Social Work (MSW), Children, Youth and Families Concentration at Montclair State University

Social Work (MSW), Children, Youth and Families Concentration

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Social Work (MSW), Children, Youth and Families Concentration

The MSW program prepares leaders in social work practice with children, youth and families in a diverse local and global society. The program aims to prepare advanced practitioners to provide a range of clinical and advocacy services to vulnerable children, adolescents and their families. Graduates will promote the well-being and functioning of their clients by engaging in ethical, culturally competent, and evidence-informed practice and by demonstrating a strong commitment to social/economic justice.

Graduates will be prepared to work in a variety of settings serving children, youth and families, including, but not limited to, mental health clinics, schools, hospitals, community centers, state and local government and private practice. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of social workers is projected to grow 12 percent from 2014 to 2024 – faster than the average for all occupations.

Traditional program (60 credits):

  • Full-time program:  Students take 5 classes per semester for two years; 15 hours of field work per week in the first year; 22 hours of field work per week in the second year.  Fall only start
  • Part-time program:  Students take 2-3 classes per semester for 3 years; 15 hours of field work per week in the second year; 22 hours of field work per week in the third year. Fall only start

*The cost of the traditional 60-credit master’s program is $37,210 for the 2023-2024 academic year.

Advanced standing (33 credits):

The Advanced Standing MSW is an option only for students who have earned a Bachelor’s in Social Work (BSW) degree from an institution accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) The BSW degree must be obtained within the last 5 years. Please note: Those with BSW degrees earned overseas will need an additional evaluation submitted from CSWE https://cswe.org/Accreditation/Other/International-Degree-Review.aspx.

The Advanced Standing MSW option allows you to save an entire year of coursework and tuition payments. Admitted students will be required to complete 1 course (3 credits) during the summer semester before continuing with the remaining 30 credits of the MSW program. This accelerated program is full-time and all classes meet on-campus:

  • Full-time program:  Students take 1 in the summer and 5 classes per semester for one year; 22 hours of field work per week. Summer only start
  • Part-time program:  Students take 3 classes per semester the first year; 2-3 classes per semester the second year; 22 hours of field work per week in the second year. Fall only start

Additionally, we offer two cohort choices for the Social Work (MSW), Children, Youth and Families Concentration program:

  • Day Cohort:  Classes are Tuesdays 8:15 am – 5:00 pm and Fridays 8:15 am – 2:00 pm
  • Evening Cohort:  Classes are Mondays 5:30 pm – 8:00 pm; Tuesdays 5:30 pm – 10:45 pm; Thursdays 5:30 pm – 10:45 pm

Interested in learning about our NEW Graduate Certificate in Harm Reduction Approach in Substance Abuse? Click here to request more information.

Please refer to our programs of study page for a comprehensive list of all of the graduate programs offered within the university.

Admission Requirements

The Office of Graduate Admissions requires the equivalent of a U.S. bachelor’s degree in order to be eligible to apply for a graduate program. Applicants with non-U.S. degrees, please visit the international applicants page to review the U.S. degree equivalency information.

Application Checklist

In order to make applying for graduate school as seamless as possible for you, we have
created an application checklist. This checklist can be a reference point for you during the
application process to ensure that you have a comprehensive understanding of the steps
needed to apply, as well as all of corresponding supplemental materials for your specific
program of interest.

  • Priority Deadline: January 19th. Applications to the Master’s in Social Work (MSW) program that are complete as of the January 19th deadline will receive priority review, and can expect an admissions decision no later than February 19th. Please note: Upon offer of admission, you will be asked to submit an enrollment deposit of $200.
  • Submit Online Application: Please create your online account and submit your application by following the general application instructions and pay (or waive) the non-refundable $60 application fee. Once this step has been completed, the online portal will allow you to upload your supplemental materials.

