Working as a licensed social worker is easy when you complete one of the accredited social work degree programs in Missouri. These Master of Social Work programs, also called MSW programs, are open to students who majored in social work in college as well as those who selected a different but similar major like sociology or psychology. Not only can you learn more about working with clients, but you’ll have the chance to actually work with some of those clients, which will enhance your ability to questions and help others. These programs are available through a number of different colleges.
Missouri State University
School of Social Work
Missouri State University is one of the two main public university systems in the state. Founded in 1905 as a normal school that offered education and teaching programs, it also served as Southwest Missouri State University for a number of years because of its location. As a regional campus, it primarily taught students from Missouri, but it now welcomes students from any state in the country and has a small number of international students. Also called MO and MSU, enrollment at this university now tops 26,000 students and includes both those at the undergrad level and those at the graduate levels.
Master of Social Work
The graduate social work program that MSU offers ranks among the top accredited social work degree programs in Missouri. Both full-time and part-time students can enroll in an advanced standing version of the program, which is open to those who have more experience as well as those who took certain social work courses as an undergrad. This reduces the total number of classes required. The basic program takes six semesters to finish and includes two field practicums. To do those practicums, you’ll need to actually work with clients. The university has partnerships with major organizations around the city and across the state that have spots for students with interests like yours. You’ll also take courses like family health policy and social welfare policy and services.
Accreditation
- Council on Social Work Education (CSWE)
Contact
901 S National Ave.
Springfield, MO 65897
(417) 836-5000
https://www.missouristate.edu/swk/
Park University
Master’s Degree Programs
Founded in 1875, Park University is a private university that initially went by the name of Park College. George S. Park donated the land for the college, which used an experimental design. Students received free tuition as well as room in board in exchange for working on that man’s farm. The school offered programs for military students in its early years and now offers a program designed to help enlisted students earn college degrees before they retire or leave the military. Park University has two campuses in Missouri and also operates other campuses in more than 20 states.
Master of Social Work
Instead of just letting you earn an MSW, Park University offers one of the more unique accredited social work degree programs in Missouri. You can choose an emphasis area in military social work, gerontological social work or social work with children and families. The basic program requires that you take 60 credits of courses, but the university also offers an advanced standing version of the program that only requires you take 33 credits. Courses include program evaluation and grant writing, social work research, advanced social work practice and two fieldwork experiences that will require you work in the field. One of those experiences is more general in nature, but the second allows you to work in a field relating to your interests.
Accreditation
- Council on Social Work Education (CSWE)
Contact
8700 NW River Park Dr.
Parkville, MO
64152-3795
(816) 741-2000
http://www.park.edu/academics/academic-programs/undergraduate-programs/social-work/index.html
Saint Louis University
College for Public Health and Social Justice
One of the largest college campuses in Missouri with a religious affiliation is Saint Louis University. Established in 1818, it is one of the two oldest Jesuit campuses in the entire country. The university was also the first college to launch a medical school and the first to offer graduate programs to the west of the Mississippi River. Saint Louis University ranks as one of the nation’s best colleges, according to Washington Monthly, Forbes, ARWU and U.S. News & World Report, but some of those same publications also ranked it as having some of the best programs in the world.
Social Work, M.S.W.
This is one of the best accredited social work degree programs in Missouri for students who want to earn a doctoral degree because the university offers a PhD program that you can enroll it right after finishing your master’s degree. You’ll take 57 credits of courses that include social policy, social work practice with individuals, groups and families, research methods for social work practice and values and ethics. The university also requires that you do two practicums and take a seminar. Classes are available in a traditional 15-week format and in a shorter 10-week format for busy professionals and current social workers. Those shorter classes are often available in the summer and let you complete some of your required courses faster.
Accreditation
- Council on Social Work Education (CSWE)
Contact
1 N. Grand Blvd.
St. Louis, MO 63103
(800) 758-3678
https://www.slu.edu/public-health-social-justice
University of Missouri
School of Social Work
The University of Missouri goes by a few other names in addition to its official name, including MU and Mizzou. Founded in 1839, it is now a prominent research institute that requires students in all programs learn the basics of conducting research and that those students know how to work on major research projects. U.S. News & World Report included the university on its list of the top American colleges in 2016. Its main campus covers more than 1,200 acres and offers plenty of room for its more than 30,000 students, which includes more than 7,000 graduate students.
