Master of Social Work, M.S.W.

Social work is a profession that includes helping vulnerable individuals, families, and communities from all backgrounds work through challenges and enhance their well-being and everyday lives.

About This Program

The M.S.W. Program educates students for macro social work practice in community-based organizations and social service administration. Full-time and part-time programs of study are available.

The mission of the Master of Social Work (M.S.W.) program is to promote social and economic justice by preparing students to become knowledgeable, ethical, and socially responsive macro social work practitioners in community, administration, and policy (CAP) settings.

Grounded in a strong liberal arts foundation and a generalist practice framework, the program emphasizes critical thinking and the use of evidence-based prevention and intervention strategies to enhance human and social well-being.

Our curriculum is designed to equip students with the skills and knowledge needed to work effectively with various individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities.

The Master of Social Work (M.S.W) requires 79 semester hours to complete.


The MSW curriculum is guided by the Educational Policy and Accreditation Standards (EPAS) of the Council on Social Work Education, which is aligned with CSWE's accreditation process.

The professional curriculum is comprised of sixty-seven (67) credit hours — consisting of thirty-five (35) credit hours of foundation courses and thirty-two (32) credit hours of advanced coursework in administration and community development — along with twelve (12) credit hours of field placement.

The MSW curriculum prepares students to problem solve at the administrative and organizational, and community levels.


FAMU’s MSW Program does not grant academic credit for previous paid employment, volunteer work, or life experience.


Total Credit Hours for Degree:
≥ 79

Academic Course Curriculum

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What Is Social Work?

Social workers advocate for social and economic justice, provide support to vulnerable populations, and connect people with resources that empower them to lead healthier, more stable lives. The field combines compassion with problem-solving, communication, and advocacy skills, making it both a service-oriented and impactful career path.

While the Bachelor of Social Work (B.S.W.) prepares students for generalist practice, the Master of Social Work (M.S.W.) provides advanced education for those seeking to become leaders, administrators, and policy advocates.

At the graduate level, social workers are trained to analyze complex systems, design and evaluate programs, influence policy, and lead organizations that serve at-risk populations.

 

 

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Social Work Careers

Graduates of the MSW program are prepared for advanced practice and leadership roles in social work and related fields. Career opportunities often include positions such as:

  • Program Director or Administrator in social service agencies
  • Community Development Specialist

  • Policy Analyst or Advocate

  • Nonprofit Executive or Program Manager

  • Research and Evaluation Specialist

  • Grant Writer and Resource Development Manager

  • Consultant for community organizations and government agencies

  • Faculty or Educator roles in higher education (with further study)

The MSW equips graduates to take on positions that influence policy, systems, and organizational change, broadening their impact beyond individual or family-level services.

 

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Social Work Employment Expectations

Social work continues to be a high-demand field, with the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projecting growth across multiple areas. While BSW-level positions are growing steadily, MSW graduates often qualify for higher-level roles in leadership, administration, and policy. States with high demand for MSW-level social workers include.

  • California

  • New York

  • Texas

  • Florida

  • Illinois

Social work is projected to grow by 6% from 2024 to 2034, faster than the average for all occupations, with approximately 74,000 job openings annually due to retirements and transfers according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

 

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Social Work Frequently Asked Questions (F.A.Qs)


Q: How does an MSW differ from a BSW?
A: A BSW prepares students for entry-level generalist practice, while an MSW provides advanced training for leadership in administration, policy, and community practice. MSW graduates are equipped to design, implement, and evaluate programs and policies on a broader scale.

Q: Is philosophy just a matter of opinion?
A
: Students who are interested in leadership, policy development, program administration, and large-scale community change are ideal candidates. Strong critical thinking, research, and organizational skills are highly valuable.

Q: Will earning an MSW improve my career opportunities?
A: Yes. An MSW expands career possibilities, opening doors to higher-level positions in management, research, and policy. It also increases earning potential and allows graduates to qualify for leadership and specialized roles that a BSW alone does not provide.

Are you thinking about pursuing a career in Social Work? Our program prepares students to become compassionate, skilled, and effective Social Work professionals.

If you are considering a degree in Social Work, hear from some of our own Rattlers about what inspired them to join the field, their experiences in FAMU’s Social Work program, and why they chose to make a difference in the lives of others.

Kaesha Ephriam Headshot
Graduate, Class of 2024

I love my Social Work professors! They display a love for their students and help us in anyway they can!

Your Map to the Master of Social Work (M.S.W)

The mission of the Master of Social Work (M.S.W) program is to advance social and economic justice by educating students to be a knowledgeable, ethical, and culturally competent community, administration, and policy (CAP) macro social work practitioners. This mission builds upon a liberal arts foundation and generalist practice construct to promote human and social well-being utilizing critical thinking and a range of evidence-based prevention and intervention methods. The program designs models that prepare students to practice with diverse individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities.

