Increasing access to social work education
Please Note: The application for Fall 2022 entry to the MSW Pathway Program has closed. Check back soon for information about the next application cycle.
The MSW Pathway program was created to help diversify the graduate student and practitioner population in social work, increasing the number of individuals who will pursue a career in the field with a commitment to work with Black, Indigenous, and Persons of Color (BIPOC) communities.
Increasing the number of BIPOC social work practitioners and allies is critical to meeting the social justice challenges these communities encounter. With support from the Accelerating the Future Foundation, this program expands on the Building Refugee and Immigrant Degrees for Graduate Education (BRIDGE) program which has successfully increased the number of individuals who are immigrants and refugees entering the social work profession since the 1990s.
The MSW Pathway program will increase the number of professionally trained social workers from underserved culturally and linguistically diverse BIPOC communities – with a preference towards those working with youth and families experiencing mental health problems or who are committed to creating programs and improving policies to help these families.
The program offers a unique structure of support that provides a pathway to graduate academic opportunities and is organized in four phases:
- Orientation (Pre-Admission)
- Preparation (Pre-Matriculation)
- Education Program
- Career Development (Post-Graduation)
Open the sections below for information about the program structure and meeting dates.
Program Structure
Orientation (Pre-Admission)
A free, nine-session preparatory course takes place from October to December with most sessions held in person at BUSSW and some offered virtually. This course introduces participants to the culture and expectations of graduate social work and provides support for those who go on to apply for admission to an MSW program anywhere in the country. It includes:
- Writing and reviewing personal essays leveraging lived experiences
- Securing references to write letters of recommendation
- Preparing for academic writing
- Time management skills
- Additional program activities such as social events and workshops on topics including speed reading, note-taking, and writing graduate-level papers.
Faculty will meet individually with participants during the application process to review applications and essays to ensure the applications submitted are competitive and participants are well-positioned for acceptance into an MSW program. A certificate of completion is provided at the end of the 9-session course.
Preparation (Pre-Matriculation)
Preparation eases the transition into graduate social work education for those individuals accepted into an MSW program. Faculty will provide support and mentoring to participants during the decision process and while negotiating financial awards with the school of choice.
Education Program
Those enrolled in an MSW program will continue to receive support and mentoring from the MSW Pathway coordinators, faculty, and student groups.
Career Development (Post-Graduation)
Mentoring will be provided to graduating students including guidance on career planning, the employment search process, as well as maintaining a social and support network.
Meeting Dates
Meeting dates are listed below. Sessions will take place in the Fall 2022 semester on Tuesdays from 5:30–7:30pm (ET) in the BUSSW building located at 264 Bay State Road in Boston.
- Session 1 – Tuesday, October 4
- Session 2 – Tuesday, October 11
- Session 3 – Tuesday, October 18
- Session 4 – Tuesday, October 25
- Session 5 – Tuesday, November 1
- Session 6 – Tuesday, November 8
- Session 7 – Tuesday, November 15
- Session 8 – Tuesday, November 29
- Session 9 – Tuesday, December 6
- MSW Pathway 2022 Graduation & Celebration – TBD
You can learn more about applying and eligibility on our Applying & Deadlines webpage.
If you have questions about the program or application, please contact the MSW Pathway co-directors:
