Application Deadlines
Applications for the MSW program are accepted year-round.
Two-Year Traditional Program
Applicants for the Master of Social Work Two-Year Traditional Program are considered for admission and enrollment beginning in the fall semester of each academic year. All required application materials must be received by July 1. Applications received before May 15 will be given priority consideration. Applications completed after July 1 may be considered but will not receive priority and may be considered for admission in the fall semester of the following year, unless otherwise specified.
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| July 1 | Fall Admission |
One-Year Advanced Standing Program
Applicants for the Master of Social Work One-Year Advanced Standing Program are considered for admission and enrollment twice annually.
Spring Admission
-
To be considered for Spring Admission, all required application materials must be received by November 1. Applications received before August 15 will be given priority consideration. Applications completed after November 1 may be considered but will not receive priority and may be considered for admission in the summer semester, unless otherwise specified.
Summer Admission
-
To be considered for Summer Admission, all required application materials must be received by April 1. Applications received before January 15 will be given priority consideration. Applications completed after April 1 may be considered but will not receive priority and may be considered for admission in the spring semester, unless otherwise specified.
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| April 1 | Summer Admission |
| November 1 | Spring Admission |
Application Materials Required for the Master of Social Work
Applicants for the MSW must submit all of the following documentation to Graduate Admissions to be considered for admission:
Graduate Studies
Jacksonville State University
700 Pelham Road North
Jacksonville, Alabama 36265-1602
- Completed JSU Graduate Application for Admission.
- Non-refundable $35.00 application processing fee.
- Official transcripts from all colleges/universities with degrees posted. To be considered for admission, applicants must hold a degree from an institutionally accredited institution or its foreign equivalent. (Students who have previously attended JSU do not need to request a transcript from the university.)
- A Personal Statement: Guidelines for the Personal Statement can be found on the Graduate Studies Student Resources webpage.
- Three Graduate Reference Forms completed by individuals who can provide qualitative assessment of the applicant’s potential for success in graduate coursework. At least one form must be from a previous professor/instructor and at least one from a supervisor of a paid or unpaid social services agency or an employer. If the applicant earned an undergraduate degree more than five years ago, choose at least one academic reference if one is available. If one is not available, the applicant may substitute with a reference form from an employer, professional colleague, and/or other individual(s) who can respond to the applicant's ability to be successful in a graduate social work academic program. Reference forms will be submitted electronically. Instructions for submission will be sent through email to the applicant upon submission of the online graduate application.
- A resume, including education, employment, and other applicable social work-related experience/skills (e.g., practicum/research experience, presentations, publications).
- International student applicants must see the International Student Applicants section of this catalog for other application and enrollment requirements.
- International Students with an Undergraduate Degree in Social Work Please Note: The Office of Social Work Accreditation (OSWA), part of the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE), is recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation as the sole accrediting agency for social work education in the United States. The office's International Social Work Degree Recognition and Evaluation Service (ISWDRES) recognizes academic credentials in social work that are comparable to accredited baccalaureate and master's degrees in social work in the United States. Recognition is necessary to establish qualifications for employment, graduate school admission, membership in the National Association of Social Workers, state licensing, and/or certification. Recognition is based on the general comparability of the program objectives (as stated in the program catalog or program's official memorandum) and level of the applicant's social work education to social work education in the United States.
Admission Requirements for the Master of Social Work
Two-Year Traditional Program
Applicants for the MSW Two-Year Traditional Program must have a four-year degree from an accredited college or university with a liberal arts background, which provides preparation in the social sciences (12 hours minimum) and a curriculum that includes literature, biological and/or physical sciences, psychology, and math.
The Two-Year Traditional Program is for students who:
- Have an undergraduate social work degree from a BSW program not accredited by CSWE,
- Have an undergraduate degree in a field other than social work,
- Have an undergraduate social work degree from a BSW program accredited by CSWE, but do not meet the admissions criteria for the One-Year Advanced Standing Program, or
- Meet the admissions criteria for the university and the MSW Two-Year Traditional Program.
The MSW Admissions Committee will review all application and admission requirements. Admission to the MSW program is determined on a selective basis. Meeting the minimum standards for consideration for admission does not guarantee admission to the MSW program. The MSW Admissions Committee may request a personal interview with applicants when deemed necessary for application evaluation.
Note: The MSW Admissions Committee reserves the right to make exceptions to admissions requirements.
One-Year Advanced Standing Program
Applicants for the MSW One-Year Advanced Standing Program must have an undergraduate degree in social work from a program accredited by the CSWE.
The One Year Advanced Standing Program is for students who:
- Have an undergraduate degree in social work from a program accredited by CSWE, and
- Meet the admissions criteria for the university and the MSW One-Year Advanced Standing Program.
Applicants must have a grade of "B" (3.00) or better in their BSW field education practicum and provide a copy of their previous field evaluation indicating the number of hours completed successfully. If the student is unable to obtain a copy of the field evaluation, a statement from the institution indicating the number of hours successfully completed may be submitted (this can be a copy of the page of the course catalog from the university attended that documents required number of field hours).
Applicants should have earned their BSW degree within seven years from the academic year of graduation to the academic year of enrollment. Applicants who have graduated more than seven years prior to the date of requested enrollment may be evaluated on an individual basis and considered for admission with advanced standing if consistently employed in a social work role and are practicing as a licensed baccalaureate social worker in their state of residence if this credential is available.
