New BSW From COSC

[dfrecore]

I'm going to say that you're better off with either of these options:

1) do a local BSW/MSW program - a 5yr degree, and if there's a way to get alt-credit in (CC, or a school that takes CLEP), save money that way; or
2) do a very cheap BLS at UMPI or EC, and then get your 2-yr MSW done somewhere locally.

The reason is, I don't think it's competitive to get into MSW programs, so a cheap/alt-credit BLS will be a great option to save your money for your masters.

There's no reason to pay big bucks to get a BSW if it's not going to save you a year of the MSW. There's just no point. MSW programs don't require that you have a BSW in the first place, so there's absolutely zero reason to do this if it's not saving you a TON of money.

[studyingfortests]

I'm going to say that you're better off with either of these options:

1) do a local BSW/MSW program - a 5yr degree, and if there's a way to get alt-credit in (CC, or a school that takes CLEP), save money that way; or
2) do a very cheap BLS at UMPI or EC, and then get your 2-yr MSW done somewhere locally.

The reason is, I don't think it's competitive to get into MSW programs, so a cheap/alt-credit BLS will be a great option to save your money for your masters.

There's no reason to pay big bucks to get a BSW if it's not going to save you a year of the MSW.  There's just no point.  MSW programs don't require that you have a BSW in the first place, so there's absolutely zero reason to do this if it's not saving you a TON of money.

Totally agree. There are a number of good online MSW programs in the 30-35K range all in for the 2 year program, and a number of traditional programs around the country that are 18-20k all in (in-state).  Since very few states allow BSWs to have any meaningful practice, having only a BSW is pretty pointless. With a UMPI or similar low-cost BA, the non-advanced MSW is going to be much faster and less expensive.

[Jonathan Whatley]

Factors that could favor a BSW over a generic bachelor's: Employer reimbursement. Employment opportunities prior to completing an MSW. Time to completion and tuition cost of the MSW (if the BSW is CSWE).

[louise]

I've never seen an employer of a BSW pay for their MSW. It's just not a common thing in the field of social work. It's a low paying, low respect, thankless field. Generally, assistance paying for an MSW comes from agreeing to work for CPS/DCS after graduation for a certain number of years, but that's a pretty raw deal and you don't need a BSW to qualify, just be working towards MSW.

There are also few employment opportunities (unfortunately) that a BSW can get you that a BS/BA in sociology, psychology, etc., won't. The only area I can think of is medical social work like hospital discharge planning, hospice, home health, etc.

The only real perk of a BSW is that is can shave time off the MSW, but if you got a BS/BA in a related field with alternative credits that would probably be the quickest, cheapest way to go overall.

[studyingfortests]

I've never seen an employer of a BSW pay for their MSW. It's just not a common thing in the field of social work. It's a low paying, low respect, thankless field. Generally, assistance paying for an MSW comes from agreeing to work for CPS/DCS after graduation for a certain number of years, but that's a pretty raw deal and you don't need a BSW to qualify, just be working towards MSW.

There are also few employment opportunities (unfortunately) that a BSW can get you that a BS/BA in sociology, psychology, etc., won't.  The only area I can think of is medical social work like hospital discharge planning, hospice, home health, etc.

The only real perk of a BSW is that is can shave time off the MSW, but if you got a BS/BA in a related field with alternative credits that would probably be the quickest, cheapest way to go overall.

I agree with all of the above. If an employer has a tuition reimbursement program, and wants masters-level social workers, I can't imagine they would recommend a route that takes longer and is more expensive than an alt credit bachelor's + a non-advanced standing MSW.

BTW, non-CSWE BSW/MSW degrees, at least in US and Canada, are all but nonexistent because CSWE accreditation is recognized and required by just about every social work licensing board in the country. The only exceptions I am aware of are for programs like Charter Oak that are just starting and thus don't yet qualify for accreditation.

[Alpha]

I'm going to say that you're better off with either of these options:

1) do a local BSW/MSW program - a 5yr degree, and if there's a way to get alt-credit in (CC, or a school that takes CLEP), save money that way; or
2) do a very cheap BLS at UMPI or EC, and then get your 2-yr MSW done somewhere locally.

