Five accredited social work degree programs in Tennessee prepare master’s graduates for the Volunteer State’s LMSW credential. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported in May 2017 that Tennessee has 11,620 social workers making a modest mean income of $40,670. CareerOneStop projected that Tennessee will see MSW-level jobs quickly climb 27 percent by 2024. The Tennessee Labor & Workforce Development Department even listed social work as the number two hottest master’s career. That’s partly because the Census Bureau found that 15.8 percent of Tennessee’s 6.71 million people live in poverty. The NAMI reported that over 315,000 residents suffer from serious mental illness. The Tennessean tracked 1,263 opioid overdose deaths in 2014 alone. Commercial Appeal also mapped several Tennessee areas like Germantown, Bartlett, and Memphis where more than 15 percent of citizens are aged 65 or older. Whichever issue calls to you, the following accredited MSW schools in Tennessee help make a difference.
East Tennessee State University
College of Clinical and Rehabilitative Health Sciences
Hosting the Self-Care Initiative Conference each October, East Tennessee State University is a public, coed Appalachia SoCon member founded in 1911 that’s generating $270 million yearly by training 14,080 Buccaneers in 112 majors at the 97-building campus in Kiplinger’s fifth cheapest city. ETSU was named America’s 479th best location on Niche, 642nd top university in Forbes, and 143rd best community service school by Washington Monthly. Charitably running Bucky’s Food Pantry, the College of Clinical and Rehabilitative Health Sciences currently charges $422 to $751 per credit for accredited social work degree programs in Tennessee ranked 174th nationally on the U.S. News & World Report.
Master of Social Work
Launched in 2003, ETSU’s Master of Social Work trains clinical practitioners for conducting biopsychosocial assessments to intervene when strife hinders clients’ quality of life. Overseen by Dr. Michael Smith, the 63-credit program accepts $55 applications from bachelor’s grads with minimum 2.75 GPAs and social services experience. Traditional cohorts attend hybrid evening classes in Johnson City, Abingdon, and Sevierville. BSW holders enter the 37-credit, one-year Advanced Standing track in Asheville or Kingsport. A 12-credit Clinical Alcohol and Drug Abuse Counseling Certificate could be added to courses from Psychopathology to Family Dynamics. The MSW requires one 480-hour and another 600-hour internship at approved agencies, such as Amedisys Hospice, Project Access, Wellmont-Holston Valley Hospital, or Humphreys Center.
Accreditation
- Council on Social Work Education (CSWE)
- Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS)
Contact
Lyle House Room 102
PO Box 70645
Johnson City, TN 37614
(423) 439-6013
smithml1@etsu.edu
East Tennessee State University
Southern Adventist University
School of Social Work
Registering 50 plus clubs, including the Phi Alpha Honor Society, Southern Adventist University is a private, nonprofit SDA liberal arts school opened in 1892 that’s giving 2,882 Golden Lions from 48 states “Power for Mind and Soul” at its 26-building campus worth $33.9 million in the Chattanooga suburbs. SAU was declared America’s 251st safest college on Niche, 14th most conservative university in Newsweek, and 173rd best value by PayScale. Also placed 353rd nationally on College Factual, the School of Social Work celebrates its 20th anniversary of granting two Christ-centered, accredited social work degree programs in Tennessee with a high 93 percent course completion rate.
Master of Social Work
Chaired by Dr. Kristie Wilder, SAU’s Master of Social Work maintains a 14:1 student-faculty ratio for graduates narrowing their advocacy focus for Christian, evidence-based practice that heals injustice. The 61-credit traditional curriculum leads to LMSW licensing with seven tracks: Trauma & Emergency Management, Entrepreneurship, International Social Work, Military Social Work, Child & Family Treatment, Spiritual Care, or Mental Health Therapy. If social work bachelor’s grads achieve 3.0 GPAs, Advanced Standing status grants a quicker, 33-credit route. Collegedale courses like Psychotherapeutic Skills bill $635 per credit while building professional portfolios full- or part-time. For field experience, MSW students spend 500 to 900 hours at Parkridge Valley Hospital, Helen Ross McNabb Center, Omni Visions, Youth Villages, and more.
Accreditation
• Council on Social Work Education (CSWE)
• Adventist Accrediting Association (AAA)
• Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS)
Contact
4881 Taylor Circle
Collegedale, TN 37315
(423) 236-2641
msw@southern.edu
Union University
School of Social Work
Home to the Center for Just & Caring Communities, Union University is a private, coed Baptist liberal arts “College of Distinction” established in 1823 that’s endowed for $35 million to teach 4,259 Bulldogs from 33 nations with 60 plus clubs at the 40-building campus in the Volunteer State’s seventh-largest city. UU was proclaimed America’s 68th best private value in Kiplinger’s, 48th most religious school on Niche, and 373rd top university by Forbes. The School of Social Work recorded a 20-year net ROI of $103,000 on PayScale for close-knit, accredited social work degree programs in Tennessee ranked 125th nationally by College Factual.
Master of Social Work
Admitting Fall cohorts until June 30th yearly, UU’s Master of Social Work produces generalist, transformative leaders for applying Christian ethics toward improved welfare policy that empowers the vulnerable. The 60-credit, non-GRE program makes courses like Community Development, Play Therapy, and Human Trafficking available in Jackson or Germantown. Social work study tours venture to Kenya, South Africa, and Nicaragua too. Advanced Standing entrants pass a three-weekend August bridge before a faster, 33-credit track. Affordably priced at $580 per credit, the CSWE-accredited curriculum led by Dr. Nita Mehr could be paired with the MBA or Master of Christian Studies. At least 600 practicum hours are integrated at agencies from Madison County General Hospital to The Dream Center and Alexandria Place.
Accreditation
• Council on Social Work Education (CSWE)
• Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS)
Contact
Blasingame Complex Room 124
1050 Union University Drive
Jackson, TN 38305
(731) 661-5397
nmehr@uu.edu
University of Memphis
School of Urban Affairs and Public Policy
Gifting $93.1 million in financial aid, including the Cicely Crawford Social Work Scholarship, the University of Memphis is a public, coed research-based Urban 13 member initiated in 1912 that’s attracting 21,521 Tigers and 930 faculty to 250 plus degrees at the 239-building Normal Station campus in “Blues City.” Memphis was crowned America’s 26th best standout college on Niche, 247th top public school in Forbes, and 384th most selective university by WalletHub. Publishing the Blueprint for Prosperity, the School of Urban Affairs and Public Policy was placed 88th nationally on the U.S. News & World Report for accredited social work degree programs in Tennessee that unlock the ASWB exam.
Master of Social Work
Presently priced at $10,697 to $19,481 yearly, Memphis’ Master of Social Work emphasizes the metropolitan skills needed for effectively assisting diverse, at-risk populations in today’s increasingly packed cities. Until April or October 15th, post-grads with 3.0 GPAs and passing GRE or Praxis scores can submit the $35 applications. The 60-credit, non-thesis program managed by Dr. Susan Neely-Barnes takes four to eight semesters with evening, Saturday, and hybrid online classes in Memphis or Lambuth. Qualified Advanced Standing students start the Children, Youth & Families or Adults & Families specialization immediately for 37 credits. Two placements, such as Mid South Health, Centerstone, Grace House, Family Safety Center, and Mirror Lake Recovery, combine for 960 field hours.
Accreditation
• Council on Social Work Education (CSWE)
• Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS)
Contact
McCord Hall Room 230
3790 DeSoto Avenue
Memphis, TN 38152
(901) 678-2616
snlybrns@memphis.edu
University of Tennessee at Knoxville
College of Social Work
Running the Betsey R. Bush Center for Behavioral Health Research since 2012, the University of Tennessee at Knoxville is a public, coed sun-grant ORAU member generating $1.6 billion yearly by educating 28,321 Volunteers from 50 states at its 285-building Great Appalachian Valley campus in Forbes’ 94th top city. UTK was labeled America’s 312th best university by Times Higher Education, 174th best faculty on Niche, and 362nd top value in Money magazine. The College of Social Work currently charges $13,120 to $31,538 for flexible, accredited social work degree programs in Tennessee that landed 38th nationally on the U.S. News & World Report.
Master of Science in Social Work
Partnered with the Peace Corps for two $6,250 Coverdell Fellows stipends, UTK’s Master of Science in Social Work abides NASW ethical codes to vigorously train independent justice advocates from a “person in environment” context. The 60-credit, four-term program directed by Dr. Ragan Schriver has rolling admission into two concentrations: Organizational Leadership or Evidence-Based Interpersonal Practice. Finishing a CSWE-accredited bachelor’s in the last five years opens the 12-month Advanced Standing option. Expect courses from Neurophysiologic Development to Cognitive Behavioral Therapy in Knoxville, Nashville, or online via Canvas. MSSW certificates for Gerontology, School Social Work, Trauma, or Veterinary Social Work can be added. Capstone projects will follow the 672-hour field placements like Camelot Care, Kids First, Cumberland Heights, Renfrew Center, and Rolling Hills Hospital.
Accreditation
• Council on Social Work Education (CSWE)
• Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS)
Contact
Henson Hall Room 401
1618 Cumberland Avenue
Knoxville, TN 37996
(865) 974-3351
rschriv1@utk.edu
University of Tennessee at Knoxville
Related Resource: Top 10 Best Online Social Work Degree Programs
The Tennessee Department of Health only extends LMSW licensure to graduates of CSWE-approved curricula who finish 3,000 hours of supervised fieldwork total and pass a $235 exam. Get the best chance for success by enrolling at any of these five accredited social work degree programs in Tennessee from Nashville to Chattanooga.
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