Following are answers to several common questions about our MSW program. They are organized in groups and you can move from one area to the next by using the links in the box to the right of this introduction. Then you can use the gold/brown arrows to return to the top when desired. These are brief answers but do not constitute full or complete policies.
A. Follow the requirements for admission to the College of Graduate Studies and Research and to the MSW Department of Social Work. This process requires you to submit two sets of materials that are to be sent directly to two different offices at the University by the January 31 annual deadline. You must apply/reapply to the College of Graduate Studies if you have not applied in the past year or have applied to a different graduate program in the past.
A. Application forms are available each fall beginning October 1. We will review applications received by the Priority Application Deadline of January 31 each year for the class being admitted for the following summer for Advanced Standing students and fall for Traditional students. Applications received after the priority deadline but by March 31 each spring may be reviewed if space is available after the priority applications are reviewed and the first round of admissions have been determined.
A. If you already hold a bachelor's degree in social work (e.g. BS, BA, BSW, BSSW) from a CSWE accredited program, you are eligible to apply to the Advanced Standing Program. Some people who already hold the bachelor degree in social work, especially if the degree was obtained several years ago, may wish to apply into the Traditional Two-year Program. If you do not have an undergraduate social work degree, you can only apply to the Traditional Two-year Program.
A. The Traditional MSW Program is the only option for students who do not hold a bachelor's degree from an accredited social work program. General criteria for admission to the this program include consideration of: 1) Prior Degree, 2) Previous academic performance-GPA, 3) Course Prerequisites, 4) Recommendations, and 5) Professional Statement. Social Service Experience either paid or unpaid is preferred. For details go to Admissions & Forms.
A. The Advanced Standing option is available only to students who already hold a bachelor's degree from an accredited social work program. Criteria for admission to the AS Program include consideration of: 1) Bachelor's degree in Social Work, 2) Previous academic performance-GPA, 3) Course Prerequisites, 4) Recommendations, and 5) Professional Statement. Social Service experience is preferred. For details go to Admissions & Forms.
A. Courses for the AS Program begin in the Summer session prior to the "concetration year" with a 2-credit seminar to prepare students for graduate-level study in social work.
A. Yes. Applicants will need to have three recommendation forms with letters from people who know the applicant professionally or as a student. These are to be submitted with the other parts of the application to the MSW Program. For details see the Recommendation Form and Letter Request on the Admissions & Forms page.
A. Yes. Applicants will need to submit their academic transcripts for all previous college and/or university courses whether or not they received a degree. Your undergraduate GPA, the courses you have taken, and any previous graduate study are part of the admissions process. If your undergraduate GPA is less than 3.0 you will be asked to explain your circumstances. Transcripts are submitted with your application to the College of Graduate Studies and Research. For details go to Admissions & Forms.
A. We admit approximately 30 new students each spring - 15 in the Traditional Program and 15 in the Advanced Standing Program. Most classes you take will have 12-16 students enrolled in them. We have about 45 full-time graduate students enrolled in the MSW program at any given time.
A. No. The application and admission process for the MSW program will be an entirely separate process from that of the undergraduate program. Having a degree from Minnesota State Mankato does not give an applicant preferential consideration in the admission process.
A. Yes. We encourage international students to apply. You should be aware, however, that there are additional steps you need to take to be admitted to graduate education at MSU, Mankato. In addition to other admissions requirements, students who have received their undergraduate (baccalaureate) degree from a university outside the U.S. need to have their creditials evaluated by an international equivalency evaluator and to take and submit TOELF scores. International applicants should visit the University's International Applicant Webpage, contact the Office of International Students, and the College of Graduate Studies and Research for more information and assistance related to studying at Minnesota State Mankato. Our department can not make any admissions decisions about international applicants unless the other steps are taken first. This process can take several months to complete.
A. The College of Graduate Studies and Research requires that you complete another application with their office and have your transcripts updated. They will often allow you to use the same application for one year if applying to the same graduate program. Check with the College of Graduate Studies if you have questions about this process.
A. No. Interviews are not required for admission to our program.
A. No additional exams are required for admission to our program.
A. No. Students admitted to the Advanced Standing program will begin the summer immediately following their admission. Those admitted to the Traditional Program will begin in the fall semester following their admission.
