1.      MSW with specialization in Families & Children has coursework in clinical family intervention, social work in school settings, social work in child welfare settings, and policy issues that pertain to family services.

2.      MSW with specialization in Mental Health focuses on clinical work with mental health services, research methodology and tools for mental health, and human development studies that address the underlying causes of behavioral problems.

3.      MSW with specialization in Community Organization, Planning & Administrationis a policy-oriented degree with a curriculum that addresses management issues for public sector and non-profit agencies, and the research and evaluation tools used to administer social service programs.

4.      MSW with specialization in Military Social Work is a targeted MSW major with a growing population of individuals and families who need social service assistance.  The VA falls short in many areas with returning veterans who are struggling with job, mental health and family support issues.  This is an innovative and much-needed MSW profession.

1. Walden University (*Highly Recommended) has many different specialties across the breadth of sociology. Degrees include BS in Forensic Psychology, BS in Health Studies and BS in Public Health. Each of these offers many different concentrations, including Child Development, Disaster and Emergency Management, and Global Issues and Social Justice.
2. University of Phoenix (*Highly Recommended) has a large College of Social Sciences that encompasses Human Services BS degrees (Human Services and Human Services/Management) as well as a BS in psychology, and masters programs in counseling and psychology. The faculty have recent work experience in the specific field you choose, so your curriculum will be relevant to your imminent career.
3. Ashford University (*Highly Recommended) ofers a BA in Sociology which combines theory and practice to prepare you for a career in social services, including specializations like mental health and gerontology. There is an emphasis available in Political Science and Government, which would assist students looking for a career in the technical sectors of government.
4. Kaplan University provides specialization in Human Services Administration, Gerontology, and Child and Family Welfare within its BS in Human Services degree. Kaplan teaches about cultural diversity and varied perspectives in its curriculum.
5. Grand Canyon University is a Christian college based in Arizona. Their BS in Sociology program combines faith and science to provide a unique perspective on the field. There are a variety of courses covering topics like sexuality and minorities, so there is an opportunity to combine the religious knowledge you’ll gain with any number of topics you might wish to explore.
6. Brandman University offers a BA in Sociology with an emphasis in Social Work. It prepares students for masters programs or careers in public agencies and law. In order to be admitted, you must have 12 transferable credits from a bachelors program. Graduation requires courses in liberal arts and statistics.
7. Florida State University has a BS in Interdisciplinary Social Science. The specialized program prepares students for changes in their career field and teaches them how to solve problems in myriad situations. It has placed students in occupations from foreign service to cartography.
8. Bellevue University has a variety of sociology degrees. There is a BS in Human and Social Services Administration, as well as Management of Human Resources and both BS and BA in Sociology. There are internship programs available for the sociology degrees.
9. Humboldt State University’s BSW gets you the experience you need to become an entry-level social work practitioner in Northern California, or a general professional elsewhere in the country. The focus is on rural populations. The university outlines several traits of a social worker which graduates will possess upon completion, stressing community, theory, and conduct.
10. Saint Leo University provides a few degrees that might be useful to someone interested in social work, not least of which is the BA in Sociology. Core courses include math, economics, and religion, and major coursework covers anthropology, marriage, and race, among other things. The program is broad enough to prepare students for whatever social work career they desire.

The PsyD Academic Commitment

The PsyD degree was developed in the 1970s as a doctoral level program in psychology that focuses on clinical counseling and therapy, and psychological testing.  Traditionally the PhD in psychology has been a program to train top level researchers and college level professors in psychology.  Like the PhD in Psychology, the PsyD (or Doctor of Psychology) requires completion of a dissertation and an internship.  It can take 4-7 years to get through, depending upon how long you take to complete the dissertation; the internship obligation is two years – one of which  must be completed after all other degree requirements have been met.  All clinical PsyD candidates must pass the national Examination for Professional Practice of Psychology (EPPP).

The MSW Academic Commitment

In many states a true counseling license with a social work degree is going to require status as a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW) which generally will in turn, require two years of supervised counseling work (4,000 hours) to be completed after obtaining the degree.  That’s a long internship, but most MSWs get paid while going through it, or most of it, so it isn’t like continuing the degree program.  So obtaining a counseling license that covers all types of therapy requires more work than just the two years devoted to the MSW.  For licensure the clinical MSW must also pass the LCSW exam, which may be a state exam or may be the national version developed by the Association of Social Work Boards.

The Differences in Career

So both degrees require some academic tenacity.  The advantage of a LCSW is that the entire range of social service counseling jobs is open to you.  Working with families in distress, in child intervention situations, providing mental health support in a medical or social service setting – all of these options are open to a LCSW.  Social work and social workers cover a lot of professional roles, and the LCSW is one of the two premier licenses in the field.

