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Master of Social Work Program, Distance Education Option

 

If you have any questions, please call (808) 956-9470, sswde@hawaii.edu

 

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Since 1988 the Thompson School of Social Work & Public Health has provided opportunities for residents on our neighbor islands (Hawaii Island, Kauai, Lanai, Maui, Molokai) to complete  graduate degrees in social work. In 2007, the program was switched from a traveling degree program to a distance education technology-mediated degree and has since graduated over 200 students. Beginning in Fall 2020, the DE Option of the MSW Program will be available to students statewide.

Classes in the DE Option are held on weeknights and delivered via a hybrid, or blended approach, using interactive television (called HITS), online computer-based technology, and occasional face-to-face onsite instruction. The HITS site locations include (UH Hilo, Hawaii Community College – Palamanui, Kauai Community College, UH Maui College Lanai Education Center, UH Maui College, UH Maui College Hana Education Center, UH Maui College Molokai Education Center, UH West Oahu). Students are required to attend a meeting on Oahu once a year to receive training, advising and other educational content.

Distance education students follow the three-year MSW Plan that is also offered to campus-based students, which includes four semesters of field education (practicum). Although students can usually remain employed while enrolled in the DE option, they are expected to make arrangements with their employment to accommodate their field education schedules. Not all specializations of the MSW Program are available via the DE Option, and students progress through the program in cohort formats of up to 30 students.

An Advanced Standing option is available for any applicant holding a Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) degree from a CSWE accredited program which was awarded within seven years of the anticipated MSW graduation date. Acceptance as an advanced standing student is not guaranteed. Being awarded Advanced Standing means following either a one or two-year, rather than a three-year program of study. While the three-year DE MSW option is available only to people who reside in Hawaii, residents of Guam with a BSW degree from CSWE-accredited programs may apply to the Advanced Standing option.

Does the MSW program admit students for the spring semester?

No. New MSW students are admitted only for the fall semester.

When is the application deadline?

February 1st at 11:59 pm EASTERN time for all MSW (Mānoa campus-based and Distance Education) applicants.

Are there any prerequisite courses to apply for the MSW program?

There are no specific courses required for admission to the MSW program, but you must have a bachelor’s degree and a liberal arts background.

The liberal arts background is defined as at least one course with a grade of C or better in each of the following areas  – logic/analytical thinking, behavioral science, social science, biological science with a focus on human biology, and culture.

Is your MSW program online?

No. We have a Distance Education (DE) option for the MSW program, but online instruction is only one of several distance education delivery modalities utilized in this option. For this and other reasons, the DE option is available only at limited locations. For more information, go to https://manoa.hawaii.edu/thompson/distanceeducation/.

Are Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores required?

Not for most applicants. Exception: If more than 25 percent of your undergraduate course work was graded under a nontraditional grading system (e.g., pass/fail, credit/no credit, S/U, etc.), you must take the GRE general test and submit the results to the UH Mānoa Graduate Division Student Services Office. For more information, go to https://manoa.hawaii.edu/graduate/documentation-requirements/ and https://manoa.hawaii.edu/graduate/standardized-exams/.

If I am an international student, do I need to take the TOEFL or IELTS exam?

The Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or International English Language Testing System (IELTS) is required for most international applicants. Test scores must be submitted directly to the UH Mānoa Graduate Division Student Services Office. A minimum TOEFL score of 560 on the paper-based test or 83 on the internet-based
test is required. An overall band test score of 6.5 is required for the IELTS. Test scores cannot be more than two years old. International applicants should visit the following websites for further information and requirements:

http://manoa.hawaii.edu/graduate/content/international-students

http://www.hawaii.edu/issmanoa/

Does the MSW Admissions Office accept unofficial transcripts?

Yes, please upload unofficial transcripts in SocialWorkCAS for every college/university attended, regardless of how many credits taken and even if transfer credits are reflected on another transcript submitted.

But as a reminder, transcripts are also required by the UH Mānoa Graduate Division.  Refer to https://manoa.hawaii.edu/graduate/documentation-requirements/ for Graduate Division transcript submission requirements.

Can I get credit for work experience?

No. Students cannot receive course credit for previous work or life experience. However, be sure to include this information in your resume and personal statement.

How do I fit field education (practicum) into my schedule?

Students are required to complete four semesters of field education (practicum) totaling a minimum of 900 clock hours (two semesters for a total of 450 hours for Advanced Standing). Now is the time to figure out how practicum will fit into your life, school, and work schedules. Practicum requires a minimum of 16 hours per week each semester. The business of social service agencies and appropriate field placement settings is primarily conducted during the business day (8 am-5 pm, Monday-Friday); therefore, students should expect to allot 16 daytime/business hours per week to complete the Field Education requirement.

How much is tuition?

Please refer to https://manoa.hawaii.edu/registrar/tuition-fees/ for UH Mānoa graduate tuition rates. The total number of credits required for the MSW degree is 57 credits (or 30 credits for Advanced Standing).

