Master of Social Work, MSW

MSW Program Description

The Master of Social Work program (MSW) is a 60-credit hour program that is offered in a two-year, full-time format. The Generalist year (first year) lays the foundation of social work and the Specialized (second year) year builds upon that foundation in the area of specialized clinical practice. Applicants with an accredited baccalaureate degree in social work can apply for placement into the specialized year. The generalist year and the specialized year are being offered multiple times a year via zoom and online. There are concurrent internship placements for both years in appropriate agencies.

MSW Accreditation

The MSW program is fully accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE), 333 John Carlyle St., Suite 400, Alexandria, VA 22314.

MSW Mission Statement

The mission of the MSW program is to produce professional social workers who apply the competencies of the social work profession and specialized practice knowledge and skills to promote human and community protection and well-being by engaging anti-racist, diverse, equitable, and inclusive practice. Teaching and learning in the MSW is guided by the professional code of ethics, our commitment to Jesus Christ as the perspective for learning, knowledge based on research, an understanding of humans from a global, environmental and cultural perspective, and a dedication to social and economic justice, protection, empowerment, human and universal rights, and enhancement of individual and social development.

MSW Program Outcomes

The MSW program will prepare graduates:

• To practice at the highest professional level of practice informed by theoretical perspectives and knowledge based on research.
• To engage in teaching and learning guided by the social work competencies, the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) Code of Ethics and the integration of Christian values in their application to social work practice.
• To integrate anti-racist, diverse, equitable, and inclusive practice with individuals, families, groups, organizations and communities.
• With the generalist and specialized social work knowledge, values, skills, and cognitive and effective processes that will teach critical thinking needed for specialized social work practice.
• To promote human and community protection and well-being through respect for diversity, human and universal rights, and social and economic justice for populations at risk.

Licensure

Graduates with the MSW degree are eligible to apply for licensure in the state of Michigan as a Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW), Micro (Clinical) and Macro. Detailed information regarding the application process is available through the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs. Graduates are also able to apply for licensure in other states. Each state’s social work board typically requires a conferred social work degree from an MSW program accredited by the Council on Social Work Education. Virtually all states have some form of licensing or regulation of social work practice and information can be obtained from the appropriate state agencies.

MSW Admission Criteria

Master of Social Work (MSW) admission criteria are divided into three sections: academic preparation, personal qualities, and professional readiness.

Academic Preparation

Each applicant will submit official transcripts from the colleges and universities at which the last 60 credits of baccalaureate coursework was completed and degree was conferred. Additional transcripts would be needed only if they contain applicable prerequisite coursework. In order to be considered for admission to the generalist two-year, 60-credit hour program or the specialized standing 30-credit hour program, applicants must have earned a bachelor’s degree from a college or university that is accredited by a recognized regional or national accrediting association in the U.S. or equivalent education at an international institution of higher learning.

In addition, applicants need to have earned a Grade Point Average (GPA) of at least a 3.0 on a 4-point scale, during the last 60 completed credit hours. Applicants with a GPA less than 3.0 may be considered for probationary acceptance on an individual basis. Applicants with a GPA below 3.0 must submit a letter of explanation that includes why GPA was low and what will be done to be successful in the MSW program.+

Transfer Credit

In addition to the institutional transfer policies for graduate programs, the MSW program will consider transfer credit only under the following conditions:

• The courses were taken in a graduate institution whose MSW program is accredited by CSWE.
• A course description and syllabus is provided for the MSW director and registrar to determine the course to be an appropriate substitution for a specific course in the graduate program.
• The work must have been done while the student was enrolled in good standing as a graduate student.
• Extension or workshop courses will not be considered for transfer.
• Coursework taken at another institution after a student has matriculated to the MSW program at SAU will be considered for approval only if the institution is a CSWE accredited institution.
• No more than half of internship credits can be transferred. Confirmation of successfully completed internship credit hours from a CSWE accredited institution must be provided.

After admission to a Spring Arbor University graduate program, students wishing to complete coursework at another college or university, with the expectation of that coursework being applied toward a Spring Arbor University degree, must seek written advance approval from the Program Director. All such course work must be earned at a CSWE accredited institution.

Official Transcript and Evaluation of Coursework

If applicant has earned a Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) from a CSWE accredited University/College (www.cswe.org/Accreditation.aspx) in the last six (6) years, they may apply for the Specialized program. Having a BSW does not guarantee acceptance into the Specialized program.

All other earned bachelor degrees require an audit to be done by the MSW Academic Advisor.

Bachelor of Social Work (BSW)

Applicants for admission to the MSW program that hold a bachelor’s degree in social work are expected to meet the following criteria.

• If applicant has a Bachelor of Social Work in the last six (6) years they are eligible to apply for the Specialized program.
• If applicant has a BSW, but it is more than six (6) years old, they will apply to the two year Generalist MSW program. Applicant may petition for the Specialized program if they received their BSW between from a CSWE accredited program.

Bachelor’s degree, but not BSW

Applicants for admission to the MSW program who hold a bachelor’s degree other than social work will apply to the Generalist program and are expected to meet the following criteria.

