KNOXVILLE — Earning a master of science in social work (MSSW) is about to get easier at the University of Tennessee.
The College of Social Work is expanding its MSSW program, which already is offered at campuses in Knoxville, Nashville and Memphis.
Beginning this summer the College of Social Work will offer two distance-education programs for students pursuing an MSSW. Most of the classes will be taught online and administered through UT’s Department of Distance Education and Independent Study.
The classes are designed for students who live more than 25 miles from Knoxville, Nashville or Memphis or whose schedules do not allow for regular classes.
“Our goal is to make the MSSW program more accessible to students who live in the more rural areas of the state and who would not otherwise be able to receive their degree because of geographic barriers,” said Sherry Cummings, associate dean of the College of Social Work. “The new distance education program also will help those students who need a flexible schedule due to work or family demands.”
There are two distance education programs:
• Distance Education Extended Study Program – beginning August 2008. The DE Extended Study Program is a part-time program in which students take six credit hours per semester and complete the MSSW degree requirements (60 credit hours) in four years. DE Extended Study students begin coursework in the fall term of admission. Applications will be accepted from now until July.
• Distance Education Advanced Standing Program – beginning June 2008. The DE Advanced Standing program is a part-time program in which students take six credits hours per semester and complete the MSSW degree requirements (36 credit hours) in two years. Applicants to this program must have a BSW from a school of social work accredited by the Council on Social Work Education and a minimum cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.0 to be considered for the DE Advanced Standing Program. DE Advanced Standing students begin classes in the summer term of admission. Applications will be accepted from now until May.
The MSSW program of the UT College of Social Work is fully accredited by the Council on Social Work Education. While most classes are taught online, students should expect to attend a few sessions in person on Saturdays for some classes. Internships will be arranged at locations within a reasonable driving distance from the students’ homes.
Kate McClernon Chaffin, distance education coordinator, will give three presentations about the program for people who want to learn more about it:
• 4 p.m., Tuesday, Feb. 26, University of Tennessee, Chattanooga, Hunter Hall, Room 209;
• Noon, Thursday, Feb. 28, University of Tennessee, Martin, Boling University Center, Room 229; and
• 11 a.m., Thursday, March 13, Tennessee Tech University, Matthews-Daniel Hall, Room 204.
For more information about the programs, contact Chaffin at (615) 256-1885, ext. 141 or kmcclern@utk.edu.
For more information online, go to http://www.csw.utk.edu/students/mssw/distance_ed.html.
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Contact:
Elizabeth Davis, UT media relations, (865) 974-5179, elizabeth.davis@tennessee.edu