A PsyD graduate will be licensed by any state to open a clinical practice, and many do.  Generally speaking a PsyD can make more money than someone working in a social services setting.  However many LCSW graduates find themselves providing the counseling in mental health settings while the testing falls to the PsyD graduates who are more qualified in that area.

A licensed clinical social worker is going to qualify for many more types of jobs in human services than a PsyD graduate might.  However a Doctor of Psychology probably draws the higher level of respect – and a higher income – working as a clinical therapist.  If that is your goal, investing in the doctorate might be worthwhile.  If helping people in a social services setting, the LCSW is going to immediately qualify you for a wider variety of employment options.

Masters in Social Work vs PhD in Social Work

This comparison focuses on the traditional career assignments that attend a Doctor of Philosophy in most academic fields.  Like a PhD in chemistry or history or political science or math, the PhD in Social Work is an academic degree meant for students who want to do research in the social services field and teach at the collegiate level.  While social work PhD candidates may be actively involved in social work upon entering the program, the degree will nonetheless take 5-7 years to complete – a period that includes the research, writing, and defense of a dissertation.  Thereafter most PhD in Social Work graduates work in teaching or in social service research.

The MSW has always been a degree for people who are passionate about working in the field with the elements of our society that need social services and support.  The degree is necessary for a full-fledged career in social work; the Licensed Clinical Social Worker can work in counseling and therapy with groups, families, children and others in need.  A Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW) is likely to be the credential necessary to manage a social services program, oversee social services policy, or engage in advocacy for programs and underserved segments of the population.

Masters in Social Work vs PhD in Clinical Psychology

Traditionally the PhD in Psychology has been a degree for psychologists interested in research and teaching.  The PhD in Clinical Psychology is an exception to that rule, in that many professionals complete this particular specialization of the degree in order to enter a therapeutic practice.  A PhD in Psychology is also an excellent credential for behavioral research and testing in professional settings where psychological testing is critical to a particular goal.  Professional psychologists can play a prominent role in law enforcement by providing expert testimony on the psychological makeup of a defendant in a case.

A MSW in clinical work usually leads to the two years’ supervised field work that follows the degree in order to qualify for the exam for Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW).  Individuals with this credential may also enter the field of counseling or psychotherapy and generally do so in all manner of service center settings: hospitals, social service agencies, homeless shelters, schools, and non-profit family service facilities.

A PhD in Clinical Psychology requires a much heavier academic load.  The degree will take 5-6 years to finish, includes a dissertation, and for the purposes of therapeutic practice will require internship hours as well.  While clinical psychologists generally don’t seek employment in the variety of jobs that are open to LCSW professionals, they are going to be more highly qualified for psychological testing, for interacting with medical professionals, and for working as experts in the field of psychology.

Academic Requirements for the MSW

A MSW program requires two years of full time study to complete.  A School of Social Work may offer many areas of concentration such as gerontology, mothers and children, community work, social policy, etc.  However in most states the licensing for social workers is provided in one of two categories: Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), for those interested in counseling and clinical therapy, and Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW) for those interested in program planning, policy, administration, and advocacy.

It’s the LCSW that will have a career which may align with the marriage and family therapy profession.  A LCSW may open a private counseling and therapy practice as well as provide those services in one of many social service environments.  Prior to obtaining that license however, the MSW graduate must complete 3,000 – 4,000 hours of supervised clinical work and pass the LCSW exam required in the state where they intend to work.

Academic Requirements for the MFT

The Masters in Family Therapy is also commonly called the Masters in Marriage & Family Therapy (MSMFT), which more thoroughly defines the nature of the profession.  This counseling field focuses on family issues – between spouses, between parents and children, or between siblings.  In many cases MFT professionals will also take on solo clients, providing single therapy for a person who is challenged by home life, or by life in general.

It is a two year course of study, similar to the MSW, but it is completely focused on family dynamics and the psychological impact that various interpersonal dynamics may create.  Most programs have a 400-500 hour practicum built into the curriculum that provides the initial supervised counseling opportunity to the student. There are no areas of specialization for this degree; it is a graduate degree in counseling with a singular perspective on human interaction.

After completing the degree, a MFT candidate for licensure must take the national marriage and family therapy exam, developed by the Association of Marriage & Family Therapy Regulatory Boards (AMFTRB).  Some states such as California have their own exam.  Thereafter, most states require 3,000 hours of supervised MFT services, of which some percentage must be direct counseling and of those, perhaps half devoted to couples and family therapy.  The result is status as a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist (LMFT).

