Funding Your Future
Cost and Cost Assistance Overview
90 percent of ETSU students receive some sort of financial assistance. ETSU is proud to provide scholarship assistance - money you do not have to pay back - for all types of students: first-time freshmen students, transfer students, currently enrolled undergraduate students, and graduate students.
Below are some social-work specific opportunities, but for a comprehensive list, please visit https://www.etsu.edu/scholarships/.
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Michael Phillips Memorial Scholarship
The Michael Phillips Memorial Scholarship is intended for graduates of Unicoi High School majoring in the field of Social Work. (MSW may be considered.) Priority should be given to those in need of financial assistance.
Eligibility
- Graduate of Unicoi High School
- Declared Social Work major in the Department of Social Work (MSW may be considered)
- Current ETSU students as well as entering freshman must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0
- Documented financial need may be considered in the selection of the recipient
- Once a student is selected to be a recipient, they may continue to receive the award for four consecutive years
- Must meet all requirements for regular admission to ETSU
- Must be full-time student
- Applications should be submitted to the ETSU Department of Social Work Scholarship Committee by March 15th each year.
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Ellyn Lancaster Scholarship
APPLICATION DEADLINE - February 15th
Scholarship applications available here, The scholarship application must be completed and submitted online.
Purpose and History: Established in 2013 to assist adult, non-traditional aged "women in transition" to pursue a Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) or a Masters of Social Work (MSW) degree.
Scholarship Amount: $2,400 one-time award for 1 year (amount subject to change)Eligibility Requirements
Residency Requirement: Washington County, Greene County, or Sullivan County.
Education Requirement: Returning adult student: high school graduate or GED recipient, or current college student.
Field of Study: Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) or Masters of Social Work (MSW)
GPA Minimum: Not applicable.
College/Enrollment Requirement: Full-time enrollment at East Tennessee State University pursuing a Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) of Masters of Social Work (MSW) degree.
Must demonstrate financial need. -
Paul Bashea Williams Scholarship
This scholarship is designed to provide the educational benefits of a diverse student body to the entire university. These benefits include cross-cultural understanding, helping break down racial stereotypes, enabling students to better understand people of different races, preparing students for entry into a diverse workforce and society, cultivating leaders with legitimacy in the eyes of citizenry, and promoting a robust exchange of ideas.
The scholarship will be awarded twice a year, for fall and spring semesters, to a student enrolled in the ETSU Bachelor or Master of Social Work Programs. Recipient must have a minimum GPA of 3.0. Recipient will receive mentoring from Paul Williams, as arranged by the Department of Social Work.
This scholarship honors Paul Williams who was the first black man to both enter and graduate from the ETSU MSW Program. Mr. Williams has dedicated his career to the field of social work through counseling, which he does through a multi-location private practice, and also through numerous appearances in major news networks and in documentary films.
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Department of Social Work Graduate Assistantships
The ETSU Department of Social Work awards (4) full-time Graduate Assistantships each year to MSW students. A Graduate Assistantship is an opportunity available to qualifying graduate students for on-campus employment. Graduate Assistants (or GAs, as they are often called) can either work in teaching, research, or administrative roles depending upon the position. Graduate assistants receive tuition assistance and a monthly stipend for 9 months for the academic year. Graduate Assistantships do not cover fees. Stipend amounts vary by programs. Deadline is March 1st.
The Social Work Full Graduate Assistants work 20 hours per week for the academic year (August 15th to May 15th). GAs are ETSU employees and work every week, except when Administrative Offices are closed during winter break. Full GAs have full tuition covered (excluding fees). GAs must be able to start precisely on August 15th – unfortunately, no exceptions can be made.
General eligibility requirements for receiving a Graduate Assistantship are that the recipient:
- Must be fully admitted to a graduate program.
Must register for at least 9 graduate hours during the Fall and Spring semester (6 during Spring semester if in-line to graduate in May).
Recipients of Graduate Assistantships must maintain those hours through the semester. If a GA drops below those hours, they are ineligible and the contract will be reviewed and may be canceled.
Must maintain a GPA of 3.0 or higher.
Cannot hold another paid position on campus without prior approval of the Dean of ETSU Graduate School.
Requirements for International Students
- International students must take the Oral Proficiency Interview immediately upon arrival at ETSU. See Grad School Policies for more information.
International students applying for full-time graduate assistantships may not hold temporary positions.
International students must have current Glacier paperwork on file before payroll can be processed. See Requirements for International Students for more information.
How to ApplyA single application exists for the Department of Social Work’s GA and TS positions. To apply for a Social Work position, please use your ETSU log-in and submit the required items at Graduate Assistantship Form. For tech assistance, please contact the ITS Help Desk.
A complete application packet submitted through the link above includes:
1. The completed form
2. The ETSU jobs application
3. The departmental policies form
4. Upload of your resume/CV
5. Upload of your writing sampleGA finalists will be required to visit campus for an in-person interview over the spring/summer. Virtual interviews will not be acceptable. Unfortunately, no exceptions can be made.
