Department of Social Work

Master of Social Work

The Master of Social Work (MSW) Program is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education. The MSW program is designed to prepare students for entry into advanced social work practice. The 60 credit-hour degree program consists of a curriculum which provides knowledge, values, and skills common to generalist social work practice, specialization courses in advanced clinical practice and social administration, and seven field practicum courses which are designed to enhance the core competencies in the foundation and specialization areas. Students must declare a specialization within the first semester of full-time enrollment or within two semesters of part-time enrollment. The Department also offers International learning opportunities in Trinidad Tobago, Ghana and Costa Rica on a selective basis.

Mission Statement

The mission of the Department of Social Work is the prepare students to excel in social work practice. The BSW program prepares students for generalist practice and the MSW program builds on the generalist foundation and prepares students for advanced practice in Clinical Social Work and in Social Administration. The department promotes student focused learning, affirms the African American legacy and fosters a unique multicultural environment through its BSW and MSW curriculum and advocacy roles in community change. The department graduate students who are culturally competent to practice social work in rural, urban, and global settings.

The MSW degree seeks to prepare graduate students with analytic knowledge and practice skills, which are necessary for self-critical, accountable and autonomous social work practice. The curriculum consists of three principle parts:

A foundation curriculum which provides knowledge, values and skills common to all areas of Generalist social work practice;
An advanced practice curriculum conceptualized within two areas of Specialization: Advanced Clinical Practice and Social Administration Practice;
The Field Education Pedagogy that support their chosen area of Specialization and along with an integrative seminar course that yields into synthesis of knowledge, values and skills learned in the MSW curriculum.

Master of Social Work Licensure

The Master of Social Work curriculum at Savannah State University is specifically designed to prepare students for the Master of Social Work Licensure (LMSW). Furthermore, the Master of Social Work program is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE). Graduating from a CSWE accredited program is a requirement to take the Master of Social Work Licensure exam.

MSW Admission Requirements

Admission to the MSW program is on a selective basis. Prospective students apply to the Office of Graduate Studies. Only completed applications are reviewed by the Social Work Admissions Committee.

Completed admission applications are evaluated according to the following criteria:

A baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university with liberal arts courses from the social sciences, behavioral sciences, natural sciences, biological sciences, and humanities
Grade point average (GPA) of 2.8 on a 4.0 scale for regular admission
Grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale for Advanced Standing
GRE is not required of applicants with a minimum GPA of 2.8 from an accredited institution
Applicants with a GPA below 2.80 must submit official Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores within the last five years. Successful applicants must have a score of 3.0 on the analytical writing portion
Provisionally admitted applicants with a GRE writing score below 3.0 will be required to take MSWK 6500 Critical Writing & Analysis in Social Work
Official transcript(s) direct from all colleges/universities attended
Office of Graduate Studies Social Work Application with a 500-1,000 word “Directed Essay” indicating the applicant’s reasons for wishing to pursue graduate studies in social work at SSU
Two letters of reference (academic and/or professional persons)

(An in-person interview is scheduled when determined by the admissions committee.)

Regular Full Time Admission

The Full-Time curriculum begins in the fall semester. This is a two-year 60 credit hour program with students completing a minimum of 15 credit hours per semester.

Advanced Standing Admission

The Advanced Standing curriculum begins in the summer semester. Only students who have earned the Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) degree from a CSWE accredited program within the last five years are eligible for the Advanced Standing admission. Students admitted into the Advanced Standing program who fail to earn a grade of “B” in any course will be removed from Advanced Standing. The student may be given the option of continuing in the regular two-year MSW degree program. The student will not be allowed back in the Advanced Standing curriculum. Advanced Standing requires a total of 33 credit hours and is completed within 12 months.

Provisional Admission

Applicants who want to obtain the MSW degree, but do not fully satisfy the requirements for admission may be given consideration for provisional admission status. The student must earn a grade of “B” in each course during the first semester of enrollment in order to remain in the MSW Program. Student who have not completed the specified liberal arts core may also be admitted provisionally, however, they must successfully (“C” or better) complete the prerequisite courses within the first year of admission.

Non-Degree (Special) Admission

Non-degree students can apply up to 6 semester hours of graduate credit taken at SSU to the MSW program This category is temporary and applicants must complete an application for admission. Non-degree students must satisfy all prerequisites before enrolling in a course. Students Luegatha66admitted in non-degree status are not eligible for financial aid.

Students admitted in the Non-Degree Seeking program may register for the following courses that are part of the M.S.W. foundation:

MSWK 6654: Theoretical Perspective on Human Behavior and Social Environment (3 credits)
MSWK 6680: Social Welfare Policy and Services (3 credits)
MSWK 6649: Ethics and Diversity in Social Work Practice (3 credits)

Admissions Appeal

An applicant denied admission to the Master of Social Work program may appeal the decision in writing to the Chair of the Social Work Department. The applicant will be required to provide additional information in support of the appeal. The appeal process begins with the Chair’s Office and continues through the channels as described elsewhere in this document.

No Credit for Life Experience and Previous Work Experience

Although life experience and previous work experience are important and helpful to prospective students; in accordance with the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE), the MSW program does not waive its academic requirements, including Field education, in lieu of these experiences.

Graduate Student Advisement

Each student enrolled in the Masters of Social Work Program is assigned a graduate faculty advisor. The faculty advisory will help the student plan a program of study consistent with the student’s academic goals and will approve all course selections prior to registration.

