Highly motivated students can save both time and money with the Accelerated Graduate Enrollment program for the Masters of Social Work program (MSW).

AGRADE is Wayne State University's Accelerated Graduate Enrollment program. The School of Social Work has partnered with the College of Liberal Arts and Science (CLAS) to provide ambitious undergraduate CLAS students with the opportunity to obtain their MSW degrees in less time for less money via AGRADE. 

Benefits

Save time and money!

• AGRADE undergraduate CLAS students have the option to enter the growing social work job market even faster by taking courses from the core year of the MSW program during the senior year of their bachelor's program, and thus, complete the MSW degree in less time. Students can select up to 15 credits of social work human behavior, policy, and research courses to apply to both their undergraduate and MSW degrees.
• AGRADE provides the opportunity for students to apply graduate credits to a future MSW degree, even if they want to work in the field for a few years. Graduate classes have a 6-year expiration date, so students can always come back to WSU and utilize the graduate courses toward their degree within that timeframe.
• Students will pay undergraduate tuition fees for their MSW courses, which is nearly one-third less than the graduate tuition rate for Michigan residents.
• AGRADE students can also take advantage of an AGRADE Master's Scholarship from the WSU Graduate School, which covers up to 4 credit hours of in-state tuition for two semesters.

Eligibility

CLAS undergraduate students from any major are eligible to apply for the AGRADE program in the semester in which they expect to complete 90 credits, this is usually their junior year. Students must have an undergraduate GPA of a 3.5 (or higher) in their major, and they must earn at least a B grade or higher in each of the AGRADE classes to be applied towards their MSW degree.

Admission process

Students wanting to participate in AGRADE must meet with a School of Social Work academic advisor to determine if the accelerated pathway might be a good fit for them. Student records will be reviewed to determine eligibility and to assist students to declare the pathway, and guide the course of study.

Students accepted into the AGRADE program are required to meet with a Social Work advisor each semester and will continue to work with their CLAS advisor to ensure all undergraduate degree requirements are met. Students will develop a plan of work which will also require approval by their undergraduate advisor. This plan of work will essentially eliminate the first-year requirements of the four-year part-time MSW program and significantly lighten the load for the two-year full-time program. Students who successfully complete the AGRADE portion of the program will be better prepared to successfully complete the MSW program and enter the workforce.  

Courses

AGRADE students may elect a maximum of 15 credits in approved graduate courses, as shown below. These 3 credit graduate courses may be used to complete elective courses for their bachelor's degree requirements and count towards their core year MSW degree requirements.

• SW 7560 - Human Behavior in the Social Environment I: Micro Theory (3 cr): Ecological systems perspective presented. Critical analysis of knowledge and theories of human development across the life span. Human behavior studied within the context of the social systems in which people live including families, peer groups, organizations and communities. Emphasis on how social systems promote and deter human development and the influence of diversity on human development. Focus on social work assessment. Offered Fall.
• SW 7680 Human Rights, Social Justice, and Diversity in an Urban Context Cr. 3: Introduces concepts of human rights and social justice as foundational to social work practice. Offers historical and contemporary perspective of the social work profession and its role in promoting human rights and social, economic, and environmental justice. Examines theory and perspectives on the dynamics of oppression, conflict, and social change from a social work perspective. Offered Fall.
• SW 7720 - Introduction to Social Welfare Policy in the United States (3 cr): Historical development of social welfare viewed dynamically as a function of social, economic, political and cultural transitions. Evolution of professional social work. Framework of analysis for social welfare policies, programs and agencies. Offered Winter..
• SW 7820 - Research Methods in Social Work I (3 cr): First of two courses focused on basic concepts and methods of scientific inquiry as utilized in building knowledge for social work practice. Offered Yearly.
• Social Work Elective (3cr): Students are strongly encouraged to consult with an MSW academic advisor about elective options and when these are offered. See list below.
  • SW 5720 Social Services for Older Adults (3 cr) 
  • SW 5755 Intro to Child Welfare (3 cr) 
  • SW6500 Social Work and the Law (2 cr) 
  • SW 6535 Juvenile Delinquency (3 cr) 
  • SW 6540 Effects of Drugs &Alcohol (3 cr) 
  • SW6585 Introduction to International Social Work (3 cr) 
  • SW 6700 Disabilities in Urban Society (3 cr) 
  • SW6810 Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer (LGBTQ) Health and Well-Being (1 cr) 
  • SW6815 Mind-Body-Spirit Approaches and Social Work Practice (3 cr) 
  • SW 7025 Infant Mental Health: Theory to Practice Across Early Childhood Settings (2 cr) 
  • SW7085 SW Leadership Strategies (3 cr) 
  • SW7095 Social Entrepreneurship (3 cr) 
  • SW7140 Biomedical Components of Substance Use and Addiction (3 cr) 
  • SW 7150 Health Disparities & Substance Use (3 cr) 
  • SW 7025 Infant Mental Health: Theory to Practice across Early Childhood Settings 2 cr 
  • SW7700 Trauma-Informed Child Welfare Practice (3 cr) 
  • SW7995 Intro to Gerontology (3 cr) 

Contact

Social Work advisors are available to discuss AGRADE and answer questions on courses, the job market, cost, scholarships and more. Please contact the Social Work Office of Admissions and Student Services at 313-577-4409 or sswadmissions@wayne.edu for more information or to meet with an advisor.