Master’s in Social Work Degree Programs in Mississippi

To become a licensed social worker in Mississippi, you must have a graduate degree like those you’ll get upon completion of one of the accredited social work degree programs in Mississippi. Though you can get a degree from a college in another state, finishing one of these programs gives you a better idea of the specific needs that people in this state have and what you can do as a social worker to get their needs met. With the degree that you earn, you’ll feel confident working for a nonprofit organization, a government agency and any other type of group.

Jackson State University

School of Social Work

Jackson State University is one of several historically all black colleges in the south, which are colleges established for African American students that are predominantly black today. Also called JSU, it dates back to the 1870s. Originally called Natchez Seminary because of the city the founders selected, the campus had an affiliation with the American Baptist Home Mission Society of New York. This religious group later moved the campus to Jackson and changed its name several times before it became Jackson State University. Both Forbes and Washington Monthly consider the university one of the top colleges in the United States.

M.S.W. Program

Though you’ll take 60 credits of work in the Jackson State social work program, the university designed this program for full-time students to complete in just two years. In addition to two semesters of full-time work, you’ll take classes over the summer session. Part-time students have more time to finish the program. Jackson State has an advanced standing program for those with a bachelor’s in social work or more experience too. You’ll spend one semester in each of the two years doing field experience at the same time that you take courses. Most students will take some of the same classes that include ethics and social work practice, research methods, social work welfare policy and social work welfare practice. As one of the accredited social work degree programs in Mississippi, this Jackson State program lets you select electives that relate to your interests or what you want to do with your degree.

Accreditation

  • Council on Social Work Education (CSWE)

Contact

1400 John R. Lynch St.

Jackson, MS 39217

(601) 979-2121

http://www.jsums.edu/socialwork/

Mississippi Valley State University

Social Work

Mississippi Valley State University, usually called Valley of MVSU, is another historically all black college in Mississippi. Founded in the 1940s as the Mississippi Vocational College, it opened its doors in 1950 and offered courses designed for African American students who had limited access to higher education opportunities. The college became a university in later years because it began offering more degree programs as opposed to the vocational programs it offered in the past. Notable alumni from the university include those who worked in politics as well as some professional athletes. The university offers a number of financial aid options for its incoming students too.

MS Social Work

To earn your social work degree from Mississippi Valley State University, you must maintain a grade point average of 3.0, score no lower than a B in any required course and take and pass 60 credits of courses. As one of the top accredited social work degree programs in Mississippi, it requires that you take 24 credits of required foundation courses that include social work practice I and II, human behavior in the social environment I and II, methods of social work research and social welfare policy and services. During the summer between your first and second year, the university expects you to take a field practice seminar and do an internship. You will also need to take classes relating to your social work concentration such as advanced social work practice with children and families: indirect practice, rural social work, mental health assessment and intervention and need assessment and program evaluation.

Accreditation

  • Council on Social Work Education (CSWE)

Contact

14000 Highway 82 W.

Itta Bena, MS 38941

(662) 254-9041

https://www.mvsu.edu/academics/academic-programs/social-work-homepage

University of Mississippi

School of Applied Sciences

The University of Mississippi is not only one of the oldest colleges in the state but also one of the oldest founded to the west of the Mississippi River. Established in 1848, the university opened at a time when there were few opportunities for college students. It provided students with the training needed to move further west, start their careers in the state or move elsewhere in the country. Forbes, Washington Monthly and U.S. News & World Report included the University of Mississippi on lists of the top American colleges. Also called Ole Miss, it ranks globally too.

MSW in Social Work

As you look at accredited social work degree programs in Mississippi, you might find that you like the courses offered by the University of Mississippi. Its MSW program asks that full-time students take two years of courses and that they do fieldwork components over the summer sessions. You’ll need to spend one extra semester completing fieldwork before you can graduate. The program features 24 credits of foundation work and 30 hours of clinical practice fieldwork. Foundation courses include social work practice with individuals, practice with organizations and communities, practice with families and groups and social work research methods. The clinical practice courses you take will include theories and methods of family intervention, advanced practice with groups, evaluation research and traumatic stress and crisis intervention. The University of Mississippi offers a social work advanced standing program too that requires students take 36 credits of electives and clinical practice courses.

Accreditation

  • Council on Social Work Education (CSWE)

Contact

Longstreet Hall

Room 212

University, MS 38677

(662) 915-7336

socialwork@olemiss.edu

http://sw.olemiss.edu

University of Southern Mississippi

School of Social Work

The University of Southern Mississippi, also known as Southern Miss, is a public university with a main campus roughly two hours away from New Orleans in the city of Hattiesburg. It is a dual campus, which means that it actually has two larger campuses. In addition to Hattiesburg, there is a second campus in Gulf Park. Students can transfer credits between these two campuses as they work on their degrees. Southern Miss routinely ranks among the top colleges in America and in the south on lists produced by organizations and publications like U.S. News & World Report.

Master of Social Work

One option for those looking at accredited social work degree programs in Mississippi is the MSW that the University of Southern Mississippi offers because this is available in three different versions. The first is a traditional program designed for full-time students that requires five semesters of study and the completion of 60 credits. There is a part-time program available that features the same number of credits but takes eight semesters to finish. Southern Miss offers an advanced standing option for those with more experience that requires students take 34 credits over the course of three semesters. As a full-time or part-time student, you must also do field experience programs that let you gain more experience as you work in the field. Some of the classes you will take in this program include problem solving with families, advanced social work practice, human rights and social justice and problem solving with individuals.

Accreditation

  • Council on Social Work Education (CSWE)

Contact

118 College Drive #5114

Hattiesburg, MS 39406

(601) 266-4163

https://www.usm.edu/social-work

Though you can get a job with a bachelor’s degree like a BSW, getting an MSW is the best way to ensure that you can meet all the demands of your clients in the future. Accredited social work degree programs in Mississippi will help you become a social worker who can work with all types of people.

Related Resource: Top 10 Best Online Social Work Degree Programs