Program Overview

Prepare for careers at the intersection of social work and public administration with the online MSW/MPA dual degree from the  George Williams School of Social Work at Aurora University. Because the MSW curriculum is the foundation of this program, you will gain a solid background in generalist social work practice and field work as you develop specialized skills for careers in public administration, nonprofit management, and more. This dual program is designed for efficient completion of two graduate degrees, preparing you to make a positive impact in your community.

Instructors in the MSW/MPA program use open education resources (OER) in place of traditional textbooks for some courses. This means digital, openly licensed content is available free of charge to students.

Begin your journey today with our premier-clinical, CSWE-accredited social work program.

Accredited by the CSWE Board of Accreditation

Curriculum

Aurora University’s online MSW/MPA dual degree program provides you with a comprehensive graduate education that combines in-depth social work study with advanced public administration coursework. Each class is taught by expert faculty members with extensive real-world experience.

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Program Details

  • Next Start Date:May 6, 2024
  • Est. Program Length:4-5 Years
  • Credit Hours:84
  • Course Length:8 Weeks
  • Cost Per Credit:$618
  • SWK6140 Social Welfare Policy and Institutions – 3 hours
  • SWK6150 HBSE I: Infancy to Adolescence Human Behavior in the Social Environment – 3 hours
  • SWK6160 HBSE II: Adult Lifespan Human Behavior in the Social Environment – 3 hours
  • SWK6370 Social Work Practice I: Individuals and Families – 3 hours
  • SWK6381 Social Work Practice II: Group Work – 3 hours
  • SWK6382 Social Work Practice II: Community Practice – 3 hours
  • SWK6250 Social Work Research Methods – 3 hours
  • SWK6730 Field Instruction I: Generalist Internship – 3 hours
  • SWK6740 Field Instruction II: Generalist Internship – 3 hours
  • SWK6533 Advanced Social Policy – 3 hours
  • SWK6500 Social Work Perspectives on Psychopathology – 3 hours
  • SWK6511 Social Work Practice III: Clinical Theory and Methods – 3 hours
  • SWK6521 Social Work Practice IV: Advanced Clinical Knowledge and Application – 3 hours
  • SWK-6575 Diversity, Equity, Inclusivity in Social Work Practice – 3 hours
  • SWK6750 Field Instruction III: Specialization Internship – 3 hours
  • SWK6760 Field Instruction IV: Specialization Internship – 3 hours
  • Social Work Electives – 3 hours
  • MBA6130 Economics – 3 hours
  • MPA6110 Administration of Public Institutions – 3 hours
  • MPA6120 Public Policy and Analysis – 3 hours
  • MPA6130 Government and Community Relations – 3 hours
  • MPA6140 Public Finance and Budgeting – 3 hours
  • MBA6170 Applied Research, Insights, and Evaluation – 3 hours
  • MPA6200 Advanced Seminar in Applied Public Administration – 3 hours
  • MPA6360 Grant Writing, Philanthropy, and Advancement – 3 hours

Social Work Leadership Administration Track (9 hours)

  • MBA6030 Leadership and Organizational Behavior – 3 hours
  • MPA6350 Nonprofit Management and Leadership – 3 hours
  • MBA6200 Human Resource Management – 3 hours

Note: Tuition and fees are subject to change without prior notice. Please contact the Office of Student Accounts for questions or information on current tuition, fees, room, board and other rates.

  • Bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college and/or university (minimum 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale). Students with a GPA of less than 3.0 will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
  • Resume or curriculum vitae.
  • Personal statement. Your personal statement should be a typed, double-spaced narrative of two to three pages and reflect standards of graduate-level writing. Please address the following in your statement:
    • Why have you chosen to pursue an MSW/MPA degree, and what are your professional aspirations?
    • Why have you chosen Aurora University to pursue your MSW/MPA?
    • If your GPA is less than 3.0 on a 4.0 scale, were there extenuating circumstances that affected your past academic performance? Please explain.
  • Two letters of recommendation
  • Transcripts (official, sealed in envelope) from all previously attended colleges or universities

Information About State Licensure

All AU Online students must have unrestricted access to a computer or mobile device with high-speed internet to participate in online courses. AU Online uses Moodle to host its online classes.

Graduate-level course credit is transferable, allowing students to earn their degree faster than ever. Graduate-level credit earned at regionally accredited institutions of higher education graded “B” or better may be transferred to Aurora University and applied toward a master’s or other post-baccalaureate programs prior to enrollment into Aurora University.

Check your credits with our Transfer Evaluation System.

Learn more about Transfer Credits

Online MSW/MPA Career Outcomes

  • Clinical social work
  • Nonprofit leadership
  • City manager
  • Urban and regional planning
  • Community leader
  • Social service director
  • Research analyst

Next Steps

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