Social Work

Since opening its doors in 1969, Marywood's School of Social Work has educated more than 4,000 social workers, making it the leading provider of social work education in Northeast Pennsylvania. Our Master of Social Work (MSW) program is perfect for both those entering the social work field and current practitioners looking for advanced education.

Convenient Full and Part-time Programs

Our MSW program is convenient and flexible. Full-time, part-time, and weekend programs are available at four locations in Pennsylvania:

• Scranton (Marywood University)
• Poconos (East Stroudsburg University)
• Lehigh Valley (DeSales University)
• Central Pennsylvania (Bloomsburg University)

Field Placements

Our MSW program pairs traditional classroom courses with hands-on field placements to provide you with the knowledge and skills necessary to assist diverse populations of people. Students are placed in a variety of social service agencies throughout Pennsylvania, New York, and New Jersey.

We will assist you in selecting an appropriate and convenient field placement. If you work at a social service agency, you may be able to complete your field work there.

Dual Degree Programs

We also offer dual degree programs for those interested in both advanced social work training and expertise in administration and management. You can earn two master's degrees in less time than it would take to complete them separately, by pairing the MSW with one of the follow related degrees:

• Master of Public Administration (MPA)
• Master of Health Services Administration (MHSA)
• Master of Science (MS) in Gerontology
• Master of Art (MA) in Pastoral Counseling
• Master of Divinity

More About This Degree

• Learn more about this program or visit the School of Social Work website.
• College: College of Health and Human Services
• Courses: Available courses in this department
• 60 Credit Hours Required
• This program is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education
  

  The Masters and Baccalaureate of Social Work degree programs in the School of Social Work are accredited by the Council on Social Work Education.

Our MSW program is designed for those just entering the social work field and current practitioners alike. If you're new to the field of social work, an MSW degree will prepare you for advanced social work practice in a variety of settings:

• Social service agencies
• Hospitals and treatment centers
• Nursing homes
• Local, state, and federal government
• Prisons and correctional facilities
• Elementary and secondary schools
• Nonprofit organizations

If you are a practicing social worker, an MSW degree will make you more qualified for supervisory and administrative positions.

Specific Program Requirements

Before registering for field work, students must obtain a criminal background check, FBI clearance, and child abuse clearance. In addition, agencies may require a medical exam, drug test, or immunizations.

Graduate Admissions Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university
• “B” average during undergraduate study or demonstrated potential for graduate work
• Completed application
• Essay
• Official, sealed transcripts
• Two or three letters of recommendation

Find Your Counselor

Jason Thiel

Graduate Admissions Counselor
jmthiel@marywood.edu
Phone: 570-348-6211 ext 2591

About me: I joined the Marywood Admissions team in the summer of 2013.  I was born and raised in Scranton, PA and earned my BA in Business Administration with a concentration in Business Management from Marywood University.  I have over 8 years of admissions experience and love helping students and families find the right educational fit.

My interests:  I enjoy spending time with my family, whether it's movie night with my wife, dance recitals for my daughter, or baseball with my son.  I also enjoy, coaching youth sports, traveling, Phillies baseball, Syracuse basketball, and Dolphins football.  You may also find me watching reruns of Animal Planets TV show, Finding Bigfoot!

My favorite thing about Marywood: The feel!!  I love walking around campus and talking to students and meeting with staff & faculty.  It’s a beautiful campus spread out over 115 acres but still has that small hometown feel to it. 

My favorite place at Marywood: There isn’t a place I don’t like.  If I had to pick it would have to be the Rotunda.  It is beautiful and I went from studying in it as a student to now walking through it on my way to my office in the admissions department.

You’d never guess: I have trained for and completed 5 Marine Corp Marathons and my goal is 20.  Why I torture myself I do not know.

Best advice: Do your homework.  Find a school you love and a major that you are excited about.  Do truly what you love because you will work for 40-50 years of your life and LIVE YOUR PASSION.

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Select a Department/Area Architecture Art Biotechnology Business and Managerial Science Communication Arts Counseling Criminal Justice Early Childhood Intervention Education Certifications Elementary and Secondary Education Health Services Administration Higher Education Administration Instructional Leadership Music Nutrition & Dietetics Physician Assistant Studies Psychology Public Administration Reading Education School Leadership School Psychology Social Work Speech Language Pathology Special Education

Course of Instruction

The courses of the M.S.W. degree curriculum may be classified generally into two categories: those in the foundation curriculum and those that provide opportunity for advanced study. Listed below are the course descriptions for the foundation curriculum and information about elective courses. The School of Social Work reserves the right to modify or change the courses of instruction.

500 number courses are in Social Work Practice and include field education.
600 number courses are in the area of Human Behavior and the Social Environment.
700 number courses are in the Social Work Research curriculum area.
800 number courses are in Social Welfare Policy and Services.
900 number courses are in areas of practice or fields of practice or indicate courses that are interdisciplinary.

Foundation Curriculum

Advanced Curriculum

As students move to more advanced levels of their studies, more specialized courses are offered to assist in the acquisition of knowledge and skills in greater depth.

In addition, students may elect a specialization in Behavioral Health, Child and Family Studies, or Administration by choosing specific electives and completing a field placement offering experience in that practice area.

Electives

Electives allow study of a particular intervention methodology or area of significance for social work and usually follow completion of foundation coursework. The M.S.W. Program offers a range of elective choices to respond flexibly to priority concerns and emerging issues in social welfare, in accord with faculty resources and student interests.