The reason is, I don't think it's competitive to get into MSW programs, so a cheap/alt-credit BLS will be a great option to save your money for your masters.

There's no reason to pay big bucks to get a BSW if it's not going to save you a year of the MSW.  There's just no point.  MSW programs don't require that you have a BSW in the first place, so there's absolutely zero reason to do this if it's not saving you a TON of money.

Certainly there is no need to pay more than is necessary and it's likely that a person could find a cheaper program elsewhere.  I think it's important to point out that COSC shows no real interest in being a giant distance learning university like SNHU or ASU.  It's a small online college, a part of the Connecticut state higher education system and it was designed primarily for the people of Connecticut.  Currently 69% of the student population lives in Connecticut.  The school maintains a tuition differential for out-of-state students and so it seems clear that they are not trying to pull people from other regions.  
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charter_Oak_State_College
Here's some additional information re Social Work degree programs:
https://www.socialworkguide.org/resource...mpetitive/

[ss20ts]

The school maintains a tuition differential for out-of-state students and so it seems clear that they are not trying to pull people from other regions.  

Some surrounding state school systems also offer discounted tuition to Connecticut residents. Many state systems across the country do this. I lived in SC and attend a state school in GA. I paid GA tuition not out of state tuition because of an agreement the states have with each other. This is pretty common.

[Alpha]

The school maintains a tuition differential for out-of-state students and so it seems clear that they are not trying to pull people from other regions.  

Some surrounding state school systems also offer discounted tuition to Connecticut residents. Many state systems across the country do this. I lived in SC and attend a state school in GA. I paid GA tuition not out of state tuition because of an agreement the states have with each other. This is pretty common.

I think that such systems are relatively common.  That's why I think that CT is not really interested in marketing outside of the state.

[bjcheung77]

If anyone is interested in their new BSW program, I would highly recommend contacting your state licensing to see "how" to get certified or licensed in Social Work. They'll know for certain the requirements and make sure the program meets those requirements, if not, they'll point you in the right direction to make sure all missing prerequisites for certification/licensing are met.

[studyingfortests]

If anyone is interested in their new BSW program, I would highly recommend contacting your state licensing to see "how" to get certified or licensed in Social Work.  They'll know for certain the requirements and make sure the program meets those requirements, if not, they'll point you in the right direction to make sure all missing prerequisites for certification/licensing are met.

The catch is, good luck actually reaching anyone at any state licensing board. Maybe if you live in South Dakota or Montana or somewhere. In CA it is pretty much impossible to get a human on the phone at BBS, and getting an email response is even less likely.

But, as far as I know, every state in the continental US now recognizes only CSWE-accredited programs. The CSWE curriculum is pretty locked down and very strict, so any CSWE accredited school will meet basic state requirements in every state.  Some states, like CA, will require a handful of specific courses unique to CA (such as one on CA law, one on suicidal screening, one on diversity and oppression specific to California residents, and a couple of others.)  Not even all CA-based CSWE accredited schools include this coursework, so NASW has a package for several hundred bucks (other CE providers have it for much less) that will give you these credits as CEs, which CA is fine with. Basically, it's a no-brainer.

What's a bigger deal is threading the needle of complex requirements for practica and supervised hours. California has iincredibly complicated requirements, and some other states are similar, while others are super lax. This is something where there's more variability by state than the actual coursework a CSWE-accredited program offers, and it is also something that any CSWE-accredited program can address... the catch is, an online program may not have enough students from your particular state to know all the ins and outs.

I don't think there are any states where a non-MSW social worker can practice independently, and among those who allow BSWs to practice at all, there are generally pretty significant restrictions on what BSWs can do.

In short, I have a very, very hard time understanding any possible reason why anyone would go the BSW route. The MSW, especially if done with an alt-credit undergrad and then a two year MSW, is going to be a whole lot shorter, and probably less expensive, than any possible permutation of BSW+MSW. 

If there is a compelling reason for anyone to have a BSW, I'd be interested in knowing what it is. There may be one, but I certainly can't come up it.