Online M.S.W. Program
Standard Program
The MSW curriculum for the Standard degree option consists of 58 credit hours, which includes credit for generalist practice and specialized internships. The foundation content of the program provides the student with knowledge, skills, and values for generalist social work practice as well as the foundation for advanced or specialized social work practice. Students enroll in two different internship courses during the foundation and advanced phase of the program. Enrollment in an internship will depend on the student's plan of study, but students should expect both internships will occur over two consecutive terms, for four terms total in the program. In the second year, students choose one of two areas of specialized practice: community practice, or clinical practice. The clinical specialization is the best fit for those interested in direct practice with individuals, families, and groups. The community specialization best fits those interested in practice with groups, organizations, and communities.
Advanced Standing Degree Option
The Advanced Standing degree option may be selected if a student has earned a baccalaureate degree in social work from a program accredited by the Council on Social Work Education and meets other admission criteria. If admitted, the full-time student can complete the MSW degree in 30 credit hours of graduate work. The advanced standing program option allows students to enter into advanced coursework immediately; students will choose a specialization in clinical or community practice.
Curriculum Areas
MSW students come to the program with an undergraduate degree based on a strong liberal arts education, providing preparation for graduate education that produces social workers who can think critically, analyze alternatives skillfully, communicate well verbally and in writing, appreciate their own culture and of others, and dedicate themselves to lifelong learning that empowers and equips them to make a difference. Social workers share a common set of professional values and ethics and a common set of basic or generalist skills that enable them to work with diverse populations and fill diverse roles in diverse settings. The transmission of these values and ethics to students is a critical aspect of professional socialization. Upon entering the program, MSW students are informed of their responsibility to perform as social work professionals according to the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) Code of Ethics guidelines, including advocacy for human rights and justice. Professional values and ethics are infused throughout the entire MSW curriculum. Before any academic work in the community that involves using social work knowledge, values, and skills, students are required to study the entire NASW Code of Ethics and the applicable state code and commit to practice congruent with those codes. Due to the unique mission of the GSSW program, attention is also given to areas of congruence and conflict with students’ own personal values and ethics, as well as those of various faith groups.
Plan of Study
Students will work closely with their assigned student success manager to develop a plan of study for their program. Standard plans of study for the standard program are 4-term, 6-term, and 8-term. Standard plans of study for the advanced standing program are 3-term and 5-term. In the event that a student needs to deviate from or rework their plan of study, they should work closely with their student support manager, as it requires approval from the Online MSW Program Director.
Overview
Admission to the Garland School of Social Work's Online MSW graduate program is conducted by formal application to the Online Campus. Students will be admitted regardless of race, color, national or ethnic origin, gender, age, veteran status, or disability. Applicants are expected to complete the degree at the campus they were admitted to. Applicants should expect to complete their internship experience inside the 50 United States and Washington D.C. An application packet will be considered complete when the following materials have been received:
- A completed online application and application fee
- Official transcripts from all institutions attended1
- Recommendations: Three letters of recommendation. Standard applicants at least one of the three letters of recommendation must be from an academic professor who has direct knowledge of your academic work. Advanced standing applicants at least two of the three letters of recommendation must be from an academic professor who has direct knowledge of your academic work. Of these two academic references, one must be the undergraduate program director, the director of practicum education, or the social work supervisor.
- Final practicum evaluation2 (for advanced standing applicants only)
- 1
A file will be considered complete for review purposes with unofficial transcripts. If admitted, official transcripts will be required.
- 2
A file will be considered complete for review purposes with a midterm practicum evaluation. If admitted, the final evaluation will be required.
The letter of admission constitutes the University’s official notification of an admission decision. Admitted students will have a maximum of one year (three terms) from the date of admission within which to enroll. Attempts to enroll after this time period will require the completion of another application. For accurate dates and deposit amounts, students should contact MSW Admissions, indicating their status as a newly admitted online MSW student. The University reserves the right to refuse admission to any applicant whose previous academic record and/or readiness for graduate study in social work is deemed unsatisfactory. Applicants who are not admitted into the program may reapply for any subsequent term. If that applicant is denied a second time, they must wait a full calendar year from their second application decision date to apply.
General Requirements
- The program requires that all applicants have either a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution in the United States or proof of equivalent education at an international institution of higher learning.
- Applicants are expected to have a record of undergraduate study and experience that is predictive of success in graduate study. A minimum admissible grade point average is not specified, as the Garland School conducts a holistic review process.
- Baccalaureate coursework that demonstrates a strong liberal arts background is required.
- Credit for elective courses transferred from another graduate (non-social work program) program. A maximum of three (3) semester hours toward the Standard MSW degree option and a maximum of three (3) semester hours toward the Advanced Standing option taken for graduate credit in other approved graduate programs may be considered for elective credit. A petition for transfer credit must fulfill the conditions listed below:
- The work must have been performed while the student was enrolled in good standing as a graduate student.
- The school from which they are transferred must be accredited by a regional accreditation agency.
- No earned grade for transfer is less than a “B-”.
- Petition for transfer of credit occurs after enrollment in the graduate program.
- Transfer credit will not be calculated into GPA unless it is taken at Baylor University.
- A petition of transfer from another University request must be completed and submitted in writing to the MSW Program Director.
- While past professional experiences may strengthen an application, no academic credit will be given for life experiences.
Online Transfer Applicants
Online MSW transfer applicants are considered only when approved by the Associate Dean of Academic Affairs. Students may contact the Online MSW admissions team to determine if Online MSW transfer applicants are being considered at this time. All transfer policies found in the MSW Waco Admissions section of the catalog apply to Online MSW transfer applicants.
