Case Western Reserve University is one of the country’s leading research institutions. Located in Cleveland, Case Western Reserve offers a unique combination of forward-thinking educational opportunities in an inspiring cultural setting. Nationally recognized programs include arts and sciences, dental medicine, engineering, law, management, medicine, nursing and social work.
About the Mandel School of Applied Social Sciences (MSASS)
Consistently ranked as one of the top schools of social work in the country, the Mandel School offers an innovative combination of extensive field education with the enduring traditions and prestige of a major university. In 2012, it ranked No. 9 among the best graduate schools of social work nationally by U.S. News & World Report.
MSASS counts among its alumni many prominent educators, government officials, accomplished practitioners, researchers, and chief executives of national and regional agencies. Faculty achievements in professional organizations, research, and agency consultation further extend the school’s reputation as an active participant in the advancement of social work practice.
Case Western Reserve University’s online Master of Science in Social Administration (MSSA) prepares students with the practical knowledge they’ll need to become influential leaders in the field, whether practicing locally, nationally, and internationally.
Emphasizing real-world experience and a competency-based curriculum, the program addresses key areas of social work practice, including ethics and values, self-awareness, cross-cultural knowledge, cross-cultural skills, service delivery, empowerment and advocacy, workforce diversity, professional education, language diversity, and leadership.
Choose from two distinct concentrations:
Community and Social Development: Develop the practical skills and values needed to lead and organize comprehensive social change on a broad scale. Address a range of issues including globalization, poverty, inequality and oppression, cultural diversity, women’s issues, human rights and more.
Direct Practice: Students enrolled in the Direct Practice concentration learn to engage individuals, families, and groups, assess client needs and strengths, provide or help arrange needed services and support, weigh intervention alternatives, implement change strategies, and evaluate results.
Select one of two specializations:
Children, Youth and Families (CYF): Focus on theory and practice directly relating to the identification and assessment of problems that affect young people and families, including adoption, drugs, child and adolescent mental health, physical abuse and violence. Course work may be applied toward educational requirements for membership in the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT).
Mental Health/Adult (MHA): Focus on creating sustainable living by transforming communities and developing and disseminating effective theory and practice for community-based mental health practice with adults. Examine public health, drug treatment, and mental health policies, practices and services.
Testimonials
“I work in a multi-disciplinary environment with dedicated professionals committed to providing affordable housing to low-income, disadvantaged clients. From my vantage I can truthfully say that social work is the only field that addresses the entire spectrum of social issues confronting recovering communities.”
– Joseph L. Jones
MSSA, Class of 2008
“Social work allows me to act upon values I already have - social justice and a commitment to continuous learning. As a social worker, I work to build bridges and use my role to create positive change. Social work gives me the opportunity to use my experience to be an agent of change.”
– LaToya Gates
MSSA, Class of 2009
“I started my work life as a Spanish teacher. As a teacher, I would hear about the problems the children I taught faced at home and wanted to make an impact at that level, too. One of my friends was an alumnus who spoke highly of the program and encouraged me to apply.”
– Karen Vrtunski
MSSA, Class of 1985