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Master of Social Work

Available on the Jackson and Germantown Campuses and Online

Program Delivery

The MSW Program accepts students beginning in the spring semester. Students entering with a degree other than the BSW must complete 60 credit hours to complete the program. Qualified applicants with the BSW may be eligible for the Advanced Standing program, which requires 33 hours to complete the MSW.  Qualifications include graduation with the BSW from a CSWE - accredited program, a GPA of at least 3.0, completed application, and references that meet the standards of the MSW Admissions Committee (More information appears below). For more information, visit www.uu.edu/msw/. The MSW program also offers an online option.

Accreditation

The MSW program is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE).

Graduate Program Admission Requirements

Admission to the program will be based on competitive selection from the pool of applicants who meet the following admission requirements:

  1. Completion of a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited college or university.
  2. Official transcript(s) showing all course work, completion of baccalaureate degree(s), and all graduate credit previously attempted. Even if withdrawal occurred prior to earning credits and even if those credits do not apply to the current degree being sought, official transcripts must be sent from each institution.
  3. Three professional/academic references specifying the applicant’s capabilities for graduate study.
  4. Completed online application, including essay, with application fee of $25.
  5. Cumulative GPA of at least 2.65 for the baccalaureate degree.
  6. A completed immunization form.
  7. The Social Work Admissions Committee may request an interview.
  8. The following personal qualities: Self-awareness, empathy, objectivity, appreciation of diversity, professional commitment, critical thinking ability, effective oral and written communication skills, and the ability to advocate for and empathize for and with others.

Program Options:

Option One: Advanced Standing

A student with a B.S.W. degree from a CSWE-accredited undergraduate program may apply for admission to the Advanced Standing Program. Requirements for admission include:

  1. A minimum GPA of 3.0 in the undergraduate program.

A minimum of 33 semester hours of approved graduate work is required for completion of the Advanced Standing option and can be completed in either a one year or two year option. In addition, each student will complete 600 clock hours of field practicum.

Option Two: Regular Standing

A minimum of 60 semester hours of approved graduate work is required for completion of the Regular Standing program. This can be completed in a two year, two and a half year, or a three year option. In addition, each student will complete a total of 900 clock hours of field practicum.

Dual Degree Options 

MSW/MCS

A dual degree option is offered between the School of Social Work and the School of Theology and Missions. Students will complete the required social work courses from Advanced Standing (24 hours) or Regular Standing (51 hours), the required Christian studies courses (24 hours), and an additional 12 hours of electives. 

Admissions Requirements: Applicants to the MSW/MCS dual degree must apply to and be accepted to each program separately, per current admission requirements of each program.

MSW/MBA

A dual degree option is offered between the School of Social Work and the McAfee School of Business. Students will complete the required social work courses from Advanced Standing (24 hours) or Regular Standing (51 hours), and the required Master of Business Courses (24 hours.), and an additional 12 hours of MSW courses which are counted as MBA electives.

Admissions Requirements: Please see the Master of Business Administration section of the Graduate Catalog for MBA core coursework and prerequisite coursework. MBA 602 may be required as a prerequisite for the dual degree. Applicants to the MSW/MBA dual degree must apply to and be accepted to each program separately, per current admission requirements of each program.

Progression in the Program

  1. After being approved for admission to the MSW program, the student will enroll in the courses according to the prescribed sequence.
  2. A cumulative GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale must be maintained, with no grade less than a B required to pass all courses. Students may repeat a course once in which they earn lower than a B. Elective courses with a grade lower than a B need not be repeated, but no credit will be given toward graduation. Students earning less than a B in required courses or in field practicum may be placed on probation status or terminated from the program. The MSW Director will meet with the student to discuss these options.
  3. Continuation in the MSW program is contingent upon compliance with ethical and professional standards of conduct stipulated by the Code of Ethics of the National Association of Social Workers. Reasons for dismissal can include inadequate interpersonal skills and an inability to conform to the Core Performance Standards of the School of Social Work.
  4. Successful completion of the required coursework, 900 clock hours in an approved social service agency, and attendance in field seminar class concurrent with each social work field practicum are required for graduation, along with a GPA of 3.0 or better. All classes and field practices must be passed with a grade of B or better.
  5. Graduation requirements follow the guidelines of Union University.

Provisional Admission

Applicants who do not meet the regular admission requirements for the MSW program may be admitted provisionally at the discretion of the MSW Admissions Committee. Provisional admission will require contractual agreement between the applicant and the Admissions Committee to specify the conditions that must be met to matriculate into the MSW program without the designation of provisional status.

