Please Note:
Park University is no longer accepting new students into the MSW program.

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Social Work, M.S.W.

Help those in need through advanced social work practice, serving individuals, families, groups, organizations and communities.

Park University is no longer accepting new students into the MSW program.

Designed for advanced social work practice, created by experienced clinicians, fully accredited

  • Park University’s Master of Social Work (MSW) program is designed to prepare graduates with the knowledge, values and skills needed to deliver effective and efficient advanced, generalist social work practice with individuals, families, groups, organizations and communities.
  • This rigorous program is one of the nation’s few accredited programs with an advanced concentration in behavioral health. Fully accredited by the Council on Social Work Education, we offer both online and on-campus MSW degrees.
  • Created by PhDs and experienced clinicians also working in the public and private sector, course content focuses on areas needed by new social workers to keep up in an ever-changing practice environment.

Park University is known for small class sizes, accessible full-time instructors, license preparation/support, and flexible coursework to aid adult learners in career development. This applies to both online and face-to-face curriculum and experiences.

MSW Emphasis Areas

Within the behavioral health concentration, students are given the opportunity to expand their knowledge and skills in one of three areas of emphasis:

  • Gerontological social work
  • Military social work
  • Social work with children and families

We do not offer administrative or clinical tracks, all MSW students take required curriculum focusing on clinical practice, assessment and diagnosis, leadership, supervision, program evaluation, business techniques, grant development, and more.

The MSW Program requires a capstone project during the last semester prior to graduation. This project integrates all social work competencies (per CSWE Educational Policy and Accreditation Standards) through a research project where students must demonstrate planning, development, implementation, evaluation and dissemination of their findings. This project relates directly to the field practicum experience.

The mission of the MSW program at Park University is to prepare graduates for effective and efficient advanced social work practice in behavioral health. Guided by the purpose of the profession, the program promotes social and economic justice, equal access to community resources, equal opportunity, and the attainment of individual and community well-being.

The MSW program will be committed to enhancing the physical, social, psychological, and spiritual well-being of all people, particularly those who have experienced oppression, exclusion and discrimination, and who have experienced the impact of poverty upon their health, well-being and sense of fulfillment.

Locations & Learning Options

We offer an in-person MSW program at the Park University campus in Parkville, MO (Greater Kansas City Area). At present, we offer classes every day of the week including weekdays, evenings, and some Saturdays. Generalist, 500-level courses are offered in the evenings to offer accessibility to adult learners who are also employed.

Starting Summer/Fall 2023, Park University will offer a fully-online MSW degree to Kansas, Missouri, and Texas residents. Students will use Canvas, our Learning Management System, to participate in discussions, complete assignments and readings, and engage with instructors and peers.

Park offers two different tracks for an MSW degree:

  1. For students with a BSW from a CSWE-accredited program, we offer an Advanced Standing track where students can earn an MSW by taking 33 graduate credit hours. The advanced standing program is offered full-time across 13 months (June-May) or part-time over a 2-year period. Advanced standing students complete 720 hours of internship across two semesters. Please note: the Advanced Standing MSW Program also requires a 3-credit hour bridging course that is held during the month of June prior to beginning the program in August. Students may not start internships or any other coursework until this bridging course is complete.
  2. For students with a traditional bachelor’s degree (not BSW), we offer a traditional, generalist track where students can earn an MSW by taking 60 credit hours. The generalist program is offered full-time over a 2-year period, part-time over a 4-year period, or combinations in between. Generalist students are required to complete 4 semesters of internship. Please see Curriculum for additional coursework information.

Contact

For more information about the MSW program, curriculum, schedules, and admissions, please contact socialwork@park.edu or 816-584-6518.

We would love to give you a personalized tour of campus or meet with you via zoom, phone, or in person to share what we do!

Park University is no longer accepting new students into the MSW program. The following programs are effective for the 2023-24 academic year, refer to the 2023-2024 Academic Catalog for more information.


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Q:        Why should I pursue a Master of Social Work degree?

A:         Social work is an amazing profession! Numerous career opportunities make the social work degree, particularly the MSW, highly rewarding. MSWs practice in a wide variety of public and private settings, including but not limited to:

  • Human and social service agencies
  • Children and youth services
  • Hospitals, rehabilitation programs, and long-term care facilities
  • Child welfare and adoption services
  • Mental and behavioral health clinics
  • Schools, colleges, and universities
  • Veteran’s services
  • Programs that support older adults

Social workers interact with diverse client populations, engaging, assessing, and intervening with evidence-based tools and approaches to improve the quality of life of people, especially for those who live on the margins of society.