The Difference?

The MSW – and the LCSW credential – will provide more versatility in terms of career options and counseling options.  MSW graduates work in therapeutic settings that range from schools to mental health centers to hospitals to homeless shelters.  The marriage and family therapy practice, however, provides an education that delves deeply into family structure and issues, and provides a career working solely in that fascinating and complex field.

Admissions

An applicant for a MSW/MPH dual degree program will have to be accepted to the School of Public Health and the School of Social Work at most universities that offer this combination.  While many schools are relatively casual about requiring a graduate level exam for a MSW application, that is not the case with the MPH.  At the University of Oregon students applying to the Master of Public Health program must submit either a GRE score or a MCAT score – the exam for medical school entrance.

However there is not necessarily any specific undergraduate degree required for entry into either program.  The MSW admissions department will want to see a liberal arts degree with a certain number of credit hours devoted to the social sciences.  Both programs may want to see an undergraduate course in statistics, and students who are interested in epidemiology for both degrees may want some additional quantitative classes as well.

Program Purpose

A major part of public health work revolves around prevention.  That means health education is paramount in the concerns of public health professionals, in the policies developed for public health services, and in the outreach conducted through social service agencies.  Public health education is a primary role also for MSW workers in community service facilities, schools, and family assistance centers.

The planning role that so many MPH graduates find themselves in can be augmented greatly by the perspective provided by a MSW degree and the field work that is part of that curriculum.  Planning and devising budgets for social services can be much more productive if it is more than a game of numbers, and that broader approach is guaranteed if one of the planners has worked in social service delivery systems.

Course Management

This dual degree option is going to be a three year program.  At the University of Washington students are encouraged to complete the first year of the MSW before enrolling in the MPH program.  That will overlap the initial public health courses with the second year of the MSW, much of which is devoted to field work.   Credit requirements for the two programs may be reduced by acceptance of some courses as meeting curriculum requirements for both degrees.

A Sampler of GRE Score Recommendations

The schools that have an expectation on GRE scores don’t always set forth their average score for applicants that are accepted, and a surprising number of Schools of Social Work don’t require a GRE at all.  However here is a brief review of several MSW programs that represent a variety of schools, public and private, ranked and unranked, but all of which are accredited and turning out graduates that become solid professionals.

1.    Georgia State University asks all  of its MSW applicants to submit a GRE score as part of the application package.  According to the University “the majority of our applicants have at least a minimum combined score of 800 or better on the Verbal and Quantitative sections of the Graduate Record Exam.”

2.    University of North Carolina requires a GRE score from applicants to the Master of Social Work program.  “Applicants are more competitive when they have a combined score of 1000 or higher on the verbal and quantitative sections of the GRE. The GRE must be taken within five years of application.”

3.    University of Georgia will accept either the GRE or the GMAT, but students must submit one or the other.  The school does not require submission of a score on the quantitative section of the GRE from the MSW applicants.  The University “…suggests a Verbal GRE score of 400 and a written, analytical score of 3.5. We do accept students with lower GRE scores, and welcome applications of all qualified persons with a sincere interest in social work.”

4.    Stephen F. Austin State University in Texas asks that applicants to the School of Social Work MSW program submit GRE scores, and advises that “…applicants should present either evidence of a GRE score of 1000 (combined Verbal and Quantitative scores) or an overall GPA of at least 2.8 and a GPA of 3.0 over the last 60 [credit] hours.”  However the school also offers probationary admission to students with a GRE of 800 or better and the same GPA standards.

5.    Appalachian State University, one of the University of North Carolina campuses, offers up a truly unique formula for their GRE requirements.  Presented as a math formula, the requirement is: GPA x 400 + GRE-verbal + GRE quantitative > 2000.  With a B average you’d need a combined GRE score of 800.  But that’s only one possibility…

Admissions

The universities offering dual degrees generally require that you obtain admission to the graduate program at each school that is participating in a dual degree program.   For the MPA program at some schools you may be required to submit a GRE score.  Some schools treat the exam as an option; at Northeastern, MPA applicants are expected to have a 3.0 undergraduate average.  Students that fall short of that mark can submit a GRE score as an option to bolster their application, but the test is not mandatory at Northeastern.  At the University of Illinois in Chicago, the GRE is required of all MPA applicants seeking program administered financial assistance.  Other students are encouraged to submit a GRE score but it is not mandatory.

