Springfield College - MA - School of Social Work

About this program

The Springfield College School of Social Work will offer a Coverdell Fellow abundant opportunities to fulfill the third goal of their Peace Corps service: to help promote a better understanding of other cultures on the part of Americans upon their return to the United States. A Coverdell Fellow will have the opportunity to integrate the cross-cultural skills gained from their overseas experiences with the fieldwork component of their graduate social work education at Springfield College. Coverdell Fellows will be given the opportunity to formally engage students and faculty college-wide to discuss their overseas work, disseminate what was learned during their Peace Corps service, and promote a better understanding of the culture they called their own for two years. As they transition back to life in America and manage the significant cultural shift that this requires, we will offer understanding, support and the opportunity to be enriched by third goal activities such as attending conferences in New York and Boston; cultural events such as celebrating World Refugee Day with an overnight trip to the Berkshires with newly arrived refugees in Western Massachusetts, United Nations Annual Conference on the Status of Women, etc.

• Year partnership began: 2015
• Fellowships awarded per year (average): One Coverdell Fellowship will be active annually. _Upon receipt of the award, a fellow maintains the award throughout their time in the program with satisfactory annual program performance review by Fellows Program Coordinator.

Application requirements

Admissions process

Completed application and $50 application fee A bachelors degree from an accredited college or university that reflects a broad background in liberal arts, with at least twenty semester hours in the social, behavioral, and biological sciences with an emphasis on human biology. Social and behavioral sciences include anthropology, economics, education, history, political science, psychology, and sociology. Biological sciences include botany, biology, physiology, and zoology. The School looks favorably on transcripts that include coursework in writing and in research methods or statistics. A grade point average (GPA) of at least 2.5 for all undergraduate work and 3.0 in the last two years of academic work. Some exceptions are made, and the faculty considers other evidence that demonstrates the candidates ability to conduct graduate study in social work. Applicants who do not meet the GPA minimum will be considered for admission on probation if space is available. Š The personal capacity to work effectively with people to achieve professional standing; Š Social work experience as an employee, volunteer, or in an undergraduate field practicum; Š A professional statement describing: (1) professional goals and reasons for pursuing an MSW degree in this program; and (2) the education, professional/work experience, and personal characteristics that make the applicant a good candidate for an advanced generalist MSW program. Š Three professional or academic references that address the applicants ability, potential, and readiness for graduate education and professional social work experience. _A recommendation form must also be submitted by each professional or academic reference. Š Transcripts from all undergraduate institutions. Transcripts must be in EnglishŠ Apply online at http://springfield.edu/springfield-college-school-of-social-work/admissions with a separate letter to the Coverdell Program Coordinator requesting consideration for the award emailed to [email protected]

Degrees awarded

MA in Social Work

Benefits and opportunities

Net cost is equal to tuition/fees minus fellowship value. For some universities, the fellowship value includes non-tuition/fee benefits such as health insurance or housing. See cost savings details for more.

Estimated annual cost of living: $12,000

Cost savings details

The financial package above reflects a part time student with the fellowship, they receive 6 credits of waived tuition a semester.  The part-time option provides the maximum amount of financial aid. 

In the full time program students take 30 credits a year, the fellowship covers 6 of these ($30,510 of which $12,204 is covered with $18,306 remaining). 

Internship

As a requirement for completion of the MSW degree at Springfield College, all students are required to complete 1050 hours of supervised fieldwork at a partner agency.  Examples of partner agencies include schools, hospitals, health centers, social service agencies, government agencies.  Opportunities to work with individuals, groups, families, communities are diverse and abundant.

Other opportunities

Six credits per semester (12 credits per year) at $1017 per credit are waived, plus a 10 hour per week research assistantship at $11 per hour over 30 weeks in the academic year. That means $12,204 in waived tuition annually (12 credits annually) and a provide a $3,300 research assistant. The fellowship offers an equivalent to $46,512 if the degree is completed in the three year part time program, or $31,008 if the degree is completed with two year full time enrollment. The cost of the program with fellowship is $19,508 if the degree is completed in the three year part-time program or $35,012 if the degree is completed in the two year full time program.

Jobs for alumni

"Upon graduating from the Springfield College School of Social Work with an MSW, individuals seek and secure employment in a wide range of practice areas including but not limited to the following:  public and private agencies and healthcare organizations serving children and youth, the elderly, disabled, mentally ill, homeless, criminal offender populations, immigrants and refugees, school systems, LGBTQ, victims of human trafficking and many other areas of social work practice". 

• School Social Worker
• Non-Profit Agency Program Director
• Child Welfare Supervisor
• Veteran’s Affairs Social Worker
• Emergency Mental Health Social Worker
• Inpatient Psychiatric Social Worker
• Hospice Social Worker
• Corrections Social Worker

Nontraditional options

Part-time degree program

Applicants can receive the award whether they enroll in the program full time or part time _ the part time program is a weekend program; every other weekend; Sat/Sun _ two courses per semester and two courses in the summer.