Social work students interested in receiving a master’s degree may no longer have to leave ETSU to earn it, beginning fall of 2003.
The proposed master’s of social work program will be open to people who already have a bachelor of social work degree from an accredited program. The two-year master’s program consists of 62 credit hours.
“There is an expressed need in the region for master’s-prepared social workers in areas of mental health, health and children and family services,” said Dr. James Ayers, chair of the department of social work.
Since taking the chair in August of 2001, Ayers said, he has become aware that there is not only a regional need but also a national demand for social workers to have a master’s degree.
State approval from the Tennessee Board of Regents, expected in March, is the first step necessary in order to implement the program. The next step is approval from the Tennessee Board of Higher Education, which will probably take place in June. At the same time, the National Council on Social Work Education will need to accredit the program.
Within two years of starting, the department hopes to have at least 72 students in the program. Individuals may choose to earn the degree on a part-time or full-time basis.
Frontier Health and Mountain States Health Alliance have each provided a $200,000 grant of external support to start the program.
For more information, call the department of social work at 439-4372.

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