A new Master of Social Work (MSW) program designed to fit the schedules of those in full-time employment, has been launched for the fall 2020 semester. The Working Professionals MSW offers a unique opportunity for those who wish to pursue graduate level education, skills and knowledge in the practice specialization of adult mental health and wellness across the lifespan.

The program is intended for individuals who want to make a difference in the lives of those facing challenges that impact their mental health or that of their loved ones. The direct practice focus of this program will benefit graduates who want to become licensed clinical social workers helping adults and families with mental health, substance use disorders, trauma and medical issues, and more.

“We know working professionals have a myriad of responsibilities,” said Interim Executive Vice Dean Concepcion Barrio. “We’ve heard from them how difficult it is for them to take advantage of the traditional MSW program. We designed this new program to address that gap by building a flexible schedule that allows busy students to balance their work and family commitments while advancing their professional graduate education.”

The USC Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work has a history of innovation in social work education, pioneering educational techniques such as the Virtual Field Practicum, which provides skills training and application experience in a simulated telehealth setting; and developing a military social work specialization to help veterans and military families.

Boosting accessibility was front and center as the school’s administrators developed the program, Barrio said. They heard from mid-career level potential students that there was demand for this kind of MSW program from USC.

“Students in the Working Professionals MSW will be able to tap into the school’s rich learning environment with access to our outstanding faculty, cutting-edge research and peerless alumni network, just like all our MSW students. Through this tailored program, they’ll be able to do so on a schedule that works for them,” Barrio said.

The program will draw students from the greater Los Angeles area for evening courses held  at the school’s location on the campus of USC. Students will be placed in a cohort for the program’s seven consecutive semesters (fall, spring and summer), completing a 60-unit curriculum.

As part of the 60-unit on-campus requirements, students in the Working Professionals MSW will fulfill the requirements for two field placements. The first field placement will be completed through participation in the school’s groundbreaking Virtual Field Practicum. The second field experience will be completed through a hands-on internship in a community-based agency, just as their counterparts do in the school’s traditional on-campus and online MSW programs. The second placement will be completed over the span of three semesters; this supervised internship will be spent working 16-20 hours a week in a community-based placement.

“Students from all different types of backgrounds tell us personal stories about why they are serious about pursuing this type of education, but are held back by commitments that require flexibility,” Barrio said.

Those interested in an MSW degree come from a broad range of professions, including business, journalism, entertainment, law and education, as well as the field of social work, Barrio said. They are interested in helping people from veterans coping with post-traumatic stress disorder to victims of intimate partner violence to individuals with mental illness.

Enrollment for the fall 2020 semester is now open, with an application deadline of April 1, 2020. Students enrolled in this program will be on track to complete all MSW degree requirements by December 2022.