University of Saint Joseph to Expand Master of Social Work Program to New London, CT in Fall 2023

by Stacy Routhier

West Hartford, CT (05/03/2023) — The University of Saint Joseph (USJ) is excited to announce that it will expand its highly regarded Masters of Social Work (MSW) Program to New London, CT, starting in the fall of 2023. The program is fully accredited by the Council on Social Work Education and will be offered on the campus of Mitchell College in New London.

USJ will utilize hybrid and online classes and weekend and evening schedules to accommodate students' work schedules. This expansion into Eastern Connecticut is in response to a critical shortage of clinical social workers statewide, particularly in the Eastern Connecticut region. Currently, no graduate social work programs are located east of the Connecticut River, requiring students to travel long distances to attend classes.

The State of Connecticut has prioritized increasing the workforce of clinical social workers and has provided funding under the Health Horizons Grant Program to support the establishment of the expansion into Eastern Connecticut and provide scholarships to students beginning the program in fall 2023. Numerous social service agencies in the area have committed to supporting the initiative by providing internship sites for MSW students and helping their workers attend the program.

"We are thrilled to bring our expertise in social work education to Eastern Connecticut," said Dr. Michelle Kalis, Provost at USJ. "Our MSW program has been focused on producing community-based clinical social workers at the West Hartford location for almost ten years, and we are excited to expand our impact to the New London community."

USJ's plan is to start with a master's in social work and expand the collaboration, utilizing Mitchell's outstanding facilities and location and USJ's record of success preparing students for health care, education, and social service careers. The USJ MSW Program's expansion to New London will ultimately result in enhanced services for community members, providing much-needed support to social service agencies in Eastern Connecticut.

Take advantage of the opportunity to make a difference in your community by pursuing an MSW at USJ's New London site. Apply now at https://www.usj.edu/academics/sihs/social-work-equitable-community-practice/social-work-msw/ and take the first step towards becoming a clinical social worker and helping to fill the critical need for social services in Connecticut.

***********************************************************************************