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Master of Social Work

Master of Social Work (MSW) practitioners are employed in a variety of settings. These may include private practices, family and mental health counseling centers, schools, military and veteran centers, substance abuse and rehabilitation treatment programs, employee assistance programs, or child welfare agencies. Social workers are also integral members of healthcare organizations such as hospitals, hospices, and nursing homes.Our MSW faculty use creative teaching modalities, including experiential, hands-on activities and collaborative discussions, which encourage active learning. The MSW program at Southeastern University has a clinical specialization,* so you will gain the counseling and psychotherapy skills to intervene with diverse clients, including individuals, families, and groups. To better equip you for future leadership positions, the program also includes content in social work administration. Courses are offered two evenings per week in 8-week sessions, enabling you to focus on two courses at a time. You will also complete a supervised internship, to strengthen your integration of content as you apply the skills you are learning in practice. Our Field Education Coordinator coordinates each internship experience to align with your professional goals.

Plus, Southeastern does not require a GRE for admission, so you can apply and get started as soon as you’re ready.

The Master of Social Work Program has been granted candidacy status by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) Commission on Accreditation.

The mission of the Master of Social Work program is to equip students to become competent clinical social work practitioners, who will model Christ’s example of compassion in any practice setting.
Admission RequirementsFinancial Aid

Advanced-Standing MSW

For those with an undergraduate degree in social work from a program accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE).

9-month program (2 semesters)

24–25 credit hours of core and elective courses
8 credit hours of field experience (500 hours of supervised internship)

Total Credit Hours — 32–33
$515/credit hour

Total estimated tuition — $16,480–$16,995

Note: A total of $200 in lab fees will be incurred in addition to this amount.

 

Complete Course List

Traditional MSW

For those with an undergraduate degree in any field.

5-semester program

49 credit hours of core and elective classes
16 credit hours of field experience
(900 hours of supervised internship)

Total Credit Hours — 65
$515/credit hour

Total estimated tuition — $33,475

Note: A total of $400 in lab fees will be incurred in addition to this amount.

Complete Course List

Sample Core Courses

  • Psychopathology (SOWK 6043) —  This course is a critical examination of mental health assessment, diagnosis, and intervention. Recognizing indicators of mental disorders, the context in which they occur, and identifying diagnostic criteria of mental health disorders, as described in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual is emphasized. Students will explore biopsychosocial etiologies and their relationship to clinical assessment, diagnosis, intervention and prognosis. Particular attention is given to the relationship between the social environment, cultural influences, and emotional and mental health.
  • Trauma Informed Clinical Practice (SOWK 6053) —  This course addresses trauma-informed concepts with an emphasis on the strengths and resilience of clients experiencing traumatic stress. The evaluation of evidenced-based models and implementation of multidimensional assessment and intervention is explored. Biological, psychological, emotional, social, cultural, familial, and environmental influences that contribute to traumatic stress are examined. Particular attention is given to the impact of vicarious trauma and the importance of self-care for those who provide trauma-informed care.
  • Advanced Clinical Practice with Groups (SOWK 6033) — This advanced clinical course is an examination of group work practice with clients experiencing a variety of social, emotional, and/or psychological circumstances. Using the classroom as an experiential learning laboratory, students will apply various theoretical perspectives and intervention strategies to successfully plan, implement, and facilitate groups across a diversity of practice settings.
  • Advanced Clinical Practice with Couples, Children, and Families (SOWK 6023) — This advanced clinical course explores evidence-based theories and strengths-based intervention strategies for use with couples, children and/or families. Issues of gender, ethnicity, empowerment, and multiculturalism are explored. Family-centered interventions include skills that mitigate the effects of trauma, family transitions, oppression, and social and economic injustices on families. Interventions to assist children navigating substantial changes, including loss and harm within the family system will also be explored.
According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), social workers comprise the largest group of mental health providers in our country.
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Mission and Goals of the MSW Program at Southeastern University

Placing an emphasis on the core values of the social work profession and building upon the foundation of generalist practice, the mission of the Master of Social Work Program at Southeastern University is to equip students to become competent clinical social work practitioners who will enhance the quality of life in their local communities and beyond by modeling Christ’s example of demonstrating love, grace, compassion, and respect to diverse clients across a variety of practice settings.
The following goals of the program are derived from the mission:
  1. To equip students with the knowledge, values, skills, behaviors, cognitive processes, and affective processes necessary to engage in competent social work practice with diverse individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities.
  2. To promote a strengths-based perspective that fosters a commitment to the values and ethics of the social work profession including the core values of social justice, the importance of human relationships and human rights, the dignity and worth of each individual, integrity, and professional competence.
  3. To create a learning environment that fosters critical thinking and enables students to apply evidence-based theoretical frameworks and interventions in clinical practice.
  4. To prepare students to apply a person-in-environment perspective in social work practice with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities.
  5. To promote advocacy for human rights and social and economic justice, especially among oppressed populations.
  6. To actively demonstrate the ethical integration of faith and practice by applying Christ’s teachings of service, respect for all humans, appreciation of cultural diversity, compassion, gentleness, grace, and love in social work practice.

MSW Accreditation and Candidacy Statement

The Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) is the national association that accredits all social work degree programs.
As with all new MSW programs, our MSW program must complete a three-year candidacy period prior to receiving initial accreditation. Achieving and maintaining candidacy status indicates the program is on the path to accreditation and assures our students that they will be considered to have graduated from an accredited program once the program achieves initial accreditation. Per the CSWE, “Initial Accreditation automatically covers those graduating classes of students who were admitted during or after the academic year, August to June, in which the program was granted candidacy, regardless of when they graduated.”
Our MSW program was granted candidacy status in February 2018, which will cover all students who enter the program on or after August 2017.
Once the program is granted Initial Accreditation (anticipated for February 2020), all prior graduates will be recognized as having fully accredited MSW degrees. Those who enter the program during and after the candidacy year (Fall 2017) can be eligible to take the clinical social work licensure exam. Each student is responsible for checking with his or her state licensing board to determine if the Southeastern University MSW program meets the educational criteria required to take the clinical licensure exam in his or her state.

Academic Writing at the Graduate Level

Psychopathology

Advanced Clinical Practice with Individuals

Advanced Clinical Practice with Groups

Evaluation of Social Work Practice

Advanced Clinical Practice with Couples, Children, and Families

Trauma Informed Clinical Practice

Social Work Leadership and Administration

Clinical Practice Elective

Field Experience/Seminar III

Field Experience/Seminar IV

Academic Writing at the Graduate Level

Foundations of Social Work Practice

Human Behavior and the Social Environment

Generalist Practice with Individuals and Families

Engaging Diversity and Difference in Practice

Interviewing and Helping Skills

Social Welfare Policy

Methods of Social Work Research

Generalist Practice with Groups, Communities, and Organizations

Psychopathology

Advanced Clinical Practice with Individuals

Advanced Clinical Practice with Groups

Evaluation of Social Work Practice

Advanced Clinical Practice with Couples, Children, and Families

Trauma Informed Clinical Practice

Social Work Leadership and Administration

Clinical Practice Elective

Field Experience Seminar I

Field Experience Seminar II

Field Experience Seminar III

Field Experience Seminar IV