Social Work

Department Chairperson and Graduate Program Director: Jay Memmott, Ph.D., M.S.W., ACSW

Department of Social Work
1400 W. 22nd St., Room 371
Sioux Falls, SD 57105
Phone: 605-357-1450
Jay.Memmott@usd.edu
www.usd.edu/socialwork

FACULTY

Associate Professors:

Jay Memmott, Department Chairperson and Graduate Program Director, Ph.D., M.S.W., LCSW. University of Kansas.
Debra Norris, Ed.D., M.S.W., University of South Dakota.

Assistant Professors:

Peter Kindle, Ph.D., M.S.W., M.S., University of Houston.
Soonhee Roh, Ph.D., M.S.W., LCSW, New York University.

Instructors:

Deborah Aden, Director of Field Education, M.S.W., LCSW, University of Nebraska-Omaha.
Kathy LaPlante, M.S.W., University of California, Berkley.

DEGREE

Master of Social Work (M.S.W.)  

Program Description

The program is accredited by the Council on Social Work Accreditation (CSWE). It is the only graduate social work program in the state of South Dakota. A graduate with an M.S.W. degree is highly employable in a competitive job market. The program prepares professionals to provide social work services at all levels of practice in rural and urban communities. The M.S.W. program is offered both full-time and part-time in two different formats–a 60 credit hour program for those who do not hold a baccalaureate degree in social work (regular standing)–and a 36 credit hour concentration curriculum for those eligible for advanced standing. Classes are held on Mondays and Tuesdays from 8:30 am until 9:30 pm. Internships are required and completed concurrently with coursework. Additional information is available on the department’s website, www.usd.edu/socialwork.

ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS

1. Completed Graduate Application form found at: https://usd-web.usd.edu/apps/grad-app/login.cfm and a non-refundable application fee of $35.
2. One official transcript verifying receipt of an undergraduate degree and previous graduate credit (in English or with translation) must accompany an application. In addition, an official transcript from each degree granting institution attended is required. Official transcripts of all academic work at the undergraduate and graduate levels are required for international students. The USD Graduate School and/or academic departments retain the right to require an Educational Credential Evaluators/World Education Services (ECE/WES) evaluation for a student if such an evaluation is deemed necessary.
3. Individuals holding a bachelor’s degree in social work received from an accredited CSWE program may request consideration for advanced standing. Applicants who completed their bachelor’s degree in social work from a CSWE-accredited program more than seven years prior to the date of application will be encouraged to take an introductory research methods course before beginning the M.S.W. program.  Baccalaureate degree must be from an institution with full regional accreditation for that degree. An undergraduate cumulative GPA of 3.0 or better on for the conferred degree or demonstration that the applicant is able to maintain a 3.0 in graduate study is required. This can be demonstrated if a student has successfully completed two or more graduate courses. Advanced standing applicants must also have a minimum 3.0 GPA in social work courses. Each graduate program may admit students on provisional status per university policy.
4. Applicants with degrees from countries other than the United States and who have obtained an undergraduate or graduate degree from a regionally accredited American college or university are not required to submit an approved English proficiency exam score. For all other applicants, a minimum score of 79 on the Internet-Based TOEFL (iBT) or 550 on the Paper-Based TOEFL (PBT), a minimum IELTS score of 6.0, or a minimum PTE score of 53 is required for graduate admission. Applicants from or who have obtained an undergraduate or graduate degree from these English-speaking countries (UK, Australia, Canada [except Quebec], Ireland, or New Zealand) are not required to submit an approved English proficiency exam score if their academic records indicate that English was the classroom language for the majority of their schoolwork.
5. Applicants are required to submit a statement of purpose or goal statement.  Concisely answer all of the following:
   1. Tell us about yourself
      1. How have your life experiences shaped you for a career in social work?
      2. Discuss your attributes and liabilities and how they will impact your social work career?
      3. What do you do particularly well?
      4. What areas do you need strengthening?
      5. Why do you want a M.S.W. degree?
      6. Time and energy for the M.S.W. program: Do you have the time and energy to devote to graduate school? How do you plan to readjust your life to accommodate graduate school?
      7. The M.S.W. degree requires a research project, what type of research project would you pursue and what would your research questions be for this project?
   2. Indicate your career goals
      1. What are your career goals?
      2. How will the M.S.W. degree from USD help meet your career goals?
      3. What do you want to be doing in six years?

Additional Program Admission Requirements:

6. Three (3) letters of recommendation are required, with one letter from an academic advisor or university faculty member and one letter from a supervisor.
7. Please write a short paper (double spaced, three to five pages) answering the following questions:
   1. Describe a social justice issue that is of interest to you (Examples: homelessness, needs of the elderly, human trafficking, child welfare, welfare to work programs).
   2. How do you plan to use your social work education to contribute to the resolution of the problem?
8. An applicant for advanced standing should include in the application packet a copy of the practicum evaluation completed at the end of the applicant’s undergraduate field placement.
9. Applicants must complete the following prerequisites:
   1. A Biology course (preferably with human biology content)
   2. A Statistics course
   3. Three (3) additional courses in the social/behavioral sciences. Acceptable courses would be from the following disciplines:
      1. Anthropology
      2. Sociology
      3. Economics
      4. Political Science
      5. Psychology
      6. History
      7. Human Relations

Deficits in any of these areas will not prohibit admission; however, the course(s) need to be completed with documentation of completion provided before beginning the USD M.S.W. Program.

10. Resume: A current, detailed resume with dates including the following:
    1. Education, including degree(s) and date(s) of graduation
    2. Paid Work Experience
    3. Volunteer Experience
    4. Community Involvement
    5. Military Experience, if applicable
    6. Any licenses or certifications
11. A cover letter should accompany application. Applicants who are applying for advanced standing should include this request in the cover letter.
12. Complete and submit the Application Checklist for Admission to the M.S.W. Program.
13. Applicants transferring from another graduate social work program must provide a letter of reference from the dean, program director, or chair indicating that the applicant left the graduate social work program in good standing.
14. A criminal background check is required of all accepted applicants into the M.S.W. program.
    1. Admission to the program will be conditional until the check is completed and reviewed, and the applicant is cleared to start the USD M.S.W. Program.
    2. Detailed information will be provided upon conditional acceptance.
    3. Felony convictions may result in denial of acceptance and/or eligibility for licensure.
15. Up-to-date immunizations must be completed prior to matriculation. This is a strict requirement of USD Health Affairs and the School of Health Sciences. Immunizations must include:
    1. Measles, Mumps, and Rubella (MMR) (2X)
    2. Tetanus, Diphtheria, and Pertussis (TDAP)
    3. Varicella (Chicken Pox and Shingles) Titer
    4. Hepatitis B Vaccine (3 shots), plus Titer
    5. Tuberculosis (TB) 2 Step - one every year after
    6. Influenza Vaccine - yearly

Upholding the policies established by CSWE, the M.S.W. program does not grant academic credit for life experience or previous work experience.

Interested persons are welcome to contact the Department of Social Work directly. Please contact Jay Memmott, Department Chair and Graduate Program Director.