Social Work M.S.W.

Learning Goals

Jay Nimmagadda

Interim Dean, School of Social Work

M.S.W. Program Chair: Jennifer Meade

M.S.W. Program Faculty: Professors Evans, Mumm, Nimmagadda, Pearlmutter, Reamer, Siegel; Associate Professors Ghindia, Martell, Meade; Assistant Professors Aswood, Harvey, Oliveira

The M.S.W. program is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education.

Admission Requirements

Admission to the School of Social Work is on a selective basis and is determined by the quality of the total application. The program expects applicants to meet the following requirements for admission. (Certain requirements may be waived under special circumstances; applicants must demonstrate sufficient cause in writing.):

1. Evidence of a combination of personal qualities considered essential to professional social work practice. Students must be capable of working with clients and communities with populations different from themselves, with people of different faiths, sexual orientations, and cultural norms. We seek students who can demonstrate responsiveness and sensitivity in relationships, commitment to improving social conditions, and the ability to function both independently and collectively with others.
2. Baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited institution of higher learning. Students who have completed all but their last semester of baccalaureate work may also apply; however their degree must be granted by August 15. Students who received their baccalaureate degree outside the United States may need to take and score above an 80 on the computerized TOEFL. See RIC Graduate Manual.
3. Evidence of the intellectual capacity to participate successfully in academic work at the graduate level. A diverse academic background with a liberal arts perspective that includes course work in the human biological sciences, humanities, mathematics, and social sciences. Specifically, an applicant is required to have:
1. A minimum grade point average of 3.00 on a 4.00 scale in undergraduate work;
2. At least 15 credit hours drawn from course work in anthropology, economics, political science, psychology, and sociology;
3. Course work in human anatomy, human biology, or human physiology (course work is necessary; the CLEP Examination is not sufficient); and
4. Course content in the humanities (English, language, philosophy, visual and performing arts, and Western and non-Western history).
4. A commitment to social work as a profession, which may be demonstrated by experience in the field. This experience may have been attained in a variety of ways, such as through volunteer work, fieldwork experience in conjunction with course work, life experiences, etc.

Admission Procedures

Applications to the social work program are completed using an online process. Follow this link to the CollegeNet application system www.applyweb.com/ricg/. Begin by creating an account, then follow directions to complete the application process. All parts of the application must be completed online. Applicants should have access to a document scanner, with the ability to save and upload material as PDF documents. The deadline for submission of admissions materials is February 1.

1. A nonrefundable $50 application fee must be submitted or the applicant must present evidence of a fee waiver.
2. Transcripts. Applicants should scan and upload copies of transcripts from all undergraduate and graduate programs previously attended, including community colleges. Official transcripts can be submitted after notification of acceptance is made. The School of Social Work will obtain official transcripts for all work completed at Rhode Island College. Please note that the applicant must submit transcripts from every institution he or she attended.
3. Recommendation letters and forms. Applicants should provide names and email addresses within the online application for three letters of recommendation. Applicants seeking advanced standing should provide names and contact information for the director/chair, or advisor of their BSW program.
4. A personal statement. Typically six to eight double-spaced typewritten pages, the personal statement aids the Admission Committee in assessing the applicant’s qualifications for professional social work practice. Among these qualifications are: the ability to think analytically and conceptually; clarity in self-expression; responsiveness and sensitivity in minority and culturally diverse relationships; the ability to develop professional self-awareness and self-evaluation; commitment to improving social conditions; and the ability to function creatively, responsibly, and independently. Specifically, candidates should address the following questions in their personal statement:

A. Tell us how your life experience have influenced your decision to pursue social work as a career.

B. Social justice is a key component of social work's mission. What social justice issues are important to you? Why?

C. What experience have you had with oppressed populations (persons with racial, ethnic, sexual orientation, disabilities and other differences or similarities to you)? How has that experience influenced you and your decision to pursue social work?

D. What do you see as your personal strengths and challenges as a professional social worker?

E. Graduate social work education requires sophisticated writing and critical thinking skills. Discuss the reasons why you believe you will be able to meet the academic requirements of a rigorous graduate program? Include evidence that indicates you are able to do graduate level academic work successfully.

F. If your grade point average is below 3.0 please discuss.

G. If there are any gaps in your work history or short-term positions, please explain.

After preparing the personal statement, the applicant should scan and upload the document.

Admission Decision

Notice of acceptance will occur by April 15 for study beginning the following September. There are no midyear admissions. Within two weeks of receiving notification, accepted applicants must confirm in writing their intention to enroll in the program. Confirmation of acceptance should be addressed to the M.S.W. Department, School of Social Work. Upon accepting a place in the full-time, part-time, or advanced standing program (full or part time), the student is required to provide a nonrefundable one hundred dollar deposit, which will be applied against tuition charges for the first semester. Admitted applicants should also inform the program of any change of name or address.

Health Requirements

After being accepted, candidates are provided with an Admission Physical Examination Form, which must be completed and signed by a physician and returned directly to College Health Services before the candidate enrolls. As required by Rhode Island state law, all new entering students must present to College Health Services a certificate signed by a physician, attesting to their immunity to measles and rubella (German measles).

