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  • McQueary College of Health and Human Services

Missouri State boosts access to social work program

November 29, 2021 by Jonah Rosen

Student using Meyer Library

Social workers are everywhere – working with individuals, families or communities in hospitals, clinics, schools and many organizations. They’re helpers who provide resources and so much more.  

To better meet the needs of these future professionals, Missouri State University now offers the first fully accredited, fully online Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) in the state of Missouri.  

“This decision predates the pandemic and really spurred from discussions with students who were considering transferring from community colleges,” said Natalie Curry, clinical assistant professor of social work and BSW coordinator.  

These students were often working full-time or had other obligations, she said.  

“We would hear some of those students say, ‘If you tell me that the only way I can be a social worker is to do daytime classes on the Springfield campus, I’m not going to be able to do that.’ 

“For us, that really was an access issue. We want to open the door to social work for more students. That’s a no brainer for us.” 

Explore the social work program

At this time, the online option is open to students who reside in Missouri, Arkansas, Kansas and Oklahoma. 

First online cohort enrolled fall 2021 

In fall 2021, the first online cohort began. They enrolled 30 online students and approximately 40 seated. On average, the seated cohort usually enrolls about 50. 

“We’ve had really great feedback from the students who started the program this fall,” Curry said. “They are really enjoying the online experience.” 

Curry said the social work faculty took great care to make sure the online program was dynamic. The courses have been developed to encourage interaction and relationship building.  

That will be key to success in the social work career, too, noted Curry. 

What’s it like? 

When researching other online programs, Curry found they vary widely.  

The team considered the best options and modeled each of the online courses similarly. 

“They’re high-quality designed classes,” she said. “The classes have a similar design and format, so once the students familiarize themselves with the expectations in one, they’re going to be comfortable.” 

MSU’s online BSW program:   

  • Is asynchronous, so it’s flexible.   
  • Includes a high degree of interaction with students in the cohorts and with the faculty. 
  • Is taught by a mix of experienced, full-time faculty and some per-course instructors. 

“You are still going to get with your faculty and your peers, while still maintaining the asynchronous format to have the most flexibility possible,” Curry said. 

Apply now

What accreditation means to me 

Curry stressed the significance of the accreditation.  

“Accreditation from the Council on Social Work Education ensures that both our seated and online program options adequately prepare graduates for social work practice,” Curry said.  

“Most social work positions and graduate schools require a degree from an accredited program, and many states have a similar requirement for licensure.”  

Now more than ever before, this stands out to incoming students, noted Curry. 

“We want students to know: You are being prepared for the workforce or graduate school,” she said.  

Preparing for graduate school 

For a student that intends to move into clinical social work practice, they will need to receive a Master of Social Work, noted Curry.  

Those who already have a BSW from an accredited program will save time and money getting an MSW.  

That’s because the accredited BSW provides advanced standing status into the MSW program for eligible applicants.  

Advanced standing students are able to complete the MSW program in one year full-time or two years part-time, which is half the time it takes for students without a BSW. 

Explore the School of Social Work

Filed Under: Social Work Tagged With: MCHHS Spotlights, McQueary College of Health and Human Services, School of Social Work

New social work scholarship gives support to students working with specialized groups

December 2, 2020 by Strategic Communication

Pummill Hall

Anita Bridges Cruzan had a career worth celebrating.

Cruzan graduated from Missouri State with a bachelor’s in social work in 1978. She dedicated her life to social work among the elderly, HIV/AIDS patients and children with disabilities or special needs.

Now that she’s in retirement, Cruzan’s brother, Paul Bridges Jr., wanted to honor the compassion she showed during her career. So, he established the Anita Bridges Cruzan social work scholarship at MSU.

Helping a student with the same goals

The first recipient of the Anita Bridges Cruzan social work scholarship is Savannah Gray. Gray is a social work major graduating in spring 2021.

“The extra funding has been such a help to me, especially during COVID-19,” Gray said. “It’s a stress reliever to not have to worry about how I’m going to pay for school while I’m taking classes during this strange year. I’m honored to be the first recipient.”

MSU Annual Scholarship Application

When Bridges decided on criteria for the scholarship, she wanted the money to help a student who plans to serve the same communities she has.

“I was a State social worker for 33 years, and it’s important to me that people keep pursuing the kind of work I was doing,” she said. “It’s not easy, but it’s necessary, and it helps you put what’s important in perspective.”

Gray wants to work as a social worker in a children’s hospital, specifically with adolescents struggling with mental illness. Before she gets there, she plans to attend graduate school.

“I think Anita’s career is inspiring,” Gray said. “And knowing I have a scholarship in her name makes me proud and want to work harder as I pursue my career.”

About the scholarship

To be eligible for the scholarship, the recipient must be an undergraduate student majoring in social work, be a graduating senior and must have maintained a 3.0 minimum GPA.

Additionally, priority will be placed on applicants who have a minimum of 40 volunteer hours in the last 12 months with the elderly, HIV/AIDS patients or children with special health care needs.

If students are accepted into the Master of Social Work program, the scholarship can be renewed. Students must reapply.

Filed Under: MCHHS News, Social Work Tagged With: Financial Aid, Master of Social Work, School of Social Work

Burrell Behavioral Health, School of Social Work partner on tuition assistance program for Burrell employees

July 30, 2020 by Strategic Communication

Student using laptop

Under a new agreement between Missouri’s second-largest community mental health center and the state’s second-largest university, Burrell Behavioral Health and Missouri State University will partner to provide educational opportunities for Burrell employees seeking an online Master of Social Work degree from Missouri State’s School of Social Work.

“This agreement reinforces Burrell’s commitment to its employees, and to training and retaining the best and brightest social workers. They are the backbone of our workforce and are vital to the whole-person health of our communities,” said Burrell president and CEO Dr. C.J. Davis. “We could not be more excited to help our employees access a respected institution like Missouri State University, which lives and breathes its public affairs mission throughout Missouri and beyond.”

About the program

Under Burrell’s tuition assistance program, four employees applied and qualified to receive Burrell assistance. They were accepted to Missouri State by meeting school of social work admission criteria. These four individuals, currently working as Community Support Specialists for Burrell in southwest or central Missouri or northwest Arkansas, will receive $10,000 from Burrell toward their advanced degree. This covers roughly half of the typical cost of tuition, fees and expenses for the Master of Social Work program.

Employees were admitted to one of two Master of Social Work tracks, advanced or regular. Advanced for students who already hold a bachelor’s degree in social work, and regular for students with relevant degrees who need additional coursework to complete the master’s program.

In exchange for the financial assistance, the employees agree to continue working for Burrell for at least three years following the completion of the program. Burrell social workers who graduate from the Missouri State School of Social Work with their master’s in social work will have increased opportunities for advancement and leadership positions within Burrell.

“We get to be part of the solution.”

For Missouri State, benefits include additional qualified students who will continue to work in regions mutually served by Burrell and MSU following their graduation.

“It is our responsibility as a university to support the community and the needs of said community,” said Dr. Mark Smith, dean of  McQueary College of Health and Human Services. “Forming a partnership with Burrell affords both organizations the opportunity to do just that as we both strive to educate and place mental health professionals where they are needed the most: Supporting the mental needs of us all.”

“The benefit to Missouri State is that we get to be part of a solution,” Smith also said. “We get to be a community partner that together can place highly qualified social workers into the community so they make a difference.”

Filed Under: MCHHS News, Social Work Tagged With: Burrell Behavioral Health, Master of Social Work, School of Social Work

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