Social Work, M.S.W.

Program Overview

MISSION

The Tennessee State University Master of Social Work (TSU-MSW) Program is dedicated to the enhancement of human well-being, access, and social justice through developing and improving systems of social service, especially for the vulnerable and oppressed, by delivering graduate education in advanced generalist social work practice from a public, land grant HBCU in Middle Tennessee. We offer students several different ways to fulfill the requirements of an MSW degree, which can be completed either full or part time over the course of 1-4 years.

CORE VALUES

The program provides leadership training for social service professionals in Metro Nashville and the surrounding region. The Core Values of the Tennessee State University Master of Social Work program are consistent with the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) Code of Ethics core values.  These values are actively promoted and modeled within the Social Work Program and expected to be demonstrated by our faculty, staff, students, honored alumni, and advisory board. The core values include Service, Social Justice, Dignity and Worth of the Person, Importance of Human Relationships, Integrity, and Competence. 

• Program Outcomes: 
  • Upon completion of the MSW program, students will be able to:
    • Demonstrate Ethical and Professional Behavior
      • Make ethical decisions by applying the standards of the NASW Code of Ethics
      • Use reflection and self-regulation to manage personal values and maintain professionalism.
      • Demonstrate professional demeanor in behavior; appearance; and oral, written, and electronic communication
      • Use technology ethically and appropriately to facilitate practice outcomes
      • Use supervision and consultation to guide professional judgment and behavior
    • Engage Diversity and Difference in Practice
      • Apply and communicate understanding of the importance of diversity and difference in shaping life experiences in practice at the micro, mezzo and macro level
      • Present themselves as learners and engage client systems as experts of their own experiences
      • Apply self-awareness and self-regulation to manage the influence of personal biases and values in working with diverse clients and constituencies
    • Advance Human Rights and Social, Economic and Environmental Justice
      • Apply understanding of social and economic, and environmental justice to advocate for human rights at the individual and systems levels
      • Engage in practices that advance social, economic and environmental justice
    • Engage in Practice-Informed Research and Research-Informed Practice
      • Use practice experiences to inform scientific inquiry and research
      • Apply critical thinking to engage in analysis of quantitative and qualitative research methods and research findings
      • Use and translate research evidence to inform and improve practice, policy and service delivery
    •  Engage in Policy Practice
      • Identify social policy at the local, state, and federal level that impacts well-being, service delivery, and access to social services
      • Assess how social welfare and economic policies impact the delivery of and access to social services
      • Apply critical thinking to analyze, formulate, and advocate for policies that advance human rights and social, economic, and environmental justice
    • Engage with Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities
      • Apply knowledge of human behavior and the social environment, person-in-environment and other multidisciplinary theoretical frameworks to engage with clients and constituencies
      • Use empathy, reflection, and interpersonal skills to effectively engage diverse clients and constituencies
    • Assess Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities
      • Collect and organize data, and apply critical thinking to interpret information from clients and constituencies
      • Apply knowledge of human behavior and the social environment, person-in- environment, and other multidisciplinary theoretical frameworks in the analysis of assessment data from clients and constituencies
      • Develop mutually agreed-on intervention goals and objectives based on the critical assessment of strengths, needs and challenges within clients and constituencies
      • Select appropriate intervention strategies based on the assessment, research knowledge, and values and preferences of clients and constituencies
    • Intervene with Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations and Communities
      • Critically choose and implement interventions to achieve practice goals and enhance capacities of clients and constituencies
      • Apply knowledge of human behavior and the social environment, person-in- environment, and other multidisciplinary theoretical frameworks in interventions with clients and constituencies
      • Use inter-professional collaboration as appropriate to achieve beneficial practice outcomes
      • Negotiate, mediate, and advocate with and on behalf of clients and constituencies
      • Facilitate effective transitions and endings that advance mutually agreed-on goals
    • Evaluate practice with Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities
      • Select and use appropriate methods for evaluations of outcomes
      • Apply knowledge of human behavior and the social environment, person-in-environment, and other multidisciplinary theoretical frameworks in the evaluation of outcomes
      • Critically analyze, monitor, and evaluate intervention process and outcomes
      • Apply evaluation findings to improve practice effectiveness at the micro, mezzo and macro levels

