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Programs

Graduate

MSW Program options

Advanced-standing Program
Students who have earned a bachelor of social work degree from a CSWE accredited program within six years of application may apply to the 39-credit hour, 12-month Kalamazoo Advanced-standing Program or the 24-month Grand Rapids Part-Time Advanced-standing Program. Applicants must meet the following criteria:

B.S.W. degree from a CSWE accredited program within six years of application,
Overall undergraduate GPA of 3.0,
No more than one B.S.W. course below a “B” ,
- Any B.S.W. course below a “B” will require retaking an equivalent course in the M.S.W. curriculum,
One year of full-time post B.S.W. human service work experience is recommended,
One of the three letters of reference must be from the BSW program field instructor or faculty liaison.

Applicants may seek admission to the one-year Kalamazoo Interpersonal Practice Program, the one-year Kalamazoo campus Policy, Planning & Administration Program or two-year Interpersonal Practice Program in Grand Rapids. The application deadline for both Advanced-standing programs is January 15. Full-time Kalamazoo students attend classes starting summer I session, and proceed for one calendar year. The part-time Grand Rapids students attend evening classes starting the summer II session and proceed for two calendar years. Due to the rigorous demands of this program, those who plan to be employed full time should apply to the Grand Rapids Part-time Advanced-standing program.

Full-time Program
The 60-credit-hour graduate program requires 18 months of study over a 20-month period. Depending on the concentration chosen (Interpersonal Practice or Policy, Planning and Administration), students take 12 or 15 credit hours during each semester and six credit hours in the summer I session. Due to the rigorous demands of this program, those who plan to be employed full time should apply to the Extended-study program. Sequentially ordered, the courses are scheduled to compliment and build upon field education experiences. Students must follow the program schedule listed. Variations are possible only with advisor approval.

Extended-study Program
Financial and other considerations make full-time study difficult for many students. To meet student needs, the School offers an Extended-study program whereby students may complete the M.S.W. degree with coursework extended over 30-32 months. Students choose between a Interpersonal Practice or Policy, Planning & Administration concentration in Kalamazoo or the Interpersonal Practice concentration in Grand Rapids. Students attending evening classes are expected to meet the same course and degree requirements as Full-time students. Field education takes place fall and spring semesters in the second and third years of the program. For those employed in a human service agency, it may be possible to arrange for a work-study field practicum in a location that would satisfy one of the two required placements (if the field placement can be clearly distinguished as separate from the work role). Extended-study applicants who plan to continue working full-time should begin to plan how they intend to modify their work schedule to allow for two full days of field practicum (16 hours/week) in their second and third years of enrollment.