Both the MSW programs and the MPA draw undergraduate candidates with degrees in the social sciences, which is a convenient match for any undergraduate prerequisites.  While the MSW in many schools may require a certain number of undergraduate units, the MPA may want to see some preliminary math skills.  Many MSW programs want their students to enter the program with a statistics course completed at the undergraduate level.

Program Focus

The crossover for the MSW and MPA is evident.  Most social work programs are either publicly funded or operated by a nonprofit,  which receives public funding.  Public administration courses provide training in the public budgeting process, which is nothing like a business annual budget development.  An MPA graduate will understand program planning and public policy development.

A MSW graduate will grasp the need for program advocacy within the public budget process and will be able to develop the program analyses that justify social service budget expenditures.  MSW graduates who have completed the LMSW credential will be much stronger in their planning and administrative roles having completed the MPA curriculum.

Course Management

Many schools make the completion of this set of dual degrees possible in less than three years of full time study.  That may require a summer session or two, but completing both degrees in less than 36 months can be within reach.  At the University of West Virginia students may choose required classes from one degree as electives for the other.  In addition the total credit hour requirement for each degree is reduced, provided the mix of courses covers the need curricula from both programs.

Undergraduate Work

You’re going to need a bachelor’s degree of some sort in order to apply for a MSW program, but that degree can be in virtually anything except (in some states) fine arts.  A liberal arts background is excellent; some schools have a credit requirement for liberal arts courses.  There may be a requirement for a certain number of credits in social sciences.  There may be some basic courses that are academic prerequisites – most often in sociology or psychology.  Other than that the admissions office is going to be interested in other components of your application.  What may be important at some schools is your undergraduate GPA, particularly in the upper division undergraduate courses.

Recommendations and Personal Statement

Many schools will ask you to submit up to three recommendations from people who are not related to you but know you well.  Once again the admissions department will be interested in your particular passions and in your interest in public service, rather than your business abilities or unique professional expertise.  Examples of community service and volunteer work are more important than sales figures or marketing plans from a previous career.

The personal statement that is required by most schools should address your strong interest in the passions that drive the best social work professionals.  Those include an interest in the welfare of others and the initiative to take action in helping to provide assistance.  In addition, the personal statement is an opportunity to establish your ability to handle graduate level work.  With the MSW that generally means the ability to meet the intellectual and emotional demands of a rigorous training program.

Test Scores

For many of the MSW programs in the country today, test scores are not a requirement.  The standard exam for the MSW is the GRE, but many schools do not require it or offer submission of the test score as an option but not one that will carry a lot of weight.  The one circumstance where a good GRE score may help is if your GPA does not meet admission standards.  Some schools will accept a good GRE score in lieu of an undergraduate record that does not meet the mark.

The schools that do require a GRE score have an average range for their accepted applicants, but most will tell you that test scores are not as important  as their assessment of your personal character and ability to thrive in a social work setting, and your history of community interest or personal service.

Obtaining Advanced Standing Status

The two elements that shorten the MSW for students with a bachelor’s in social work are the academic basics that have already been covered at the undergraduate level, and the field work experience that undergraduates are also required to complete as part of their major.  The graduate schools meet CSWE requirements for field work by allowing the transfer of credits given for that field work, along with some of the academic credits.  In that fashion an Advanced Standing entry ties together all of the requirements for a master’s degree contained in CSWE standards and that might be defined in state licensing standards.

Advanced Standing MSW Formats

At Boston University the requirements for advanced standing include a 3.0 undergraduate GPA in the social work degree, which must have been completed no more than six years prior to application to the MSW program.  After meeting those requirements the Advanced Standing student is credited for 24 semester hours, leaving 41 to be completed for the MSW academic requirement.  The field work component for advanced standing (At BU) is advanced field work, requiring 24 hours a week on the job.  Most students can complete this program in two semesters plus part of the summer session if they are full time students.

At the University of North Carolina, Advanced Standing students enroll in the summer session and complete two course during that period, and then move on to complete 27 credit hours over the following two semesters of the school year. As with Boston University, the field work requirement is for the advanced work typically done in the second year of a MSW program.  The field work an Advanced Standing student has done as an undergraduate is generally basic in nature and requires a commitment of fewer hours that the MSW second year, which is devoted to the student’s area of concentration.

This program is a one year sprint – it’s not an easy challenge.  At New York University the Advanced Standing degree requires the completion of ten classes over a two semester period – five classes per semester, which would be a burden for most full time students.  But in addition to the academic load, there is a field work obligation that requires 600 hours.  This particular School of Social work has working relationships with over 600 nonprofit organizations and public agencies spread throughout the tri-state area so an Advanced Standing candidate is going to have to engage in substantial research to secure the appropriate field work location.