Social Work

100% Online Master of Social Work Program

Overview

The purpose of the East Tennessee State University Master of Social Work program is to prepare students for autonomous clinical practice. The goals, objectives, and course content were developed with this purpose in mind. The MSW program learning goals include the following:

  1. To prepare students with the knowledge, values, and skills of clinical practice;
  2. To prepare students to engage in competent and responsible clinical practice within public and private agencies;
  3. To prepare students to develop and use ethical research in the advancement and enhancement of social work practice.

The Master of Social Work program is a fully accredited program by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE).  All students interested in applying to the program must reside with the United States.

Program

Is the Online Master of Social Work right for you?

The program began in 2003, was awarded candidacy for accreditation in 2004, and was granted initial accreditation in 2007. We are proud to offer a high quality MSW program with a clinical concentration. For those with undergraduate degrees in fields other than social work, we offer a traditional program, both full-time and part-time. For those with an undergraduate degree in social work (BSW), we offer the advanced standing program, both full-time and part-time.

We have a wonderful group of faculty with broad ranging experience and expertise, and we are proud to say that our full-time faculty teach the majority of our courses. This is a significant benefit to our students. We also have a strong tradition of student involvement through the Master of Social Work Student Association (MSWSA), which meets monthly and is a strong voice of advocacy in our department and for the profession. Their activities include the annual Legislative Conference and representation on faculty committees. We are also fortunate to have a strong community relationship through our field program and the Community Advisory Committee.

Check out these informational videos from the Program Coordinator:

 

The Master of Social Work program offers two tracks for program completion:

Advanced Entry Track

This track is for applicants who have attained a bachelor of social work (B.S.W.), after 1984, from a program accredited by the CSWE.  Advanced Standing can be completed in approximately twelve (12) months (for full-time students), and is a total of 37 credit hours.

Information about the curriculum and graduation requirements can be found in the ETSU Graduate Catalog.

  • Part-Time Course Sequence

     

    Year 1 Summer Year 1 Fall Year 1 Spring
    SOWK 5430
    Psychopathology (3)    		 SOWK 5303
    Advanced Practice with Individuals I (3)    		 SOWK 5325
    Advanced Practice with Individuals II (3)
    SOWK 5403
    Administrative Practices in HSO (3)    		 SOWK 5323
    Advanced Practice with Groups (3)    		 SOWK 5313
    Advanced Practice with Families (3)
    Year 2 Summer Year 2 Fall Year 2 Spring
    SOWK 5xxx
    Elective (3)
    		 SOWK 5305


    Personal Practice Evaluation (3)    		 SOWK 5xxx
    Elective (3)
    SOWK 5xxx
    Elective (3)    		 SOWK 5306
    Advanced Practice Field I (4)    		 SOWK 5406
    Advanced Practice Field II (3)
  • Full-Time Course Sequence
    Summer Fall Spring
    SOWK 5430
    Psychopathology (3)


    		 SOWK 5303
    Advanced Practice with Individuals I (3)    		 SOWK 5325
    Advanced Practice with Individuals II (3)
    SOWK 5xxx
    Elective (3)    		 SOWK 5323
    Advanced Practice with Groups (3)    		 SOWK 5313
    Advanced Practice with Families (3)
    SOWK 5403
    Administrative Practices in HSO (3)    		 SOWK 5305


    Personal Practice Evaluation (3)    		 SOWK 5xxx
    Elective (3)
      SOWK 5306
    Advanced Practice Field I (4)    		 SOWK 5406
    Advanced Practice Field II (3)
        SOWK 5xxx
    Elective (3)

Traditional Entry Track

This track is for applicants with bachelor’s degrees from accredited universities.  Traditional Entry is a  two (2)-year master’s program with the first-year foundation curriculum focusing on preparing students with a generalist social work perspective, and the second-year curriculum focusing on preparing students for autonomous clinical practice.  This track is 63 credit hours.

Information about the curriculum and graduation requirements can be found in the ETSU Graduate Catalog.