 The goals of the MSW Program serve to prepare students to engage in advanced social work practice at the macro-level of social systems.

Goal One: Provide students with social work knowledge, values, ethics, and skills for critical analysis of social theory, policy, practice, and research, as applied to diverse populations and populations -at-risk.

Goal Two: Prepare students for leadership roles in the development, program planning, implementation, and evaluation of culturally competent services, policy, and research designed to alleviate poverty, oppression, and other forms of social injustice within a concentration in social work administration, policy, and community development.

 

The MSW Program is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education.  The accreditation status is important as many states, programs and graduate schools have policies which require or prefer MSW graduates from accredited social work programs. 

 

MSW Student Handbook

The MSW Student Handbook is provided to all new students at the MSW Student Orientation and is intended to be a working document.

 

NOTE:  FAMU’s MSW Program does not grant academic credit for previous paid employment, volunteer work, or life experience.

For more information regarding admission to the MSW Program contact Mrs. Katisa Donaldson, the MSW Program Director at (850) 412-7551 or via email katisa.donaldson@famu.edu

Field Education Manual & Materials

 

All MSW students must complete a field placement/internship as a requirement for graduation.

For more information contact the MSW Field Director -Ms. Rolanda Brown-Dennis (Visiting Faculty) at rolanda1.browndennis@famu.edu

Transfer Students

Students who transfer to the MSW program at Florida A & M University from another CSWE-accredited graduate program must meet all admissions requirements and have at least a 3.0 (B) average in all graduate social work courses in order to receive transfer credit. A maximum of 33 hours credit earned within five years of the student's enrollment at Florida A & M University's Department of Social Work with grades of "B" or above may be transferred for credit toward the MSW degree. In addition to the usual application materials, transfer students must also submit an evaluation of first year field performance, course syllabi, a "Statement of Good Standing" from the Dean or Chairperson of their previous program, and a catalog from the institution in which s/he has been enrolled. Transfer student applications and materials are reviewed by the MSW Program Director in consultation with MSW faculty on a course-by-course basis.


Non-Social Work Transfer Credit

The Department of Social Work recognizes two categories of transfer credits for courses that are taken in disciplines or fields other than social work.

  1. A maximum of six semester hours of graduate credit earned within five years of the student's enrollment at Florida A & M University's Department of Social Work with grades of "B" (3.0) or better, may be transferred as credit toward the MSW degree's electives providing they meet the program's curriculum. That is, if a student has taken a series of graduate courses, but did not earn a master's degree a maximum of six graduate credit hours may be applied toward the MSW.
  2. A maximum of six semester hours of graduate credit earned within five years of the student's enrollment at Florida A & M University's MSW program with grades of "B" or better (where 4.0 = A) may be transferred from an earned master's degree toward the MSW now in progress. That is, a student may have earned a master's degree in a different discipline, and may now wish to apply that credit toward the MSW degree, providing the credits meet the mission and objectives of the MSW program.

In both cases, the student must request consideration of transfer credit with the MSW program director after admission to the MSW program. Graduate credit is not granted for correspondence courses, extension courses, continuing education courses, advanced standing examinations (except as pertaining to advanced graduate standing in the Department of Social Work), life or employment experience, or if an equivalent course offered by Florida A & M University does not warrant graduate credit.

 

The professional curriculum is comprised of sixty-seven (67) credit hours — consisting of thirty-five (35) credit hours of foundation courses and thirty-two (32) credit hours of advanced coursework in administration and community development — along with twelve (12) credit hours of field placement.

MSW Student Learning Outcomes

All students are assessed using a minimum of two measures on their mastery of the nine competencies that comprise the Educational Policy and Accreditation Standards of the Council on Social Work Education.

 

Program Faculty

Name Email Phone

Katisa Donaldson M.S.W.,
Chair and MSW Program Director

katisa.donaldson@famu.edu

(850) 412-7551

Edward Bennett M.S.W.,
Visiting Professor

edward.bennett@famu.edu

(850) 599-3456

Irma Gibson Ph.D, M.S.W.,
Associate professor

irma.gibson@famu.edu

(850) 599-3456

Larae Lauray M.S.W.,
Professor & BSW Program Director

larae.lauray@famu.edu

(850) 599-3456
Jacquelyn McMillan Ph.D, M.S.W.,
Assistant Professor

jacquelyn.mcmillan@famu.edu

(850) 599-3456
Shatoria Murray, M.S.W.,
Visiting Professor

shatoria.murray@famu.edu

(850) 599-3456
Laura Myers Ph.D, M.S.W.,
Professor

laura.myers@famu.edu

(850) 599-3456
Rolanda Brown-Dennis M.S.W., RCSWI,
MSW Field Director

rolanda.browndennis@famu.edu

(850) 599-8852