Springfield College School of Social Work Will Offer Master’s Degree Classes at Saint Vincent Hospital, Worcester, Mass.
November 29, 2010SPRINGFIELD, Mass., Nov. 29, 2010 -- As the demand for certified social workers in central Massachusetts continues to rise, the Springfield College School of Social Work (SSW) will offer master’s-degree-level education in social work (MSW) at Saint Vincent Hospital, in Worcester, beginning in September 2011.
Through a new agreement between the two institutions, students accepted into the School of Social Work for fall 2011 will have the option to take four courses at Saint Vincent Hospital, two in the fall and two in the spring, all on weekends. Students will take the remaining courses at the Brennan Center on the Springfield College campus.
Announcing the new agreement between the college and the hospital, Francine Vecchiolla, dean of the Springfield College School of Social Work said, “This is an ideal arrangement between a hospital committed to addressing community needs and a college dedicated to preparing social workers with the latest knowledge and skills. The immediate result will be better access to advanced education for local social work professionals, and the ultimate result will be greater access to highly trained social workers for central Massachusetts residents.”
Jim Davidson, vice president of ancillary & support services at Saint Vincent Hospital, is excited to bring this opportunity to the Worcester Community; “Partnering with Springfield College in this way is consistent with our commitment to support and enrich our relationship with the communities we serve. This partnership lends itself to uphold our mission of addressing our dedication to providing quality patient care with unrelenting attention to excellence.”
Vecchiolla said that the Springfield College School of Social Work has had an increasing number of applicants from central Massachusetts in recent years.
The school offers a master of social work weekend program that students can complete in three years, and a two-year full-time program with classes two days per week. It also offers a combined master of social work/juris doctorate program in conjunction with Western New England College School of Law, which takes four years to complete. Additionally, it offers an advanced standing master of social work program for qualified graduates of bachelor of social work programs that are accredited by the Council on Social Work Education.
Distinguishing the school’s master of social work program is its single concentration in advanced generalist practice. According to Vecchiolla, “This is ideal preparation for direct practice, group work, community development and organization, and administration in a wide variety of settings including adoption agencies, schools, hospitals, veterans’ services, senior centers, prisons, mental health clinics, military support programs, public social agencies, hospice care and corporations. The school is student centered, community focused, committed to diversity and cultural competence, and committed to promoting continuous learning.”
Within the advanced general practice concentration, the school offers areas of emphasis in adult mental health, school social work, child welfare and child mental health services, and gerontology.
Vecchiolla added that, “The U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that the employment of social workers is expected to increase much faster than the average for all occupations through 2016.”
More information on the program is available from SSW Admissions Coordinator Chris Hinely, by calling 413-748-3060, or on the website www.springfieldcollege.edu/ssw. The school will hold an information session and open house on Thursday, Feb. 3, 2011, from 4 to 6 p.m. at the Springfield College Brennan Center, 45 Island Pond Rd., Springfield.
Applications, due March 3, 2011, are available on the website, or by calling the Springfield College Office of Graduate Admissions, (413) 748-3479. Applicants must submit the completed application form, resume, personal statement, transcripts from all institutions of higher education attended and three letters of reference.
The Springfield College School of Social Work is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education, the official accrediting body for social work programs in the United States. Graduates are eligible for professional social work licensure in all 50 states. MSW/JD graduates are eligible for professional social work licensure and bar examination. Western New England College School of Law is accredited by the American Bar Association and is a member of the Association of American Law Schools. Springfield College, founded in 1885, is accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges.