The following is a list of the supplemental materials that will accompany your application for the Social Work (MSW), Children, Youth and Families Concentration program:

  • Transcript: One from each college attended.
  • MSW Program Admission Personal Statement Prompt: The Montclair State University MSW faculty have the responsibility of evaluating your application. You will be submitting a variety of evidence concerning your ability to undertake a graduate program in social work. Use the questions that follow to complete your personal statement. DO NOT use a question and answer format. Write a full essay answering ALL questions below. Your essay should be double spaced, in 12-point font. There is no specific min/max page requirement for the personal statement essay. We highly recommend you keep to 5-6 pages double-spaced.Social work as your career goal
    • What are your values and beliefs? How do you think they relate to social work?
    • What leadership and personal qualities do you bring to the social work program and profession?
    • The Montclair State University MSW program educates students to engage in anti-racist and anti-oppressive social work practice. How have you demonstrated your commitment to anti-racist and anti-oppressive practices in the past or how might you do so in the future?
    • The Montclair State University MSW program educates students to advocate for and to engage in clinical social work practice with children, youth, and families. Why is this program the best fit for you and your career goals?

    Your experience as a student

    • How do you expect your academic and social performance in graduate school to compare with your academic and social performance as an undergraduate student? Give reasons for any differences you may anticipate.
    • Have you ever received low (D’s) or failing grades, been on academic probation, or been dismissed from or denied readmission to any college? If so, explain. Be specific.
    • If your overall GPA is below a 3.0, please explain.

    Your experience with others

    • Describe any social work experience in which you were supervised by an MSW professional.
    • Give an example of a work-related problem you experienced and how you were able to resolve it. What did you learn from this experience?
    • Describe your experience/participation in school and community activities.
    • Describe your experience in the helping role, such as family or other social or work experiences, in which you gave or received help.

    Your time commitments

    The program is academically rigorous, emotionally challenging, and time consuming. If you are a full time student, you should plan on devoting at least 40 hours per week to your coursework and 15 or 22 hours of field work per week. If you are a part time student, you should plan on devoting at least 25 hours per week to your coursework and 15 or 22 hours of field work per week.

    • How do you plan to manage your time and commitments to successfully complete the program? 
    • If you are expecting to be employed while in the program, how you will ensure that you have at least one day available to complete your field placement hours?
  • Letters of Recommendation: Two.
  • Resume: Required. The program faculty for the Master of Social Work program suggests you format your resume similar to this example.
  • Applicants with non-U.S. degrees, please visit the International Applicants page to review the US degree equivalency information.

Additional Requirements for applicants to the Advanced Standing MSW

  • Final Field Evaluation: Applicants applying to the Advanced Standing program are required to submit a final field evaluation to be reviewed for admission to the Montclair State University MSW program. The admissions committee expects to see the following components on a final field evaluation:
    • Student Name
    • School Name
    • Agency Name/Placement Site Name
    • Rating/commentary of performance in social work competencies as outlined by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE)
    • Signatures from Field Instructor and student

    If an applicant’s field placement is still in progress at the time their application is complete, a midterm field evaluation may be submitted for admission decision review. If admitted into the program, a final field evaluation is required prior to enrolling in the program. All the above requirements also apply to any midterm evaluations that are submitted.

  • Recommendation for Advanced Standing: Applicants applying to the Advanced Standing program are required to submit an assessment and recommendation by the applicant’s social work program director. Download this recommendation form here.
Curriculum

The MSW is a 60-credit, full-time program. Students enjoy frequent interaction with faculty, small class sizes and a climate that is conducive to in-depth learning. Our program uses a unique, cohort-based model such that all students progress through the curriculum together and develop close relationships with peers and faculty. Throughout their studies, students engage in classroom learning, as well as supervised field experiences in various human service agencies. Field placements may include mental health clinics, schools, hospitals, child welfare agencies, disability services, substance abuse clinics, correctional facilities, etc.

For more information, please visit the Social Work (MSW), Children, Youth and Families Concentration program listing in the University Catalog.

Contact

If you have any general questions regarding the application process and requirements, please email or call us:
Office of Graduate Admissions
Email: graduate@montclair.edu
Telephone: 973-655-5147
Fax: 973-655-7869

If you have specific inquiries regarding your program of interest, please contact the Social Work (MSW), Children, Youth and Families Concentration Program Coordinator:

*During the summer months, there will be a rotating department chair available to answer your inquiry. Click to find the updated summer chair for this program.*

Program Coordinator: Dr. Lynette Reitz
Email: reitzl@montclair.edu