MA in Social Work

RATIONALE OF THE PROGRAM

Ethiopia is a country with numerous pressing social problems including poverty, unemployment, gender inequality, harmful traditional practices, HIV/AIDS, homelessness, ethnic conflict, human trafficking and migration, and the maltreatment of children, youth, elderly and people with disabilities. These and other social problems place heavy demand on existing social protection services and social work professionals. Since the profession of social work is at its inception phase in the country, there are no enough professional social workers to adequately address the overwhelming needs in all service areas. To have a baseline information, BDU conducted a need assessment survey in May, 2013 to document the need for qualified social work professionals at both regional and federal levels; and governmental and non-governmental offices. The findings of the need assessment survey indicate that there is a grave need for qualified professional social workers in the country. The survey revealed that graduates of the program have positive prospect for employment in different organizations. Some officials indicated that they are ready to employ the graduates in their organizations or institutions. These recognized demands and prospects led BDU to open a Master of Social Work (MSW) degree program in order to produce qualified graduates who are capable of providing professional social work services to the people of Ethiopia in accordance with the values and ethics of the profession.

Prioritizing on a Masters level study is believed to have a multiplier effect. Besides the opportunities of employment at different governmental and nongovernmental offices, graduates at master’s level have the chance to be university academic staff and this facilitates the expansion of social work education in the country. In other words, graduates will be leaders in the profession and contribute to the effort of strengthening the institutional capacity of the School of Social Work at BDU and elsewhere in the country.

Program Objectives

The general objective of the School of Social Work at BDU is to produce competent professional social workers as practitioners, scholars, and leaders of the profession who are equipped with the basic knowledge, skills and values/ethics of social work to contribute to Ethiopian efforts to the alleviation of poverty and other pressing social problems; to advance the social and economic development plans, and to fight any forms of discrimination and injustices.

 Admission Requirements

Social work is a multidisciplinary profession. It is an application of many social, behavioral, health, and developmental disciplines. Therefore, applicants who have successfully completed their first degree from accredited universities by the Ministry of Education in any field and those who pass the School’s entrance exam will be eligible to join the program.Applicants are expected to meet the requirements set by the Graduate Program Office of the University.

 Graduation Requirements

1. Students will be eligible for graduation upon successful completion of all of the modules/courses and thesis work, i.e. 120 credit points (34 Credit Hours).

2. The minimum grade point average (GPA) required for courses is 3.0

3. Each student should submit and successfully defend her/his thesis within the specified time frame and score a minimum grade of “satisfactory”.

4. Each student should successfully complete all field attachments that are part of the requirements for practice courses and independent field attachment courses that are compulsory to the profession and get the approval from the agency and university supervisor.

5. The format and submission of each completed thesis is based on the rules and regulations followed by the program or the College where the program is hosted.

 Duration of the Study

This MSW program consists of 120 credit points (course work, practice  and thesis work) that shall be taken over a full two academic years period for regular students and two and half years for extension students, three summers and two winters (four winter semesters) for summer students.

 Medium of Instruction

The medium of instruction for the program is English.

Types of Program

This curriculum was originally prepared for the regular program. The extension and summer programs are prepared based on the demand of applicants later. Each program has its own separate course breakdowns and included in this curriculum.

Degree Nomenclature and Award Requirements

Students who successfully complete the program (120 credit points) that is course works, field attachment and thesis research will be awarded a degree. The degree nomenclature is stated in English and Amharic as follows:

In English:  Masters Degree in Social Work

In Amharic:   “ የማስትሬት ዲግሪ በሶሻል ወርክ”

List of Modules and Courses Required