ACADEMIC PROGRAMS

Academic Programs

Master of Science in Social Administraion (M.S.S.A.)

Download the latest Dual Disorders Fellows Program brochure here.

Master of Science in Social Administration (M.S.S.A.) Overview

The Master of Science in Social Administration (M.S.S.A.) program prepares students for advanced social work practice in a variety of settings.

• M.S.S.A.
• Field Education and Curriculum
• Advanced Standing Programs
• Senior Year in Professional Studies Program
• Intensive Weekend Program
• Intensive Weekend Field Education
• Extended Degree Program
• Ability Based Learning Environment (ABLE)
• Associations and Special Programs

Concentrations

• The Community and Social Development Concentration
  The emphasis on community development indicates the importance of community in understanding the context of social challenges and opportunities and as a critical component to lasting solutions. Although community often refers to geographic communities the concepts and strategies are also applicable to other types of communities – such as communities of interest, background or affiliation. "Development" refers to the process of increasing the assets of a community, including physical, economic, social, cultural, and spiritual assets. "Social development" is highlighted because, as a school of social work, we have unique expertise in the social assets, needs, and processes that enable individuals and families to achieve and sustain a higher standard of living.
  • The Community and Social Development Concentration
  
  
• The Direct Practice Concentration
  The Direct Practice Concentration prepares students to address complex human needs in the context of an evolving practice environment. The Direct Practice Concentration focuses on skill development and fosters the integration of knowledge about diverse populations and problems as they occur in a variety of practice settings. Within in the Direct Practice Concentration are five specializations.
  • The Aging Specialization
  • The Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Specialization
  • The Children, Youth and Families Specialization
  • The Health Specialization
  • The Adult Mental Health Specialization
  • Child/Adolescent Mental Health Specialization

Dual Degree Programs

The dual degree is structured for students who seek the traditional goals of the Ph.D. program--contributing to the advancement of the knowledge base of social welfare through research and theory development--and a desire to become professional social workers at the master's level.

• Dual Social Work and Law Degree Program
• Dual Social Work and Management of Nonprofit Organizations
• Dual Social Work and Business Administration Program
• Master of Science in Social Administration and Master of Arts in Bioethics "Side-by-Side" Joint Degree Program (MSSA/MA)

School Social Work

The School Social Work Program is a part of the Children, Youth and Families Specialization. For a thorough description and all additional information for this program please see the School Social Work web site

Field Education

The Field Education Web Site includes the most up-to-date information about the Field Education and Intensive Weekend Field Education programs and curriculums. These pages provide access the field manual, field forms, schedules, and information regarding your field education advisor.

Louis Stokes Scholarship

The Louis Stokes Fellowship in Community Development provides full-tuition scholarships and a travel stipend to students already working in community development, in an intensive weekend program designed to accommodate work schedules, and foster leadership among African-Americans and Hispanics in the field of community development.

• Louis Stokes Fellowship webpage
• Scholarship Information

The Doctor of Philosophy

Our program of study prepares scholars, teachers, practitioners, and policy makers to be leaders who are capable of generating new knowledge for human services and social welfare. Our curriculum develops these abilities by emphasizing the creative and evaluative skills which are necessary for independent inquiry. Students are prepared to be knowledgeable in social and behavioral sciences; research design, research implementation, statistics, and the philosophy of science; theory-building and theories of social welfare; methods for the application and transmission of knowledge in human services.

• The Ph.D. Program Web site

Continuing Education

Continuing Education credits are available for social workers, counselors, psychologists, Nursing Home Administrators (BENHA), chemical dependency counselors (BRCH), nurses (CNE) and educators will get L.P.D.C. points for certification or licensure. We offer workshops in Akron, Cleveland, Massillon, Toledo, Westlake, Youngstown and Erie, P.A.

• The Continuing Education Program