Graduate Catalog: 2012-2013 - Alabama A&M University

SOCIAL WORKMASTER OF SOCIAL WORKPROGRAM COORDINATORDennis Weiss256-372-8302dennis.weiss@aamu.eduProgram ProfessorsEdith FraserTonya PerryAssociate ProfessorsJitendra KapoorAssistant ProfessorsDonna HarrisJoAnne McLinnRachel RobinsonPamela PlummerMISSION STATEMENTThe Graduate Social Work program prepares studentsto become competent, ethical and advancedprofessional social work practitioners capable ofassuming a wide range of roles and functions inworking with vulnerable individuals, families,groups, public and private organizations andinstitutions in rural and urban communities. TheGraduate Social Work Program is accredited by theCouncil on Social Work Education.ADMISSION REQUIREMENTSStudents seeking admission to the Social Workprogram must:1. Hold a Bachelor’s degree from a regionallyaccredited college or university.2. Have a cumulative undergraduate grade pointaverage of at least 2.5 (on a 4.0 scale) and meetthe general requirements for admission to theSchool of Graduate Studies at Alabama A&MUniversity.3. Submit two essays. Each essay should notexceed 500 words. Essays must focus on thefollowing:a. Why applicants wish to pursue the MSWdegree;b. A major contemporary social problem that isof concern to the profession of social work;(state why, in your opinion, it is a problemfor the profession), and how you wouldintervene to ameliorate and/or eradicate thisproblem.4. Submit three letters of reference that reflect theapplicant’s academic and professional potentialand ethical and values orientation. Preferablyletter of recommendations should be written byformer professors or others who are, or who havebeen in a position to evaluate aspects of thecandidates’ academic, personal and intellectualcapabilities.5. A personal interview with the Social WorkAdmission’s Committee or a designated MSWfaculty member may be required.While there is no requirement for a specificundergraduate major to qualify for graduate study insocial work, applicants are expected to have hadpreparation in the liberal arts, usually throughundergraduate coursework in the social andbehavioral sciences, humanities and life sciences. Atleast 24 credits are required in these areas.Advanced StandingApplicants with a BSW degree from a CSWEaccredited program and a cumulative GPA of 3.00including upper division social work courses mayapply for advanced standing. Qualified applicantsmust complete 39 semester hours, of which 8semester hours are in field instruction, to finish thedegree program. Students obtaining AdvancedStanding must complete the degree program in three(3) consecutive semesters. For more information onAdvanced Standing, contact Dr. Edith Fraser,Director of the Social Work program, at 256-372-8776.Note: Admission to the Graduate program willoccur twice annually in the summer and in thefall. There will be no spring admission.Annual Application DeadlineSummer Admission ..................................February 15Fall Admission ............................................... March 1Program Requirements for the Non-ThesisOption – (Advanced Standing Program)90