Social Work - Master's
Why Should I Earn an MSW Degree?
The MSW’s advanced curriculum and expanded field work (900 hours) facilitate rigorous, diverse, and experiential learning that leads to confidence and competence for professional practice.
The MSW provides employment opportunities in clinical settings, where practitioners must be Licensed Master Social Workers.
Full- and part-time programs are available, with an advanced standing option in both if students meet requirements and are accepted; advanced standing reduces program hours (60 to 34).
The Council on Social Work Education accredits our MSW program. Students seeking Advanced Standing must hold a BSW awarded in the past five years from a CSWE-accredited program.
Licensure requirements vary by state. In Mississippi, the Board of Examiners for Social Workers and Marriage & Family Therapists oversees regulation for social workers.
What Will I Learn?
Course topics include:
- Human rights and social justice
- Assessment and Intervention of individuals, families, and groups
- Social welfare policy
- Addictions
- Programs and community development
- Consultation and supervision
- Trauma
- Forensics
- Entrepreneurship
Full-time students finish in 5 semesters, or 3 if advanced standing; part-time students finish in 8 semesters, or 5 if advanced standing.
Students must designate if they are seeking full-time, part-time and/or advanced standing enrollment.
Admissions Requirements:
- Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university.
- Minimum 3.0 GPA on last 60 hours of courses.
- A Written personal statement.
- Three letters of recommendation from persons qualified to assess the applicant's readiness for graduate study.
- International applicants must submit official TOEFL or IELTS scores
Additional Requirements for Advanced Standing Admissions:
- Bachelor’s in social work from CSWE-accredited university within last five years.
- Minimum 3.0 GPA on last 60 hours of courses.
- Minimum 3.5 GPA in social work program; with no “C”s.
- Passing score on qualifying exam given by the Southern Miss School of Social Work.
- Accepted for advanced standing by the MSW admissions review committee.
Meeting the minimum qualifications does not guarantee admission to the advanced standing program.
Two supervised internships – more commonly referred to as field work – are required for all MSW students, who gain practical experience in a professional setting under the supervision of licensed social workers.
With 200+ agency partners, the School typically places students in Mississippi, but out-of-state and international placements are possible.
Students first complete a foundational internship, followed by an advanced internship.
- Full-time students: a 300-hour placement over one semester and a 600-hour placement over two semesters
- Part-time students: two 450-hour placements, each over two semesters
- Advanced Standing students: two 300-hour placements, each over two semesters
Our MSW students conduct research with faculty mentors, including conference presentations and co-authoring articles in peer-reviewed journals.
MSW students regularly present posters of research-based work at the annual conference for Mississippi social workers.
There are 13 Social Work-specific graduate scholarships that students may apply for. Each year, the School of Social Work honors new scholarship recipients.
Graduate assistantships are also available, providing limited financial support during the academic year to students in return for 20 hours of work per week.
Award decisions are made on the basis of financial need and the applicant’s ability to contribute to the School of Social Work.
Students will learn about human rights and social justice issues relating to migrants, refugees and asylees in Italy.
Italy is a priority destination for migrants, as Italy’s island of Lampedusa is one of the main ports for those trying to migrate to Europe. Migrants come from many places (West Africa, Afghanistan, Syria, and Ukraine to name a few) and flee for many reasons. The Mediterranean is one of the most dangerous routes that migrants can take, and many do not survive the trip.
Students stay in two cities (Perugia & Pettinengo) and have opportunities to meet migrants and hear their stories, as well as to learn from Italian humanitarian workers who help migrants to obtain legal services, housing, job training, advocacy, and other social services.
The program ends in Rome with a full day to explore.
Relational, Engaging Learning Environment
Our experienced, diverse faculty practice what they preach with a “relational” curriculum, creating a classroom experience that is a model for developing professional social workers.
Faculty and students work together closely in an inclusive, immersive, and personal setting. This approach mirrors real-world relational practice that engages clients and their support networks to identify and solve problems.
All faculty teach on both the Hattiesburg and Gulf Park campuses.
Professional Licensure Disclosure
The University of Southern Mississippi School of Social Work curriculum is designed to help prepare students to sit for the professional licensure exam for Mississippi. At this time, USM cannot determine if a particular program meets the licensing requirement for every state. Please contact the licensing board in the state you intend to pursue licensure for their requirements.
Click Here to access the Mississippi State Board of Examiners for Social Workers and Marriage & Family Therapist (MSBOE)
Availability
| Degree Plan | Availability |
|---|---|
| Social Work MSW | Gulf Park, Hattiesburg |
- Child Welfare Social Work
- Public Policy Social Work
- Mental Health Social Work
- Health/Medical Social Work
- School Social Work
- Substance Abuse Social Work
- Jane Parker, PhD, LCSW, MPH, ’79.
Director of Doctorate in Social Work Program & Clinical Associate Professor, Tulane University - Dawn Ellis-Murray, MSW, MPA, ’97.
Executive Director, National Association of Social Workers– Alabama Chapter
- Kathy Burk, MSW, CPM, ’93.
Director, Office of Community Health Services, Mississippi Department of Health - Janice Sandefur, ACSW, LCSW, ’88.
Executive Director, National Association of Social Workers – Mississippi Chapter
- Linda Southward, PhD, ’79.
Research Fellow & Research Professor, SSRC, Mississippi State University; Research Scientist, Mississippi Health Policy Research Center - Lynn Hagan, PhD, LCSW, ’96.
Clinical Social Worker, private practice