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Masters of Social Work

The Master of Social Work (MSW) degree at Kennesaw State University in Georgia provides the skills and knowledge needed to become an innovative social worker who facilitates and enhances the well-being of individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities.


You will learn to make informed, evidence-based decisions regarding best practices in responding compassionately and ethically to diverse human needs through psychotherapy, family counseling, and case management.

Accreditation and Licensing

CSWE logo
KSU’s Master of Social Work (MSW) degree will prepare you for entry-level professional practice in social work. Because KSU’s MSW is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE), you will be eligible to take the Licensed Master of Social Work (LMSW) exam after graduation.  You may also pursue further clinical supervision requirements to become a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW).  Only alumni of accredited social work graduate programs are eligible to pursue this licensing or to be called a social worker. For 2022, KSU’s MSW class had the highest LMSW and LCSW license exams pass rate in Georgia.

Two Program Tracks Available

  • The program consists of four academic semesters (two years) of 60 credit hours, with 48 of these credit hours spent in the classroom and 12 in supervised field practicum sites located throughout the Atlanta area.

  • This option is available to applicants who have earned their BS degree in social work from a Council on Social Work Education (CSWE)-accredited program within the last six years and hold a minimum 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale over the last 60 hours of their undergraduate coursework. 

    Advanced Standing MSW
    Format: Face-to-Face
    Number of Credit Hours: 36 Total Hours
    Entry Terms: Summer
    Time to Complete: 3 semesters (Summer-Fall-Spring)
    Application Deadlines: February 15th

Upgrade Your MSW Experience

Learn more about these specialized program options that can help you get the most out of your Social Work education to help you reach your specific career goals.

  • This dual degree program creates future leaders and change agents who create “social value” by focusing on the triple-bottom line (preserve the well-being of people and planet, while making a profit) and initiate purposeful “social change.” Learn how to earn your MSW/MBA Dual Degree.
  • Gain skills in social entrepreneurship, intrapreneurship, and innovation to address complex societal, health, or environmental issues. This interdisciplinary graduate certificate teaches the basic principles, skills, and theories of social entrepreneurship, along with strategies for designing and launching new ventures. Find out how you can earn a Social Entrepreneurship Certificate.

Double Owl Pathways

Current KSU undergraduate students have an opportunity to earn their undergraduate and graduate degrees faster and at a lower cost than if they pursued each degree independently. Available MSW pathways include:

  • Gain the knowledge and skills to have an impactful and rewarding career in the criminal justice system, including in the areas of correctional counseling, offender supervision and support services, victim advocacy, and crisis support. Learn more about the BSCJ / MSW Pathway.
  • This pathway is ideal for students who want a profession that “enhances human well-being" and meets the basic and complex needs of people with a focus on those who are vulnerable, oppressed, and living in poverty. Get more information about the Human Services BS/ MSW Pathway.
  • Develop strong communication, critical thinking, and interprofessional collaboration skills needed to work in varied health care careers, including patient care advocate, medical social worker, patient navigator, health counselor, behavioral analyst, or a healthcare coordinator. Get more details about the BS IHS / MSW Pathway.
  • This pathway prepares you to pursue advanced licensure and clinical practice, and/or for doctoral studies. Career options include, but are not limited to, behavioral analysis, medical social work, and executive leadership in nonprofit organizations and public agencies. Find out if the Psychology BS / MSW Pathway is right for you.

Admissions Requirements

  • The following are requirements beyond the Graduate Admissions requirements.

    • A GPA of 3.0 or better on a 4.0 scale over the last 60 hours of undergraduate study, as indicated on the official college or university transcript received directly from the degree-granting institution. Course work from all two- and four-year institutions should be submitted directly by the institutions.
    • Hold a baccalaureate degree that reflects a broad liberal arts base in the social, behavioral, psychological sciences, human biology, the humanities, or statistics. The baccalaureate degree should be from an institution accredited in a manner accepted by Kennesaw State University.
    • Two letters of recommendation
      • At least one from a faculty member familiar with the applicant’s academic work (Note: if you are unable to locate an academic reference, you may add a professional supervisor-related reference from a current or former employer or field supervisor).
      • A professional reference from a current or former employer or field supervisor.
    • A writing sample, maximum 6 pages, double-spaced, that addresses the following 5 dimensions explicitly. You can use subheading for each dimension. Identify a current social issue that has caught your attention.
      1. Briefly describe the history of the current social issue citing relevant sources (research, news media etc.).
      2. Specifically discuss some key elements of the issue that got your attention (e.g., the number of people impacted; the impact of the issue on specific populations) and why?
      3. Describe how does the current issue or specific elements mentioned above align with your personal values?
      4. Discuss how the social issue is perceived from multiple perspectives (e.g.,: as described in the media, on social media, and in a research article).
      5. Explain how social work as a profession, and you as a future social worker, would approach resolving the issue.

    International Applicants: Refer to KSU policies for additional application requirements.

  • The following are requirements beyond the Graduate Admissions requirements.

    Requirements:

    • Bachelor’s degree in social work (BSW) from a Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) accredited program within the last six years.
    • Maintained a minimum 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale over the last 60 hours of undergraduate coursework.
    • Completed the BSW degree within the last six years.

    International Applicants: Refer to KSU policies for additional application requirements.

  • Students classified as non-degree students are not permitted to enroll in the Master of Social Work program. They may, however, register for individual courses with approved overrides.
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Social Work Degree Benefits at Kennesaw State

Top in Georgia

In 2022, KSU MSW graduates had the highest pass rate for both the Licensed Master of Social Work (LMSW) exam and the Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) exam in Georgia. Their rates were also substantially higher than the national pass rates of 72.1 and 74.4, respectively. 

7,100+

Companies recruited students and alumni from KSU in 2020

  • Accredited – KSU’s MSW degree is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE). This accreditation allows KSU MSW graduates to take the exams required to be licensed social workers to practice in the U.S. and its territories.
  • Hands-On Clinical Field Practicum – All MSW students complete a clinical field practicum at an agency site approved by the Department. First year and second year students in the full-time program spend two full days in a field practicum setting.
  • Scholarship Assistance Available – The MSW program has scholarship funding supported by a Department of Education 5-year grant for those planning to specialize in school social work. If you are interested in working in schools addressing behavioral health of school-aged students in rural and underserved counties in Georgia, please ask about this program.

What can you do with a Social Work degree?

The social work degree will prepare you for a wide array of career paths to choose from, including clinical and nonclinical, such as:

  • Human Services Case Manager
  • Child Welfare Case Manager
  • Human Services Administrator
  • Adoption Placement Specialist
  • Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Worker
  • Geriatric Social Worker
  • School Social Worker
  • Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW)
  • Social Work Professor
  • Healthcare Social Worker

Department of Social Work and Human Services

Master of Social Work - MSW
Kennesaw State University
520 Parliament Garden Way NW
Prillaman Health Sciences, Suite 3200 
Mail Drop #4103
Kennesaw, GA 30144-5591

For Enrollment Questions:

Graduate College Office of Admissions 
Kennesaw State University 
Email: ksugrad@kennesaw.edu
Phone: (470) 578-4377

Program Snapshot

  • Format: Face-to-face
  • Number of Credit Hours: 60
  • Cost: Tuition/Fees (Approximate) 
  • Entry Terms: Fall, Summer
  • Time to Complete: Two-year Program
  • Application Deadlines: 
    • Fall, Mar 15
    • Summer, Apr 15

 

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