Social Work

Overview

Location: Masterton Hall, Portland

Associate Dean: Caroline Shanti

B.S.W. Coordinator: Natallie Gentles-Gibbs

M.S.W. Coordinator: Kimberly Giamportone

Professors: Paula Gerstenblatt, Paul Johnson; Associate Professors: Jeanette Andonian, Rachel Casey, Natallie Gentles-Gibbs, Kim Giamportone, Dorothea Ivey, Caroline Shanti, Donna Wampole; Assistant Professors: Caro Cruys

Emeritus Professors: Ray Belicose, Vincent Faherty, Susan Fineran, Tara Healy, Ana Lazar, Barbara Rich, David Wagner

Manager of Field Education: Erin Lovejoy

Fieldwork Coordinator: Kelly Paris

Administrative Specialist: Ivanaa Burch

The University of Southern Maine’s School of Social Work educates culturally-responsive/informed, strengths-oriented, community-embedded social workers. Our graduates are prepared for direct practice with diverse individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities, promoting social justice through critical inquiry and civic participation.

The School serves southern Maine by responding to the social work education, leadership, service, and evaluation and research needs of the region. The commitment to social and economic justice and to diversity and multiculturalism are integrated throughout the curriculum, and in faculty’s scholarly work and service. The School strives for excellence in teaching and learning. The School strives for excellence in teaching and learning.

Graduates are prepared for entry-level professional practice in protective services, corrections, residential services to various populations, hospitals, nursing homes, and assisted living facilities, neighborhood and community centers, child welfare, and drug and alcohol programs, etc. The social work curriculum of the School is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education at the baccalaureate and master’s levels. Students who received a degree in any discipline from any accredited undergraduate program may apply to the MSW program. Students who receive a degree from an accredited undergraduate program in social work may apply to selected graduate schools of social work for Advanced Standing. It is important to consult individual institutions for their acceptance criteria and procedures, which may vary. In most schools, a bachelor’s degree in social work from a CSWE-accredited institution allows the student to waive the generalist content of the Master of Social Work (MSW) degree.

Programs

Social Work, M.S.W.