The MSW program is a unique collaboration between Nazareth College of Rochester and SUNY College at Brockport, both having a long history of social work education in Rochester.

The mission of the GRC MSW program is to educate students to become competent and ethical professional social workers who will promote social and economic justice and equality though collaborative, community-focused practice that reflects the rights, needs, and dignity of all people.

Program Goals

As a reflection of its mission, the overall goals of the Master of Social Work Program are to:

1. Provide advanced social work education incorporating theoretical knowledge and critical thinking within an advanced integrated practice framework; emphasizing an ecological, strength-based, community collaborative, empowerment model of practice to promote social and economic justice.
2. Educate social work practitioners who are ethical, critical thinkers engaged in ongoing inquiry and life-long learning.
3. Develop practitioners who provide autonomous social work practice and leadership in health, human service, and other community organizations in diverse communities to assist high need or at-risk populations.
4. Infuse a critical understanding of culturally competent and gender sensitive advanced practice in working with diverse groups, and to adapt social work knowledge and skills to meet the needs of disenfranchised and historically oppressed groups.
5. Promote and support research and knowledge development to improve the effectiveness of social work practice, policies, and programs.
6. Promote the health and well being of individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities by advancing social justice in a changing environment and in a global society.

The program’s commitment is to prepare social workers for advanced integrated practice within an interdisciplinary and community collaborative context. Students will be taught to facilitate individual, family, group, organizational, and community change that improves the lives of people, particularly those who have been oppressed and/or disempowered. The program provides opportunities for students to be on the cutting edge of new directions for social work practice.

Within the advanced integrated perspective of the program, students focus on one of two concentrations: Family and Community Practice, or Interdisciplinary Health Practice. The two concentrations prepare students to work within a community collaborative based practice approach that involves interdisciplinary and inter-agency cooperative efforts. The focus of intervention in the community context provides opportunities to assimilate and integrate cultural diversity into change efforts.

The program is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education and is registered with the New York State Education Department.

For further information, call: (585) 395-8450
e-mail: grcmsw@brockport.edu
Website address: http://www.naz.edu/dept/social_work/

Program Directors
Virginia David, M.S.W.
(585) 395-8451 (GRCMSW) or (585) 389-2751 (Nazareth)
vdavid4@naz.edu

Jason Dauenhauer, Ph.D.
(585) 395-8451 (GRCMSW) or (585) 395-5506 (Brockport)
jdauenha@brockport.edu

Entry Requirements for 60 credit program

Please note: there is no single factor used to determine student admission to the GRC MSW program. Rather, a combination of factors is considered as follows:

1. Completed Online Application and fee.  PLEASE NOTE, APPLICANTS MUST APPLY ONLINE AT http://www.brockport.edu/grcmsw/ 
2. Completion of the professional statement/issue discussion as described on the application
3. Official transcripts from all colleges attended
   
   • Applicant must have completed, or will be completing, a baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution with a cumulative index of 3.0 and a “B” average in the major field by the start date of the desired term.
     • An applicant who does not meet these grade point average expectations must address them in his/her professional statement; please see the Professional Statement section of the admissions application for further information.
   • The academic record should reflect a strong liberal arts perspective. The following are required: one (3 credit) course in Human Biology; one (3 credit) course in Statistics; one (3 credit) introductory course in Psychology; one (3 credit) introductory course in Sociology; one (3 credit) course in the Humanities; and three additional (3 credit) courses distributed across the Social Sciences, Humanities, Physical Sciences, Mathematics, or Computer Sciences. All courses must have a grade of “C” or better. (Note: If an applicant is currently enrolled in a prerequisite course, he/she may still file the application. The prerequisite course must be completed before the applicant matriculates into the program.)
4. Three reference forms and accompanying letters of recommendation
5. Preference is given to applicants with prior paid or volunteer experience with relevance to social work, though it is not required.

Entry Requirements for Advanced Standing Admission

Students who have graduated within the past eight years from a CSWE accredited baccalaureate social work program are eligible to apply for admission to the MSW Advanced Standing Program. Additional minimum admission requirements are:

1. Completed Online Application and fee. PLEASE NOTE, APPLICANTS MUST APPLY ONLINE AT http://www.brockport.edu/grcmsw/
2. Completion of the professional statement/issue discussion as described on the application
3. Official transcripts from all colleges attended
   
   • Applicant must have completed, or will be completing, a baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution with a cumulative index of 3.0 and a “B” average in the major field by the start date of the desired term.
     • An applicant who does not meet these grade point average expectations must address them in his/her professional statement; please see the Professional Statement section of the admissions application for further information.
4. Three reference forms and accompanying letters of recommendation, including one from a social work faculty member who can attest to the candidate’s ability to do graduate level work, and one from a social work supervisor who can attest to the candidate’s ability to engage in graduate level practice.
5. A copy of the applicant’s BSW field practicum evaluations.
6. Copies of field placement evaluations.

Tuition
Since the GRC MSW program operates as a bi-institutional collaborative program, the tuition structure for this program varies from the tuition of Nazareth College and the College at Brockport. Applicants may contact the co-program directors directly at (585) 395-8451 for program specific information, including current tuition rates.

Application Deadlines:
Apply online at www.brockport.edu/graduate/apps/
January 15 for Advanced Standing Admission (Summer start term)
March 15 for Admission to 60 credit Program

General Program Requirements and Curriculum