Fayetteville State University Social Work Programs
Social work graduates in Fayetteville, NC earn $64,360 annually or $30.94 per hour – quite impressive numbers! Fayetteville State University’s Social Work Programs help you build a rewarding career through detailed education at both undergraduate and graduate levels. FSU’s School of Social Work trains skilled professionals who boost the lives of individuals, children, and families across rural, urban, and military communities in North Carolina and beyond.
Students who want to learn about social work programs in North Carolina will find a strong educational system. The state has 25 schools with social work degrees, including 23 BSW and 13 MSW programs. MSW programs across North Carolina give advanced standing tracks to students with accredited Bachelor of Social Work degrees. This piece helps you understand FSU’s social work program’s unique features, degree specializations, and ways these credentials launch successful careers in this expanding field.
Types of Social Work Degrees Offered at Fayetteville State University
Fayetteville State University’s School of Social Work offers two social work degree programs. These programs create different paths to enter this helping profession based on your education level and career goals.
The Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) program prepares you to take entry-level social work positions. Students learn fundamental skills in case management, advocacy, and direct service provision. The program combines classroom learning with real-life practice through supervised field placements. This approach ensures you’ll graduate with both theoretical knowledge and hands-on experience.
The Master of Social Work (MSW) program takes your career to the next level with specialized training to clinical practice, supervision, or leadership roles. FSU’s MSW program features two tracks:
- Traditional MSW Track – A detailed two-year program covers foundation and advanced practice coursework. This track suits students without a BSW degree.
- Advanced Standing MSW Track – This one-year accelerated option focuses on advanced coursework. Only students with a BSW from an accredited program can apply.
The Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) fully accredits both FSU’s social work programs. This accreditation ensures the degrees meet national professional practice standards. Many states require CSWE-accredited program graduation to qualify for licensure.
Students learn to work with various populations while developing cultural competence. This skill proves essential when serving North Carolina’s communities. The curriculum focuses on preparing graduates to tackle unique challenges in rural, urban, and military communities.
FSU’s social work degrees provide the credentials and skills you need to make a meaningful difference in people’s lives. These programs support both new students and professionals advancing their careers.
Degree Specializations
Fayetteville State University’s social work program lets you choose from several specialization paths that match your career goals. The MSW program features two main concentrations: Clinical Social Work and Social Leadership.
The Clinical Social Work concentration gives you the skills to provide therapeutic services and help people access community resources. You’ll learn to work together with human service professionals and evaluate practice interventions. This path teaches you how to assess and diagnose psychosocial problems through different approaches – individual, couple, family, and group sessions.
The Social Leadership concentration readies you for advanced roles in organizations and communities. You’ll develop expertise to work in policy and administrative positions at governmental and non-governmental social agencies. Students learn to lead teams, apply change theories, and measure social programs’ success.
FSU also offers specialty areas in Children and Family Services and Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services. The Children and Family Services specialty prepares you to work in adoptions, schools, foster care, protective services, courts, and community agencies. The Mental Health and Substance Abuse specialty focuses on clinical practice with people who face psychosocial challenges and serious mental illness.
FSU’s certificate programs are a great way to get additional credentials:
- Child Welfare Practice Certificate – available to undergraduate and graduate students
- Military Behavioral Health Certificate (18 credit hours)
- Substance Abuse Studies Certificate (12 credit hours)
- Advanced Clinical Practice Certificate (21 credit hours)
Students looking to earn multiple degrees can take advantage of Joint Pathways. This program lets qualified students earn an MSW while pursuing another graduate degree in business (MBA), criminology (MS), law (JD), or public administration (MPA).
BSW students can focus their studies in specialized areas like Administration, Human Rights and Social Change, Children and Families, Criminal Justice, Health and Wellness, International Social Work, or Military Social Work.
Online and Hybrid Options
FSU’s distance learning options for social work education blend flexibility with quality standards. The university leads the way in online social work education and was one of the first universities to launch an online Master’s in Social Work program with CSWE accreditation.
Busy professionals pursuing a graduate degree can choose between two online paths at FSU:
The Online Traditional MSW lets students earn their master’s degree in about three years through part-time study. Students must attend two weekend skill-building sessions at the Tallahassee campus before starting their first field placement. These face-to-face workshops are a great way to get clinical skills while connecting with faculty and peers.
The Online Advanced Standing MSW speeds up the process for students who already hold a BSW from a CSWE-accredited program. Students can complete this program in two years or less, based on their choice of part-time or full-time study. This streamlined option needs just one mandatory zoom class, unlike the Traditional program’s on-campus requirements.
Both programs deliver content mostly through asynchronous instruction. Students don’t need to log on at specific times. They can watch lectures and finish assignments on their own schedule while meeting set deadlines. This setup works well for professionals who need scheduling flexibility.
