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case western reserve university

ADMISSIONS INFORMATION

 
 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)


Application Fee:

What is the application fee for the M.S.S.A program?
There is no application fee for admissions.

Appropriate References:

Is a personal friend a good reference for my admission?
No. It's good to have the support of friends, but for admission, professional references from people who have observed your work and who can objectively judge your potential are the most effective.

B.S.W. Degree:

Is the bachelor of social work degree the preferred preparation for M.S.S.A. education?
A bachelor's degree in another field is acceptable since we have students with a variety of undergraduate and graduate degrees. Having a B.S.W. degree allows you to be considered for advanced standing.

Concentrations:

What are the various concentrations offered in the M.S.S.A. program?
The two concentrations offered in the M.S.S.A. program are Community and Social Development and Direct Practice. Within the Direct Practice Concentration student may choose one of the specializations Aging; Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse; Children, Youth & Family; Community Development; Health; and Mental Health.

Deadline:

When are applications accepted for the program?
The deadline for complete applications is May 30th for full-time and part-time applicants and July 1 for intensive weekend applicants. Prospective students are encouraged to apply early (December) to take advantage of the larger pool of scholarship funds. Please note, only complete applications will be processed. Incomplete applications will be placed inactive until they become complete. Applicants are responsible for verifying that their applications are complete.

Intensive Weekend:

What is the Intensive Weekend Program?
The Intensive Weekend Program is for people who are currently employed in the field of social work and have been in their current workplace for at least one year. Students in this program attend classes one weekend every month. They receive their master's degree in a period of two to three years. Please contact Gerald Strom with specific Intensive Weekend questions at (216)368-5880 or
gas4@case.edu .

What are the criteria for being admitted into the Intensive Weekend Program? The applicant has to be currently employed in the field of social work on a full-time basis. The applicant needs to do field placement at the place that they work, in an atmosphere different from their existing job, under the supervision of someone other than their current supervisor. Their proposed field instructor should have a L.I.S.W. (No other licenses will be approved by our field education office.) When applying, the applicant needs to submit a current job description and the resume of their proposed field instructor.

Evening Classes:

Do you offer evening classes?
Some of our classes are held in the evening, but it is not possible to complete your degree by taking evening classes only.

GRE:

Is the GRE or MAT score necessary to be admitted into the M.S.S.A. program?
As long as your undergraduate cumulative GPA is above 2.7, test scores are not necessary. It is mandatory for applicants with a GPA below 2.7 to take either one of the tests.

Housing:

How do I find housing?
The Office of Housing and Residence Life compiles off-campus housing rental information for Case students, faculty, and staff.
http://housing.case.edu/offcampus .

Incomplete Application:

What happens if I submit an incomplete application?
We will try to notify you that your application is incomplete, but please remember that the responsibility for checking on the status of your application remains with you. Please be advised to start your application procedure early (October/November). Remember that letters of reference and transcripts may take longer than you anticipate.

Joint Degrees:

What are the joint degrees offered at MSASS? How do I apply to these programs?
The following are the joint degrees offered:

  • M.S.S.A./M.N.O. Program (Management of Nonprofit Organizations)
  • M.S.S.A./J.D. Program (Juris Doctorate in Law)
  • M.S.S.A./M.B.A. Program (Business Administration)
  • M.S.S.A./M.A. Bioethics

Please note that students need to apply separately to both programs. You can receive information from the following places:

M.B.A. Program:
Admissions link
MBAInfo@Case.edu
(216)368-2069

 

M.N.O. Program:
Admissions link
(216)368-8565

Law Program:
Admissions link
lawadmissions@case.edu

 

M.A. Bioethics Program:
Information Link
216-778-7290

 

 

M.S.S.A.:

What does the abbreviation M.S.S.A. mean? Is it different from a M.S.W. degree?
M.S.S.A. is the abbreviation for of Science in Social Administration. This degree is a Masters of Social Work. The Mandel School of Applied Social Sciences (MSASS), which offers this degree, has been consistently ranked among the top social work schools in the USA. The M.S.S.A. is no different than an M.S.W. degree. We are accredited by CSWE.

Non-Degree Status:

May I start classes without being admitted?
There are a limited number of foundation courses that a student can take on a non-degree status. Applicants will be allowed to register for these courses on a particular day set by the registrar of our School. Applicants are allowed to register after all MSASS students have registered.

Part-Time:

May I begin as a part-time student and then finish the M.S.S.A. degree as a full-time student?
Yes. Students can start the program (Extended Degree Program) on a part-time basis. Students can register for 2-3 courses for two semesters. This is followed by registering as full-time or near full-time students for the remainder of their degree. The maximum timeframe allowed to finish the part-time program is four years.

Program Size:

How large is your Masters Program?
The Masters Program is approximately 340 students and our average class size is 18 students.

Time Requirement:

How much time is required per week for a full-time student?
A full-time student takes four classes and concurrent field education for a total of 15 credit hours per semester. Preparation for classroom work (reading assignments, writing papers, etc.) is time consuming. Field education requires an average of 20-24 hours per week. Classes meet for two hours, once a week.

Tuition Deposit:

Is my $100 deposit at the time I am admitted refundable if I should withdraw?
The deposit is not refundable. However, by paying this fee, we can defer your admission to a maximum of one year.