School of Social Work

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Timothy Rehner, Ph.D., Director
Jerome Kolbo, Ph.D., MSW Program Coordinator
118 College Drive #5114
Hattiesburg, MS 39406-0001
(601) 266-4163
www.usm.edu/socialwork

Blackmon, Forster, Hrostowski, Hurst, Kolbo, J. Lee, Rehner, Richard, Vasquez

Unit Description

The primary purpose of the School of Social Work is to provide professional social work education to undergraduate and graduate students. The school offers the Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) degree and the Master of Social Work (MSW) degree.

The social work profession recognizes the BSW degree as preparing students for entry-level social work practice in social service agency settings. The MSW degree prepares students for advanced practice in agency settings and in private practice. The school is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education.

The USM School of Social Work develops and transmits social work knowledge and skills consistent with the values of the profession, informed by the culture and history of Mississippi. We are inspired by a vision of social justice and advocacy for the health and well-being of all people. Our graduates engage clients who primarily reside in the increasingly diverse Gulf South to produce dynamic solutions for personal, interpersonal, and system problems-especially those unique to the poor, oppressed, and underserved.

Offerings for Non-Majors

A number of courses offered within the School of Social Work do not have prerequisites and may be excellent choices for electives by non-majors. These courses include

Transfer of Credits

A total of fifteen (15) semester hours of graduate credit from other accredited institutions may be transferred to the student’s program with the approval of the appropriate department chair and dean of the Graduate School provided the course work transferred falls within the five-year period allowed for the degree. Such course work must carry a letter or numeric grade of “B” or better and not counted toward another graduate degree and cannot be a pass/fail course. The transfer grade is not calculated in the USM GPA. A total sum of no more than twenty-one (21) semester hours of transfer work and non-degree work may be applied toward a master’s degree.

1. the student requesting credit for coursework completed at another accredited institution must first be admitted to the MSW program (however, admission tot he MSW program does not guarantee approval of any transfer credits);
2. the student requesting credit must submit a letter of request to the MSW Program Coordinator which identifies the course(s) for which the transfer credit is requested, a copy of course syllabus and official transcript showing the grade(s) earned;
3. the MSW Program Coordinator will review the request for for transfer credit based on review of all submitted materials (each course for which transfer credit is requested will be reviewed independently), make recommendation to the Director of the School of Social Work and, upon approval by the Director, inform the student in writing as to the decision;
4. the student may appeal the decision of the MSW Program Coordinator to the Director of the School of Social Work.

Programs

• Master of Social Work, M.S.W.

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