MSW
Ranked as one of the best accredited social work degree programs in Missouri, the MU program allows students to pick a concentration in policy, planning and administration or clinical practice. The clinical practice concentration is best for those who want to work with clients, but the other concentration is better suited for those who want to work for agencies and organizations in management positions. All students will need to take a practicum course and seven classes that include foundations of human behavior, research design in social work and social policy and service delivery in social work before taking concentration classes. The concentration classes that you take will vary based on which option you select.
Accreditation
- Council on Social Work Education (CSWE)
Contact
729 Clark Hall
Columbia, MO 65211
(573) 882-6206
ssw@missouri.edu
University of Missouri Kansas City
College of Arts and Sciences
The University of Missouri Kansas City, better known as UMKC, is a branch of the University of Missouri located in Kansas City, which is one of the largest cities and metropolitan areas in the state. Founded in the 1930s as the University of Kansas City, plans for the university existed for several decades before the campus actually opened. When it became part of the University of Missouri System in the 1960s, it changed its name to UMKC. This urban campus now sits on more than 150 acres of land and offers a number of opportunities for its more than 16,000 students.
Master of Social Work
Though UMKC offers a traditional social work graduate program, it also offers an advanced standing program. You’ll need to submit an application and an undergrad transcript to the university and wait to find out if you qualify as an advanced standing student. As one of the more popular accredited social work degree programs in Missouri, this program offers different electives like grief and loss in social work practice, life span issues, politics of administration and school social work. You will also need to submit a fieldwork application before you can do any fieldwork to gain more practical experience. This lets you apply for one of the spots and allows an adviser in the program to ensure that you fulfilled all prerequisites before doing your fieldwork.
Accreditation
- Council on Social Work Education (CSWE)
Contact
5100 Rockhill Rd.
Kansas City, MO 64110
(816) 235-6308
umkcsocwk@umkc.edu
http://cas2.umkc.edu/socialwork/
University of Missouri St. Louis
School of Social Work
The University of Missouri St. Louis is another campus in that school system, which is in the major city of St. Louis. Established in 1960, it initially served as a junior college. Students could spend two or more years taking prerequisites and basic courses before transferring to another school. The University of Missouri, which was responsible for overseeing junior campuses, decided to merge this school with two others to create a full university just a few years later to assist students in the St. Louis area. With an enrollment of more than 16,000 students, it’s now one of the region’s largest schools.
MSW
When looking at accredited social work degree programs in Missouri, you may want to consider the total amount of time that you’ll spend doing fieldwork. UMSL requires that you work 20 hours a week and complete 300 hours of work during the last semester of your first year. You’ll then have the chance to pick your specialization and complete 600 hours of fieldwork relating to your specialization in your second year. The university requires that you keep track of your hours and that you submit paperwork filed by the supervisor who oversaw the work that you did. Specializations are available in leadership and social change and in family practice. The university offers courses such as social policy and social services, family policy and health care policy.
Accreditation
- Council on Social Work Education (CSWE)
Contact
1 University Blvd.
121 Bellerive Hall
St. Louis, MO 63121-4400
(314) 516-6385
https://www.umsl.edu/~socialwk/
Washington University in St. Louis
Brown School
Established in 1853, Washington University in St. Louis is one of the state’s oldest colleges. Also called WUSTL and WashU, its founders named the school after President George Washington. U.S. News & World Report ranked the Brown School as the best social work program in the entire country and named the university itself as the 18th best school in the nation. It is also home to one of the country’s best business programs, law programs and MBA programs. Several organizations, including U.S. News & World Report and QS, also ranked WashU as one of the best colleges in the world.
Master of Social Work
As the Brown School is the top social work school in the nation, it’s not surprising that its social work program is one of the top accredited social work degree programs in Missouri. You can choose from nine different specializations, which is more than any other school offers, including specializations in mental health, health, older adults and aging societies and violence and injury prevention. The university typically requires that you take around 20 credits from within your specialization in addition to foundation courses. You will also need to do 360 hours of fieldwork in your first year and 600 hours in your specialization during your second year. The first year fieldwork is more general in nature than the second year. Brown School can help you find a fieldwork experience working for one of more than 500 different agencies across the state.
Accreditation
- Council on Social Work Education (CSWE)
Contact
One Brookings Drive
St. Louis, MO 63130
(314) 935-6600
https://brownschool.wustl.edu/Pages/default.aspx
As you near the end of a bachelor’s degree program, you should check out some of the top master’s programs available. Students living in Missouri and those who want to move to the state will find a number of benefits of completing one of the top accredited social work degree programs in Missouri.
Related Resource: Top 10 Best Online Social Work Degree Programs
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