  • Part-Time Course Sequence
    Year 1 Fall Year 1 Spring

    		 Year 1 Summer
    SOWK 5100
    Social Work Practice Foundations I (3)

    		 SOWK 5203
    Social Work Practice Foundations II (3)


    		  
    SOWK 5102
    HBSE II (3)    		 SOWK 5205
    Research (3)


    		  
    Year 2 Fall Year 2 Spring Year 2 Summer
    SOWK 5202
    HBSE I (3)    		 SOWK 5220
    Social Work Practice Foundations III (3)    		 SOWK 5430
    Psychopathology (3)
    SOWK 5104
    Social Welfare Policy & Services (3)    		 SOWK 5106
    Foundation Field I (4)    		 SOWK 5206
    Foundation Field II (4)
    Year 3 Fall Year 3 Spring


    		 Year 3 Summer
    SOWK 5303
    Advanced Practice with Individuals I (3)    		 SOWK 5325
    Advanced Practice with Individuals II (3)    		 SOWK 5403
    Administrative Practices in HSO (3)
    SOWK 5305
    Personal Practice Evaluation (3)    		 SOWK 5xxx
    Elective (3)    		 SOWK 5xxx
    Elective (3)
    Year 4 Fall Year 4 Spring  
    SOWK 5323


    Advanced Practice with Groups (3)    		 SOWK 5313


    Advanced Practice with Families    		  
    SOWK 5306
    Advanced Practice Field I (4)    		 SOWK 5406
    Advanced Practice Field II (4)    		  
  • Full-Time Course Sequence
    Year 1 Fall Year 1 Spring

    		 Year 1 Summer
    SOWK 5100
    Social Work Practice Foundations I (3)

    		 SOWK 5220
    Social Work Practice Foundations III (3)    		 SOWK 5430
    Psychopathology (3)
    SOWK 5102
    HBSE I (3)    		 SOWK 5203
    Social Work Practice Foundations II (3)    		 SOWK 5xxx
    Elective (3)
    SOWK 5202
    HBSE II (3)    		 SOWK 5205
    Research (3)    		 SOWK 5403
    Administrative Practices in HSO (3)
    SOWK 5104
    Social Welfare Practices & Services (3)    		 SOWK 5106
    Foundation Field I (4)    		 SOWK 5206
    Foundation Field II (4)
    Year 2 Fall Year 2 Spring  
    SOWK 5303
    Advanced Practice with Individuals I (3)    		 SOWK 5325
    Advanced Practice with Individuals II (3)    		  
    SOWK 5323
    Advanced Practice with Groups (3)    		 SOWK 5313
    Advanced Practice with Families (3)    		  
    SOWK 5305
    Personal Practice Evaluation (3)

    		 SOWK 5xxx
    Elective (3)    		  
    SOWK 5306
    Advanced Practice Field I (4)

    		 SOWK 5406
    Advanced Practice Field II (3)    		  


Cost

Credits to complete this program: 37 to 63 credit hours depending on entry

TN Residents eRate (Out of State, 100% online) Out of State
$610 per credit hour $765 per credit hour $1451 per credit hour

*Note, tuition discounts are available for border county students.
*This amount may not include program-specific fees

Read more about cost, paying for courses, scholarship options and financial aid.

Steps to Apply

  • Step 1 - Create your ETSU Application Account

    Step 1   Create your ETSU Application Account by choosing the "Sign Up" option

    Create your ETSU Application Account

  • Step 2 - Sign into the ETSU Application Portal

    Step 2  Sign into the ETSU Application Portal and select "Start a New Application"

    Sign in

  • Step 3 - Complete the Remaining Fields

    Step 3   Choose "Graduate," select your student type (domestic or international), select "Master's," term, then choose  Social Work and complete the remainder of the form.

    select domestic/international

    select certificate

15+ Things you should know about ETSU's MSW program:
  1. Clinical social work concentration available
  2. Prepares students for clinical licensure
  3. No GRE Required for Admission
  4. Operates in a cohort model
  5. Mix of asynchronous and evening synchronous learning. A laptop or PC is required.
  6. Field experiences incorporated into the learning
  7. Will expand your social work knowledge base
  8. All faculty have professional social work practice experience
  9. Better earning potential! MSW salaries are $13,000+ higher than BSW salaries.
    Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections

  10. Students are prepared to leave and pass licensure exams:




    • Masters-level licensure pass rate total: 73%
    • North American pass rates: 61%

    • Clinical-level licensure pass rates total: 62%
    • North American pass rates total: 61%
  11. Social Work is a growing profession:


    • 16% Growth Projected in Overall Social Worker Employment
    • 14% Growth in Child, Family & School Social Work Positions
    • 20% Growth in Healthcare & Medical Social Work Positions
    • 19% Growth in Mental Health & Substance Abuse Positions

      Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections
  12. Two conference attendances a year:

