Springfield College School of Social Work to Host Open House

SPRINGFIELD — The Springfield College School of Social Work (SSW) will be staging an open house for prospective students from 4 to 6 p.m. at the Brennan Center, 45 Island Pond Road, Springfield, and at Saint Vincent Hospital, 123 Summer St., Worcester, on Oct. 12.

The SSW offers multiple programs for students including a full-time, two-year, weekday master of social work program in Springfield, and a part-time, three-year, weekend master of social work program in Springfield and Worcester. There are also options for graduates of Council on Social Work Education-accredited Bachelor of Social Work programs to choose either a four-semester weekend or three-semester weekday advanced standing program. The combined master of Social Work/Juris Doctorate is a four-year, full-time program in conjunction with Western New England University School of Law. Students also can work toward a post-master’s certificate in advanced practice with children and adolescents.

“The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that the demand for social workers is slated to increase by 12{06cf2b9696b159f874511d23dbc893eb1ac83014175ed30550cfff22781411e5} from 2014 to 2024, and the 2015 statistics on social work education in the United States indicate enrollment of full-time MSW students has increased by 25.7{06cf2b9696b159f874511d23dbc893eb1ac83014175ed30550cfff22781411e5} in the last five years,” said Springfield College SSW Dean Francine J. Vecchiolla. “Our master of Social Work program offers a single concentration in advanced generalist practice, which is ideal preparation for direct practice, group work, community development and organization, and administration in a wide variety of settings including adoption agencies, schools, hospitals, veterans’ services, senior centers, prisons, mental health clinics, military support programs, public social agencies, hospice care and corporations. The school is student centered, community focused, and committed to diversity and cultural competence and to promoting continuous learning.”

At the open house, prospective graduate students will hear from a panel of faculty members, current students, field education faculty, and admissions staff. Refreshments will be served. Advance registration for the open house is available by calling the admissions coordinator at (413) 748-3060 or prospective students may RSVP online.