Social Work

• Master of Social Work (M.S.W.)

The Master of Social Work (M.S.W.) program at Grand Valley State University prepares students for advanced professional micro, mezzo, and macro practice in social work, and in the development and implementation of social welfare policies and programs. The M.S.W. lays the foundation for students to assume leadership roles in society's institutions, organizations, and communities.

Program Offerings at Grand Valley

The M.S.W. 60 credit hour program is available on a full or part time basis, including 12 hours of field education. The curriculum incorporates a focus on CSWE core competencies. Advanced standing status, a 41 credit program with 8 field education hours, is provided to students who successfully completed their B.S.W. degree at a CSWE accredited program. The distribution of course requirements for both programs of study are available online.

Coursework

Students study a variety of topics and methods, such as:

• Cultural competency
• Global and cross cultural service learning
• Human behavior
• Psychopathology
• Social research
• Social welfare policy
• Social work practice and integrated methods
• Substance abuse

Career Options

Grand Valley's M.S.W. prepares students for advanced professional practice in direct service and in the development and implementation of social welfare policies and programs.

Why Study Social Work at Grand Valley?

M.S.W. students:

• Learn to apply a range of theories and methods to practice at multisystemic levels.
• Through field education and practice, become culturally competent practitioners in an increasingly complex, global society.
• Are prepared to engage in grassroots, political, and community organizing as well as electoral politics.
• Become skilled practitioners capable of assuming leadership and scholarly professional roles in regional, state, national, and global communities.
• Contribute to the ongoing development of professional social work knowledge and practice through research and scholarly inquiry that employ state-of-the-art technology.
• Earn a degree that is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education.

For More Information

School of Social Work
www.gvsu.edu/ssw
(616) 331-6550
Admissions Office
www.gvsu.edu/admissions

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