I chose

k u t ztow n

J e r e mi a h G o l d b e r g Social Work program

The Social Work Department offered a program
that was flexible enough to compliment my personal
schedule. The faculty were responsive and genuinely
interested in helping me achieve my goals.

Their dedication helped to facilitate the learning

process in a way that was motivational, personable,
and collaborative.

Master of social work

Students experience peer support, collaboration and individualized faculty
involvement and advisement.

The Master of Social Work (MSW) program at Kutztown

University focuses on the needs of the family in its social environment. MSW students are actively engaged with faculty experts
in both exploring and enhancing their knowledge as it is related
to the strengths and needs of the family. Students, faculty and
human service providers collaborate to assist families and change
the social environment to support the families of today and
tomorrow.
Students develop a clear understanding to practice social work

with individuals, groups, families, organizations and communities in their foundation year of study. The advanced year provides
a concentration, developing knowledge on the family in its social
environment. Students develop further specialization through
elective course offerings and an agency-based practicum experience. This specialized program of study is achieved through
each students choice of six, one-credit elective courses from a
broad range of topics, from therapeutic interventions to agency
administration and policy development.

program of study
Foundation level Courses

Elective Courses

Foundation level courses enable students to demonstrate

competency in generalist social work with individuals, groups,
families, communities and organizations. A 450-hour supervised
internship is required.

Six, one-credit electives enable students to craft a unique

specialization consistent with their career aspirations. Courses
include such topics as:
Family Treatment Modalities
Family Crisis Intervention
Family Groups
Short-Term Treatment Models for Families
Psychopharmacology
Differential Assessment
Family Maltreatment
Healthcare
Community Social Needs Assessment
Program Evaluation
Information Technology & Social Work Practice
Immigrant Families
Family Group Decision Making
Child Permanence
Intervention with Substance-Abusing Populations
Motivational Interviewing Strategies
Publishing & Professional Presentation
Clinical Supervision
Family Mediation
Independent Study

Advanced Level Courses

Advanced level courses enable students to demonstrate
autonomous social work practice with a focus on the programs
unique theoretical perspective: Family-In-Environment.

requirements
For students with an undergraduate degree in Social Work:
Graduate application (www.kutztown.edu/Graduate Apply)
$35 application fee
Official transcripts from previously attended colleges or universities

For students without an undergraduate degree in Social Work,

the following prerequisite courses must have been completed in
addition to the requirements listed on left:
Macroeconomics
Statistics

Social Issues and Personal essays

American Government

Three letters of recommendation

Biology

GRE scores

Nine (9) credits in Social/Behavioral Science

A d va n c e d S ta n d i n g P r o g r a m
*Advanced Standing status may be granted only to students who
have earned a Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) from a Council on
Social Work-accredited program. Advanced Standing status allows
students to complete the Master of Social Work (MSW) program
in one calendar year or two years beginning with an internship in
the summer. Advanced Standing seminars meet on Saturdays.

Scheduling Options
All traditional and Advanced Standing MSW students can fit
into the weekday schedule or weekend executive schedule.
Courses are offered face-to-face with select hybrid options.
Course sequencing includes a one-year (Advanced Standing*),
two-, three- or four-year option depending on educational plan.

traditional weekday Schedule

Classes meet on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and
Fridays from 7 10 a.m.

Weekend executive Schedule

Classes meet on Fridays from 7 10 a.m. and on Saturdays
from 8 a.m. 5 p.m.

summer Schedule
Classes meet on on Saturdays from 8 11 a.m. and noon
3 p.m.
Select courses are offered as options for Advanced Standing students, and run from 8 11 a.m. and noon 3 p.m.
The Master of Social Work Program at Kutztown University is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education. Graduates of accredited
social work programs are eligible to take the Pennsylvania State Board of Social Work Examiners license exam. Students accepted into the
program must complete all requirements within six calendar years.

F a c u lt y
The Social Work curriculum is taught by faculty members who are dedicated full-time to the Department of Social Work and have completed graduate degrees from accredited schools of social work. They are recognized academicians, professional practitioners and
researchers who bring a broad range of experiences to the classroom which include work in public welfare, grant writing, aging, youth and
family services, addictions, vocational rehabilitation, program administration, child welfare, program evaluation, disabilities, and mental
health.
John Conahan, Ph.D., LCSW
Marywood University, Ph.D.; Marywood University, MSW;
Belknap College, BS

Staci M. Perlman, Ph.D.

University of Pennsylvania, Ph.D.; University of Pennsylvania,
MSW; University of Rhode Island, BA/BS

Janice A. Gasker, DSW, LCSW, ACSW

University of Pennsylvania, DSW; Marywood University, MSW;
Cedar Crest College, BA

Yasoda Sharma, Ph.D.

University of Texas at Arlington, Ph.D.; Banarus Hindu
University, MSW; Bangalore University, BA

Edward P. Hanna, DSW, LCSW

University of Pennsylvania, DSW; University of Pennsylvania,
MSW; Colby College, BS

John Vafeas, DSW, LSW, Chairperson

University of Pennsylvania, DSW; University of Pennsylvania,
MSW; Winthrop University, BA

Sharon C. Lyter, Ph.D., LCSW

Rutgers University, Ph.D.; Temple University, MSW; East
Stroudsburg University, BA

Mary Rita Weller, D.Ed.

Widener University, D.Ed.; Temple University, MSW; State
University College of New York, BA

Varsha Pandya, Ph.D., ACSW

Case Western Reserve University, Ph.D.; University of Bombay,
India, MSW; University of Bombay, India, BS

Barth Yeboah, DSW

University of Pennsylvania, DSW; University of Delhi, India,
MSW; Jamia Millia Islamia, India, BSW

Our faculty are student-centered and interested in students learning,

not only in the classroom but in the field as well. They challenge students
to utilize the professional and physical resources available at KU, and to
see themselves as developing leaders in the field of social work.
John Vafeas, DSW, LSW

Office of Graduate Admissions

Boxwood House, P.O. Box 730
Kutztown, PA 19530
P: 610-683-4200
F: 610-683-1393
graduate@kutztown.edu
www.KutztownMasters.com

03 / 2013