Four CSWE accredited social work degree programs in Iowa award master’s degrees for Midwesterners within the “Hawkeye State” to further their practice skills. Although located on the Corn Belt, Iowa’s $124 billion economy has a sizeable social services sector. The BLS reports that Iowa employs 3,140 child and family, 1,420 healthcare, 990 clinical mental health, and 390 other social workers for an average yearly wage of $45,380. Master of Social Work degrees could help Iowans find leadership jobs with agencies like Goodwill Industries, Hope Ministries, Mid-Iowa Community Action, Planned Parenthood, UCS Healthcare, and others. Social workers will arm Iowa populations for fighting key issues, including the opioid crisis that’s quadrupled drug overdose deaths since 1999! Position your career for advancement in rural practice by choosing one of these accredited MSW programs in Iowa.
Clarke University
Graduate School
Established by Mother Mary Frances Clarke in 1843, Clarke University is a private, nonprofit Roman Catholic doctoral-granting ACCU member called the “College for the Arts” that’s endowed for $24 million to educate 1,191 Pride on its beautiful 55-acre campus in Dubuque overlooking the Mississippi River. Applauded as America’s 263rd safest college on Niche, Clarke is ranked the 200th best liberal arts university with the 223rd most grateful grads nationally by Forbes. The Graduate School offers six degrees, including one of the accredited social work degree programs in Iowa, at the Midwest’s eighth best value according to the USNWR.
Master of Social Work
Presently priced at $650 per credit, Clarke’s Master of Social Work is chaired by Dr. Regina Boarman with a student-faculty ratio of 9:1 for post-grads to develop advanced social justice skills for implementing effective interventions primarily in rural Iowa communities. Emphasizing Catholic values, the 64-credit, non-GRE curriculum integrates courses from substance abuse to nonprofit administration. Traditional students follow the two-year and three-year tracks in Dubuque or choose the Hybrid Weekend format for some online courses. Accepting applicants until June 15th yearly, there’s a 32-credit Advanced Standing option for CSWE-accredited degree holders. Transfer articulation agreements already exist for Edgewood College and UW-Platteville. All MSW majors also complete 480-920 practicum hours at Clarke partner agencies.
Accreditation
• Council on Social Work Education (CSWE)
• North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (NCA)
Contact
Catherine Byrne Hall 325
1550 Clarke Drive
Dubuque, IA 52001
(563) 588-6583
regina.boarman@clarke.edu
https://www.clarke.edu/academics/master-of-social-work/
St. Ambrose University
School of Social Work
Affiliated with alums like Bishop David Choby, John H. Ebersole, and Hon. Celeste Bremer, St. Ambrose University is a private, coeducational Catholic teaching institution endowed for $649.3 million that’s serving 864 post-grad Bees from its 120-acre residential campus in the Quad Cities Region. Declared the 473rd best U.S. college by Times Higher Education, SAU is ranked the 259th best Midwestern bang for the buck in Washington Monthly. Rooted in critical thinking and action, the School of Social Work maintains one of the CSWE accredited social work degree programs in Iowa for $915 per credit with an Interprofessional Health Clinic.
Master of Social Work
Offering funding like the $2,500 St. Vincent Scholarship, SAU’s Master of Social Work has one Advanced Empowerment Practice Concentration to prepare generalist practitioners with ethical strategies for addressing wide-ranging social problems. Chaired by Dr. Katherine Van Blair, the 60-credit degree provides the standard full-time, part-time Saturday, and Advanced Standing formats for flexibility. Graduation within 24-36 months could be extended with combined degrees, such as the MBA. Accredited coursework on solution-focused approaches to community betterment is supplemented with at least 480 fieldwork hours. Post-grads choose from 400+ agencies in Iowa and Illinois, including ChildServe, Arrowhead Ranch, Friendly House, and Mercy Medical Center. Rolling admission requires having 18 previous social science credits with a minimum 3.0 GPA.
