Social Work, MSW

Program Coordinator: Kelley Reinsmith-Jones (108 Rivers; 252-328-4193; reinsmithjonesk@ecu.edu)

The School of Social Work offers a program of classroom study and fieldwork that leads to the master of social work (MSW) degree. The program is based on a relational perspective for advanced professional practice, leadership, and innovation in service delivery. A single concentration, clinical community social work, is offered which is augmented and focused through elective courses selected by the student in consultation with his or her faculty advisor. Paramount to this perspective is a commitment to economic and social justice. The curriculum leading to the MSW degree is built on a liberal arts perspective. The MSW program at East Carolina University has been developed in accordance with the policies and guidelines provided by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE).

Students may transfer up to 12 semester hours from an accredited MSW program. The transfer credits must be equivalent to courses that are offered in the ECU program or useable as electives, and must have been passed with a grade of B or higher. Students must submit a written request for transfer at the time of application for admission.

The School of Social Work offers two MSW curriculum pathways: regular and advanced standing.

1. Regular Pathway - 60 s.h.

The regular pathway program is designed as a two year course of study that requires the completion of a minimum of 60 semester hours.

The initial year, referred to as the foundation year, is comprised of 30 semester hours focusing on developing the knowledge, skills, and values necessary to become professional social workers. This foundation is applicable across different practice settings, problem areas, and population groups. The foundation curriculum includes material on populations-at-risk, human diversity, and social and economic justice, and is provided in courses addressing the areas of human behavior and the social environment, social welfare policy and services, social work practice, and social work research. In addition, a foundation practicum provides students with the opportunity to demonstrate knowledge, skills, and values taught in the first year in a supervised practice setting.

The second year, generally referred to as the advanced year, builds upon the foundation year, and provides more thorough knowledge of complex policies, practice skills, evaluation skills, human behavior and the social environment, and field education. While the foundation curriculum introduces clinical-community social work, the advanced curriculum enhances the students’ understanding of the perspective and further develops their skills for practice.

The regular pathway program requires a minimum of 60 semester hours as follows:

a. Required core courses (33 s.h.)

b. Field practicums (18 s.h.)

c. Electives (9 s.h.)

2. Advanced Standing Pathway - 42 s.h.

Students who have graduated from a Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) accredited bachelor of social work (BSW) program may apply for admission to the advanced standing MSW program of study. Those accepted into this program attain the MSW degree after the completion of a minimum of forty-two semester hours over the course of one calendar year. Full time advanced students enroll in the summer, completing 12 semester hours (SOCW 6008 , SOCW 6701 , SOCW 6711 , and one elective). The remaining 30 semester hours are completed within the context of the advanced year curriculum. A field practicum is required for both semesters of the advanced year.

The advanced pathway program requires a minimum of 42 semester hours as follows:

a. Required core courses (21 s.h.)

b. Field practicums (12 s.h.)

c. Electives (9 s.h.)

Comprehensive Assessment

Students are expected to demonstrate proficiency in foundation and advanced content through the successful completion of a comprehensive assessment. For the MSW degree, the successful completion of SOCW 6960 serves as the comprehensive assessment.