The MSW Program offers an advanced concentration in empowerment practice across systems (individuals and families, small groups, and communities and organizations). Empowerment practice utilizes advanced critical thinking skills to assess the influence of multiple and interlocking personal, structural, and societal systems of power on vulnerable and oppressed populations. It incorporates the use of advanced social work theories and methodologies for culturally relevant assessment, intervention, and evaluation at multiple levels of complexity and across systems in order to promote human and social well-being.
Yes! Winthrop University has been authorized by state law to offer graduate in-state tuition to residents of the member counties of the Charlotte Regional Partnership, up to existing academic capacity for campus-based degree options. The South Carolina counties of York, Chester, and Lancaster Counties have been joined in this partnership by the North Carolina counties of Mecklenburg, Gaston, Alexander, Anson, Cabarrus, Catawba, Cleveland, Iredell, Lincoln, Rowan, Stanley and Union. Potential enrollees who are residents of any of these counties should request further details about this policy from Winthrop University Graduate Studies, 800/411-7041 or 803/323-2204.
Yes! Students admitted to any of the four campus-based MSW Program options are eligible to apply for Social Work Department Graduate Associateships. For more information about these positions click here. Admitted students may also apply for graduate assistanships in other departments across campus.
Yes! Using the same curriculum as our on-campus programs, we now offer a fully Online M.S.W. in both the 39- and 60-credit program options. The program offers a 60-credit hour Traditional program for those without an undergraduate social work degree and a 39-credit hour Advanced Standing program available for those who have earned an undergraduate degree in social work from a CSWE-accredited program.
Applicants are not required to have human service related work experience. In the review of an application work experience in a human service field is considered a strength.
Absolutely! People pursuing the MSW degree come from many different undergraduate programs. Individuals with any undergraduate degree based in the liberal arts tradition are eligible to apply for either the Two-Year Full-Time Program. Applicants to the One-Year Advanced Standing Program must have earned a BSW degree from a CSWE accredited institution. There are no time limits as to when the BSW degree was completed.
We seek applicants who have an undergraduate GPA of 3.0 during their final 60 credits of study (3.0 overall GPA for the Advanced Standing Program). While the GPA is highly valued by the Admissions Committee, you can be assured that all components of your application will be fully reviewed by the Committee in determining a final admission decision. Applicants with a GPA under 2.8 in their last 60 credit hours have the option to take the GRE or MAT to strengthen their application.
Full-Time and Full-Time Advanced Standing classes meet in the afternoons and early evening.
No. The MSW Program has a Practicum and Continuing Education Office that assists students with obtaining a practicum placement site. We have over 300 approved practicum internship sites and will work with you to establish internships that are a good match for your interests and learning needs.
Students in the MSW Program complete practicum internships at area community agencies under the supervision of an MSW credentialed professional. First year Full-Time students complete a practicum internship of 16 hours per week during their second semester in the Program. Second year Full-Time students and Advanced Standing students complete a practicum internship of 24 hours per week.
The online practicum experience is slightly different from the on-campus one. First-year Online Traditional students complete a practicum internship of 15 hours per week (210 hours over 15 weeks). Second-year Online Traditional and first-year Online Advanced Standing both complete a practicum internship of 17 hours per week (240 hours over 15 weeks). Third-year Online Traditional and second-year Online Advanced Standing students both complete a practicum internship of 17 hours per week (480 hours over 30 weeks).
Applicants who wish to continue full-time employment are encouraged to apply to the Online Program, as they are specifically designed for working students. We strongly discourage full-time employment for students enrolled in the Full-Time and Advanced Standing Programs.
Applicants are required to declare the Program option in which they wish to enroll at the time of their application and all applicants are admitted for a specific Program (online or campus-based). Because of the sequenced nature of courses, it is difficult to change Programs once you are already enrolled. Requests to change Programs must be submitted to, and are evaluated by, the Graduate Program Director. Because of course sequencing, changing from one Program to another often results in an extension in the overall time of enrollment.
Information Session dates and times are posted on the Department and the Graduate Studies website. You may click here to go to the PDF file with dates. You may contact our office at 803/323-3396 to register to attend a session.
1. Attend any one of our Information Sessions
2. Contact the MSW Admissions office with any question or concern you may have about the MSW program at mswadminissions@winthrop.edu or 803/323-3396.
