University of Maine - School of Social Work

About this program

At the University of Maine School of Social Work, we provide the highest quality education for advanced professional social work practice.  The University is located in Orono, Maine, just a 90 minute drive to the coastal beauty of Acadia National Park and a two hour drive to the in-land wilderness areas of Baxter State Park and the Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument. The School is committed to the professional education of Master’s prepared social workers: social workers who are ready to make a difference in our complex and changing society.

The goals of the program are to:

1. To educate students to be competent and effective at working across service delivery systems utilizing a strengths-based approach and respecting human diversity.

2. To prepare competent and effective students for advanced generalist social work practice for the purposes of enhancing human well-being, preventing and alleviating human suffering, and advancing social and economic justice.

3. To prepare students to work ethically with clients and client systems across the entire life span.

4. To initiate and promote research and knowledge building activities by faculty and students, for the purpose of improving the quality of social work practice.

• Year partnership began: 2019
• Fellowships awarded per year (average): 2

Application requirements

College transcripts, personal essay, three letters of reference, resume

Admissions process

• Submit official Description of Service (DOS) for all Returned Peace Corps Volunteers, or submit letter of Country Director/Program Manager if currently serving in Peace Corps expressing satisfactory progress and close of service (COS) date.
• Please make sure to include your Peace Corps service in your resume.
  

Degrees awarded

Master of 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: $10,546

Cost savings details

Maine Trustee Scholarship will cover up to 48 credits; out of state students will pay in-state tuition for remaining credits (Advanced standing program is 46 credits total [only those with undergraduate degree in social work are eligible] and regular program is 63  credits)

Internship

Field Education is designed to provide MSW students with an opportunity to integrate and use their academic learning in a practice setting. We believe that each student brings to the field experience unique abilities, learning styles and career goals. In addition, the learning experiences available in each agency differ. In recognition of all of these variables each student at the University of Maine participates in an individual educational survey prior to entering field.

MSW-trained Field Instructors supervise students within their internship placements and Faculty Liaisons assist students in integrating their field experiences with their academic work.

Potential placements for Coverdell Fellows include:

• The Wabanaki Center-providing mental health services to Native American individuals in Maine
  
• The Eastern Area Agency on Aging-serving four low-income, rural counties in the state
  
• Health Equity Alliance-providing services to people with HIV/AIDS, LGBTQ
  
• populations, and people affected by substance use disorder
  
• Maine Equal Justice Partners-a statewide advocacy organization focused on low-income populations in the state
  
• Refugee Immigration Services - Catholic Charities Maine –Case- management services for recently immigrated to the United States
  
• Gateway Community Services – Specialized services for new Mainers who have recently immigrated to the United States
  

Other opportunities

Coverdell Fellows are invited to explore graduate assistantships throughout the campus.  When there are GA openings at the School (this is rare). Fellows will be given first-round consideration.

Jobs for alumni

• Executive Director of Area Agency on Aging
  
• Associate Director of the UMaine Center on Aging
  
• Director of Office of Research Development, University of Maine
  
• Vice President, Clinician Services and Quality,  Acadia Hospital
  
• Associate Vice President, Community and Pediatric Services,  Acadia Hospital
  
• Executive Director , Wabanaki Mental Health
  
• Executive Director of Maine Behavioral Health Organization
  
• Policy Associate, Muskie Institute , University of Southern Maine
  
• Faculty, East Carolina University
  
• Faculty, University of Wyoming
  
• Director, Maine State Children’s Behavioral Health Services
  
• Maine State Department of Human Services Office of Child and Family Services
  
• Clinical Director, Acadia Hospital
  
• Clinical Director, Penobscot Community Health Care
  
• Clinical Director, Gateway Community Services
  
• Lobbyist for Maine Chapter of the AFL-CIO
  
• Co-founder of a mediation services organization
  
• Researcher with the UMaine Center on Aging
  
• Adjunct instructor at University of California, Los Angeles

General positions obtained by graduates:

• School social worker
  
• Hospital social worker
  
• Clinician in community mental health settings working with children, adults and older adults
  
• Clinician in private practice
  
• Child protective worker with the Maine Department of Health and Human Services
  
• Adjunct instructor in the Social Work program at the University of Maine
  

Nontraditional options

• Two-year on campus, though electives can be taken online
  
• Advanced Standing students (those with undergraduate degree in social work from an accredited social work program) would do the program in one-year (including the summer before the academic year) on campus.  The summer courses (6 credits just for advanced standing students) are online.