Master of Social Work -Advanced Standing

Program Progression,

Retention, Dismissal and Readmission Policies

  1. Students must maintain a grade point average of not less than 2.5 at all times.
  2. No grade below “C” will be credited toward the M.S.W. degree.
  3. Students will be dismissed from the program if they accumulate 4 or more academic deficiency points. A grade of “C” equals one deficiency point (and will be credited toward the M.S.W. degree). A grade of “D” equals 2 deficiency points (and will not be credited toward the M.S.W. degree). A grade of “F” or “WF” equals 3 deficiency points (neither of these will be credited toward the M.S.W. degree). Because of the emphasis on practicum performance in the social work program, a grade of “Unsatisfactory” in practicum equals 4 deficiency points and will result in permanent dismissal from the program. Students who are admitted with Advanced Standing Status will be dismissed from the program if they accumulate 2 academic deficiency points or a grade of "Unsatisfactory" in practicum.
  4. Students may be terminated from the Division of Social Work for non-academic reasons that are identified in the 2009-2010 Student Handbook. A student’s enrollment may be terminated for the following non-academic reasons:
    • Violation of the NASW Code of Ethics or the Code of Ethics of the State of Georgia Composite Board. Students are responsible for being familiar with the NASW Code of Ethics. Content from the code is infused throughout the curriculum.The Code of Ethics can be found on the Division of Social Work Website.Links to the Code are found in the 2009-2010 Field Handbook and in the 2009-2010 Student Handbook.
    • Presenting oneself in such a way as to be rejected by four different agencies for practicum placement.
    • A pattern of complaints that indicates the student is unable to engage clients in such a way as to form a professional and helpful relationship. (For example being unable or unwilling to demonstrate nonjudgmental attitude, unable or unwilling to allow client self-determination).
    • A pattern of complaints that indicates the student is unable to work within agency policies and procedures when such policies and procedures are not in violation of professional social work values and/or codes of ethics (For example, failure to meet generally accepted standards of professional conduct, personal integrity or emotional stability, inability to engage in a supervisory relationship with an assigned field instructor including an inability to follow supervisory guidance, directives, or instructions; inappropriate or disruptive behavior toward colleagues, faculty, or staff, whether at school or within field placement.)
    • A pattern of complaints that indicates the student’s behavior does not reflect a standard of objectivity suitable to the profession. (For example, failure to maintain professional boundaries with clients, over identification or other behaviors with clients for personal advantage.)
    • Engaging in behavior that renders the student ineligible for licensing in the State of Georgia, for membership in the National Association of Social Workers, or for certification by the National Association of Social Workers
    • Students dismissed for non-academic reasons will not be considered for readmission to the program.
    • Readmission is not guaranteed for students dismissed because of academic deficiencies. A student must wait a full academic year before reapplying for readmission. If a student who was dismissed for academic reasons is readmitted, the student must retake only courses with deficiencies until the number of deficiency points is fewer than or equal to 2 deficiency points. A student may not take a class more than twice or apply for readmission more than once. If a candidate wishes to withdraw from a class with a grade of “WP,” it is the candidate’s responsibility to initiate and complete the withdrawal process prior to the midterm deadline. “WP” grades do not affect academic deficiency points or grade point average.

5. No more than 6 semester hours of academic work may be transferred from another institution into a master’s-level -graduate program. Transfer credit will be evaluated after admission, by the academic department. To be eligible, credit must be no more than seven years old prior to completion of the degree.

6. Graduate coursework completed at other CSWE-accredited institutions will be evaluated for equivalence to the VSU M.S.W. curriculum after admission to the program.

7. The maximum time allowed for completion of the master’s degree is seven calendar years.  No work completed more than seven years prior to degree completion will be accepted toward the degree, except with special permission from the student’s major professor and the Director of the Division of Social Work and approval from the Dean of the Graduate School.