Master of Social Work

The Master of Social Work program (MSW) was accredited in June 2015. The MSW program is completely online and prepares graduates for advanced generalist social work practice with a specialization in rural practice. Using a conceptual framework to identify advanced knowledge and skills, the program builds an advanced curriculum from the generalist content. In the advanced curriculum, the generalist content is focused in the context of rural practice and is addressed in all four dimensions – knowledge, values, skills, and cognitive and affective reaction – and supports the Program’s advanced generalist social work practice with rural specialization (CSWE, 2017)

The Mission of the master program is “to prepare graduates for advanced generalist social work practice with a specialized area in rural practice.  The MSW Program is built upon a systems approach and the strengths perspective, delivered in a manner that meets the needs of students that live and/or work primarily in rural areas.”

The Master of Social Work program’s goals are derived from the programs mission statement. They are identified as follows:

Students will demonstrate the ability to:

  • Conduct advanced social work practice, with a rural concentration, which operates from a systems and strengths perspective with the ability to respond to varying rural contexts, including diversity and difference and to engage, assess, intervene, and evaluate at all levels including individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities.
  • Think critically and examine issues within the rural context while applying knowledge from both a person-in-environment and human behavior perspective to determine appropriate methods of intervention and to communicate these in an ethical manner utilizing the strengths of rural settings.
  • Utilize an advanced reflective and developmental approach to practice.
  • Apply an advanced critical and analytical approach to practice that incorporates the unique culture and systems within rural settings and includes engaging in research-informed practice and practice-informed research.
  • Use advanced knowledge and skills in analyzing rural social policies and promoting change in rural settings through the development of more just and humane policies as they affect clients, social workers, and service systems.
  • Address the uniqueness of issues of human rights, mechanisms of oppression, discrimination, and social, economic, and environmental justice in order to improve the social, economic, and environmental well-being of clients within rural settings across all levels of practice (micro, mezzo, and macro).

If you are interested in our MSW program, please fill out our form here to request more information.

Application Deadlines

Fall Deadline – April 15 | Spring Deadline – November 15

PLEASE READ THE REQUIREMENTS BELOW BEFORE APPLYING

ALL REQUIRED DOCUMENTS MUST BE RECEIVED BY THE DEADLINE IN ORDER FOR THE APPLICATION TO BE REVIEWED

Students without a BSW are required to complete the Standard Generalist Curriculum and then the student may enter the Advanced Generalist Curriculum.

Students with a CSWE accredited BSW granted within the past seven years (with a 3.0 GPA in Social Work classes and a 2.75 overall GPA) may apply directly to the Advanced Year (Advanced Standing).

Sixty (60) semester credit hours are required for graduation from the generalist program and thirty six (36) semester credit hours are required for graduation from the advanced program. There are two start dates fall and spring. If entering in the Generalist Year, the Master of Social Work can be completed in two (2) calendar years of full-time study. A part-time schedule is available which can be completed within three (3) years or in a maximum of four (4) calendar years of structured part-time professional education. If entering in the Advanced Year, the Master of Social Work can be completed in one (1) calendar year of full-time study. A part-time schedule is available which can be completed within one-and-one-half (1 ½) years or in a maximum of three (three) calendar years of structured part-time professional education.

The Concord University MSW Program cannot grant social work course credit for any life experience and/or work experience.

Students transferring from another CSWE accredited MSW Program may request to have a maximum of six (6) credits from the generalist year transferred. In order to be considered, the course description must match the MSW courses offered at Concord University, and the courses must have been completed within the last two years previous to applying to Concord University’s MSW Program.

Transcripts and course descriptions will be reviewed by the faculty as to appropriateness on an individual basis. Only courses with a grade of a “B” or “A” are considered. Credits are generally not accepted for the advanced generalist year of course work, given the program’s specialization in rural practice.
Standard Generalist Curriculum (24 Credit Hours):

  • SOWK 501 Intro to Generalist Practice (3)
  • SOWK 511 Generalist of Human Behavior and Social Environment (3)
  • SOWK 521 Generalist of Policy (3)
  • SOWK 531 Generalist of Practice (3)
  • SOWK 570 Generalist of Research (3)
  • SOWK 560 Generalist Field Practicum (6)
  • SOWK 620 Special Topics (3)

Advanced Generalist Curriculum (36 Credit Hours):
(To be completed by students in both the Standard Generalist Program and the Advanced Generalist Program)

  • SOWK 613 Advanced Human Behavior and the Social Environment in Rural Settings (3)
  • SOWK 622 Advanced Policy in Rural Practice (3)
  • SOWK 633 Advanced Rural Practice with Individuals, Families, and Groups (3)
  • SOWK 634 Advanced Rural Practice with Communities and Organizations (3)
  • SOWK 670 Advanced Rural Research (3)
  • SOWK 660 Advanced Field (A, B, and C) (9)
  • SOWK 661 Appalachian Culture, Structures, and Environment (3)
  • SOWK 620 Special Topics (9)

Progression Plans

Licensure Body by State

State State Licensure Body                 MSW Program Meets Licensure for State

Psychopathology Required for LICSW

Alabama

Alabama State Board of Social Work Examiners

Yes

No

Alaska

Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development, Division of Corporations, Business and Professional Licensing

Yes

No

Arizona

Arizona State Board of Behavioral Health Examiners

Yes

No

Arkansas

Arkansas Department of Health

Yes

No

California

Board of Behavioral Sciences

Colorado

Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies 

Yes

No

Connecticut

Connecticut State Department of Public Health

Yes

No

Delaware

Division of Professional Regulation – Board of Social Work Examiners Yes No

Florida

Florida Board of Clinical Social Work, Marriage & Family Therapy, and Mental Health Counseling

Yes

Yes

Georgia

Board of Professional Counselors, Social Workers, and Marriage & Family Therapists

Yes

No

Hawaii

Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs Professional & Vocational Licensing Division

Yes

No

Idaho

Idaho Board of Social Work Examiners

Yes

No

Illinois

IDFPR

Yes

No

Indiana

Indiana Professional Licensing Agency

Yes

Yes

Iowa

Iowa Department of Inspections, Appeals, & Licensing

Yes

No

Kansas

Kansas Behavioral Sciences Regulatory Board

Yes

Yes

Kentucky

Commonwealth of Kentucky Board of Social Work

Yes

No

Louisiana

Louisiana State Board of Social Work Examiners

Yes

No

Maine

Maine State Board of Social Worker Licensure

Yes

Yes

Maryland

Maryland Department of Health: MD Board of Social Work Examiners

Yes

Yes

Massachusetts

Board of Registration of Social Workers

Yes

Yes

Michigan

Michigan Board of Social Workers

Yes

No

Minnesota

Minnesota Board of Social Work

Yes

Yes

Mississippi

Mississippi Board of Examiners for Social Workers and Marriage and Family Therapists

Yes

No

Missouri

Missouri Division of Professional Registration

Yes

No

Montana

Montana Board of Behavioral Health

Yes

No

Nebraska

Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services

Yes

Yes

Nevada

Nevada Board of Examiners for Social Workers

Yes

No

New Hampshire

New Hampshire Office of Professional Licensure and Certification

Yes

Yes

New Jersey

New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs

Yes

Yes

New Mexico

New Mexico Regulation & Licensing Department

Yes

No

New York

New York State Education Department Office of the Professions

Yes

Yes

North Caroline

North Carolina Social Work Certification and Licensure Board

Yes

No

North Dakota

ND Board of Social Work Examiners

Yes

No

Ohio

Ohio Counselor, Social Worker, and Marriage and Family Therapist Board

Yes

Yes

Oklahoma

Oklahoma State Board of Licensed Social Workers

Yes

No

Oregon

Board of Licensed Social Workers

Yes

No

Pennsylvania

State Board of Social Workers, Marriage and Family Therapist and Professional Counselors

Yes

No

Rhode Island

State of Rhode Island Department of Health

Yes

No

South Carolina

Board of Social Work Examiners

Yes

Yes

South Dakota

South Dakota Department of Social Services

Yes

No

Tennessee

TN Department of Health

Yes

No

Texas

Texas State Board of Social Worker Examiners

Yes

No

Utah

Utah Commerce Division of Professional Licensing

Yes

No

Vermont

Vermont Secretary of State

Yes

No

Virginia

Virginia Department of Health Professions Board of Social Work

Yes

Yes

Washington

Washington State Department of Health

Yes

No

West Virginia

West Virginia Board of Social Work

Yes

Yes

Wisconsin

State of Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services

Yes

Yes

Wyoming

Wyoming Mental Health Professions Licensing Board

Yes

No

District of Columbia

DC Health

Yes

Yes

Guam

Guam Board of Social Work 

Yes

No

Puerto Rico

Social Work Professionals

Virgin Islands

Government of the U.S. Virgin Islands Department of Licensing and Consumer Affairs

Yes

No

Contact Information

If you have any questions about the program or the application process, please contact us:

Inghram, C. Scott
Inghram, C. Scott
Associate Professor - Social Work/Director of MSW Program/Chair Department of Social Work and Sociology
304-384-5215
Email Me
Howell, Vanessa
Howell, Vanessa
Operations Coordinator
304-384-6260
Email Me

Mailing Address

Department of Social Work & Sociology
Marsh Hall 107
PO Box 1000, F42
Athens, WV 24712