Students in Elizabethtown College’s social work program know how rigorous many of the requirements are. Four-year graduates leave with over 700 hours of field experience, building on their in-class assignments and homework.
The program is always growing, and now there is a new opportunity for social work students pursuing their master’s degree after graduation.Etown is partnering with St. Joseph’s University to create a 4+1 degree program that allows qualified Etown Social Work students automatic acceptance to St. Joseph’s University online Master of Social Work (MSW) program.
“Our social work program is always looking for opportunities for our students to continue their social work education,” Etown Director of Social Work James Corbin said. “Though our students attend graduate school at some of the top MSW (Masters in Social Work) programs around the country, many students stay in the region. St. Joseph’s University has an excellent reputation in the region, and we were happy to partner with them on behalf of our students.”
The massive number of field work hours that Etown’s social work students graduate with puts them far ahead of the minimum 400 hours required by the Council on Social Work Education.
“The MSW is a highly versatile and powerful degree if you want an excellent career in a helping profession,” Corbin said.“The big advantage to our bachelor of social work (BSW) students at Etown is that they qualify for what’s called “Advanced Standing” in an MSW program. That means that they get to eliminate a full-year of graduate classes because they have learned that content while earning their BSW at Etown. Social workers (particularly licensed social workers) are the largest provider of mental health care in the country.”
Etown students who enroll at St. Joseph’s for their MSW will receive a 10% discount on tuition there, and earn their master’s degree a year early.
The eligibility requirements for students taking advantage of the partnership include maintaining a 3.2 GPA at Etown and satisfying St. Joseph’s admission requirements.
Current Etown social work students are in good spirits about the upcoming opportunity.
“As a social work student, I’m really encouraged by the new partnership. It is an incredible opportunity to pursue an MSW affordably while building on the strong field experience Etown already offers,” sophomore social work major Madeline Morales said. “I believe it will strengthen our program by giving students a clear and supported path to graduate with education and advancement in the field.”
Morales serves on the college’s social work advisory board and has helped work recently to reinvent the program’s mission statement.
Others involved in the social work program agree with her sentiment.
“I am ecstatic to hear about the partnership between Elizabethtown College and Saint Joseph’s University,” senior social work major Antonia Raimondo said.“It is an incredibly valuable opportunity and I’m excited for how much more accessible earning an MSW will be for up-and-coming BSW students here. I look forward to seeing how students will utilize their social work degrees to impact the world and make it a better place.”
Corbin finished by talking about how the social work program seeks to expand with more opportunities in the future:
“We currently have partnered with the University of Pittsburgh and the state of Pennsylvania for a program called the CWEB (Child Welfare Education for Baccalaureates) program,” Corbin said. Students who apply and are accepted to the CWEB program can have their tuition for their senior year at Etown paid in full as well as earn a stipend for their textbooks and small stipend for additional living expenses in exchange for a one-year commitment to working in the child welfare field. Etown is a brand new partner in this exciting program which is geared towards any students interested in working with children and families. We are always looking for additional opportunities for our Etown social work students. The students here at Etown are very special and deserve these opportunities.”
Students interested in social work opportunities can email Corbin at corbinj@etown.edu.