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Department of Social Work Tuition Scholarships
The ETSU Department of Social Work awards (2) Tuition Scholarships to MSW students. Tuition Scholarships (TS) are awarded only to newly admitted students in certain programs. Tuition Scholarship recipients have a service obligation of 120 hours per semester (or about 8 hours per week). Tuition Scholarships offer tuition assistance but no monthly stipend. Fees are not covered. Tuition Scholarships are available only to new students and once awarded can be renewed for the duration of the program as long as the student remains in good standing. For more detailed information about Tuition Scholarships click here. Deadline is March 1st.
General eligibility requirements for receiving a Tuition Scholarship are that the recipient:
- Must be fully admitted to a graduate program.
Must register for at least 9 graduate hours during the Fall and Spring semester. (6 during Spring semester if in-line to graduate in May).
Recipients of Tuition Scholarships must maintain those hours through the semester. If a TS drops below those hours, they are ineligible and the contract will be reviewed and may be canceled.
Must maintain a GPA of 3.0 or higher.- Cannot hold another paid position on campus without prior approval of the Dean of ETSU Graduate School.
Must be a new student (for Tuition Scholarships).
Requirements for International Students
- International students must take the Oral Proficiency Interview immediately upon arrival at ETSU. See Grad School Policies for more information.
International students applying for full-time graduate assistantships may not hold temporary positions.
International students must have current Glacier paperwork on file before payroll can be processed. See Requirements for International Students for more information.
How to Apply
A single application exists for the Department of Social Work’s GA and TS positions (including SafeZone). To apply for a Social Work position, please use your ETSU log-in and submit the required items at Tuition Scholar Form. For tech assistance, please contact the ITS Help Desk.
A complete application packet submitted through the link above includes:
1. The completed form
2. The ETSU jobs application
3. The departmental policies form
4. Upload of your resume/CV
5. Upload of your writing sampleTS finalists will be required to visit campus for an in-person interview over the spring/summer. Virtual interviews will not be acceptable. Unfortunately, no exceptions can be made.
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ETSU SafeZone Graduate Assistantship
The Department of Social Work at ETSU oversees a Graduate Assistant who serves in support of the instructional mission of the Safe Zone organization. While preference is given to candidates in the MSW program and whose professional goals align with the mission of Safe Zone, any graduate student in good standing at the university may apply and will be considered. The Assistantship is for 20 hours per week and for one semester or an academic year based on the availability of funding and need. The student must be full-time and maintain a 3.0 GPA. Deadline is March 1st.
The Graduate Assistant will work closely with the Safe Zone organizers and the MSW Program Director to plan, promote, and carry out Safe Zone trainings and to accomplish the daily administrative tasks of maintaining the records of the organization. Duties assigned will be relevant to Safe Zone and will also hold professional and scholarly significance to the student.
ETSU Safe Zone Purpose and Goals of Safe Zone
- To promote acceptance and awareness of the diversity of gender identity and sexual orientation on ETSU campus.
- To provide a community of allies for LGBTQ people.
- To provide evidence of and visibility for the support of LGBTQ people and their allies
within the ETSU community.
Purpose of the Safe Zone Training:
- To provide a standardized curriculum baseline for potential allies and members of ETSU Safe Zone.
- To enable faculty, staff, and students to engage in becoming a source of support and
allies to the LGBTQ campus community.
GA Duties: Schedule trainings; coordinate outreach activities to promote the program on campus and occasional off-campus events*; collaborate with Safe Zone facilitators to develop new curricula and materials; maintain training materials and roster of Safe Zone members; update Safe Zone website regularly; and other duties as necessary.
*note that occasional weekend hours might be expected for outreach activities
Experience Preferred: The person most qualified for this job has excellent written and oral communication and organization skills, and is comfortable with learning website and course delivery systems (e.g., D2L). Proficiency in Microsoft Office is expected. Experience with educational and organizational LGBTQ initiatives preferred.
General eligibility requirements for receiving a Graduate Assistantship are that the recipient:
- Must be fully admitted to a graduate program
- Must register for at least 9 graduate hours during the Fall and Spring semester (6 during Spring semester if in-line to graduate in May)
- Recipients of Graduate Assistantships must maintain those hours through the semester. If a GA drops below those hours, they are ineligible and the contract will be reviewed and may be canceled.
- Must maintain a GPA of 3.0 or higher.
- Cannot hold another paid position on campus without prior approval of the Dean of ETSU Graduate School.
Requirements for International Students
- International students must take the Oral Proficiency Interview immediately upon arrival at ETSU. Click here for more information.
- International students applying for full-time graduate assistantships may not hold temporary positions
- International students must have current Glacier paperwork on file before payroll can be processed. Click here for more information
How to Apply
A single application exists for the Department of Social Work’s GA and TS positions (including SafeZone). To apply for a Social Work position, please use your ETSU log-in and submit the required items at Safe Zone Form For tech assistance, please contact the ITS Help Desk .
A complete application packet submitted through the link above includes:
1. The completed form
2. The ETSU jobs application
3. The departmental policies form Departmental Policies
4. Upload of your resume/CV
5. Upload of your writing sample