Transfer Credit

The Department of Social Work may accept up to 27 credit hours from an accredited CSWE program.

Transfer credit may be granted if the applicant meets the following:

All admission requirements for the MSW Program and Savannah State University Graduate School requirements
MSW course(s) completed in a CSWE approved program within the last five years
A minimum grade of “B” earned in each course for transfer credit
Inclusion of catalog description for each requested course for transfer credit
Course outline or syllabus, including bibliography for each requested transfer course
A letter of recommendation from the Chair of the Department related to the student’s enrollment status at the previous or current Social Work Program.

Termination for Academic and Non-Academic Reasons

In terminating a Master of Social Work Student for Academic and Non-Academic reasons, the Department of Social Work follows the University procedures as outlined in the University Catalog, the MSW Student Handbook, and the University Student Conduct Code. These documents contain the established policies and procedures for handling cases, instances and grievances related to failure to maintain academic standards, academic misconduct and violation of the student conduct codes.

It is the goal of the Department of Social Work to preselect students and operate in a proactive manner to minimize the acceptance of students who are later determined to be unsuitable for the profession. It is recognized, however, that in spite of the most conscientious screening efforts by the Admissions Committee and the faculty group process, there may be instances in which an applicant is later determined to be unsuitable for the profession. Issues related to violation of the NASW Code of Ethics, emotional immaturity, lack of professional development, exhibited in the academic environment of the field practicum will be investigated by a faculty review team appointed by the MSW Program Coordinator in consultation with the Department Chair. The review team assesses whether the events, situations, and/or behaviors indicate current or potential problems/harm or danger for the student, Department, College, University, client, agency, colleagues, and/or the community.

Suspension

Students are expected to remain in good standing in the MSW Program. To be in good standing, a graduate student must maintain a cumulative point-hour of 3.0 or better in all graduate credit courses, and reasonable progress toward graduate program requirements.

If the GPA of a graduate student falls below a 3.0 in a given semester, a letter of scholastic warning will be sent to the student placing him/her on Academic Probation. A student who fails to maintain reasonable progress may be subject to review by the Department of Social Work Performance Review Committee. The student will be allowed one semester to achieve good academic standing (3.0 GPA). If not achieved by the end of the academic probation term, the student will be dismissed from the program. Only credits earned in the Master of Social Work program at Savannah State University may be used to repair deficiencies in a student’s GPA.

Readmission

Students suspended for lack of academic performance after being placed on probation may reapply for admission to the Department Chair after a one-year hiatus. If readmitted, the only coursework eligible for meeting degree requirements are those courses in which the student earned a minimum grade of B. That is, students readmitted following academic suspension will retake all graduate coursework as advised by the committee and where the grade earned was less than a B. Students in the Social Work Program may repeat a course one time only.

Any student suspended the second time for lack of academic performance after being readmitted will be ineligible for readmission. Provisional students dismissed for lack of academic performance are ineligible for readmission.

Orientation

A required orientation to the MSW Program is held at the beginning of the fall semester for Full Time students and summer semester for Advanced Standing students.

Dual Concentration

Students are permitted to pursue a Dual Specialization. The Dual Specialization allows students the option of taking three (3) additional core specialization courses (9 credit hours) from the Clinical Specialization or the Social Administration Specialization.

Field Practicum

Field practicum is an integral part of social work education. The experience offers an opportunity for students to integrate and apply theoretical knowledge and social work practice skills in diverse human service settings under the instruction of approved agency based social workers. Field placements are carryout during day hours. There are no evening and weekend placements available.

MSW students complete 900 clock hours of field practicum for a total of 21 semester credit hours. The foundation practicum is offered, typically at 16-20 hours a week for 400 hours (9 credits). In the advanced year, the specialization specific practicum is offered, typically at 16-20 hours a week for a total of 500 hours (12 credits). Field practicum is taken concurrently with social work practice classes. In the advanced year, field experiences are focused on students’ declared specialization (Clinical Practice or Social Administration Practice).

Degree Requirements

MSW I MSWK 6689, MSWK 6690, MSWK 6691

MSW students must earn a minimum grade of “B” in Social Work Practice (MSWK 6660). Students who fail to earn the minimum grade of “B” in MSWK 6660 will not be eligible for a MSWK 6690 and MSWK 6691. Students must earn a “B” or above in the foundation practice and practicum courses (MSWK 6660, MSWK 6661, MSWK 6689, MSWK 6690, MSWK 6691) in order to advance to the specialization year. Students who fail to earn a “B” or above in a second attempt will be dismissed from the MSW program.

MSW II MSWK 6792, MSWK 6793, MSWK 6794, MSWK 6795

Students must earn a minimum grade of “B” or above in their specialization practice (MSWK 6750, MSWK 6751, MSWK 6780, MSWK 6781) and specialization practicum (MSWK 6792, MSWK 6793, MSWK 6794 and MSWK 6795) courses. Students who fail to earn a “B” or above in either of the specialization practicum courses will be called for a Performance Review. If a student is given an opportunity to retake any of these courses and fails to earn a “B” or above, the student will be dismissed from the MSW program.

MSW Student Organization

The MSW Student Organization; Social Worker Invested in Future represents MSW students by regular participation in Departmental Meetings; representing MSW students at other local Social Welfare organizations. The officers are drawn from first and second year students, part time and full time students. The MSW Student Organization, in cooperation with other NASW student organizations around the state, organizes and coordinates participation in the annual Georgia NASW Student Lobby Day in the spring.