Master of Social Work (M.S.W)
About This Program
The MSW 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.
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.
- 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.
- 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.
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 | Phone | |
|---|---|---|
|
Katisa Donaldson M.S.W, |
(850) 412-7551 | |
| Rolanda Brown-Dennis M.S.W RCSWI, MSW Field Director |
(850) 599-8852 |
