Master of Social Work

Alabama State University Master of Social Work (MSW) offers three-degree tracks: advanced - standing (12 months); traditional (two-year, full-time); and part- time (four-year). Students have the choice of the following concentrations: Gerontology (GSW), Forensic Social Work (FSW) or Mental Health (MHSW).

The program will prepare students for advanced social work training/academic leadership in the areas of Forensics, Gerontology, Behavioral and Mental Health. The program is designed to attract highly motivated students who demonstrate a strong commitment to promoting social and economic justice. Students will learn to systematically apply social work knowledge and skills (theory, research methods, and best practices) to assist "at-risk" populations.

The Master of Social Work program has begun the three-year process of accreditation by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE). The program anticipates full accreditation to be final by 2018.

Advanced – 36 Credit Hours

Traditional – 60 Credit Hours

Mission of the Master of Social Work Program

The mission of the MSW program at ASU is to prepare students for advanced professional practice and research. As related to the University’s mission, the Department’s mission is to prepare students with requisite advanced social work knowledge, skills, and values in specialized areas of practice, the use of scientific inquiring. Students will be able to apply critical thinking skills to their understanding and commitment to diverse populations to promoting human and community well-being while alleviating social and economic injustice to diverse populations nationally and internationally, particularly those that are unique to Alabama’s poor and oppressed communities.

Goals of the MSW Program are to:

1. Integrate scholarship into practice through an evidence-based knowledge that encourages formative and summative evaluation, and which subscribes to best practices in the field.
2. Take an advocacy role in addressing social problems, including crime and violence, social welfare, family and community dysfunction.
3. Prepare students to practice in a manner consistent with using ethical principles in the development of research to further advance and enhance social work knowledge and skills.
4. Prepare students to apply critical thinking skills in their understanding and commitment to alleviating social problems within the context of research theory and social work practice.
5. Provide students with requisite knowledge, values, and skills to become independent and effective leaders who can mobilize resources to transform and empower communities.
6. Prepare students to take an active professional role in addressing social problems in order to ensure social justice.
7. Apply the principles of Social Work to the legal system. This includes applicable local, state, and Federal laws; civil and criminal courts and the juvenile justice system; law enforcement agencies, and correctional facilities.

Objectives:

The objectives of the M.S.W. Program are to ensure that students will:

1. Apply knowledge and skills learned in the research curriculum by conducting (a) literature reviews, (b) learning to frame research questions, and (c) determining appropriate statistical techniques to assess and evaluate circumstances for the betterment of clients.
2. Develop and use scientifically-based knowledge, evidence based practice approaches, and self-evaluations of their practice to advance professional knowledge and become life-long learners.
3. Apply effective strategies of advocacy and social change to promote social and economic justice by empowering at-risk populations characterized by age, class, color, disability, ethnicity, gender, national origin, race, religion, and/or sexual orientation. Use strategies of advocacy to promote social change that leads to social and economic justice.
4. Commit to visions of social work practices based on equitable human rights and economic, social and political justice, particularly in underserved urban and rural areas.
5. Understand the importance of diversity and its relationship to individuals, families and groups, communities and cultures. Theory, research, practice, and policy will guide social work interventions
6. Employ knowledge through the use of a strengths-based policy perspective and demonstrate effective use of social work theories, techniques and interventions.
7. Utilize methods of scientific inquiry competently to inform social work practice and affect positive outcomes.
8. Engage in cross-disciplinary research collaborations and scholarship to advance the discipline and determine ways to best serve clients.
9. Develop valid and reliable assessment tools to mitigate social problems plaguing underserved populations.

Admission Requirements:

• Advanced Standing- minimum 3.00 undergraduate grade point average [GPA] AND a Bachelor of Social Work Degree from a CSWE accredited social work program within the last eight (8) years
• Traditional/Part-time- Bachelor's degree minimum 2.7 undergraduate grade point average [GPA]
• GRE or MAT score transcripts
• A completed application to the Murphy Graduate School
• A completed application to the Master of Social Work Program
• Three letters of recommendation from persons qualified to evaluate an applicant’s academic abilities and/or character