Studying Social Work at Marywood
Marywood University appears in our ranking of the 35 Best Value Christian Colleges with CSWE-accredited Programs.
Since 1974, the School of Social Work in Immaculata Hall has granted the Bachelor of Social Work to Marywood University students on the path to service-oriented career success. Directed by Dr. Kielty Turner, the 120-credit BSW program teaches behavioral science for generalist practice helping at-risk populations. Required courses like Children's Rights, Family Issues, Aging, and Integrative Health Care start the junior year with a 12:1 student-faculty ratio for close professor interaction. Northeast Pennsylvania agencies, such as Clarks Summit Hospital, Friendship House, Marworth, St. Mary's Villa, and Forest City School, have placements for the 450+ fieldwork hours. Undergrads might also network with the NASW Scranton Division, join Caritas Club, attend the Annual Black Male Summit, minor in Criminal Justice, serve in Guatemala, and become Maxis-Gillet Service Scholars.
Satisfying Pennsylvania LSW licensing, Marywood University also awards the Master of Social Work to strengthen practitioners' culturally competent methods for human service leadership. The 60-credit, non-thesis curriculum headed by Dr. Phyllis Black emphasizes a systematic mode of inquiry for social justice. Those with CSWE-accredited foundational credits can take the 30-credit Advanced Standing track instead. Mandatory MSW courses like Welfare Policy are available online via Moodle and on-site in Scranton or at DeSales University, Bloomsburg University, or East Stroudsburg University. Over four semesters, graduates are supervised for 920 fieldwork hours at placements from Sacred Heart Hospice to St. Joseph's Center. Other opportunities include pursuing the Dual MPA/MSW, finishing the Home and School Visitor Certification, earning the Elisa Kalwaytis Award, joining the Graduate Student Council, and entering the Child Welfare Education for Leadership (CWEL) Program.
About Marywood University
Marywood University was founded in 1915 by the Congregation of Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary as a women's college with an inaugural class of 34. Two years later, it was given degree-granting status and enrolled its first international students. During Sister Mary Reap's 19-year tenure, Marywood added expansions, including the O'Neill Center for Healthy Families in 2002, to its 115-acre Diocese of Scranton campus. Endowed for $23.9 million, Marywood University is dedicated to "Sanctitas Scientia Sanitas" as an independent, coed Catholic ACCU member of the Colonial States Conference. Marywood maintains its progressive spirit to train 3,300 Pacers, including Social Work majors, just 2.5 hours from Manhattan. Linked to 13,251 LinkedIn alumni, Marywood has educated Lee Namey, Sister Adrian Barrett, Colette Cassidy, Bernadette Gray-Little, and more.
The U.S. News & World Report ranked Marywood the 56th best Northern university, 31st top value, and 34th most veteran-friendly campus. On Niche, Marywood is America's 97th best Catholic college, 204th best dorms, and 379th top small school. College Factual labeled Marywood University the 82nd best religious institution with the 143rd best social work program. USA Today crowned Marywood the #4 best university for health professionals. Given the 2016 Pride and Progress Award, Marywood was placed 282nd nationally by the Social Mobility Index. In Washington Monthly, Marywood University was honored for the 36th most service hours and 137th highest bachelor's to Ph.D. rate. Note that Poets & Quants positioned Marywood for the #1 least happy students though.
Marywood University Accreditation Details
In 2017, Marywood University had its Level V accreditation renewed for another 10 years by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE) without sanctions under president Sister Mary Persico, EdD. This regional organization in Philadelphia is authorized by the U.S. Department of Education to cover Marywood's 40 undergrad and 17 post-grad majors for quality assured. The Catholic institution is recognized by the Pennsylvania Department of Education and Council of Independent Colleges (CIC). Through October 2024, Marywood also has BSW and MSW programmatic approval from the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE).
Marywood University Application Requirements
The Fall 2016 acceptance rate of 68 percent caused Peterson's to classify admission to Marywood University as "moderately difficult." After the Spring sophomore term, undergrads with a minimum 2.0 GPA can apply for the BSW. Curricular prerequisites include Foundations of Social Work and Contemporary Social Work Practice. On average, admitted Pacers present a 3.46 GPA and 1110 SAT score. Transfers must have at least 42 credits remaining and be in good academic standing at other accredited colleges. For the MSW, entrants need a bachelor's degree with 18+ liberal arts credits and "B" averages. The Advanced Standing status is reserved for accredited BSW training and 3.0 GPAs.
Marywood University has rolling admission year-round. The Graduate School only has MSW deadlines for international applicants at April 30th for Summer, July 1st for Fall, and November 15th for Spring starts. Prospective social work majors can file the Common Application or Marywood Application online. If necessary, other documents might be sent to [email protected] or 2300 Adams Avenue in Scranton, PA 18509. Please don't forget the following:
- Official, sealed academic transcripts
- Two letters of educational reference
- Current resume or curriculum vitae
- Personal statement of at least 250 words
- Score reports from testing agencies
- Non-refundable $35 application fee
- Tuition and Financial Aid
Marywood BSW majors studying full-time pay annual tuition of $32,190. Part-time study costs $630 per credit. Budgets must save $1,500 for the general fee and $250 for the student activity fee. Living at the Scranton campus' dorms like Loughran Hall will add $7,822 for room and $6,078 for board yearly. The annual cost of attendance equals $50,340 for residents and $36,640 for commuters. The Master of Social Work bills post-grads $750 per credit with a $75 field education fee every semester. Total MSW pricing will range from $22,500 to $45,000.
According to the NCES College Navigator, 92 percent of full-time Marywood Pacers share $34.3 million in annual financial aid offers worth $19,507 on average. New BSW students could earn institutional funds, such as the Centennial Scholarship, Success Award, Trustees Scholarship, Phi Theta Kappa Scholarship, Opportunity Grant, and Maxis-Gillet Service Scholarship. The Human Resources Office lists Federal Work-Study jobs and graduate assistantships for 10-20 hours weekly. Submitting the FAFSA with code 003296 could qualify students for the Federal Pell, FSEOG, or Iraq and Afghanistan Service Grant. The Pennsylvania State Grant offers up to $4,123 per year based on parents' annual income. Money magazine also shows a median debt of $22,969 for Marywood graduates from Direct, PLUS, and alternative loans.
Learn more about Marywood University at the School of Social Work website.