MSW students take 12-15 credits per semester to graduate in two years (or one year for Advanced Standing), 9-12 credits/semester for a three-year academic plan, or 6-9 credits/semester for a four-year academic plan.
Residency for tuition purposes is determined at the time of admission by the UH Mānoa Graduate Division based on the Residency Declaration Form (refer to https://manoa.hawaii.edu/graduate/documentation-requirements/) in accordance with University residency regulations (refer tohttp://manoa.hawaii.edu/admissions/financing/residency.ht

When will I receive my admission decision?

Most (but not all) applicants will receive a decision letter from the UH Mānoa Graduate Division sometime between early March and mid-May.

Please be sure to keep both the Graduate Division and the MSW program updated with your most current contact information to ensure that you do not miss any important notifications.

Graduate

 

Tuition and Fee charges at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa campuses are subject to change in accordance with requirements of State law and/or action by the Board of Regents or the University administration. Your tuition is based on the number of credit hours for which you enroll, according to the following rates (subject to change). This information is taken from the UH System Tuition Schedule.

 

If you are enrolled in only a Dissertation 800 course for 1 credit and are classified as a nonresident, please inform the UH Cashier’s Office to adjust your tuition before paying. Your tuition and fees should be charged at the resident rate. If more than 1 credit or other courses are taken, your tuition will be based on the non-resident tuition rate for all classes enrolled.

Graduate Full-Time Status is 8 credits or more per Fall or Spring semester. Please see the Graduate Division for all enrollment status definitions. Please visit the William S. Richardson School of Law and John A. Burns School of Medicine for their definitions.

 

General & Post-Baccalaureate

Credits Fees Resident Tuition Non-Resident Tuition
Under 12 $451 $650 (per credit) $1,402 (per credit)
12+ $451 $7,800 $16,824

School of Architecture

Credits Fees Resident Tuition Non-Resident Tuition
Under 12 $951 $650 (per credit) $1,402 (per credit)
12+ $951 $7,800 $16,824

Shidler College of Business

Credits Fees Resident Tuition Non-Resident Tuition
Under 12 $451 $887 (per credit) $1,598 (per credit)
12+ $451 $10,644 $19,176

School of Nursing

Credits Fees Resident Tuition Non-Resident Tuition
Under 12 $451 $1,001 (per credit) $1,896 (per credit)
12+ $451 $12,012 $22,752

William S. Richardson School of Law

Credits Fees Resident Tuition Non-Resident Tuition
Under 12 $386 $933 (per credit) $1,909 (per credit)
12+ $386 $11,196 $22,908

John A. Burns School of Medicine

Credits Fees Resident Tuition Non-Resident Tuition
Under 12 $386 $1,528 (per credit) $2,972 (per credit)
12+ $386 $18,336 $35,664

 

You are encouraged to register for classes during the registration period designated for your student classification. If you are unable to register during the registration period, you may still register during the late registration period.  A single late non-refundable registration fee of $30.00 (system-wide) will be applied to your bill for late registration.

At the completion of classroom and field education, graduating MSW students:

  1. Are prepared for the specialized practice of social work that embodies the knowledge, values, skills, and cognitive and affective processes of the profession and a commitment to social and economic justice.
  2. Integrate specific knowledge and skills for practice with oppressed groups and diverse populations, with attention to the unique role our island home plays in the lives and well-being of its people, particularly Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander, and Asian populations in the community, state, and Pacific region.
  3. Recognize the intersectionality of diversities in ourselves and others as central to successful social work practice.
  4. Demonstrate cultural humility and incorporate Indigenous ways of knowing towards decolonized professional practice.

 

Since 1988, the Thompson School of Social Work & Public Health has provided opportunities for residents on our neighbor islands (Hawai‘i Island, Kauai, Lanai, Maui, Molokai) to complete graduate degrees in social work.

 

In 2007, the program was switched from a traveling degree program to a distance education technology-mediated degree and has since graduated over 200 students.

 

Classes in the DE Option are held on weeknights and delivered via a hybrid, or blended approach, using interactive television (called HITS), online computer-based technology, and occasional face-to-face onsite instruction. The HITS site locations include (UH Hilo, Hawaii Community College – Palamanui, Kauai Community College, UH Maui College Lanai Education Center, UH Maui College, UH Maui College Hana Education Center, UH Maui College Molokai Education Center, UH West Oahu). Students are required to attend a meeting on Oahu once a year to receive training, advising and other educational content.

 

Distance education students follow the three-year MSW Plan that is also offered to campus-based students, which includes four semesters of field education (practicum). Although students can usually remain employed while enrolled in the DE option, they are expected to make arrangements with their employment to accommodate their field education schedules. Not all specializations of the MSW Program are available via the DE Option, and students progress through the program in cohort formats of up to 30 students.

 

An Advanced Standing option is available for any applicant holding a Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) degree from a CSWE accredited program which was awarded within seven years of the anticipated MSW graduation date. Acceptance as an advanced standing student is not guaranteed. Being awarded Advanced Standing means following either a one or two-year, rather than a three-year program of study. While the three-year DE MSW option is available only to people who reside in Hawaii, residents of Guam with a BSW degree from CSWE-accredited programs may apply to the Advanced Standing option.