MSW Social Work (Online), Program Information

Program Faculty

Department Chair

Melissa B. Littlefield, PhD, MSW 

Chair, MSW Department 

Jenkins Behavioral Sciences Building, Room 346 

Tel: (443) 885-4608; Fax (443) 885-8241 

E-mail: melissa.littlefield@morgan.edu 

Program Faculty

Sharlene Allen, PhD, MSW

Lecturer

Sandra Austin, EdD, MSW 

Associate Professor

Linda Darrell, PhD, MSW 

Assistant Professor

Denise McLane-Davison, PhD, MSW 

Assistant Professor

Anthony Estreet, PhD, MSW 

Assistant Professor

Margaret Pittman, EdD, MSW 

Assistant Professor

Michael Sinclair, PhD, MSW 

Assistant Professor 

M. Taqi Tirmazi, PhD, MSW 

Assistant Professor 

Laurens Van Sluytman, PhD, MSW 

Assistant Professor

Program Description

The MSW Online Program offers the same 60 credit hour program as the traditional MSW program, preparing beginning generalist and advanced social work practitioners to practice competently and effectively with urban families, groups, organizations, and communities.  The program is committed to the alleviation of human suffering and the improvement of the quality of life for urban residents. Because African Americans make up a substantial percentage of the urban population, and are also overrepresented among urban residents facing unrelenting social and economic problems, the program has a major focus on preparing its graduates to address, systematically and strategically, issues of poverty and socioeconomic disadvantage, interpersonal and community violence, substance abuse and mental health problems, social injustice and discrimination. At this time the MSW Online Program offers an area of specialized practice in Urban Children, Youth, and Families.

Program Goals and Objectives

The goal of the Masters Degree in Social Work Program is to prepare advanced social work practitioners to practice competently and effectively with urban families, groups, organizations, and communities. The program is committed to the alleviation of human suffering and the improvement of the quality of life for urban residents. Because African Americans make up a substantial percentage of the urban population, and are also overrepresented among urban residents facing unrelenting social and economic problems, the program has a major focus on preparing its graduates to address, systematically and strategically, issues of poverty and socioeconomic disadvantage, interpersonal and community violence, substance abuse and mental health problems, social injustice and discrimination. In addition, the program’s goals include the following:

• To prepare autonomous practitioners committed to working competently and effectively with urban individuals, families, groups, organizations and communities
• To socialize students to the values and ethics of the profession of social work,
• To address challenges, issues and problems of the urban environment toward the alleviation of human suffering and enhancing the quality of life of oppressed, at-risk, and vulnerable urban populations.
• To develop an appreciation for the historical and contemporary contributions of African Americans to the field of social welfare as a context for urban social work practice.
• To prepare students with the knowledge, skills and commitment to address oppression and social injustice in all forms.
• To promote the fullest understanding of the reality and complexity of human diversity as a basis for culturally competent social work practice.

Admission

To be eligible for admission to the MSW Online Program in the School of Social Work, an applicant must submit the following:

• Transcripts from all colleges and/or universities attended.  Transcripts must be sent from the college directly to the MSU School of Graduate Studies in order to be considered official.

• • A 3.0 cumulative grade point average is required for regular admission.

  • Students with a 2.5 – <3.0 GPA may be admitted conditionally.

• Three letters of recommendation.  Recommendations are to be from employers, professors or volunteer/internship supervisors, rather than colleagues or personal references.  Electronic reference forms are provided, and recommendation letters may also be submitted digitally.

• Personal Background Statement.  This statement is to include professional and personal goals, career objectives, and discussion of a social issue of importance to the applicant.  An outline of the contents of the Personal Statement may be found on the Admissions page of the School of Social Work website:  www.morgan.edu/SSW. 

• Resume.  Include education, professional and volunteer experience, academic achievements and professional accomplishments, particularly those that are relevant to social work.

• In addition, a personal interview may be requested by the MSW Admissions Committee.

Meeting the minimum eligibility requirements and submitting all the required documents does not guarantee that an offer of admission will be made to the applicant.  The decision of the Program Admissions Committee involves a review and analysis of all the elements of the application as well as the availability of positions in the program.  The committee then recommends to the Dean of the School of Graduate Studies that an offer admission should be made based on that review.

General Requirements

Candidates for the Masters of Social Work degree must complete a minimum of forty-eight (48) academic credit hours, 12 credits of supervised internship performed in person, and complete a comprehensive portfolio.

Additional Requirements

The MSW Online Program expects all students to behave ethically and honestly in their academic conduct as indicated in university policies.  Professional conduct is both inclusive of and broader than academic conduct and integrity. It fundamentally requires students to behave in a manner consistent with the ethical principles and standards of the social work profession, as formalized in the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) Code of Ethics (see the NASW website @ www.socialworkers.org).

Advanced Standing

Advanced standing is not available in the MSW Online Program at this time. 

Program Course Requirements

MSW Online 60 Credit Hours

• 27 Credit Hours Foundation Curriculum Courses

SOWK 501: Generalist Social Work Practice (Practice I) 3

SOWK 502: Neighborhood Advocacy and Development 3

in Poor Urban Communities (Practice II)

SOWK 503: Foundation Practicum I (16 hours/week) (Field I) 3

SOWK 504: Foundation Practicum II (16 hours/week) (Field II) 3

SOWK 505: Life Course Development & Issues (HBSE I) 3

SOWK 506: Urban Organizations, Neighborhoods, & Communities (HBSE II) 3

SOWK 507: Social Welfare & Urban Economics (Policy I) 3

SOWK 509: Chemical Dependency Clinical Assessment & Treatment 3

SOWK 510: Research and Urban Social Problems (Research I) 3

• 18 Credit Hours Advanced Curriculum Core Courses (Required for all students)

SOWK 601: Psychopathology & Clinical Intervention (Practice III) 3

SOWK 602: Social Work Practice with Urban Black Families (Practice IV) 3

SOWK 603: Advanced Field Practicum III (24 hours/week) (Field III) 3

SOWK 604: Advanced Field Practicum IV (24 hours/week) (Field IV) 3

SOWK 608: Organizational Policy & Leadership in Human Services (Policy II) 3

SOWK 610: Evaluation Research of Urban Social Problems, 3

Services & Interventions (Research II)       

• Area of Specialized Practice Courses

Urban Children, Youth, and Families (* Indicates Required Courses for Area of Specialized Practice)

SOWK 630:  Urban Child Welfare* 3

SOWK 631:&nbsp; Child Abuse & Neglect* 3

SOWK 632:  Juvenile Justice: Prevention, Development, and Intervention* 3

SOWK 643:  Popular Youth Culture 3

Suggested Curriculum Sequence