Social Work
Gain Skills for Clinical Practice
ETSU is proud to offer a high-quality Master of Social Work degree with a clinical concentration. This degree prepares students for autonomous clinical practice. The program of study was developed with this purpose in mind. The MSW program learning goals include the following:
- To prepare students with the knowledge, values, and skills of clinical practice;
- To prepare students to engage in competent and responsible clinical practice within public and private agencies;
- To prepare students to develop and use ethical research in the advancement and enhancement of social work practice.
Students leave the program with strong professional preparation. They have the opportunity to work with faculty who have broad-ranging experience and expertise and are also invited to be involved in the Master of Social Work Student Association (MSWSA), which meets monthly and is a strong voice of advocacy in the department and the profession. Activities include the annual Legislative Conference and representation on faculty committees. The program also has strong community relationships through the field program and the Community Advisory Committee, which provides valuable hands-on experience.
A Program of Excellence
The program began in 2003, was awarded candidacy for accreditation in 2004, and was granted initial accreditation in 2007. For those with undergraduate degrees in fields other than social work, the Department of Social Work offers a traditional program, both full-time and part-time. For those with an undergraduate degree in social work (BSW), the Department of Social Work offers the advanced standing program, both full-time and part-time. Read below for additional information.
The Master of Social Work offers two tracks for program completion:
The MSW is fully accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE). All students interested in applying to the program must reside in the United States. The department also offers a certificate in Clinical Addiction Studies Counseling.
Advanced Entry Track
This track is for applicants who have attained a bachelor of social work (BSW), after 1984, from a program accredited by the CSWE. Advanced Standing can be completed in approximately twelve (12) months (for full-time students), and is a total of 37 credit hours.
Program information including curriculum and graduation requirements can be found in the ETSU Graduate Catalog.
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Part-Time Course Sequence
Year 1 Summer Year 1 Fall Year 1 Spring SOWK 5430
Psychopathology (3)SOWK 5303
Advanced Practice with Individuals I (3)SOWK 5325
Advanced Practice with Individuals II (3)SOWK 5403
Administrative Practices in HSO (3)SOWK 5323
Advanced Practice with Groups (3)SOWK 5313
Advanced Practice with Families (3)Year 2 Summer Year 2 Fall Year 2 Spring SOWK 5xxx
Elective (3)SOWK 5305
Personal Practice Evaluation (3)SOWK 5xxx
Elective (3)SOWK 5xxx
Elective (3)SOWK 5306
Advanced Practice Field I (4)SOWK 5406
Advanced Practice Field II (3) -
Full-Time Course Sequence
Summer Fall Spring SOWK 5430
Psychopathology (3)SOWK 5303
Advanced Practice with Individuals I (3)SOWK 5325
Advanced Practice with Individuals II (3)SOWK 5xxx
Elective (3)SOWK 5323
Advanced Practice with Groups (3)SOWK 5313
Advanced Practice with Families (3)SOWK 5403
Administrative Practices in HSO (3)SOWK 5305
Personal Practice Evaluation (3)SOWK 5xxx
Elective (3)SOWK 5306
Advanced Practice Field I (4)SOWK 5406
Advanced Practice Field II (3)SOWK 5xxx
Elective (3)
Traditional Entry Track
This track is for applicants with bachelor’s degrees from accredited universities. Traditional Entry is a two (2)-year master’s program with the first-year foundation curriculum focusing on preparing students with a generalist social work perspective, and the second-year curriculum focusing on preparing students for autonomous clinical practice. This track is 63 credit hours.
Program information including curriculum and graduation requirements can be found
in the ETSU Graduate Catalog.
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Part-Time Course Sequence
Year 1 Fall Year 1 Spring Year 1 Summer SOWK 5100
Social Work Practice Foundations I (3)SOWK 5203
Social Work Practice Foundations II (3)SOWK 5102
HBSE II (3)SOWK 5205
Research (3)Year 2 Fall Year 2 Spring Year 2 Summer SOWK 5202
HBSE I (3)SOWK 5220
Social Work Practice Foundations III (3)SOWK 5430
Psychopathology (3)SOWK 5104
Social Welfare Policy & Services (3)SOWK 5106
Foundation Field I (4)SOWK 5206
Foundation Field II (4)Year 3 Fall Year 3 Spring Year 3 Summer SOWK 5303
Advanced Practice with Individuals I (3)SOWK 5325
Advanced Practice with Individuals II (3)SOWK 5403
Administrative Practices in HSO (3)SOWK 5305
Personal Practice Evaluation (3)SOWK 5xxx
Elective (3)SOWK 5xxx
Elective (3)Year 4 Fall Year 4 Spring SOWK 5323
Advanced Practice with Groups (3)SOWK 5313
Advanced Practice with FamiliesSOWK 5306
Advanced Practice Field I (4)SOWK 5406
Advanced Practice Field II (4) -
Full-Time Course Sequence
Year 1 Fall Year 1 Spring Year 1 Summer SOWK 5100
Social Work Practice Foundations I (3)SOWK 5220
Social Work Practice Foundations III (3)SOWK 5430
Psychopathology (3)SOWK 5102
HBSE I (3)SOWK 5203
Social Work Practice Foundations II (3)SOWK 5xxx
Elective (3)SOWK 5202
HBSE II (3)SOWK 5205
Research (3)SOWK 5403
Administrative Practices in HSO (3)SOWK 5104
Social Welfare Practices & Services (3)SOWK 5106
Foundation Field I (4)SOWK 5206
Foundation Field II (4)Year 2 Fall Year 2 Spring SOWK 5303
Advanced Practice with Individuals I (3)SOWK 5325
Advanced Practice with Individuals II (3)SOWK 5323
Advanced Practice with Groups (3)SOWK 5313
Advanced Practice with Families (3)SOWK 5305
Personal Practice Evaluation (3)SOWK 5xxx
Elective (3)SOWK 5306
Advanced Practice Field I (4)SOWK 5406
Advanced Practice Field II (3)
Things to know about ETSU's MSW program:
Expand Your Knowledge
Students will expand their social work knowledge base through coursework infused with practical application. Faculty members continually research best practices in the field to better their classroom experiences. Plus, all faculty have professional social work practice experience.
