Arkansas State University

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Studying Social Work at Arkansas State University

Arkansas State University appears in our ranking of the 36 Most Affordable Accredited MSW Programs in the South East.

Arkansas State University has a lot to offer students who want to earn a degree in social work. The school offers a "Structured Learning Assistance" program that engages and supports students who need extra help with challenging courses and a procedure by which instructors are allowed to refer students experiencing academic difficulty to be identified and recommended to the program. The school offers both baccalaureate and master's level degrees in social work. Arkansas State differentiates between the focus of the degrees. The undergraduate focus is a "generalist degree that involves a problem-solving, planned change approach to resolve a wide range of problems within micro, mezzo and macro-level client systems." The MSW degree is for students who want a higher level of education in advanced practice areas. Those with a BSW can earn an MSW in about a year through the advanced option.

The Bachelor's Degree in Social Work is a 120-credit hour program. Students first take general education courses including a required introduction to college course entitled "Making Connections." After completing 45 credit-hours in college courses, students can apply to the social work program. They must submit three letters of recommendation, a personal statement of interest and their transcript to that point. After being accepted into the program, there are 60 additional hours in the major and 22 credit-hours in electives. The program requires field experience and classes may not be taken out of sequence. Sample courses are: Abnormal Psychology; Social Work Practice I, II and III; Field Experience I and II and Cultural Diversity.

The Master's Degree in Social Work can be earned in two forms. The standard degree is intended for students who have bachelor's degrees in any discipline. To be accepted to the program, students must submit three letters of reference and a personal statement. They must also be computer literate. The program contains 60 credit hours including 27 hours of foundational courses and 33 hours of concentration courses. The advanced degree is for students who have a BSW from an accredited university. That program includes only the 33 hours in concentration classes and an elective. Those courses are: Psychopathology for Social Workers; Social Work Ethics; Social Work Evaluation and Research; Clinical Practice with Individuals; Clinical Practice with Families; Clinical Practice with Groups; Social Policy Analysis and an Integrative Research Project. The advanced program contains required field experience, as does the BSW, and it can be taken part-time or full-time.

Although there are some courses in the degrees that can be taken online, the school's social work programs are intended to be delivered in a traditional face-to-face format. There are no online social work degree programs.

About Arkansas State University

This university was founded in 1909 as the First District Agricultural School to provide a basic education in agriculture for area youth. In 1918 the school began offering two years of instruction, and in 1925 it became the First District Agricultural and Mechanical College. Five years later the institution began offering four-year degrees, and in 1933 it became Arkansas State College. The university assumed its present identity in 1967.

Arkansas State University is the second-largest university in Arkansas. It offers more than 160 degree programs through eight colleges and schools. These are: the College of Agriculture; Neil Griffin College of Business; the College of Engineering and Computer Science; the College of Liberal Arts and Communication; the College of Nursing and Health Professions; the College of Sciences and Mathematics and the Undergraduate Studies Department. The school has a student body of 14,085. The average class size is 29, and the student-to-faculty ratio is 17:1.

The US News and World Report ranks Arkansas State University as #68 in Regional Universities South. It also is ranked as # 25 in Top Public Schools.

Arkansas State University Accreditation Details

The university is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools of the Higher Learning Commission.

The Social Work degrees are accredited through the Council for Social Work Education (CSWE).

Arkansas State University Application Requirements

Students should apply to the school through its online portal. They first create an account and profile and then will have access to the application form. There is a required $30 non-refundable application fee. The university requires students to arrange for their official high school transcripts and official SAT or ACT test scores to be sent to ASU as well. They must also submit two records of having been vaccinated for measles, mumps, rubella and rubeola.

Graduate applicants should note the deadlines for their particular department or degree. Students apply online, and there is a $30 application fee. Graduate students must have their undergraduate transcripts submitted to the university and are required to submit official proof of vaccinations as well. In addition, individual programs will require certain other documentation. Graduate applications will be reviewed by the program and, if they are accepted, the applications will be sent to the graduate school for final approval.

Tuition and Financial Aid

Undergraduate tuition at Arkansas State University is $8,478 per semester. Room and board add another $8,680. The school estimates undergraduates will spend $1,000 on books and $4,913 on other fees and expenses. The total estimated cost-of-attendance for undergraduates is $23,071.

Graduate tuition is $4,132 per semester for an average of 12 credit-hours. Online students pay $210 per credit hour for tuition and another $38.75 per credit-hour for fees.

The majority of students attending Arkansas State University will need financial assistance to meet these expenses. The school recommends that students complete the FAFSA ( Free Application for Federal Student Assistance) when they apply at the school. FAFSA awards grants, student loans and work-study opportunities to students based on financial need. Arkansas has grants and scholarships for students who need help paying for their education. The Arkansas Health Education Grant, for instance, is a graduate grant for students who want to be employed in certain health fields. The GO! Grant is a $1,000 grant for low income Arkansas resident students. There are also grants for those studying to become teachers and for certain ethnic and minority groups.

The university offers grants and scholarships based on academic excellence. Colleges and departments offer assistance to people in certain degree programs, and activities and sports programs offer scholarships. private citizens, corporations and service organizations also fund grants and scholarships.

Students who apply the grants and scholarships they were awarded and still find themselves with student debt can apply for student loans. The federal government offers these, as do private lending resources. Another resource for paying for a degree at Arkansas State University is to participate in work-study program that offers not only a way to pay school expenses but an opportunity to build a resume.