A. Yes. See Traditional Program admission requirements. You could have a degree in nearly any major, but you will still need an undergraduate degree, 21 college credits in social and behavioral sciences, a course in human biology, and a statistics course. Go to Admissions & Forms.
A. Yes, they can. We will evaluate the entire academic record as needed.
A. Experience in social work, human services, health care, education and related fields as a paid employee, intern or volunteer is considered as part of your application. After looking at the required criteria for program admission, the Admission's Committee will consider the length, breadth, and types of social service experiences as part of the overall recommendation for admission.
A. Maybe. Under some conditions the MSW program may be able to accept up to 10 transfer graduate credits from other programs or institutions, but this will be determined on a case-by-case basis. Concentration year required courses are not accepted in transfer, but foundation year and elective courses may be accepted. Once accepted into the program, a student may work with the admissions coordinator or faculty advisor to determine which graduate credits may be transferred into their program. University policy requires that those credits must be no more than 6 years old at the time you complete the MSW program.
A. Yes. Approved courses from several other departments at Minnesota State Mankato may be used for a student's three elective credits. Students may opt to take more if they so choose. You should be aware that the cost of credits vary across different programs. A substitution request will need to be made by the student if the course is not on the approved electives list.
A. No. Though previous social service experience is evaluated as part of the admissions process and is a valued part of your overall qualifications, no college course credit will be given to any student in the MSW program for either previous life or work experience. This policy is part of the CSWE Accreditation standards.
A. No. At this point in time the only option for the program is as a full-time student.
A. Yes, but it is a very individual decision. We have tried to develop a program that meets the needs of working and commuting adults by spreading the credits out over a full calendar year rather than traditional two semesters. We have scheduled classes for Fridays and Saturdays. We are open to working with students to develop practicum placements that work with their lives. We also have to balance these considerations with what is feasible for our institution and fits the requirements of our accrediting body, while offering a high quality program. We believe that most students can do this program while working at least part time and in some cases, full time. But, the answer is that it depends upon your particular situation. Taking on the demands of a graduate education means making a major committment.
A. We offer the required MSW courses on Friday afternoons and evenings and on Saturday mornings and afternoons. A course schedule is posted each semester as it is finalized. Field Practicum hours will be arranged depending upon the placement. Some courses are "hybrid" or "web enhanced" and use the Internet so students may not need to meet in-person every week. Elective courses may be taken when they are offered on the course schedule set by each department each semester.
A. The Traditional MSW Program will take two calendar years to complete. It is a 60-credit hour program that includes 15-16 courses (40 credit hours) and 20 credit hours of field practicum and seminar. The Advanced Standing MSW Program will take one calendar year to complete. It is a 32-credit hour program that includes 8 courses (22 credit hours) and 10 credit hours of field practicum. Both programs are considered full-time in terms of graduate credit load. See Curriculum and Courses.
A. No. There is not master's thesis requirement, but students will complete a capstone project carried out in conjunction with courses and field practicum in the concentration (advanced) year.
A. Yes. We have a faculty of twelve members with a diverse set of practice and research experiences. See the Faculty link from the home page to read descriptions of each faculty member's practice, teaching, and research interests. Each year we offer some graduate assitant positions for students to work closely with faculty on their research and other projects.
A. The field education (eg. practicum, internship) component of the program has been developed based upon our successful undergraduate field program. We have been placing students in a number of potential settings from county social services to community-based private agencies in and around the South Central Minnesota region and within a 150 mile radius of Mankato. Contact Robin Wingo if you have questions about the field program.
A. This might be possible, but planning this must include the field program director and your supervisor. Students need to have a MSW supervisor and must be engaged in experiences that are significantly different than there regular job requirements. Each placement will be a very individual arrangement. Contact Robin Wingo if you have questions about the field program.
A. No. All field practicum (internship) hours must be completed at approved sites under social work supervision after you are admitted to the program.
A. While specific tuition is determined each year by the state-wide MnSCU system, we have estimated costs, based upon the 2008-2009 in-state graduate rate. Tuition and fees for the program will be about $11,000 per year, which is the cost of tuition and fees estimated for 30 credits of graduate study including an additional MSW program fee. Non-resident tuition is generally higher, though Minnesota has reciprocity agreements with some adjacent states. To check on tuition rates and fees go to College of Graduate Studies and Research.