Transfer of Credit

Graduate credit for courses earned at a regionally accredited university and in a CSWE-accredited MSW program may be transferred to Union University if the courses are essentially the same as those required in the MSW program. Evidence of similarity may be requested by presenting course descriptions or a syllabus from the institution where the course was taken. Such transfer credit will not be allowed for courses used to satisfy another degree at another institution. The maximum number of semester hours that may be transferred to Union University and applied to the MSW degree is nine hours, unless extenuating circumstances are presented such as to require special faculty approval otherwise.

No course with a grade less than B may be transferred. Courses taken more than five years before beginning the MSW program will be considered on an individual basis.

Financial Information

The registration of a student signifies an agreement by the student to fulfill the related financial obligations.

Tuition and Fees
Tuition $655/semester hour
Non-degree seeking post-baccalaureate students $655/semester hour
Application Fee $25
General Student Fee $27/hour
Course Drop/Add Fee $10
Insurance Fee $25
Field Instruction Fee (SW 590, SW 591) $100 per Field Seminar enrollment
Field Instruction Fee (SW 690, SW 691) $245 (includes licensing prep)
Cap and Gown Purchase Approx. $55

There are two methods for the payment of expenses.

  1. Full payment for a term (fall, spring, summer, or other non-regular term) is due prior to or on the day of registration for classes.
  2. Payment may be made in two equal payments, with one-half due at the time of registration and the balance due halfway through the term. A 1.5% service charge will be added to the unpaid balance following the initial payment.
  3. For students who have a definite commitment of financial aid from the Student Financial Planning Office, the total cost for the term and the financial aid allocation is the amount payable by the student to the university.

Any combination of the following payment is available.

  1. Check, cash, or credit card (MasterCard, Discover, American Express)- a 2 ½  % service charge will be applied when payment is by credit card.
  2. Federal Stafford loan
  3. Employer reimbursement
  4. FACTS (an electronic monthly draft from a savings or checking account)

All financial information is subject to change without notice.

Financial Assistance

Financial aid information for graduate students is available on our website at www.uu.edu/financialaid. Generally, graduate students may be eligible for Federal Direct student loans or private alternative student loans, depending on the program of study and the eligibility of the borrower. Union University is also approved by the Department for Veterans Affairs to offer educational benefits to veterans, reservists, and dependents of veterans who qualify for Veterans Benefits. Any person who qualifies for VA Benefits should check with the Office of Student Financial Planning as soon as possible after acceptance into a graduate program.

Employer Tuition Reimbursement

  1. Students are responsible for providing information to the university regarding their employer’s policies for tuition reimbursement.
  2. If an employer reimburses a student directly, the student must pay the university in full at the time of registration.
  3. If an employer provides partial reimbursement directly to the university, the student must pay his/her portion of tuition at the time of registration.
  4. The university will provide required information to an employer when requested by the student.

Estimated Costs during the M.S.W. Regular Standing Program

Semester 1--Fall  
Tuition $655/credit hour
Textbooks Approx. $400
General Student Fee $27/hour
Field Practicum Fee $100
Insurance Fee $25
Semester 2--Spring  
Tuition $655/credit hour
Textbooks Approx. $400
General Student Fee  $27/hour
Field Practicum Fee $100
Semester 3--Fall  
Tuition $655/credit hour
Textbooks Approx. $400
General Student Fee  $27/hour
Field Practicum Fee $100
Insurance Fee $25
Semester 4--Spring  
Tuitition $655/credit hour
Textbooks Approx. $400
General Student Fee $27/hour
Feld Practicum Fee $100

These are approximate costs only and are subject to change.

Acceptance Deposits

A non-refundable tuition deposit of $100 is required to reserve a place in the MSW program after an applicant is accepted.

Graduation Requirements

  1. Completion of all course work.
  2. A minimum grade point average of 3.0 for the required course of study.
  3. An application for graduation to be submitted online. Application deadlines are February 15 for May graduation, September 15 for December graduation, and April 15 for July graduation.
  4. Full payment of the student’s account in the Business Office
  5. Discharge of all other obligations (fines, fees, etc.) to the University.

Student Organizations

M.S.W. Student Organization

A professional organization is open to all M.S.W. students to assist in developing professional social work identity by regular meetings, educational events, and opportunities for students to lead in service to various social service agencies and the community.

Phi Alpha Honor Society

National Honor Society for Social Work Students, Eta Phi Chapter, fosters high standards of education for social work students and invites into membership those who have attained excellence in scholarship and achievement. Students with an overall GPA in the top 35% of all graduating MSW majors are considered for membership. Other criteria for membership include professionalism, experience in field practicums, and leadership in the social work program. Students will be invited for membership after completion of SW 690, Field Seminar, in the curriculum.

Program Calendar

Classes meet on Monday and Thursday evenings depending on the program option. Classes may include both in-class and on-line instruction. Electives may be held any night of the week, on Saturday, or be totally online.

See www.uu.edu/msw for additional information.