Humboldt State University Distributed Learning MSW
Program Options: Full-Time, Part-Time, Advanced Standing
Tuition: $6,738
Acceptance Rate: 75%
GRE Required: No, optional
1-Year/Accelerated Option: Yes
Campus Visits Required: Yes
Field Hours: 960 hours
CSWE Accredited: Yes (1992)
Application Deadline: February 28
Overview
Humboldt State University is a large public university in Arcata, California. Also called Humboldt and HSU, its history dates back to 1931. It initially opened as the Humboldt State Normal College. Like other normal schools of the time, it focused more on certificates and diplomas than degrees, but this changed when it became Humboldt State College in 1935. In 1972, the school became part of the California State University system and operated under the name of CSU Humboldt before becoming Humboldt State in 1975. It is still part of the CSU system and now offers doctoral, bachelor’s, master’s and certificate programs.
HSU ranks in a few different ways. Both Princeton Review and Washington Monthly rank it among the top colleges in the western region of the United States. Forbes ranks it on a national list of the top colleges in America, and Washington Monthly ranks it as one of the top 20 graduate schools in the nation too. Humboldt State now operates a Distributed Learning program that allows students to earn a Master of Social Work (MSW) online.
Related resource: Top 10 Affordable Master of Social Work Online (MSW) Degrees
Strengths
The Distributed Learning MSW program that Humboldt State offers is one of the more unique programs in the state. It allows students to work on their studies without worrying about visiting the campus a few times a week. The university only requires that students visit the campus once a year while working on their degrees. Students only need to come for the university’s intensive, which it offers every January. It accepts just 25 new students into this program each year. The program includes an orientation session that takes place on the campus at the beginning of the new school year too. Humboldt designed this program to meet the needs of students living in rural communities and the people living in those communities who need help.
Concentrations
This program does not have any concentrations available. Those who want to study select topics can take a special topics course, which is available once a year. Humboldt State also allows students to do independent research and to take an independent study class.
Program Requirements
The university offers both an advanced standing program for those who already have a Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) and a standard program for those with a degree in another area. Those without a social work degree will need to take 60 credits of work, but the university divides that work into 30 credits of work each year. Advanced standing students will need to take six credits over the summer and then 30 credits during the school year. The DL program is available as a part-time program that takes students 3-1/2 years to finish. These students take 10 semesters of work online in addition to coming to the campus for the January sessions. Each session allows students to mingle with their professors and other students taking online courses. The sessions include classes and workshops too.
Admissions Requirements
Students applying to the Distributed Learning program must meet all the requirements of the Department of Social Work and all the requirements for graduate study at Humboldt State University. Incoming students must have a bachelor’s degree to start classes. The university will accept students who apply before completing their degrees but will require proof that the student has a degree before classes start. Students must also submit a transcript that shows the student had a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.0 and that the student earned a grade of “C” or higher in a statistics class. Humboldt looks only at the grades earned during the student’s last two years of study.
The university asks for other information to get an idea of how well the student will do at the graduate level and in the DL program. Students must supply a personal statement that is similar to an essay. This letter must explain why the student wants to enroll in the DL program, his or her reasons for selecting Humboldt State and any future career goals the individual has. The university asks for letters of recommendation or references and a resume too.
Faculty
Approximately 26 professors and instructors work for Humboldt University in its Department of Social Work. Those professionals include assistant professors and lecturers as well as full-time faculty members. Each individual has several years of experience or more. Some of these professors specialize in certain areas of study such as child welfare and can provide students with a better understanding of child welfare topics such as recognizing the signs of abuse and working with mandatory reporters.
Online Courses
Every student in the DL program must agree to log into the system each week to participate in a seminar course. This course allows students to talk about the readings they did for the week and to take part in other discussions. Online courses require that students post responses to essay questions, respond to the posts made by others and take quizzes and exams. Those taking classes online will take the same courses as the students on the campus do, but online students move at a different pace and have access to different classes each semester. Those classes can include Child & Family Welfare, Integrated Clinical Practice, Communities & Organizations, Generalist Social Work Practice and Social Work Practice in Native American & Rural Communities. Humboldt also offers courses like Social Work Practice in School Settings, Data Analysis and Evaluation and Dynamics of Groups, Agencies and Organizations.
Internships
Humboldt State expects all DL MSW students to do four field placements over the course of their studies that act as internships. They’ll need to do one in the third, fourth, ninth and tenth semesters. Students will need to do 240 hours of fieldwork during each experience. Though some students choose to work in the same areas or fields, other students use this to learn more about different careers as they work for different organizations and departments. The field education office at the university will provide assistance to students who need help locating a field placement.
Contact
(707) 826-4448