MSW Program Description
The goals of the MSW Program are primarily accomplished through
classroom and field instruction. The MSW curriculum has been designed to
provide one year of generalist foundation content and one year of advanced
generalist concentration content. Specific sequences in the MSW curriculum
include policy, research, practice, practicum, human behavior in the social
environment, and electives. Issues of diversity, promotion of social and
economic justice, and populations-at-risk are infused across the curriculum. To
this end, each course addresses special issues important to the social work
profession and particularly, issues important to social work in Alaska.
The curriculum has been developed to provide a systematic means
for providing intensive academic preparation for social work professionals.
Each course is designed to provide content in: a knowledge base (theories,
models, methods), a belief system (values, ethics), a
professional activity (skills, techniques), and a commitment to the mission of
our profession: appreciation of diversity; promotion of social and economic
justice; and advocating for populations-at-risk of oppression, discrimination,
and economic deprivation. In Alaska, this can entail working with numerous
groups, such as Native Alaskans and other people of color, rural residents,
children, the aged, mentally and physically disabled, and the poor.
Part-time Program
Students may be admitted on a part-time basis to either the full
MSW program or with advanced placement to the beginning of the Concentration
curriculum. Part-time and full-time students take the same courses. The only
distinction is the timing in the curriculum plan over the one, two or four
years (depending on program plan). There are no
separate or different course sections or course requirements for part-time
students. This provides equal quality of education for full and part-time
students.
It will take four years for a part-time student to complete both
the Foundation and the Concentration sequences, following a structured program
of studies which will require enrollment during summer, fall, and spring
semesters. Applicants interested in the part-time program should note that
initial course enrollment for part-time Foundation students begins late May, with
the summer semester immediately following admission. This makes it particularly
important that applicants for the part-time program apply early, to allow an
early admission decision and adequate time for academic advising.
During fall and spring semesters, students will be required to
attend classes which will fall on one day per week. A sample Program of Study
is included in this booklet, see page 14. The field education component of the
part-time program will occur during the second and fourth years of the
four-year part-time program and during the second year of the two-year advanced
placement program.
DISTANCE DELIVERED MSW PROGRAM
The distance delivered MSW program is an extension of the
face-to-face part-time MSW program offered at University of Alaska Anchorage.
Students admitted in the distance delivered MSW program are expected to meet
the same admission requirements and adhere to the same policies, rules and
regulations as students in the face-to-face MSW program.
Applications for the distance-delivered MSW program will be
accepted for the 2009 academic year. Interested applicants should contact
either Mary Parker or the MSW Program Coordinator as early as possible when
preparing the application packet.
In the Distance Delivered MSW program, students are admitted as
part of a cohort group and are expected to take classes in the order offered.
Distance delivered classes follow the part-time MSW Program sequence. They are
designed to be offered only once per cohort, thus if a student does not enroll
in a course (or fails a course) the course will likely not be offered in a
distance delivered format for another two to four years.
The distance delivered MSW program is open to all residents of the
State of Alaska, regardless of geographical location. Students from the
Anchorage bowl and the Matanuska-Susitna valley will be admitted to the
distance delivered MSW program on a space available basis.
Once admitted, students may request to change to the
face-to-face MSW program in Anchorage. Face-to-face students may request to
change to the distance delivered MSW program. Approval for transferring between
distance delivered and face-to-face programs is subject to approval of the
student’s advisor and the MSW Program Coordinator.
Distance delivered MSW required courses are offered in an alternative
scheduling format consisting of intensive classroom sessions presented on the
UAA campus in short-time blocks, and by weekly class meetings available by
teleconference and computer throughout the semester. The intensive session may be
the first meeting of each course and will typically be two to four days of up
to 8 hours each day. The intensive sessions occur over a weekend, usually
requiring Friday-through Monday attendance in Anchorage. Students are required
to provide their own transportation and lodging for the intensive course
meetings. Students who miss any part of an intensive course session will not be
allowed to continue in that course and will therefore jeopardize their progress
in the MSW program.
The Distance Delivered MSW Program is dependent upon supplemental
funding. To date, funding has allowed admission of a new cohort of students
every two years. Diminished funding for the program in the future could result
in admission every four years.
Click here for additional
information and application forms.