The MSW Admissions Committee will review all application and admission requirements. Admission to the MSW program is determined on a selective basis. Meeting the minimum standards for consideration for admission does not guarantee admission to the MSW program. The MSW Admissions Committee may request a personal interview with applicants when deemed necessary for application evaluation.
Note: The MSW Admissions Committee reserves the right to make exceptions to admissions requirements.
Unconditional Admission
- Applicants must have a minimum overall undergraduate GPA of at least 2.50 on a 4.00 scale with at least a 3.00 in the last 60 hours of the undergraduate degree.
Conditional Admission
- A student who does not meet the requirements for Unconditional Admission may be admitted on a conditional basis, provided the student has a minimum overall undergraduate GPA of at least 2.25 on a 4.00 scale with at least a 2.75 in in the last 60 hours of the undergraduate degree.
- Conditional admission requires the recommendation of the MSW Admissions Committee and approval of the MSW Program Coordinator and/or Chair of the Social Work Department and by the Office of Graduate Studies. Students are only admitted by this option if there are spaces available in the MSW program. Conditional admission status will be reviewed and may be removed upon completion of twelve (12) hours of graduate coursework with a GPA of 3.00 or higher.
Applicants who are granted conditional admission must achieve a GPA of at least 3.00 on the first 12 graduate hours attempted. Failure to meet these conditions will result in the student being dropped from graduate studies.
Life or Work Experience
The MSW Program does not award academic credit for life or work experience under any circumstances. There are no exceptions to this policy.
Degree Progression Policies for the Master of Social Work
All students accepted into the MSW program must:
- Adhere to the standards of conduct specified in the Social Work Code of Ethics and the JSU Social Work Professional Standards document.
- Enroll continuously until the degree is completed. (Exceptions may be made in special circumstances.)
- Complete field practicum (900 clock hours for Two-Year Traditional students and a minimum of 450 clock hours for One-Year Advanced Standing students) in agency settings designated by the school’s field coordinator.
Please see the MSW Program Handbook located on the Social Work Program Website for further information and instructions.
Minimum Requirements for the Master of Social Work
An overall 3.00 GPA is required on all coursework attempted for the master’s degree. Transfer credit cannot be used to raise the GPA to the required 3.00.
The MSW curriculum is structured into two different programs: two-year traditional and one-year advanced standing. Students start as a cohort and move through the program together. The generalist required core curriculum consists of 27 credit hours and 450 hours of field placement.
Two-Year Traditional Program (60 Hours)
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Fall | ||
| SW 505 | Generalist Practice with Individuals | 3 |
| SW 506 | Generalist Practice with Families and Groups | 3 |
| SW 512 | Cultural Competence for Generalist Practice | 3 |
| SW 518 | Human Behavior and the Social Environment I | 3 |
| Spring | ||
| SW 507 | Generalist Practice with Organizations and Communities | 3 |
| SW 519 | Human Behavior and the Social Environment II | 3 |
| SW 570 | Field Practicum I (450 hours; 32 hours a week; 2 hour bi-weekly seminar) | 9 |
| Summer Bridge | ||
| SW 510 | Social Welfare Policies, Programs, and Analysis 1 | 3 |
| SW 514 | Social Work Research and Evidence Based Practice 1 | 3 |
| SW 521 | Social Work Practices in Rural and Non-Urban Areas 1 | 3 |
| Fall | ||
| SW 520 | Psychopathology and Psychopharmacology 1 | 3 |
| SW 524 | Advanced Generalist Methods with Individuals and Families 1 | 3 |
| SW 525 | Advanced Generalist Methods with Groups and Organizations 1 | 3 |
| SW Elective | 3 | |
| Spring | ||
| SW 571 | Field Practicum II 1 | 9 |
| SW Elective | 3 | |
| Total Hours | 60 | |
60 Graduate Semester Hours Required for this Degree
| 1 | Required core curriculum course. |
One-Year Advanced Standing Program (39 hours)
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| First Semester | ||
| SW 510 | Social Welfare Policies, Programs, and Analysis 1 | 3 |
| SW 514 | Social Work Research and Evidence Based Practice 1 | 3 |
| SW 521 | Social Work Practices in Rural and Non-Urban Areas 1 | 3 |
| SW Elective | 3 | |
| Second Semester | ||
| SW 520 | Psychopathology and Psychopharmacology 1 | 3 |
| SW 524 | Advanced Generalist Methods with Individuals and Families 1 | 3 |
| SW 525 | Advanced Generalist Methods with Groups and Organizations 1 | 3 |
| SW Elective | 3 | |
| Third Semester | ||
| SW 571 | Field Practicum II (450 hours) (32 hours a week) (2 hour bi- weekly seminar) 1 | 9 |
| SW Elective(s) | 6 | |
| Total Hours | 39 | |
39 Graduate Semester Hours Required for this Degree
| 1 | Required core curriculum course. |
Graduation and Comprehensive Exam
No comprehensive exam is required for this degree. All students must apply for graduation by the given deadline of the semester in which they plan to graduate. Please see the Graduation and Comprehensive Exam section of this catalog for more information.