Social Work Degree Programs
Appalachian State University appears in our ranking of the 36 Most Affordable Accredited MSW Programs in the South East.
Appalachian State University is home to a Department of Social Work that offers both a bachelor's degree program and a graduate degree program. Students can earn a Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) and learn more about that program before they enroll. The university actually allows students to speak with professors working in the department before they apply. This is available as a distance education program for full-time students who can take classes on its Morgantown campus. Students can also enroll part-time in a distance education version of the program available on the university's Hickory campus.
BSW students take 52 semester hours of social work classes, 23 hours of electives and general education courses to make up the 122 semester hours needed to graduate. They will take classes that include Social Work Practice with Groups, Social Work Practice with Individuals and Families and Social Welfare Policies, Programs and Issues. The university requires that bachelor's students do 30 hours of volunteer work to complete a service learning project and that they do a field placement in their final years. During this placement, students must work a little more than 30 hours a week to complete 440 hours of work in total. They must also work at an agency or organization within 150 miles of the university.
The university offers a Master of Social Work (MSW) program too. This accredited program asks students to choose a concentration in either individuals and families or community and organizational practice. Students who already have a BSW or a degree in a similar social science field can apply for the advanced standing program. It features 33 hours of work rather than the 60 hours of work required of traditional MSW students. Advanced standing students can take hybrid classes that include some online and offline work.
One of the main components of this program is the field education in which students participate. They can do their first fieldwork experience in their first semesters, but they will need to do more experiences while in school. The university requires that they complete a minimum of 240 hours of work each semester but gives them the freedom to work for different organizations each semester. Students may have the chance to complete their fieldwork for their employers too. Appalachian State University requires that students keep track of the hours they work and that they submit those hours to the department.
About Appalachian State University
Appalachian State University is a public university in North Carolina. Established in 1899, its Boone campus went through a number of changes and is now one of the most modern in the area as well as being one of the campuses in the University of North Carolina system. Though the university started out as a teaching school, it now offers more than 170 degree programs for undergrads. U.S. News and World Report ranks it as one of the top 10 graduate schools in the south and as one of the most affordable schools too.
Also known by other names such as ASU and Appalachian State, it ranks as a best value school, according to Princeton Review. TIME also named it the nation's best university in 2001. Though the campus itself is in a rural part of the state, it's much larger than some students expect. Appalachian State now has an enrollment of nearly 1,800 graduate students and more than 17,000 undergraduate students.
Appalachian State University Accreditation Details
One type of accreditation that Appalachian State has is the specialty accreditation it has for its social work programs. The Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) granted that accreditation to the university. This accreditation lets students know that all the university's social work programs meet the guidelines established by that accrediting board. Appalachian State also has regional accreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools and its Commission on Colleges (SACSCC). Not only does this type of accreditation cover all its degree programs, but it also allows students to apply for financial aid and transfer their credits.
Appalachian State University Application Requirements
Students who want to earn an MSW from Appalachian State must have a bachelor's degree and a grade point average of 3.0 or higher in all the undergrad classes they took. Students with a GRE score in the 25th percentile or higher only need a GPA of 2.5 or higher. They will fill out the university's application packet and submit the graduate school application and fee. Appalachian State also requires an official GRE score, personal statement, resume and three letters of recommendation. Any student applying to the advanced standing program must have a 3.2 GPA also.
Undergrads do not need to meet as many requirements. They can apply via the Common Application. If the university receives their applications and supporting paperwork by November 15, it will send them a decision letter by January 25. Students who submit their information by the middle of February will receive a response by the middle of March. The university asks students to submit an application and pay the $65 application fee. They will also submit their official high school and/or college transcripts and test scores. Application State may require that students show proof that they are North Carolina residents or ask them to sign a form that allows the university to conduct a background check.
Tuition and Financial Aid
Appalachian State is a highly affordable public university. Full-time undergrads pay $7,651 per year and close to $7,100 for room and board. They pay less than $15,000 a year to live on the university's campus and take a full course load. Nonresidents pay the same room and board fees but also pay around $22,500 a year for tuition and fees, which brings their costs up to $29,600 a year. Graduate students pay $4,000 a semester as a North Carolina resident and $10,700 a semester as a nonresident.
Though the university is fairly affordable, some students still need help and will want to complete the FAFSA. The government puts this form online every year in October and makes it available to both undergrads and graduate students. Students can qualify for financial aid packages that include both scholarships and grants from the university itself and government loans and grants. Appalachian State University recommends that students check out some of the Department of Social Work scholarships as they apply for admissions and aid.