Advanced Standing Program

Preference in admission to advanced standing is given to students who have completed a B.S.W. during the last five years from a program accredited by the Council on Social Work Education. All students accepted into this program are expected to enroll in and successfully complete an online summer preparatory course. Advanced standing students should expect to pay $375 to participate in this class. Applicants who obtained a B.S.W. degree more than five years prior to their application year can still apply to the Advanced Standing Program.

Students who are granted admission to advanced standing are exempt from the foundation year, pending completion of comparable course work. Students in the program must complete 33 credit hours and may do so in one or two years.

Student Advisement

Shortly after initial registration, a member of the faculty is appointed as the student’s advisor. Thereafter, students plan their program in consultation with the advisor. Advisors assist students in developing their learning goals and objectives and in assessing their progress toward those objectives. Students are encouraged to confer with their advisors. Early in the first semester, prior to going into the concentration year(s), students in the full-time program will meet with their advisor and develop a plan of study, listing the required courses in the concentration and electives. The chair of the M.S.W. program provides advisement to students in the part-time program. Students must have an approved plan of study in order to proceed into the concentration year. Additional academic aids are available through college resources and/or special programs.

Grade Requirements

All students must have a minimum grade point average (GPA) of 3.00 at the end of the first year and an evaluation of Satisfactory or better in field education. Students who do not have the minimum 3.00 GPA may not continue in the program. No course in which the student earns a grade below a B- may be accepted for M.S.W. credit.

Full-Time Program

To achieve full-time status in either year, a student must register for field instruction and at least three courses each semester. Students who are admitted full time are expected to complete the program in two years. This would require that students register for 15 credits in their first semester, 14 credits in their second, 17.5 credits in their third, and 15.5 credits in their fourth. Students are encouraged to take at least one summer or early spring course to ease the third semester workload.

Part-Time Program

Applicants who intend to retain full-time employment while attending the M.S.W. program or who have significant responsibilities in other areas should apply to the part-time program. Admission requirements and procedures are the same as those for full-time study. Part-time students are normally expected to take a minimum of two courses during the academic year. A field placement will occur in a public or private nonprofit agency after the completion of 11 credit hours of course work. Degree requirements must be met within six years. At the discretion of the M.S.W. chair, students may switch from part-time to full-time study after completing the foundation year on a part-time basis.

Fieldwork

All students, except those in the advanced standing program, are required to complete SWRK 500 (240 hours), SWRK 501 (240 hours), SWRK 600 (300 hours), and SWRK 601 (300 hours) for a total of 1,080 hours. For full-time and part-time students, this is accomplished over two academic years. Students in the advanced standing program complete SWRK 600 (300 hours) and SWRK 601 (300 hours) for a total of 600 hours. All students are expected to be available during daytime hours (8 A.M.-5 P.M.) for at least one day during the week (Monday-Friday) for field experience.

All students must take the first-year placement concurrently with SWRK 532 and SWRK 533. All students in the Clinical concentration must take SWRK 602 and SWRK 603 concurrently with second-year field placement. Macro concentration students must take SWRK 628 and SWRK 629 concurrently with their second-year field placement. It is possible to do one year of fieldwork in the student’s place of employment, provided that the placement meets all the criteria for supervision and placement settings. Plans to do a placement in a student’s place of employment need to be discussed with and approved by the director of field education. For all continuing students, this approval must be obtained no later than April 1 for field placements to begin in September. For all incoming full-time students, this approval must be obtained no later than July 1 for placements to begin in September.

Course Requirements - Full-Time Program

First Semester (All Full-Time Students)

Second Semester (All Full-Time Students)

Third Semester (Clinical Concentration Full-Time Students)

Third Semester (Macro Concentration Full-Time Students)

Fourth Semester (Clinical Concentration Full-Time Students)

Fourth Semester (Macro Concentration Full-Time Students)

Total Credit Hours: 62

Course Requirements - Advanced Standing Program

First Semester (Clinical Concentration Full-Time Students)

First Semester (Macro Concentration Full-Time Students)

Second Semester (Clinical Concentration Full-Time Students)

Second Semester (Macro Concentration Full-Time Students)

Total Credit Hours: 33

Course Requirements - Part-Time Program

First Semester (All Part-Time Students)

Second Semester (All Part-Time Students)

Third Semester (All Part-Time Students)

Fourth Semester (All Part-Time Students)

Fifth Semester (Clinical Concentration Part-Time Students)

Fifth Semester (Macro Concentration Part-Time Students)

Sixth Semester (Clinical Concentration Part-Time Students)

Sixth Semester (Macro Concentration Part-Time Students)

Seventh Semester (Clinical Concentration Part-Time Students)

Seventh Semester (Macro Concentration Part-Time Students)

Eighth Semester (Clinical Concentration Part-Time Students)

Eighth Semester (Macro Concentration Part-Time Students)

Total Credit Hours: 62