The School of Social Work offers graduate study leading to the Master of Social Work (MSW) degree. The goal of the program is to prepare graduates for advanced practice from a generalist perspective in a wide range of social work settings. Using a combination of cognitive work in the classroom and guided experience in field practica, the curriculum covers five course content areas: human behavior and the social environment, social welfare policies and services, research, social work practice, and field education. The curriculum provides opportunity for students to acquire, test, and refine the knowledge, skills, and values necessary for practice as professional social workers. There are two avenues to the Master of Social Work degree, the regular program and the advanced standing program. The MSW requires 63 credit hours of study for the regular program and 44 credit hours for the advanced standing program, and may be taken on a full-time or half-time basis.

Upon completion of the MSW degree, graduates are prepared to seek licensing as Licensed Master Social Workers (LMSW) by successfully completing the examination offered by the Maine State Board of Social Work Licensure. After a prescribed period of satisfactory, supervised post-MSW practice in a mental health setting, graduates who have met certain academic requirements are qualified to be examined for licensing as Licensed Clinical Social Workers (LCSW). The regular program consists of 45 credit hours of classroom work and 18 credits of supervised practicum. The practicum includes a minimum of 900 clock hours divided between two agency settings. The full-time program is designed to be completed in four semesters. The half-time extended program is designed to be completed in four years. The full-time program for advanced standing students includes a seven week summer session and two semesters. The part-time advanced standing program includes the seven week summer session and four semesters.  There is also a weekend option offered at the Fred Hutchinson Center in Belfast.  Students can complete their MSW in three years including summer semesters.  Students are admitted into the Belfast option two out of every three years.

Classroom courses are offered in Orono on two consecutive weekdays or at the Hutchinson Center in Belfast on Weekends. Practicum sites are, when possible, selected near students’ home communities.

Students with BSW or BASW degrees obtained no more than five years prior to application, from undergraduate social work programs accredited by the Council on Social Work Education may be eligible for advanced standing upon meeting general eligibility requirements and submitting the following additional materials from their undergraduate program director: a statement that the student has had 400 or more clock hours in field practica, a description of the field experience, and the student’s final field evaluation. Advanced standing students usually complete the program with 44 credit hours (34 credit hours of classroom work and 10 credits of supervised practicum). This includes a seven-week bridging course in the summer. Applicants who have completed some foundation content coursework in another CSWE accredited program within the past five years may request a review of that coursework for possible equivalency or elective credit. In no case can academic credit be given for prior work or life experience.

The MSW program was fully accredited by the Council on Social Work Education in October 2003 for eight years.

To be considered for fall admission, completed applications must be received by February 15. If you are planning to apply to the MSW Program, please contact the MSW Program Coordinator, School of Social Work, 112 Social Work Building (207 581-2389) or e-mail (socialwork@umit.maine.edu) to make sure you have the school’s additional application material to complete your Graduate School application.  For more information about the School of Social Work, visit http://www.umaine.edu/socialwork/

Graduate Faculty

Robin Russel, Ph.D. (University of Illinois, 1986), Professor and Director. Spirituality and social work practice/education, child welfare, family violence, women’s health.

Sandra S. Butler, Ph.D. (University of Washington, Seattle, 1991), Professor and MSW Coordinator. Gerontology, Social policy, poverty, homelessness, advocacy.

Elizabeth DePoy, Ph.D. (University of Pennsylvania, 1988), Professor and Coordinator of the Disabilities Studies Program. Social work in health settings, disability, research methodology.

Stephen, Gilson, Ph.D. (University of Nebraska, 1991),  Professor, Disability, health policy, legislative advocacy.

Cary Jenson, Ph.D. (Virginia Commonwealth University, 1997), Associate Professor. Child mental health, social work research.

Lenard Kaye, D.S.W. (Columbia University, 1982). Professor and Director of Center on Aging, Gerontology, Administration, Strategic Planning

Nancy Kelly, M.S.W. (Rutgers University, 1986), Field Coordinator. Developmental disability, child welfare.

John Peters, Ph.D. (University of Maine, 2004), Assistant Professor and BASW Coordinator, Mental Health, child welfare, trauma, social work practice.

Gail B. Werrbach, (University of Texas, Austin, 1988), Associate Professor. Families and children, mental health, child welfare.

Emeritus Faculty

Cleo S. Berkun, D.S.W. (University of California at Berkeley, 1981), Associate Professor Emeritus. A School of Social Work. Adult development, minority and women’s issues, issues of middle age and aging.

Patty A. Coleman, Ph.D. (Bryn Mawr College, 1989), Associate Professor Emeritus. Social policy, social movements, advocacy, social service management; issues in health, race & gender studies, and family policy.

Diane C. Haslett, Ph.D. (University of Illinois, Chicago, 1991), Associate Professor. Group work, women’s issues, adolescence and teenage pregnancy.

Donald M. Pilcher, Ph.D. (University of California, San Diego, 1976), Professor Emeritus. Research and social policy.