Utah State University
Department of SSW&A
0730 Old Main Hill
Logan, UT 84322-0730
Tel. 435-797-1230
Fax 435-797-1240
ann.johns@usu.edu

department of
Sociology, Social Work & Anthropology

February 2009 Update

Latest News: The Council on Social Work Education’s Commission on Accreditation granted USU’s MSW program Candidacy status at its February 2009 meeting. As is the case with all new MSW programs, USU’s MSW program must complete a 2-3 year candidacy period prior to receiving full accreditation. Achieving Candidacy status indicates that the program is on the path to accreditation and assures our students that they will, according to CSWE policy, be considered to have graduated from an accredited program once the program achieves accreditation.

Our inaugural MSW class is in its second semester. Because our program only admits a new class every other year, we will not begin another full-time class until the fall of 2010 (application deadline= Jan 15, 2010). Our next part-time class will begin in the fall of 2011. Applications for the part-time program will be accepted beginning in the fall of 2010 with a deadline of Jan. 15, 2011.

If you would like to receive program updates via the USU MSW Email List, send an email to Dr. Derrik Tollefson at derrik.tollefson@usu.edu and ask to be added to the list.

Program Overview

The MSW program was approved by the Utah State Board of Regents in March 2007. We then received approval from the Council on Social Work Education, our accrediting organization, to begin the accreditation process. We had our first accreditation-related site visit in December and were granted Candidacy status in February of 2009.

We offer a full-time 2-year MSW program on the Logan campus and a 3-year part-time program at the Brigham City, Ogden, Tooele, and Uintah Basin regional campuses; other sites may be considered in the future. We offer courses to full-time students on Monday and Wednesday afternoons; part-time classes are held on Tuesday evenings starting at 5:15. The tables below provide an overview of the two MSW programs. Tuition and fees for these programs amount to $325 per credit hour.

If you are interested in one or both of these programs we invite you to complete an online questionnaire. Completing the questionnaire will let us know your level of interest in the program, provide us with your contact information, and assist us in our program planning efforts. A similar survey was conducted in the fall of 2004. Those who completed that survey are also invited to participate in the current survey. To access the survey click on this link: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.asp?u=755701999341 . If the link does not work, copy and paste the link in your web browser’s address bar and press enter. Feel free to contact Dr. Derrik Tollefson at derrik.tollefson@usu.edu or 435-722-1752 if you have questions.

More About Our MSW

The MSW program emphasizes the advanced generalist practice knowledge and skills essential to the tasks of promoting social welfare, especially among vulnerable populations, in institutions such as education, health, employment, housing, and criminal justice. The program is dedicated to the development of professional social workers who understand the need to advocate for vulnerable populations, and to work toward the establishment of societies free from poverty, violence, oppression, and discrimination. Specifically, our MSW program will prepare its graduates to:

• Understand the values, concepts and skills that constitute the framework of generalist and advanced generalist practice.
• Apply the knowledge and skills of the generalist and advanced generalist social work perspectives to practice with systems of all sizes.
• Understand biopsychosocial theory and the person-in-environment perspective as viewed within the context of agency practice, legislative and policy issues.
• Utilize evaluative methods in practice.
• Practice with cultural competence.
• Utilize advocacy and administrative skills as a means to promote social change in communities and organizations.

Program Goals

In fulfilling its mission the MSW program seeks to accomplish the following specific goals:  

• Maintain an excellent program that prepares competent and committed social work professionals for practice, research and advocacy, and leadership in agency settings that serve vulnerable, at-risk, and diverse populations.
• Continue USU’s and the program’s commitment to student-centered educational programs.
• Contribute to the development and application of advanced knowledge, especially as it informs advanced generalist social work practice, promotes social justice, and enhances the social work profession.
• Deliver foundational and advanced courses that enable students to understand and interpret the history of the social work profession and its contemporary structures and issues and prepare students for advanced generalist practice with individuals, families, groups, and communities, and to engage in practice in ways that reflect understanding of and respect for all people regardless of race, nationality, color, ethnicity, class, sex, gender, sexual orientation, disability, or religion.
• Infuse content throughout the curriculum that engenders attitudes consistent with the values of the social work profession: social justice, dignity and worth of persons, service, integrity, competence, and the importance of human relationships.
• Prepare social workers who possess the desire and ability to improve and prevent deleterious systemic conditions, such as poverty, oppression, racism, ageism, and sexism, which serve as barriers to the well-being of individuals, families, groups, and communities, through influencing social policy and social service delivery systems.
• Prepare social workers capable of consuming social work and social science research, applying research to practice, and evaluating practice processes and impacts.
• Provide and support activities that promote ongoing professional development, inter-professional and interdisciplinary collaboration, and reciprocal relationships among social work professionals, groups, organizations, and communities.

Curriculum

The foundation curriculum is designed to familiarize students to the history, values, and mission of professional social work and to impart the basic knowledge and skills associated with a generalist perspective for a beginning level of practice with individuals, families, groups, communities and organizations. The generalist perspective prepares students for a variety of professional roles and tasks and to practice directly with individuals, families, groups and communities, as dictated by the circumstances at hand. Our foundation courses embrace the person-in-environment perspective and teach students to think beyond narrow boundaries and to appreciate the implications of context (e.g. social issues, agency regulations, etc.). Students learn to move across system levels and how to choose among practice methods based on their assessment with an eye toward improving the adaptive fit between person and environment. Upon completion of the foundation curriculum our students will have a strong sense of social work values and social work knowledge and skills that can be applied across a wide variety of agency and community settings.