A. Yes. Minnesota State Mankato does have some options available to assist with the costs of your graduate education. These include graduate assistantships, financial aid, scholarships, loans, and other options. However, each individual student's financial situation is unique, thus there is no single answer to this question. Federal Financial Aid is also dependent upon your financial aid history. Each student will need to check into this individually. See the University's Financial Aid website.
A. Yes. There are some graduate assistantships in the Department of Social Work and other opportunities across campus. If you are interested in applying for Graduate Assistantships, which are part-time campus jobs in teaching, advising, research, or program administration, please seek information from the Graduate Assistantship University website.
A. Yes. Background checks are required for field placement and licensure purposes though not part of application for admission. You should be aware that past legal problems, particularly violations of criminal code, may limit internship and employment opportunities.
A. Yes. If you are admitted to the program, you will be asked to agree to a statement of responsibilities and agreements at the time of your accepting the offer of admission. This document is part of the Admissions and Application Forms. There are also other student policies you may also wish to read in the MSW Graduate Student Handbook. Once admitted to the program all students are covered by related College and Unversity student policies.
For more information about issues of professional social work practice you can also go to the following websites:
A. Not yet. Since this is a new MSW Program, it is not yet fully accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE). Our undergraduate program has been accredited for more than 34 years and the MSW program is in Candidcay for obtaining CSWE accreditation of the graduate program as well. We anticipate this program would be fully accredited by 2010. See Accreditation and Licensure.
A. Not immediately, but you may be eligible to take your LGSW licensure exam and obtain a temporary license. In order to become a licensed graduate or independent social worker in the State of Minnesota, a student has to graduate with the MSW from a program that is accredited. Once accreditation is granted by CSWE, it is retroactively applied to students who were enrolled and successfully completed the program while it was still in "Candidacy." At that point students would be eligible to complete necessary steps for licensure. See Accreditation and Licensure.
A. Yes. The Americans with Disabilities Act requires that the University provide reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. Students may request accommodation through the Disability Services Office. You may contact the Office of Disability Services in the basement of the Memorial Library or contact by telephone at 507-389-2825.
A. Students may commute to classes and there is ample parking and bus service available. Many graduate students live near, but not on campus, while many other graduate students commute from their homes in the region, mostly from central or southern Minnesota. For more information about housing go to the Department of Residential Life.
A. Lots! The Department of Social Work has a student Social Work Club and Chapter of Phi Alpha Honor Society dedicated to service. Across campus there are a number of excellent student organizations, clubs, and other programs such as the Women's Center, LGBT Center, and many cultural organizations. Student leadership development and service opportunities abound. There are health and counseling services among many others on campus. For more information about the services and opportunities offered to students at Minnesota State University go to the Student Life Page or see Campus Services.
A. Yes. There will be opportunities over the next few years for some full-time faculty positions with primary responsibilities in the MSW program. In addition, there may be opportunities for adjunct (part-time) faculty as well. Contact Dr. Nancy Fitzsimons nancy.fitzsimons@mnsu.edu.
A. Yes. While we have many terrific field education and practicum contacts already established in the community and across the state, we will need to have a new level of supervisors and practicum sites for master's level students. Contact Prof. Robin Wingo robin.wingo@mnsu.edu.
A. Initially, we anticipate 4 MSW faculty for 15 students. We will be building over the next few years to 6 for 45, or a ratio of about 1 faculty member for every 8 students. But we eventually plan to have 12 faculty all of whom may have some responsibilities in the MSW program and some in the BSSW program.
A. There are some electives that can be taken for graduate credit, but the degree requirements are not open to non-degree seeking students.
A. This program focuses on preparing graduates for Advanced Generalist practice which will give graduates a balance of both administrative and clinical practice skills, with an emphasis on the unique issues of practice in small towns and rural communities. The cost of the program is less than comparable public universities and less than private colleges in Minnesota. Classes are being offered at times and on days that would allow most students to be able to continue a job and other community commitments or family obligations while in school. The program will be relatively small so that students will have lots of opportunities to learn from and interact with faculty in small classes while developing a cohesive student cohort.
A. Most will work in social work roles in a variety of fields and practice settings. The MSW will allow graduates to have jobs with greater responsibilities and often including supervision and management. Some may go on for doctoral education to get more training and to teach. There is a great need for qualified MSW supervisors and faculty in many parts of the state and country.
