer terms, students attend one class one or two times per week.
Can Practicum Placements be done in my Hometown (or out of the local university community)?
Yes, practicum placements can often be done in a community outside of the Springfield or Joplin areas. As such, most commuting students are able to find placements close to their residing communities. Out of town placements must be approved by the Field Coordinator for that campus and must meet the program and social work accreditation requirements for an MSW level practicum placement. The Field Coordinators meet with every student in the Fall to discuss practicum options and to help the student arrange a mutually suitable placement for the Spring term.
Is educational credit offered for work or life experience?
No. While we respect and welcome those who have life or work experience that are related to becoming a master level social worker, life credit for life experience or work background is not offered in the MSW program at MSU.
Where do I take the GRE and how do I sign up?
The GRE is offered by the Educational Testing Service (ETS), a private corporation that offers other educational entrance exams such as the SAT, TOEFL and PRAXIS. Applicants to the MSW program must take this exam and can register for it directly with the ETS. For more information, please go to http://www.ets.org.
When do I take the GRE?
It is highly recommended that applicants take the GRE by the end of the year before they intend to attend the MSW program to ensure their scores arrive before the deadline. MSW applicants must take the GRE before completing the MSW program application; applications that do not contain valid GRE scores will not be processed by the department office.
What is MSW program’s emphasis or specialty?
The MSW program at Missouri State has a family-centered social work focus in its advanced concentration courses; its emphasis is on the Family Health Perspective, a model of holistic family wellness that provides a solid foundation for many career paths in the social work field (both at micro and macro levels). Advanced practice classes provide in depth training on counseling with couples, families and individuals from a family context.
What is the Family Health Perspective?
The Family Health Perspective, as developed by Yuen and Pardek (1999), is a model of holistic family wellness that provides a key foundation for social workers working in a variety of advanced social work settings, both at micro (practice) and macro (community) levels. It utilizes the construct of family health as a central focus for helping families achieve a holistic state of wellness. It builds on the bio-psycho-social and ecological systems perspectives by emphasizing the use of seven domains of family wellness in one’s social work assessment and intervention: Physical, mental, emotional, social, economic, cultural and spiritual.
What electives are offered in the MSW program?
The program provides electives in areas including rural health, legal/forensic social work, substance abuse, domestic violence and child and family play therapy. Exact offerings vary from year to year but are designed to provide several areas of interests for students in the program.
Are different specialties or specialized “tracks” available?
Due to the size of the program and its faculty, there are no specialty tracks offered outside of the family-centered social work focus with an emphasis on Family Health as described above.
Are there assistantships available to MSW students? If so, how competitive are they?
Graduate assistantships (GA’s) typically competitive and are not automatic for MSW students. The Social Work department has a limited number of GA’s that open up from time to time. At times, MSW students are able to obtain these, depending on the timing of the opening and the requirements of the specific assistantship. However, as a graduate student on the Missouri State campus, MSW students are eligible for and may apply to or any assistantship offered on campus that they meet the qualifications for. This gives the MSW more options for support. For details on or availability of graduate assistantships, please visit the Graduate College website (http://graduate.missouristate.edu/assistantship.htm).