Master of Social Work (MSW)
This program educates graduate students in advanced social work practice either with individuals, families and groups or in community organizing and social administration. The focus of this education is to produce competent and effective practitioners committed to enhancing social well-being and quality of life with particular emphasis on vulnerable and oppressed populations in small towns and rural areas characteristic of the Appalachian region.
The Direct Practice Curriculum prepares students with the knowledge and skills to provide direct and clinical services to individuals, families, and small treatment groups. Direct practitioners provide services in diverse arenas, such as hospitals, mental health clinics, child protective agencies, aging programs, family counseling services, correctional institutions, and drug and alcohol abuse programs.
The
Community Organizing & Social Administration (COSA) Curriculum prepares
students with the knowledge and skills to provide leadership to communities in
the development, administration, and support of service programs. COSA graduates
help foster a more just and democratic society by taking positions in federal administrative
agencies, city and state planning agencies, human services management in the public
and private sectors, politics, and research and development organizations.
For more information, contact MSW Admissions & Recruitment at
socialwork@mail.wvu.edu or 304-293-3280.
December 2017 update: The WVU School of Social Work is currently in the process of revising the MSW curriculum with an anticipated implementation date for new students beginning in the 2018-2019 academic year. All students will specialize in Advanced Integrated Practice and the separate tracks for Direct Practice and COSA will be eliminated. The new curriculum will prepare students to integrate micro, mezzo, and macro practice skills across service sectors and within interdisciplinary teams to effectively address social and human problems across a wide range of practice areas, with a particular emphasis on effective models of rural service delivery. This update to the curriculum will prepare WVU MSW graduates to be well-rounded advanced practitioners who can respond to the complex realities of practice in a variety of roles and settings. Note: full-time Advanced standing students would begin in summer 2018 (May 14, 2018) and complete their degree in one year (May 2019). Part-time Advanced Standing and full- and part-time Regular standing students would start in fall 2018. For more information, contact MSW Admissions & Recruitment at socialwork@mail.wvu.edu or 304-293-3280.
Fall 2017 update: The WVU School of Social Work is in the process of transitioning how we provide distance-based MSW education. In keeping up with changing distance education practices and the advancement of technology-supported education, the School of Social Work is shifting from the extended campus face-to-face distance education model and moving toward developing an online distance education MSW program.
Our intent in implementing the online program is to increase access to a WVU MSW education for students throughout the state and region and to offer working students greater convenience and flexibility for completing their MSW degree.
We anticipate offering the part-time online MSW program beginning in fall 2019.Meanwhile all currently enrolled extended campus face-to-face cohorts will finish out their programs as originally planned. The WVU School of Social Work will continue to offer full-time and part-time face-to-face MSW programs in Morgantown.
Deadlines for applications for
fall 2018 admission:
March 1 is the priority deadline. Applications submitted by March 1 will
be given preference for graduate assistantships and scholarships.
Advanced Standing students: March 1 is the deadline for summer/fall 2018 admission.
Submission of an Advanced Standing application between March 2 and April 1 will
be considered pending available openings.
April 1 is the standard deadline. All applications must be submitted by April 1 for consideration. (Advanced Standing students: see note above)
May 1 is the late application deadline for Regular Standing students only.
All applications for Regular Standing students must be submitted by May 1, and late application acceptance for Regular Standing is based upon available space.