ADVANCED STANDING MSW PATHWAY
The Advanced Standing MSW Pathway is only available to students with a Bachelor’s degree in Social Work from a Council of Social Work Education (CSWE) accredited social work program. This pathway can be completed in one calendar year of academic coursework and two semesters of field practicum experience.
Application Requirements:
- Complete the Graduate School application.
- A Bachelor’s degree in Social Work from a CSWE accredited social work program.
- An overall GPA of 3.0 or higher in the baccalaureate program.
- Submission of a professional resume.
- Submission of three references.
- At least one reference must be able to make informed statements of the applicant’s preparedness for a graduate social work education program and the applicant’s potential contributions to the field of social work.
- Family members may not serve as references.
- A personal narrative statement written in APA format that includes the following:
- A detailed discussion of why the applicant has chosen social work, including personal, family, and environmental influences.
- A detailed discussion of the applicant’s experiences working with people in a human services related capacity.
- If the applicant has not been working in a human services field, the applicant should discuss other experiences related to working with people in a helping capacity.
- A self-reflection of the applicant’s degree of preparedness to engage in graduate-level social work education including both internal and external factors related to the applicant.
- The applicant’s preference to attend the full-time or the part-time MSW plan of study.
- How the applicant plans to use the MSW degree once they graduate.
Applicants may apply to the MSW Program at any time. Applications are reviewed by the admissions committee for the upcoming academic year on a monthly basis beginning in November and ending in April. Applicants will be notified of the admissions committee's decision by the end of the month in which the application was reviewed. Applications received after the April deadline will be reviewed the following November.
The priority deadline for the MSW Pathways for the upcoming academic year occurs on January 15th and the final deadline is April 15th. Applicants who wish to be admitted through a guaranteed admission program must submit their applications prior to the January 15th priority deadline. Applications must be complete before the deadline to be considered. Applicants who are currently completing a bachelor's degree when offered admission must successfully complete the degree by May 30 in order to advance into the MSW Program.
The Clinical MSW Program at FHSU takes advantage of the flexibility and outreach aspects of online education while maintaining a strong hands-on clinical training emphasis. The program features several innovative strategies to educate and train practitioners, utilizing the advantages of delivering coursework online while infusing robust face-to-face clinical training. Since the program coursework is completed entirely online, it is accessible from wherever students might live. Keep in mind though, "online" doesn't mean "alone". In fact, there is likely more interaction between students and faculty in the FHSU model of clinical education and training than in more traditional models of graduate education. The courses infuse synchronous face-to-face learning with full-time social work faculty and other students, utilizing zoom and other audio-video interaction. These beginning clinical skills are then honed during in person, face to face clinical training sessions with core program faculty lasting three days in the clinical year. These training experiences give students the chance to practice their skills in real-world environments such as simulated psychotherapy experiences with guidance from faculty, and simulated courtroom experiences with practicing attorneys. These clinical training experiences are far more useful than classroom role-plays, as they provide students the opportunity to learn alongside clinical social workers and other professionals in real-world environments. The clinical intensives experience occurs on campus in Hays, KS for three days at the end of the spring semester.
In addition to the clinical coursework and hands-on clinical intensive training, students will complete a practicum experience at an agency in their home community. Practicum experiences provide students the opportunity for hands-on, supervised training in the field and the program coordinates weekly learning experiences with the field instructor that corresponds to what is being taught in the practice classes. This synergy allows students a robust experience as they learn to apply social work theory and practice models using the skills being developed in the classroom, clinical intensives, and practicum placements.
Advanced Standing MSW Pathway students must complete 36 credit hours to obtain the MSW.
Advanced year: Summer semester
SOCW 850 Assessment and Treatment of Mental Disorders I 3 hrs
SOCW 855 Assessment and Treatment of Mental Disorders II 3 hrs
Advanced year: Fall semester
SOCW 860 Personal and Professional Development Seminar 3 hrs
SOCW 870 Medical Social Work and Behavioral Health Practice 3 hrs
SOCW 880 Advanced Clinical SW Practice with Individuals 3 hrs
SOCW 890 Advanced Clinical SW Field Practicum I (250 clock hours) 6 hrs
Advanced: Spring semester
SOCW 865 Social Work Supervision and Agency Management 3 hrs
SOCW 875 Forensic Social Work Practice 3 hrs
SOCW 885 Advanced Clinical SW Practice with Groups and Families 3 hrs
SOCW 895 Advanced Clinical SW Field Practicum II (250 clock hours) 6 hrs