Mission
We strive to honor God by advocating social and economic justice for the poor and vulnerable of the earth; by celebrating the joys of diversity; by integrating faith and social work; and by building the evidence of effective social work practice.

Our mission is to prepare graduates to be competent practitioners who are able to incorporate their faith and best evidence into practice; to advance social work knowledge through research and other scholarly activities; and to promote social justice worldwide through leadership roles in the social services.

Graduate Programs
The School of Social Work offers a Master of Science in Social Work (MSSW) degree and a Graduate Certificate in Social Services Administration, which may be completed while in the MSSW program of study.

The ACU MSSW program offers an innovative curriculum aimed at preparing leading edge social work practitioners. It is designed to produce versatile social work leaders who are able to incorporate their faith and employ technology to identify and make use of what works – the most promising interventions, the most forward-thinking programs and policies - to empower and instill hope in their clients and to promote positive social change.

There are two programs of study leading toward the MSSW: Standard and Advanced Standing. Both the Standard and Advanced standing programs may be through part-time enrollment. The Standard Program requires two years of full-time study (64 hours). The first year introduces important ideas and concepts that are at the heart of what it means to be a social worker and to engage in evidence-based practice. The second year concentrates on evidence-based social interventions with systems of various sizes. The standard program may be completed in four years of half-time enrollment status. The advanced standing program may be completed in two years of part-time enrollment status.

The Advanced Standing Program is for students who have completed a BSW from a program accredited by the Council on Social Work Education. Following a 6-hour summer seminar, Advanced Standing students move directly into the 32-hour second year of study.

Both programs combine classroom study with supervised internships in social service agencies and include either a thesis or a research project suitable for dissemination.

In cooperation with the Graduate School of Theology, the School of Social Work has developed plans whereby students could pursue the MSSW degree concurrently with the Master of Arts in Christian Ministry (MACM) degree.

The MSSW program is seeking accreditation by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE). The program was granted candidacy by CSWE in October 2007, and is eligible for full accreditation in 2010. Initial accreditation automatically covers those graduating classes of students admitted while the program is in candidacy.

Admission Requirements   
While the Standard Program accepts students with a bachelor’s degree in any field, students are expected to demonstrate a broad liberal arts background, including two courses from each of the following areas: science/math, social/behavioral sciences, humanities/fine arts, and communication/language. To see if a specific course qualifies for the liberal arts background requirement, please contact the School of Social Work office. A course in statistics is highly desirable.

Applicants are required to meet all of the Admission Requirements of the Graduate School. If undergraduate GPA is below 3.0, the GRE or MAT entrance exam is required. The writing sample must be a personal statement addressing your motivation for graduate studies and entering the social work profession, and reflections on the four themes of the School of Social Work—evidence-based practice, God’s gift of diversity, faith and social work, and social justice.

Applications for the Standard Program are accepted for fall admission. Advanced Standing students with a recent BSW degree from a program accredited by the CSWE are admitted in June. Applications received by February 16 will receive early review, priority for scholarships, graduate assistantships and field practicum sites. Applicants who completed the BSW more than five years ago are eligible for Advanced Standing only if they are employed in the field of social services.

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