Beginning Fall 2023. The MSSW Hybrid Evening Class Program is geared toward working professionals who are seeking an MSSW degree. This program allows students a flexible schedule and the ability to earn your MSSW while working.
What is Hybrid?
The class will meet every other week, with in-between weeks being time for students to work on their own. The in-person portion of the class will be at our Nashville campus and take place in the evenings.
Please note that MOST field placement opportunities are only available during business hours, with evening and weekend field placements being more limited. If you work in a social service agency, you may be eligible for an employment-based placement.
Want to learn more?
Student Testimonial
“I absolutely love UT College of Social Work. They have really opened my eyes to other possibilities that I didn’t know that I had and they really pushed me to chase my dreams, chase my new interests, get out there and try something new. And I really love that about UT College of Social Work. I absolutely couldn’t think of a better place to be.“
Krista Johnston ‘21
Concentrations
At the time of their application, MSSW students choose to complete either a clinical or macro concentration, depending on their professional goals. The chosen concentration determines concentration-year courses a student will take:
The goal of the CP concentration is to produce empathetic and culturally responsive social work clinicians who are critical thinkers in using evidence-based practices for diverse clients and client systems. Knowledge, skills, and competencies acquired by students in this concentration produce practitioners who are prepared to work as professionals on interdisciplinary teams and in interdisciplinary settings. These concepts are all taught through a social justice and trauma-informed lens with a special concern for those living in poverty and that have been marginalized.
The goal of this concentration is to produce social workers who are critical thinkers in skill-based, evidence-based practices, including social and economic development, planning, organizing, coordinating, developing, and evaluating services and policies for at-risk clients and client systems. The knowledge, skills, and competencies acquired by students in this concentration produce practitioners who are prepared to work as professionals on interdisciplinary teams and in interdisciplinary settings. These concepts are all taught through a social justice lens with a special concern for the poor and marginalized. Students will be prepared to deliver, develop, manage, and evaluate programs; acquire funding; write grants; as well as analyze and advocate for policy change in political systems, organizations, and communities.
Field Practicum (Internship)
The field practicum is the critical and required internship portion of the MSSW program component of each student’s educational experience. Students work with experienced social work professionals in a variety of settings to complement classroom theory and research. The College offers field practicum opportunities with more than 400 agencies. These settings include schools, courts, hospitals, nursing homes, state agencies, homeless shelters, women’s shelters, and mental health centers.
The College of Social Work has a strong relationship with social services agencies throughout the state and surrounding areas. In an effort to meet students’ unique educational goals, we also offer the opportunity for students to explore practicum prospects in other parts of the nation, as well as internationally. (Much more detailed information about the field practicum may be found here.)
An important note is that the College Field Coordinator for your program will secure the field placement for you. You as a student do not have to go out and find your own placement – in fact, that’s highly discouraged due to CSWE field practicum requirements.
MSSW Program Certificates
In addition to the generalist curriculum that challenges the students in the MSSW program, the college has developed a series of additional program certificates that allow serious student to specialize in four diverse practice areas if they choose to do so.
The certificates programs are:
Contact the Hybrid MSSW Program
Program Director
Mary Held
mheld@utk.edu
Program Assistant
Stephanie Frierson sfrierso@utk.edu
Recruiting Coordinator
Amber Mitchell Spencer amitch87@utk.edu