Field education plays a vital role in both online programs. FSU’s Office of Field Education works together with students to set up suitable placements in their communities. These field experiences take place in schools, agencies, clinics, or similar settings where students apply their knowledge in ground situations.
International students should look into some key points about licensure and recognition. FSU recommends checking their country’s licensing board requirements to verify if an online FSU degree meets professional licensure or certification standards.
Students who prefer traditional classroom learning can enroll in face-to-face Advanced Standing MSW programs at FSU’s Panama City campus, which mainly serves specific Florida counties.
Graduation Rates
The graduation rates at Fayetteville State University tell us a lot about how well programs work and how students succeed. These numbers can help shape your education plans by showing how long it takes students to complete their degrees.
Recent data shows FSU’s four-year graduation rates have moved between 15.7% and 27.5% in the last decade. Students who take five years to graduate show better numbers, from 28.9% to 39.2%. The six-year graduation rate keeps getting better, and it hit 43.8% with the Fall 2016 group – the best we’ve seen lately.
FSU’s graduation numbers put it in the bottom 20% of schools nationwide, with a 37% overall rate. But raw numbers don’t tell you everything about specific programs like social work.
The university launched “Finish in Four” to boost these numbers. Students are encouraged to take at least 15 credits each semester to graduate on time. You’ll see posters and banners around campus showing why this makes sense financially and academically. FSU also rolled out Degree Works to help students and advisors create better four-year plans.
The retention rate sits at about 70%. This shows that most first-year students like their experience enough to stay at FSU.
Social work graduate students should know that about 43% of students at similar schools finish on time. Your dedication, class schedule management, and use of academic support services will shape how quickly you graduate.
FSU keeps improving its academic support to help more students graduate, especially in respected programs like the social work degrees from the School of Social Work.
Career Outcomes
Social work graduates from Fayetteville State University step into a field full of growth and opportunity. The employment outlook for social workers projects a 7% increase from 2023 to 2033, which grows faster than most other occupations. The field needs about 67,300 new social workers yearly through 2032.
The field rewards its professionals with stable pay at $48,510 ($23.32/hour) median annual wage. Advanced education pays off – MSW graduates earn $13,000 more per year than their BSW counterparts.
FSU social work alumni build careers in several key sectors:
- Healthcare Settings – Healthcare social workers earn $56,750 as median annual wage. They help patients through evaluations and coordinate services.
- Child and Family Services – This sector has 365,900 positions nationwide. Roles include child welfare case manager ($45,805) and adoption social worker ($53,552).
- Mental Health and Substance Use – This specialty grows faster at 17% and employs 123,700 social workers nationwide.
- Military and Veterans Services – The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs leads as the biggest employer of social workers with over 15,000 positions.
FSU’s success stories include Allison Terrell, who serves as a Military and Family Life Counselor at Magellan Health, and Stephanie Silva, who works with the Department of Defense. Breeahn Powell has climbed the ladder to become Director at NC Mentor.
The MSW program opens doors to becoming a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), which allows independent clinical practice. Leadership roles also offer great opportunities – community and social service managers earn $67,150 as median annual wage, ranking among the field’s top earners.
What’s Unique about the Social Work Programs at Fayetteville State
Fayetteville State University’s social work programs stand out with unique features in today’s educational world. Quality education comes at a reasonable cost as FSU ranks among the most affordable CSWE-accredited social work programs in North Carolina. Students can pursue their education without taking on excessive debt. The university’s programs show a steadfast dedication to serving communities of all types through specialized focus on rural, urban, and military populations.
These programs excel because they emphasize culturally responsive practice. FSU shapes social workers who grasp the unique challenges that underserved communities and military families face. This cultural competence proves especially valuable near Fort Bragg, where military presence is strong.
The faculty’s impressive credentials enhance student learning significantly. More than 80% of professors hold doctoral degrees and bring their real-life experience to the classroom. Students receive exceptional training in the program’s key areas: children and family services and mental health/substance abuse services.
FSU’s strong field education component sets it apart further. Strategic collaborations with over 300 agencies across North Carolina give students varied practical experiences. These partnerships help match field placements with career interests while meeting strict educational standards.
Student success matters even after graduation. The university provides dedicated exam preparation resources for licensure tests. This support explains why FSU graduates consistently score high on the Association of Social Work Boards exams.
The Social Work Education Enhancement Program (SWEEP) showcases FSU’s remarkable community involvement. SWEEP offers continuing education to practicing social workers throughout the region. This initiative strengthens bonds between the university and professional community while keeping graduates in step with evolving social work practices.
FSU’s social work programs provide exceptional value to students who want academic excellence and hands-on training in a supportive environment. The programs offer distinctive preparation for this meaningful career path.