• Completed a bachelor’s degree with a 3.0 GPA from an accredited institution.
• Complete 18 academic semester credits distributed in the social and biological sciences, humanities, and a course in statistics. Transcripts will be audited by the MSW Academic Advisor.

Personal Qualities

Recommendations

Using the Social Work MSW program’s reference list form, applicants are required to submit two strong professional recommendations, who can attest to the applicant’s ability in the following: intellectual competence, potential for academic success, the ability to work with people around sensitive issues including people from a range of diverse backgrounds, possession of critical thinking and communication skills, a demonstrated sense of ethics and values, and potential success as a professional social worker. If possible, at least one recommendation should have direct knowledge of the applicant’s academic work, and for applicants with a Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) degree it is strongly recommended that the site supervisor be one of the recommendations. Recommendations from family members or fellow students will not be accepted.

The references will be sent an email with the recommendation form attached. We ask them to complete the form and submit it directly back to the Admissions Representative.

Personal Statement

Applicants are required to submit a personal statement (no more than 8-10 pages) responding to each of the bullets below. The statement should be written double-spaced in APA format with a title page and a reference page. Item #5 should include at least one scholarly reference and should be written like a formal paper in third person.  Each bullet point should have a distinct heading. 

• #1 - Motivation for pursuing MSW degree
• #2 - Statement of professional goals
• #3 - Describe how your personal and intellectual qualifications and past social work/human service experience are relevant to furthering social justice and assisting the most economically and socially disadvantaged groups in our society. Discuss a core value of social work that you have demonstrated through these experiences. Please use specific examples.
• #4 - Expectations regarding attending a Christian university for the MSW program, and approach to integration of faith, scholarship, and service. Although no admissions requirements exist regarding faith orientation, Christian and other religious perspectives will be presented and discussed in classes.
• #5 - Identify a social problem that you are passionate about addressing within social work. Describe the root causes of this problem, its impact on marginalized populations, and potential intervention strategies that prioritize anti-racism, diversity, equity, and inclusion (ADEI). This section should be a page and a half and include at least one reliable reference and a reference page.
• #6 - Social workers regularly encounter ethical dilemmas. The National Association of Social Workers (NASW) Code of Ethics serves as a guide and sets expectations for ethical social work practice. Using the NASW Code of Ethics (https://www.socialworkers.org/About/Ethics/Code-of-Ethics/Code-of-Ethics-English), please describe a specific ethical dilemma you have encountered in professional, internship, or volunteer work. Explain how you handled it, what you learned, and how it will influence your decision-making as a social worker.
• #7 - Recognition of challenges and stress related to social work profession.
• #8 - Discussion of specific changes you will make to accommodate the rigor of the MSW program. What specific three things will you change to make 20-25 hours available to complete the program? How will you accommodate an internship in your work schedule?
• #9 - Discussion of how you will set and maintain boundaries to deal with the stresses/challenges identified in #7

Professional Readiness

Fitness for Professional Practice - Conviction Disclosure Form

Applicants will submit a self-statement that there is no preexisting-existing past or pending criminal record or mental impairment which would preclude licensure as a professional social worker (form provided).

Spring Arbor University reserves the right to deny admission to convicted felons in its sole discretion and reserves the right to make decisions based upon factors it deems relevant under the totality of the circumstances.  A student might be required to have a criminal background check at their place of internship. The student will be responsible for paying for the test.

Computer Skills and Access

Applicants will possess skills or be willing to develop skills prior to the start of the first class in the use of computers for word processing, research, communication tasks, and the SAU learning management system. In addition, they will have ready access to a computer with a camera and high-speed internet access for online assignments. All computers will meet the minimum standards set by the SAU Office of Information Services.

Language Proficiency

For applicants whose native language is not English, an official copy of the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) must be submitted. A minimum TOEFL test score of 600 (paper based) or 100 (Internet based) or a minimum IELTS test score of 7 is required for admission in order to ensure an applicant’s ability to participate successfully in the SAU MSW program.

Criteria for Evaluating MSW Applications

Applicants’ academic records, application, personal statement, and recommendations are evaluated on the basis of the following criteria:

• Emotional stability - Social work is not a profession for individuals who desire to solve their own emotional needs or problems by working in a helping role. Individuals entering specialized social work practice need to maintain emotional stability and be able to cope with the emotional stress that is common in this demanding profession.
• Self-confidence and assertiveness - These characteristics are necessary in working with client systems, colleagues, professionals from other disciplines, and supervisors, especially in order to work actively as an advocate for the rights of clients.
• Ability to accept constructive criticism - As lifelong learners, individuals need to accept that there is room for improvement in their personal and professional behavior. Once individuals accept this need for improvement, they can constructively use the insights regarding their behavior provided by colleagues, supervisors, administrators, or governing boards and work towards change.
• Interest in and motivation for the social work profession - Individuals entering graduate study in their profession need to be motivated both as students and as professionals. This motivation and interest in the field should come from a strong desire to serve others in society, especially the poor in urban, rural, and other communities.
• Intellectual ability - Problem-solving and critical analysis skills are fundamental for effective social work practice. Complex individual, group, family, organization, and community problems require specialized practitioners to think clearly and logically in a systematic manner if problems are to be alleviated or resolved.
• Communication skills - Both oral and written communication skills are vital in the social work profession. Fluency in a foreign language is a definite asset in the profession.
• Ability to form and maintain positive relationships - Social work is a people-oriented profession, and relationship building is foundational to effective practice. There needs to be the capacity to empathize and establish effective interpersonal relationships with diverse client populations.
• Ability to work with diverse groups - Social workers need to be aware of their own prejudices and actively work to address these attitudes and actions using the feedback provided by client systems, colleagues, and supervisors. Specialized practitioners need to be able to work with diverse client populations in a non-judgmental manner, accepting individuals’ rights to differing perspectives.
• Leadership qualities - The ability to work effectively in a leadership role is necessary for specialized practitioners. Social workers assume positions of leadership with client systems as well as roles in agencies as supervisors, administrators, and consultants.
• Social work values and ethics consistent with the profession’s code of ethics - Social workers can be influential upon client systems. Therefore, it is essential that specialized practitioners be of good moral character. Social workers should be aware of their own values and have respect for others’ values, which may be different. Their own values should have some consistency with the Judeo-Christian heritage and with the values reflected in the profession’s Code of Ethics.

If, after the review process described above, additional questions remain, the Admissions Committee may request a personal interview that will be conducted via Zoom or conference call with one or more members of the committee or other faculty. The results of the interview will be considered as part of the overall admissions decision.

MSW Admission Decisions

The Social Work Admissions Committee is responsible for making the final decision regarding all applicants for admission to the SAU MSW program. The Committee will be chaired by a member of the SAU Social Work faculty and will include at least two other members. The Committee will adhere to all of the Spring Arbor University and the SAU Social Work Department policies regarding non- discrimination in all decisions.

Once the Admissions Committee receives the complete application file, it will be thoroughly reviewed. Applicants will receive notification when a decision has been made. The Committee will extend one of the following: full acceptance, probationary acceptance, conditional acceptance, probationary and conditional acceptance or non-acceptance.

MSW Policies

In addition to the policies listed in the General Information and Academic Policies sections of this catalog, the MSW program has the following policies.

In accordance with Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) policy, the SAU Social Work Program policy is that students with a CSWE accredited BSW degree will not be required to repeat any content that has been mastered in their BSW programs. Transcripts will be evaluated in light of this requirement.

 

MSW Generalist Program

Non-BSW degree students: The MSW degree is a 60-credit hour program that can be completed in two calendar years. The first year is the Generalist year and is the same for all students and the second year is the Specialized year. The Specialized year is a clinical orientation that prepares graduates for specialized social work practice with individuals, families and small groups.

 

MSW Specialized Program

The MSW Program offers a one year (30 credit) Specialized program to avoid duplication and redundancy for BSW graduates. In order to be considered for admission to the Specialized program applicants must have been granted a Bachelor of Social Work degree from an undergraduate social work program that was accredited, at the time the degree was granted, by CSWE, those programs recognized through its International Social Work Degree Recognition and Evaluation Service, or those programs covered under a memorandum of understanding with international social work accreditors.

To be eligible for admission into the Specialized program, the applicant must have earned a BSW degree that was granted within six (6) years prior to enrollment in the SAU MSW program. If the BSW was awarded prior to that time frame, and the applicant has extensive social work practice experience since earning the BSW, a petition can be made for an exception to this rule. The six-year limit may be extended to eight (8) years if the applicant has post BSW social work practice experience and any such experience must be approved by the MSW Admissions Committee.

Applicants must have earned at least an overall GPA of 3.0 on a 4-point scale. An applicant with a GPA of less than 3.0 may be evaluated on an individual basis for probationary admission. Recommendations, personal statement, and academic record must demonstrate readiness to begin at the specialized level of graduate education and specialized social work practice..

Policy regarding credit for life experience or previous work experience

In accordance with CSWE policy, it is the policy of the SAU Social Work Department to not grant social work course credit for life experience or previous work experience. Previous work experiences and relevant volunteer activities may be taken into consideration in a student’s application for admission to the MSW Program; however, no course credit will be awarded or accepted as fulfillment of any part of the MSW curriculum.

This policy is clearly stated in all descriptions of the MSW program whether in academic catalogs, recruitment materials, or other admissions related materials, in print, online, or any other electronic form.

Minimum Grade Requirement

A student must earn a C+ or higher in a course for it to count toward graduation requirements. Students must also maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher to meet graduation requirements. If a student does not pass a course, they may only repeat the course once. See General Information, Academic Policies, Repeating a Course earlier in this catalog for more information of repeating a graduate course. For more information about special grading policies of the program, please refer to the Master of Social Work Program Guide available from the Social Work Department.

Writing Course

If the prospective student’s writing is deemed insufficient for full admittance, the prospective student will be admitted conditionally and required to complete a writing course or seminar. Students will successfully complete the Spring Arbor University writing seminar or another approved writing course or seminar, prior to enrollment in MSW program courses. Spring Arbor University offers this seminar at a minimal cost.