Program Highlights:
- Clinical social work concentration available
- Prepares students for clinical licensure
- Operates in a cohort model
- Field experiences incorporated into the learning
- No GRE Required for Admission
- Mix of asynchronous and evening synchronous learning. A laptop or PC is required.
Career Preparation
The MSW program and its faculty are focused on equipping students with tools they can and will use in their careers. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics suggests that those with MSW degrees may earn $13,000+ more annually than those with a BSW.
Students are prepared to pass licensure exams:
- Masters-level licensure pass rate total: 73% -- North American pass rates: 61%
Clinical-level licensure pass rates total: 62% -- North American pass rates total: 61%
There are also opportunities for professional development and interprofessional collaboration. There are two conference attendance opportunities each year: Self-Care Conference and Social Work Professional Development Conference. Additionally, Interprofessional Education (IPE) is emphasized with teams in Pharmacy, Medicine, Nursing, Physical Therapy, Nutrition, Public Health, and Speech-Language Pathology.
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Career Outlook and Income Trends
Social Work is a growing profession:
- 16% Growth Projected in Overall Social Worker Employment
- 14% Growth in Child, Family & School Social Work Positions
- 20% Growth in Healthcare & Medical Social Work Positions
- 19% Growth in Mental Health & Substance Abuse Positions
(Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections)
Check out these informational videos from the Program Coordinator:
Why you should pursue a Master of Social Work
Learn more about the curriculum
Learn more about the admissions process and criteria
Learn more about costs and financial assistance opportunities
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Career Outlook and Income Trends
Steps to Apply
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Step 1 - Create your ETSU Application Account
Step 1 Create your ETSU Application Account by choosing the "Sign Up" option
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Step 2 - Sign into the ETSU Application Portal
Step 2 Sign into the ETSU Application Portal and select "Start a New Application"
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Step 3 - Complete the Remaining Fields
Step 3 Choose "Graduate," select your student type (domestic or international), select "Master's," term, then choose Social Work and complete the remainder of the form.
Cost
Credits to complete this program: 37 to 63 credit hours depending on entry
| TN Residents | eRate (Out of State, 100% online) | Out of State |
|---|---|---|
| $613 per credit hour | $765 per credit hour | $1454 per credit hour |
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-Note, tuition discounts are available for border county students. Read more about cost, paying for courses, scholarship options and financial aid. |
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Frequently Asked Questions
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What accreditations apply to this program?
This program is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE).
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Does a student's undergraduate degree have to be related to this field? What are the prerequisites?
A Bachelor of Social Work is required for the Advanced Track entry.
The Traditional Track entry is for applicants with non-Social Work bachelor’s degrees from accredited universities.
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Does this program require the GRE?
No, the GRE is not required.
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Are the courses for this program asynchronous or synchronous?
This program is delivered through a combination of asynchronous and synchronous formats. Students must use a laptop or PC to participate and complete assignments.
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What percentage of synchronous courses should I expect to have?
Most classes will have at least some synchronous meetings, with the advanced practice courses meeting every week.
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What are the traditional meeting times for the synchronous courses, and how often are they held?
Typically, the synchronous courses meet at 6:00 p.m. EST approximately once a week.
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Are there any on-campus requirements, meetings, orientations, etc.?
No, there are no on-campus requirements for this program.
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Does this program require fieldwork?
Fieldwork is required. Advanced Standing students (those with a BSW) have one internship of 600 hours over 2 semesters. Traditional students (those without a BSW) have two internships—one for 480 hours over 2 semesters and one for 600 hours over 2 semesters. The 480 hours work out to approximately 16 hours/week and the 600 hours work out to approximately 20 hours/week.
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Is this program designed to meet the needs of adults who work full-time and/or have family obligations?
Since this program's coursework can be taken 100% online, it is ideal for those with existing professional and/or familial obligations.
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What is the time to completion?
Full-time students pursuing the traditional entry tract typically take 2 years to complete the program. Those pursuing the advanced standing track typically complete the program in 1 year.
Part-time students pursuing the traditional entry track typically take 4 years to complete the program. Those pursing the advanced standing track typically complete the program in 2 years.
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Are scholarships available?
- While the department does not offer scholarships, there are some social-work specific scholarship opportunities through the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships.
- The department has 1 full-time GA (and several part-time) as well as 2 tuition scholarships. Students must be full-time to qualify.
- Students are also encouraged to visit the Paying for Graduate School website for information regarding ETSU graduate scholarships and other financial resources.