Social work career opportunities are abundant since the job market is expanding locally, nationally, and internationally.

The Master of Social Work degree opens pathways to upward career mobility within the profession. More and more often, employers require the MSW degree for supervisory, management, and leadership positions. The MSW degree often affords social workers with higher salaries and incredible opportunities for personal and professional growth.

Q:        How much does the MSW program cost?

A:        See Tuition and Fees > Graduate Certificate & Degree Programs.

Q:        How many credits do I need to take to earn the MSW?

A:         Sixty (60) credit hours are required for the regular standing program; that is two (2) years full-time or three to four (3-4) years part-time. Thirty-three (33) credits are required for those granted advanced standing; namely, three (3) semesters or one (1) year—summer, fall, and spring for full-time or two to four (2-4) years part-time. Most advanced standing students complete the program in one to two (1-2) years.

Q:        I have a bachelor’s degree in social work. Do I qualify for advanced standing?

A:         To qualify for advanced standing you must meet the following qualifications:

  • Hold a baccalaureate degree in social work from a Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) accredited program.
  • Demonstrate consistent adherence to professional social work values and ethics.
  • Attain an undergraduate cumulative grade point average (CGPA) of 3.0. We will accept applicants with lower CGPAs; however, they must start the program as a part-time graduate student and complete at least six (6) graduate credit hours; that is, the equivalent of two (2) three (3) credit hour classes in the MSW program with a “B” or better in each course before they can transition to full-time status.
  • Applicants who have completed graduate coursework should have achieved at least a 3.0 CGPA.

Q:        I have a master’s degree from a related field. Do I qualify for advanced standing?

A:         No. Advanced standing is only offered to those applicants who have graduated in good standing from a CSWE-accredited undergraduate social work program.

Q:        I hold a graduate degree in a related field. Can I receive any credit toward my MSW based on my previous coursework?

A:         Applicants may be able to transfer up to nine (9) hours of graduate credit from their former program to the MSW program at Park University. For more information, please contact the Director of the MSW Program.  Transfer credits are granted on case-by-case basis.

Q:        I have been attending an MSW program at another university but would like to transfer to the MSW program at Park University. What are the requirements?

A:         Anyone requesting a transfer to the Park University MSW program must follow the MSW Program Admission Requirements. One of the three required recommendation forms must be completed by the MSW program director, department chair, or social work school/college dean—whichever is applicable. If the student has completed a social work field practicum (i.e., internship), then they should obtain a second recommendation from the Director of the Field Education Program where they have been enrolled in graduate social work courses. Once the transfer has been approved by Park University, the student may be able to transfer up to but no more than 27 graduate credit hours.

Q:        Is there an online MSW program at Park?

A: Yes. Starting in Summer/Fall 2023, Park University will offer an online MSW degree to students located in Missouri, Kansas, and Texas. Once we have some experience doing this, we are hoping to open the online program to other applicants in other locations.

Q:        How is the program offered?

A:         MSW students may attend the program either part- or full-time.

For regular standing (i.e., “generalist”) students enrolled in the Parkville, MO in-person program, foundation year courses are offered in the evenings, Monday through Thursday from 5:30-8:30 pm CT.

Advanced standing students begin the Parkville, MO on-campus program by attending a mandatory “bridge” course two evenings a week during the summer term for the entire month of June. After that, advanced or “specialist” students have two options: 1) they may attend all classes on Mondays from 8:30 am to 7:15 pm CT.; 2) they may attend a combination of Monday, Tuesday and/or Saturday classes. If there aren’t enough students enrolled in the Saturday course to “make” or be offered, alternative online options may be available on a case-by-case basis.

Part-time advanced standing students in the Parkville, MO on-campus program also take the bridging course referenced above. Part-time students may also 1) attend classes on Mondays; or 2) they may attend a combination of Monday, Tuesday and/or Saturday classes.

Q:        Is the MSW program accredited?

A:         Yes. Both the BSW and MSW programs at Park University are fully accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE). This includes online degree programs and on-campus programs. All BSW and MSW programs are slated for reaffirmation in 2025.

Q:        Do I need to have a certain undergraduate major to be admitted to the program? Are there any prerequisites?

