Anna Maria College’s Master of Social Work program is expanding to offer a completely online program option.
Social Work students will still receive Anna Maria’s clinical and experiential education but now can take the program in a format that may be more conducive to their work schedules and life needs.
“It is the same advanced generalist practice curriculum, the same classes, just a different format,” Director of Anna Maria’s Master of Social Work Program Lenore Rust said.
The graduate-level social work classes will consist of both synchronous and asynchronous formats and will be taught in 12-week cycles.
Internships are still a required aspect of the curriculum and one that provides students with impactful real-world experience. For students in the online MSW program, the Director of Field Placement will work with them to secure internships that are in the students’ local regions.
Social Work faculty work with students to support their field placement requirements. Over the past several years, eligible Anna Maria MSW students in the on-ground program received $10,000 financial stipends, support, and interdisciplinary training to strengthen their competencies from a federal grant.
“The new online option promotes accessibility for our students, especially for working professionals or those earning their degree while raising a family,” Rust said, “We are excited and cannot wait to offer Anna Maria’s MSW education to more individuals interested in helping others.”
The need for employees with social work credentials continues to increase according to government data. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects significant employment growth across the spectrum of social work occupations.
The online track begins in a part-time format for Fall 2024 and will expand to full-time pending approval from the Council of Social Work Education (CSWE).