The advanced curriculum is based on an advanced generalist social work practice model. Based on competent assessment students learn to move across system levels and among practice methods in order to enhance the adaptive fit between persons and their environments. A solid understanding of, and practice with, phases of assessment, planning, contracting, intervention, and then evaluation, is considered essential. These common factors enable social workers to work with a broad range of client populations in a variety of settings on multiple levels. Advanced generalist social workers are expected to be able to move flexibly among roles utilizing a repertoire of skills that can be adapted to client systems of various sizes. They are expected to respond to complex problems and situations, possess increased technical abilities, to assume more sophisticated roles, and to be capable of functioning as an independent practitioner (Schatz et al., 1990; Gibbs et al., 1990).

Our curriculum is delivered through a variety of mediums including face-to-face, internet video conferencing, and online courses. USU utilizes state-of-the art technology in its course delivery.

USU MSW Part-Time Program (60 credit hours)

Disclaimer : The above information is subject to change.

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MSW Program - Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Why Should I Pursue A Master of Social Work Degree?

A : There are many career opportunities for social workers, particularly for those with a Master of Social Work degree. MSWs practice in a wide variety of public and private agency settings such as child welfare, youth services, mental health/counseling, schools, criminal justice, and medical settings such as hospitals and long term care facilities, to name a few. Social workers interact with diverse client populations and seek to improve quality of life particularly for those who exist on the margins of society. Career opportunities are abundant as the job market for professional social workers is expanding, both locally and nationally.

A Master of Social Work (MSW) degree can also unlock the door to upward career mobility within the profession. More and more frequently the MSW degree is a requirement of supervisory or management-level positions and the MSW degree often brings higher salaries as well.

Q: When will the program begin?

A: The program (full and part-time) will begin Fall 2008.

Q: Will the program be offered on a full-time or part-time basis?

A: We expect to offer the program on a full-time basis on the Logan campus, and on a part-time basis at the other sites (Tooele, Ogden, Brigham City, and Uintah Basin). Part-time program classes will be offered in the evenings and/or weekends (Friday & Saturday). Full-time program classes will be offered two days per week during the day (some classes may be offered in the late afternoons or evenings).

Q: Where will classes be held?

A: Full-time program courses will be taught on the Logan campus on Monday and Wednesday afternoons. Part-time courses will be offered at the other satellite campuses (Tooele, Ogden, Brigham City, and Uintah Basin) on Tuesday evenings starting at 5:15. Some courses (including those offered at the Logan campus) will be offered via Internet Video Conferencing and the World Wide Web (distance education). Students in the part-time program may also participate in some Saturday class sessions.

Q: Is the program accredited?

A: Like all new MSW programs, we must complete a candidacy period of 2-3 years before we receive full accreditation. We intend to achieve full accreditation through the Council of Social Work Education (CSWE). Full accreditation cannot be gained until the first class of students graduate which will happen in May of 2010. We expect to be granted accreditation soon after the February 2012 CSWE meeting. At that point the first class of graduates will be recognized of having fully accredited MSW degrees. Graduation from a MSW program in candidacy qualifies graduates for all jobs requiring a MSW, for sitting for the licensing examination and for membership in the National Association of Social Workers.

Our undergraduate program has been continuously accredited by CSWE since 1974.

Q: Do I have to have a certain undergraduate major to be admitted to the program? Are there any prerequisite courses?

A: No particular undergraduate major is required of those applying to the full or part-time program, but it is expected that applicants would have a strong background in the social and/or behavioral sciences (see proposed admissions requirements table above). We will require all applicants to have a 4-year degree from an accredited university or college, to have successfully completed a research methods OR statistics course AND at least one introductory social work or social or behavioral science course as an undergraduate (e.g. Psych 1010, Anthro 1010, Soc 1010, SW 1010). See the proposed admissions requirements table above for more details.

Q: Do applicants have to have human services experience?

A: No, but human services experience (paid and volunteer) is highly desirable in applicants.

Q: Do you have an advanced standing program?

A: No. However, students with a recent BSW degree may be allowed to substitute electives for certain foundation courses to avoid unnecessary repetition of content covered in their undergraduate program.

Q: How many students will be admitted?

A: We anticipate that about 20-25 students will be admitted to the full-time program and that approximately 45 students admitted to the part-time program.

Q: Will financial assistance be available?

A: Because the MSW program is new, the financial aid options are limited. The Social Work program will seek funding for a limited number of scholarships which will be awarded through a competitive process. Some agencies are willing to assist their employees with tuition; you are encouraged to investigate this option. Federal student loans are also an option.

Q: Would I be able to do my practicum work at the agency I currently work for?

A: It may be possible for you to complete some of your practicum hours with your current employer. However, you would have to take on additional responsibilities commensurate with master’s level education. Many agencies are willing to work with students to help them meet these requirements. You are encouraged to explore this issue with your employer. One of the two practicum placements will occur at an organization other than that which employs you.

Q: Will students be paid for their practicum hours?

A: Some agencies may be able to financially compensate practicum students. These arrangements will be worked out between the student and the agency.

Q: Will you require the GRE or some other entrance exam?

A: All applicants will be required to take the GRE or MAT.

Q: Whom can I contact if I have questions or to add my name to the list of interested individuals?

A: Contact the MSW Program Coordinator, Derrik Tollefson, Ph.D. at 435-722-1752 or derrik.tollefson@usu.edu

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