University of Mary Launches New Master’s in Social Work to Combat Critical Shortage in America

School becomes first in North Dakota and one of only a select number across the region to offer a specialized two-track graduate program option for social work

俾斯麦，和 从现在开始, 2024年秋天, the University of Mary is offering a new graduate program that will allow people with either an undergraduate degree in social work, or a bachelor’s degree in a related field to earn a master’s in social work (MSW) with the option of choosing one of two specialized tracks — either clinical, 或者宏观实践和领导力. 

为了完成课程, the MSW is offered in a convenient and popular 在线 learning format taking only four semesters for students with a bachelor's degree in social work from a CSWE accredited program or nine semesters for students with a bachelor's degree in a related field.  

The school’s undergraduate degree in social work began in 1964, making it one of the school’s initial offerings when it first opened its doors five years prior in 1959, MG冰球突破试玩书院. Mary began investigating the potential for a graduate program a few years ago by assessing the need for more advanced practitioners in the field. 

“The surveys confirmed the benefit of a MSW program to help address the 行为健康 and substance abuse issues that go along with an inadequate number of social, 行为健康, 以及我们地区的成瘾护理人员,海蒂·纽斯玛解释道, chair of University of Mary’s Department of Behavioral Sciences. “除了以大学为基础的措施, a study commissioned by the North Dakota Legislature in 2018 identified the need for the expansion of 行为健康 services within North Dakota, 特别是在门诊服务方面, 危机干预, 儿童及青少年服务, 以及药物使用. An identified critical need was for expansion in the number of 行为健康 service providers coupled with development of a more robust 行为健康 and substance abuse service delivery system. It is important to note that these findings were identified before the onset of the pandemic which has only further exacerbated the need for and lack of these types of services. So, we’re extremely excited that the University of Mary can continue its mission by helping fulfill a dire need in this field — not just in North Dakota, 而是在整个地区和美国.”

While an undergraduate student at the University of Mary and after months of discernment and prayer, Jean Naser switched majors: from caring for patients in a health care profession, 以社会工作者的身份关心他人. 

“I jumped into the course work and immediately knew this was where I needed to be, 与经历苦难的人同行,纳塞尔说。, 他现在是基督教收养服务的管理员, 在新墨西哥州和明尼苏达州有执照的儿童安置机构. 

Naser has been a licensed social worker for nearly seven years and is one of the first to enroll in University of Mary's new dual-track MSW program starting in September. She believes the macro and practice leadership track is a need for our state and region and enrolled in the clinical track.  

“I have long thought about continuing my education but have been waiting on God’s time and the right program,纳塞尔补充道。. “海蒂是第一个向我提到新的城市垃圾项目的人. North Dakota — and the Midwest in general — is a unique place with unique needs that I believe are not properly or fully addressed by the current programs because these programs simply are not educated on the culture, 生活方式, 以及我们面临的独特问题. I am itching to get back into the classroom to learn and expand my mind. I specifically am interested in enrolling at the University of Mary because I loved my undergraduate program and trust the faculty. 我也很欣赏这是一个当地的项目，而且负担得起.”

Nationally, prior to the pandemic, economists expected a shortage of 195,000 social workers in the U.S. by 2030. 人口老龄化, 社会孤立或孤独的急剧增加, 无家可归和监禁, 阿片类药物的流行都大大增加了需求. 

随着这些数字和因素的不断增加，美国政府正在采取行动.S. 美国劳工统计局 职业前景 预计到2032年，社会工作者的就业将增长7%, 也就是说超过63岁,每年招聘1万名社工. Careers for a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW) include therapist, 保健和学校社会工作者, 临床主管, 儿童和家庭服务提供者, 和案例经理. A person with a macro practitioner degree in social work would work as an administrator, 主管, 政策开发人员, 规划师, 和研究人员, 还有游说者等等. 

Average annual salary for those jobs in North Dakota currently range from $65,000 to $75,000.

Limited space is available in the program, so anyone interested should go to 在线.psozxd.com/MSW

 了解更多 或联系招生代表 enroll@psozxd.com，或致电(701)355-8030. The University of Mary is one of only 15 Recommended Cardinal Newman Society Residential Colleges and Universities in the US. 

关于MG冰球突破试玩: True to its motto “lumen vitae”—The Light of Life—the University of Mary offers education for the whole of life through cutting-edge professional programs and graduate programs animated by moral courage and leadership in chosen professions and service to the community. 一个私人, 天主教男女同校机构, the University of Mary welcomes students of all faiths and backgrounds.

一个基督徒, 天主教, Benedictine institution founded in 1959 by the Benedictine Sisters of Annunciation Monastery, MG冰球突破试玩提供60多个学士学位, 18岁硕士, 5个工商管理博士学位授权点, 教育, 护理实践, 职业治疗和物理治疗. The 20-sport Athletic Department adheres to its Greatness Through Virtue mission under the governance of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), 美国大学曲棍球协会, 以及美国大学粘土靶联赛. 有3个以上,800名学生, MG冰球突破试玩在北达科他州设有办事处, 蒙大拿, 亚利桑那州, 罗马, 意大利, 以及充满活力的在线服务.