    • Self-Care Conference
    • Social Work Professional Development Conference
  13. Department houses certificate in Clinical Addiction Studies
  14. Focused on equipping students with tools they can and will use in their careers
  15. Faculty conduct research on best practices in the field to better their classroom experiences
  16. Interprofessional Education (IPE) - teams with Pharmacy, Medicine, Nursing, Physical Therapy, Nutrition, Public Health, and Speech Language Pathology

Program Frequently Asked Questions

  • What accreditations apply to this program?
    This program is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE)
  • What are the job prospects with this degree?
    16% Growth Projected in Overall Social Worker Employment
    14% Growth in Child, Family & School Social Work Positions
    20% Growth in Healthcare & Medical Social Work Positions
    19% Growth in Mental Health & Substance Abuse Positions
     
    Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections
  • Does a student's undergraduate degree have to be related to this field? What are the prerequisites?
    - A Grade Point Average (GPA) of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale for the last 60 semester credit-hours or 90 quarter credit-hours, with an overall cumulative GPA of 2.75;
    - A liberal arts base consisting of course content in:
    - English composition and literature
    - Math and Natural Sciences
    - Humanities
    - Social and/or Behavioral Sciences courses taken from a combination of Psychology, Sociology, Anthropology, Economics, History, Political Science, and Government;
    Three (3) letters of reference that address the applicant’s abilities and potential for graduate education and professional social work practice;
    - A resume that includes personal data, educational experience, work/volunteer experience, special skills, attributes, and professional affiliations and recognition; and
    - The School of Graduate Studies requests a 150-300 word essay detailing your interests in a graduate program at ETSU. Please specifically address your interest in the ETSU MSW program in the essay.
     
    - Students having graduated from a Council on Social Work Education accredited Bachelor of Social Work program subsequent to the year 1984 may apply for Advanced Standing status.
    - Additionally, all applicants will be screened for evidence of the following intellectual and personal qualities compatible with social work roles and functions:
    - Sound interpersonal skills that would support respectful relationships and affirmation of people from diverse backgrounds.
    - Strong motivation for a career in social work and suitability for the profession.
    - Personal integrity that would demonstrate potential for meeting the objectives of the program and for adhering to the Code of Ethics established by the National Association of Social Workers.
    - Critical thinking skills and skills in oral and written communication consistent with graduate-level students
    - No academic credit will be granted for work experience.
  • Does this program require the GRE (and/or GMAT)?
    No.
  • Are the courses for this program asynchronous or synchronous?
    This program is delivered through a combination of asynchronous and synchronous formats. Students must use a laptop or PC to participate and complete assignments.
  • What percentage of synchronous courses should I expect to have?
    Most classes will have at least some synchronous meetings, with the advanced practice courses meeting every week. 
  • What are the traditional meeting times for the synchronous courses, and how often are they held?
    Typically, the synchronous courses meet at 6p.m. EST approximately once a week.
  • Are there any on-campus requirements, meetings, orientations, etc.?
    No, there are no on-campus requirements for this program.
  • Does this program require a dissertation, field work, internship, and/or thesis?
    Field work is required. Advanced Standing students (those with a BSW) have one internship of 600 hours over 2 semesters and Traditional students (those without a BSW) have two internships—one for 480 hours over 2 semesters and one of 600 hours over 2 semesters. The 480 hours works out to about 16 hours/week and the 600 hours works out to about 20 hours/week.
  • Is this program designed to meet the needs of adults who work full-time and/or have family obligations?
    Since this program can be taken 100% online, it is ideal for those with existing professional and/or familial obligations.
  • What is the time to completion for full-time students?
    Full-time students pursuing the traditional entry tract typically take 2 years to complete the program. Those pursuing the advanced standing track typically complete the program in 1 year. 

  • What is the time to completion for part-time students?
    Part-time students pursuing the traditional entry track typically take 4 years to complete the program. Those pursing the advanced standing track typically complete the program in 2 years. 
  • Is there a plan of study/course schedule available to review for the full-time and part-time options?
    Yes—please visit the respective tabs above to view the programs of study. 
  • Does the college/department offer scholarships? 
    - While the department does not offer scholarships, there are some social-work specific scholarship opportunities through the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships. 
     
     
    - The department has 1 full-time GA (and several part-time) as well as 2 tuition scholarships. Students must be full-time to qualify.
     
    - Students are also encouraged to visit the Paying for Graduate School website for information regarding ETSU graduate scholarships and other financial resources. 

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