Admission Requirements

• Admission to the TSU-MSW Program Foundation Level requires:
  • A completed and verified MSW application in SocialWorkCAS
  • An essay
  • Transcripts from all institutions attended as part of the undergraduate degree
  • (3) professional recommendations, including letters of reference
  • A minimum cumulative undergraduate GPA of 2.65
• Applicants interested in obtaining Advanced Standing must complete the above AND have:
  • Completed a Bachelor of Social Work degree from a CSWE-accredited program
  • Attained a minimum cumulative undergraduate GPA of 2.75

Important Dates

• The application for the TSU-MSW Program will open on October 1 for the following Fall.
• Applications must be completed by July 31.

Course Scheduling

• Courses which are synchronous are scheduled for Tuesday and Thursday evenings to allow for students who have employment and/or internship placements during the 9-5 workday to participate in classes. Other courses are asynchronous, and therefore able to be attended to in the best time for the student.

Program Duration

• The TSU-MSW Program can be completed on a full-time or a part-time basis, with options for a 1, 2, 3, or 4 year program of study.

• Students who have Bachelor of Social Work degrees from accredited undergraduate social work programs and meet additional requirements are eligible for advanced standing, which can be completed in 1 year (full time) or 2 years (part time).
• Students with Bachelor’s degrees in other disciplines/areas and meet additional requirements are eligible for the foundation program, which can be completed in 2 years (full time), 3 years (full time and part time), or 4 years (part time)
• Planning your course of study is facilitated by an assigned faculty advisor, who is there to assist you with meeting the program requirements and is directed by your career interests and life responsibilities.

Transfer of Credits

• Applicants who have successfully completed graduate coursework at an accredited college or university in social work may be able to transfer up to twelve (12) credits of coursework. Applicants who have successfully completed graduate coursework at an accredited college or university in a discipline other than social work may be able to transfer up to nine (9) credits of elective coursework. Once accepted, students should discuss transfer credit opportunities with their advisor and/or the MSW Coordinator.

Degree Requirements

• To earn a degree of Master of Social Work at TSU, students must:
  • Complete 30 credit hours if in the Advanced Standing Program OR 60 credit hours if in the Foundation Program
  • Complete all coursework with at least a 3.0 Grade Point Average, with no more than one (1) C grade in the MSW Program

Accreditation Information

• The MSW is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) 

Career Opportunities

• Career opportunities include employment at the professional advanced level in social work positions in public and private agencies in the following areas: human services, public health, mental health, corrections, social services in hospitals and nursing homes, senior citizen centers, state and county social services agencies, public housing, adult protective services, child protective services, school social work, planned parenthood centers, as resident managers and probation and parole officers, and as grant proposal writing professionals.
• In addition, MSW graduates who pass the Licensed Master Social Worker Exam may earn such licensure and may have access to career opportunities requiring licensing.
• Those who wish to serve as Licensed Clinical Social Workers would complete post-graduate hours in a clinical setting and pass the Clinical Social Work Licensing Exam.

Faculty Credentials

•  Our faculty with contact information and links to CVs are listed at

https://www.tnstate.edu/cpsua/people/index.aspx

Program Website

• The MSW program website may be found at https://www.tnstate.edu/socialwork/msw/index.aspx

Program Coordinator/Contact Information

Gary Jones Jr., Ph.D., MSW Program
Coordinator; gjonesjr@tnstate.edu; 615-963-7665 

Program of Study and Credit Hours Required

• There are two program options and relevant credit hours:
  • 60-Credit Hybrid Program
  • 30-Credit Hybrid Program (Advance Standing Program)