Online Advanced Standing Admissions
Students who are granted admission to the combined Garland School of Social Work BSW/MSW program are admitted into the MSW program upon successful completion of the BSW from Baylor University with at least a 3.0 overall GPA, a B in every social work course, and the recommendation of the Practicum Education office.
Students who have earned a baccalaureate degree in social work from another program accredited by the Council on Social Work Education must apply for admission into the Advanced Standing program at the Garland School of Social Work. Applicants to the Garland School of Social Work Advanced Standing program with a degree from an international social work program must provide evidence through CSWE’s International Social Work Degree Recognition and Evaluation Service that the program from which they have graduated or anticipate graduating is recognized/approved/certified by CSWE. If admitted, full-time students can complete their MSW in 3 terms or 30 credit hours of graduate work.
Advanced Standing applicants must have completed their baccalaureate degrees from a CSWE-accredited program no more than five years before submitting their application. Decisions about their admission to Advanced Standing will be based on the following, in addition to the standard graduate social work application:
- An overall grade point average of 2.7 or higher on a 4.0 scale, a grade point average of 3.0 or higher in all social work coursework, including a minimum grade of B in all practice and field courses
- A copy of a final Practicum Evaluation from baccalaureate social work field experience(s) documenting satisfactory generalist practice experience and skills in the internship. While prospective students may be admitted conditionally based on their performance in the field at the time of their application, full admission is contingent upon receipt of final practicum/internship evaluation.
Degree Requirements - Standard 2
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| SWO 5320 | Human Diversity & Social Justice | 3 |
| SWO 5351 | Human Behavior Theory: Person & Environment | 3 |
| SWO 5361 | Social Work Practice with Individuals and Families | 3 |
| SWO 5362 | Social Work Practice with Groups | 3 |
| SWO 5363 | Social Work Practice with Communities & Organizations | 3 |
| SWO 5322 | Social Policy For Social Work Practice | 3 |
| SWO 5381 | Research for Social Work Practice | 3 |
| SWO 5491 | Foundation Internship I | 4 |
| SWO 5492 | Foundation Internship II | 4 |
| SWO 5494 | Part I Advanced Internship | 4 |
| SWO 5490 | Part II Advanced Internship | 4 |
| SWO 5395 | Capstone Seminar | 3 |
| Choose one (3 credits) of the following core classes: | 3 | |
| Organizational Leadership & Management 3 | ||
| Health Practice & Policy 3 | ||
| Social Work Practice & Advocacy with Children & Families 3 | ||
| Choose one (3 credits) of the following elective classes (not previously taken): | 3 | |
| Organizational Leadership & Management 3 | ||
| Health Practice & Policy 3 | ||
| Social Work Practice & Advocacy with Children & Families 3 | ||
| Advanced Special Topics 1, 3 | ||
| Choose one of the following Specializations: | 12 | |
| Clinical Practice Specialization: | ||
| Clinical Diagnosis in Social Work | ||
| Clinical Social Work Practice I | ||
| Clinical Social Work Practice II | ||
| Clinical Evaluation for Practice Improvement | ||
| Community Practice Specialization: | ||
| Theoretical Frameworks for Community Social Work Practice | ||
| Community Social Work Practice I | ||
| Community Social Work Practice II | ||
| Program Evaluation for Practice Improvement 3 | ||
| Total Hours | 58 | |
- 1
5V80 is Social Justice & Technology; you must choose 3 hours when registering.
- 2
The following optional Concentrations are also available. To pursue a Concentration, talk to your Student Success Manager.
Organizational Leadership - Clinical Practice
Organizational Leadership - Community Practice
Trauma Informed Practice - Clinical Practice
Trauma Informed Practice - Community Practice
Diversity Equity and Inclusion - Clinical or Community Practice
- 3
A combination of SWO 5320, SWO 5323, SWO 5376, SWO 5377, and SWO 5384 can be used towards fulfilling requirements for an MSW Concentration.
Degree Requirements - Advanced Standing 2
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| SWO 5123 | Introduction to Graduate Studies | 1 |
| SWO 5494 | Part I Advanced Internship | 4 |
| SWO 5490 | Part II Advanced Internship | 4 |
| SWO 5395 | Capstone Seminar | 3 |
| Choose one (3 credits) of the following core classes: | 3 | |
| Organizational Leadership & Management 3 | ||
| Health Practice & Policy 3 | ||
| Social Work Practice & Advocacy with Children & Families 3 | ||
| Choose one (3 credits) of the following elective classes (not previously taken): | 3 | |
| Organizational Leadership & Management 3 | ||
| Health Practice & Policy 3 | ||
| Social Work Practice & Advocacy with Children & Families 3 | ||
| Advanced Special Topics 1,3 | ||
| Choose one of the following Specializations: | 12 | |
| Clinical Practice Specialization: | ||
| Clinical Diagnosis in Social Work | ||
| Clinical Social Work Practice I | ||
| Clinical Social Work Practice II | ||
| Clinical Evaluation for Practice Improvement | ||
| Community Practice Specialization: | ||
| Theoretical Frameworks for Community Social Work Practice | ||
| Community Social Work Practice I | ||
| Community Social Work Practice II | ||
| Program Evaluation for Practice Improvement 3 | ||
| Total Hours | 30 | |
- 1
5V80 is Social Justice & Technology; you must choose 3 hours when registering.
- 2
The following optional Concentrations are also available. To pursue a Concentration, talk to your Student Success Manager.
Organizational Leadership - Clinical Practice
Organizational Leadership - Community Practice
Trauma Informed Practice - Clinical Practice
Trauma Informed Practice - Community Practice
Diversity Equity and Inclusion - Clinical or Community Practice
- 3
A combination of SWO 5320, SWO 5323, SWO 5376, SWO 5377, and SWO 5384 can be used towards fulfilling requirements for an MSW Concentration.