A:         No particular undergraduate major is required nor are there any special prerequisites. All applicants should have a strong background in the liberal arts. In addition, applicants who have completed course work in statistics, biology, human development, and the social sciences tend to do well in the MSW program.

Q:        Will I be able to complete my practicum (i.e., internship) at my place of employment?

A:         It may be possible for you to complete your practicum hours with your current employer. You would need to be assigned to a completely different program or service with a different supervisor. Many agencies are willing to work with students to help them meet these requirements. You are encouraged to explore this issue with the Director of the Field Education program (listed under the Faculty tab on this page). Once you have permission to proceed, you should then talk with your employer.

Q:        Do you require the GRE or other entrance exam?

A:         No.

Q:        I have been working in the field as a social worker for many years. Surely this should count for something.

A:         The short answer is “no.” The Council on Social Work Education (CSWE), which accredits our MSW program, expressly prohibits undergraduate and graduate social work programs from granting credit for life and/or employment experience.

Q:        What are the requirements for the MSW degree?

A:         Students are responsible for completing all requirements for the MSW degree:

  • Completing required and elective courses
  • Meeting all the standards for competency in coursework and in field
  • Maintaining good standing in the MSW program
  • Successfully completing all coursework and field placements
  • Achieving a 3.0 CGPA with no more than two “Cs” in graduate coursework.

Q:        What if I earn a C in a graduate course?

A:         You must maintain a 3.0 CGPA. You will be allowed to make only two “Cs” while in the MSW program. A third “C” will result in dismissal from the MSW program and the graduate school at Park University. If your CGPA falls below a 3.0 you will be placed on academic probation. Please see the Park University MSW Student Handbook and/or the current Park University Graduate Catalog regarding academic probation and grades that fall below the expected “B” level of performance.

CSWE Accreditation

Accredited by the CSWE Board of Accreditation logoThe Master of Social Work (MSW) program at Park University earned full re-affirmation of accreditation by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) Commission on Accreditation (COA) in Spring 2019.

The CSWE Board of Accreditation (CSWE-BOA), formerly CSWE Commission on Accreditation, is recognized by the Council on Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) to confer accreditation status to baccalaureate and master’s social work degree programs in the U.S.

All CSWE programs measure and report student learning outcomes. Students are assessed on their mastery of the competencies which comprise the accreditation standards of the CSWE.

These competencies are dimensions of social work practice which all social workers are expected to master during their professional training. A measurement benchmark is set by the social work programs for each competency. An assessment score at or above that benchmark is considered by the program to represent mastery of that particular competency.

The MSW program at Park University sets its benchmark at 80%, therefore, the data illustrates the percentage of students that met this benchmark.

Kari Lamer

Kari Lamer, MSW

Director of Field Education
Assistant Professor
klamer@park.edu

Dr. Andrea K. Kennedy

CINTER Director
Assistant Professor
akennedy@park.edu

Aisha Hall

Dr. Aisha Hall

MSW Program Director
Assistant Professor
aihall@park.edu

Jamie Pinney

Jamie Pinney

Assistant Director of Field Education
Assistant Professor, Education
jamie.pinney@park.edu

April Diaz

Dr. April Diaz


Assistant Professor, Social Work
april.diaz@park.edu

The core of Park University’s Master of Social Work (MSW) includes field education, as well as courses in grant writing, behavioral health, diagnostic trends and leadership. If you have a bachelor’s degree from a Council on Social Work Education-accredited program, you can apply for advanced standing in our program and earn your degree on an accelerated basis.

MSW Career opportunities

  • Licensed Clinical Social Worker
  • School Social Worker
  • Substance Abuse Counselor
  • Non-Profit or For-Profit Agency Supervisor, Manager or Director
  • Policy Advocate
  • Psychotherapist
student at laptop
student on tablet looking at park site

MSW Program Highlights

Accredited

Our Master of Social Work program earned full re-affirmation of accreditation by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) Commission on Accreditation (COA) in Spring 2019.


Class work, field work

Graduates who complete the social work master’s degree demonstrate the 9 Core Competencies of Advanced Social Work Practice set by the Council on Social Work Education. Mastery of these competencies is assessed through coursework as well as field education.


Capstone experience

As a capstone experience, you’ll plan, implement, evaluate and disseminate the results of an individualized Integrative Seminar Project (ISP), which you’ll develop in collaboration with faculty and community agency partners.

Related programs

Park University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.

Park University is a private, non-profit, institution of higher learning since 1875.