Accreditation
• Council on Social Work Education (CSWE)
• North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (NCA)
Contact
1950 E. 54th Street
Davenport, IA 52803
(563) 333-3910
msw@sau.edu
http://www.sau.edu/Academic_Programs/Master_of_Social_Work.html
University of Iowa
School of Social Work
Given grants from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, the University of Iowa is a large public, multi-campus Big Ten system with RU/VH status that’s budgeting $3.51 billion annually to educate 8,858 post-grad Hawkeyes and employ 2,296 academic staff upon its main 1,700-acre sustainable location in Iowa City. Ranked 141st by MONEY Magazine with an estimated financial aid price of $15,700, UIowa is named the 82nd best college and 33th top public university by the U.S. News. Based in Forbes’ ninth best small city for careers, the School of Social Work also has America’s 53rd top MSW education nationwide.
Master of Social Work
Leading the CSWE accredited social work degree programs in Iowa since 1951, the Master of Social Work at UIowa provides a generalist focus on family systems and societal change to sharpen leadership skills for improving the dynamics of human life. Open for cohort admission until February 1st yearly, the curriculum requires 62 credits unless the Advanced Standing mark is surpassed with a BSW. Starting in May 2018, Hawkeyes unable to reach the Sioux City, Des Moines, Quad Cities, and Iowa City campuses can study online for three years part-time. Added certificates for Gerontology and Multicultural Education exist for specialized practice. MSW majors also experience field practicum for 210 foundation hours and 700 advanced year hours.
Accreditation
• Council on Social Work Education (CSWE)
• North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (NCA)
Contact
308 North Hall
Iowa City, IA 52242
(319) 335-1250
SSW_office@iowa.uiowa.edu
https://clas.uiowa.edu/socialwork/graduate-program/master-social-work-programs
University of Northern Iowa
College of Social and Behavioral Sciences
Occupying 916 acres near Hartman Reserve Nature Center in the Waterloo-Cedar Falls Metro, the University of Northern Iowa is a public, co-educational teaching school delivering its Liberal Arts Core to 11,905 Panthers across five colleges under the direction of President Mark Nook. Congratulated for America’s 203rd best student life on Niche, UNI is ranked 13th on the College Atlas “A” list and 50th among master’s universities in Washington Monthly. Housing another of the CSWE accredited social work degree programs in Iowa, the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences was also placed 198th nationally by the U.S. News.
Master of Social Work
Partnered with the NASW Iowa Chapter, UNI’s Master of Social Work offers a unique trauma-informed foundation for post-grads to enter advanced leadership practice and promote human rights with multicultural awareness. Emphasizing the needs of trauma survivors, the 60-credit curriculum spans five terms full-time or three years full-time for Advanced Standing students. There’s also a part-time Online MSW available with live Tuesday sessions via interactive web conferencing. Currently charging $8,950 for Iowans and $19,424 for non-residents annually, the program includes 500+ fieldwork hours. Past placements have included Northcrest Specialty Care, Allen Hospital, Waypoint, Compassus, and Full Circle Services. Majors might also join the Student Social Work Association (SSWA) and claim the Robert Runkle Endowed Scholarship.
Accreditation
• Council on Social Work Education (CSWE)
• North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (NCA)
Contact
Sabin Hall 235
1227 W. 27th Street
Cedar Falls, IA 50614
(319) 273-6249
cynthia.juby@uni.edu
https://csbs.uni.edu/socialwork/msw-graduate-degree
Located in Des Moines, the Iowa Board of Social Work offers the LMSW certification only to post-grads who’ve entered the highest practice level with a master’s. Passing the $120 ASWB exam and accruing the requisite 4,000 hours of work experience is time-consuming yet rewarding. Master’s-level social workers enjoy the best prospects in a BLS occupation poised for 12 percent growth through 2024 and an average pay jump of $13,000. The accredited social work degree programs in Iowa above grant MSW credentials for the Hawkeye State’s most selfless citizens.
Related Resource: Top 10 Best Online Social Work Degree Programs
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