MSW Program
Off-Campus Weekend Programs
General Information
Welcome to the Boston University School of Social Work Off-Campus Programs. We are pleased to offer two part-time, weekend off-campus programs at three sites: the Northern Massachusetts Program (BU North) in Chelmsford and the Southeastern Massachusetts Program (SEMA) with sites in Fall River and Cape Cod.
We hope that you will find the information on this site useful. Please let us know if there is any additional information that may be of help to you.
Introduction to Off-Campus Programs
The Boston University School of Social Work offers a graduate clinical social work education in a non traditional structure. The program allows students to continue working in their underserved communities while attending graduate school. The off-campus sites are geographically situated in underserved areas providing an accessible, more affordable graduate education.
The program goals are to further social and economic justice in the urban environment; to offer opportunities rooted in each community for people with work and family responsibilities; to provide internships in students' geographic areas and to enhance support tailored to adult learners
Boston University School of Social Work has over twenty years of off-campus teaching experience using the cohort model of graduate education. The program's philosophy is rooted in the principles of Androgogy, the adult learning model. Because of the cohort nature of the model, awareness of stages of group development and process are critical ingredients in both the students experience and the administrative oversight.
The Adult Learning Model
- Bridges are made from previous life experience
- Students are autonomous, self-directed, and responsible for their own learning
- Students participate in program development and evaluation
- The Program identifies the learner as a unique individual
- Learning is connected to knowledge base
- Learner must balance life responsibilities with the demands of learning
Off-Campus Program Delivery Model
The BUSSW Off-Campus Programs uses the cohort model of education. Students take all classes as a cohort throughout their time in the program. This sixty-five credit, MSW degree spans eight semesters including two summer sessions.
Courses are taken sequentially, one at the time. Classes are held on weekends: Friday evenings (6PM-9PM) and Saturday mornings (9AM-1PM).
Classes are compressed into five weeks, resulting in the same number of hours Charles River Campus classes meet. A break is often, but not always, provided in the middle of the five week period. In addition, two make-up days are scheduled at the end of each course and need to be kept open in the event of a class cancellation. Canceled classes must be made up during the scheduled make up time.
Once a month, Integrative Seminars are held after class (1PM to 2:30 PM). The first year in the program focuses on foundation theory courses. During the second year students take foundation methods courses and do the foundation internship. In the third year students take advanced curriculum and do the advanced field internship. Although classes are held on weekend, field placements occur during the week.
Class Hours and Duration
Classes at the off-campus sites meet at the following times:
Friday evenings: 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM
Saturday mornings: 9:00 AM - 1 PM
(UNLESS OTHERWISE SPECIFIED)
