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Center for Social Work Ed	Admissions	PhD Program
Graduate Programs	MSW Program

Detailed Information

Programs of Study

Widener’s social work programs educate students to engage with their clients to improve the quality of life of vulnerable individuals, families, groups, and communities. In addition to preparing students to be effective generalist social workers, the single concentration in clinical social work focuses on providing students with the full range of skills needed for direct clinical practice with individuals, families, and groups within human service organizations.

Two graduate Master of Social Work (M.S.W.) programs of study are available–a regular 62-credit program and a 38-credit advanced-standing program for qualified B.S.W. graduates. The curriculum for each is composed of foundation and advanced social work courses in five sequence areas–social work practice, human behavior and the social environment, policy, research, and field practicums. Both programs are available on a full- or a part-time basis; daytime and evening classes are available. Full-time students can complete the regular program in two years (four semesters); part-time students can complete the program in three years (eight semesters). Beginning with a summer session in May, students in the advanced-standing program can complete the program full-time in one year (three semesters) or part-time in two years (five semesters). The M.S.W. program enhances students’ professional opportunities by offering a variety of joint programs, including the M.S.W./Pennsylvania Home and School Visitor Certification and the M.S.W./Ed.D. and the M.S.W./M.Ed. in human sexuality. These programs allow students to work toward securing additional professional credentials while they pursue their M.S.W. training.

Unique to the Philadelphia region, the Ph.D. program develops academic leaders who have the skill and expertise to participate in scholarly research, teaching, and advanced clinical practice. As leaders in the profession, doctoral graduates actively contribute to the advancement of knowledge in social work practice and the provision of social services. The program is designed specifically for experienced working professionals who complete their doctorate while practicing in the field. Course work integrates the practice experience with theory and research. Students must take two 3-credit courses per semester for three semesters over the course of three consecutive years (including summers). The program is designed to support students fulfilling all dissertation requirements within a two-year period following the completion of course work. Only 6–8 students are admitted to this cohort-based program each year, maintaining a favorable faculty-student ratio and promoting timely completion of the program.

Research Facilities

The Wolfgram Memorial Library has a fine collection that includes more than 240,000 volumes, 175,000 microforms, and nearly 2,000 periodical titles. Services include online access to bibliographic information, full-text electronic journals, Web-based databases, audiovisual media collections and facilities, and access to other libraries’ resources through interlibrary loans. Computing facilities are available to meet students’ needs.

Financial Aid

Students can apply for financial aid programs through the Financial Aid Office on the main campus. A limited number of graduate assistantships may be available to full-time students, and a number of loan programs are available to all eligible students.

Cost of Study

Tuition for Widener’s graduate programs is $740 per credit for Ph.D. courses and $635 per credit for M.S.W. courses.

Living and Housing Costs

Affordable rental apartments are available within a 3-mile radius of all four campuses.

Student Group

There are 72 full-time and 177 part-time students, 211 of whom are women. There are 43 minority and 6 international students. The average age is 35.

Location

Widener’s main campus, occupying more than 100 acres in Chester, Pennsylvania, is easily accessible from Interstate 95. Located in Delaware County, one of the oldest counties in Pennsylvania, the campus is near historic and commercial areas; Philadelphia is just 15 miles north.

The 40-acre Delaware campus (15 miles southwest of the main campus) is located on Route 202 (Concord Pike), north of Wilmington, and is only a short distance from Interstate 95. It houses the School of Law and is also a course site for the School of Business Administration. A branch of the School of Law is located on the 21-acre Harrisburg Campus in central Pennsylvania. Graduate social work, nursing, and education courses are also offered on this campus.

In fall 2004, Widener opened its fourth campus in Exton, Pennsylvania, which houses adult undergraduate education and the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute, a learning cooperative for area retirees. The institute is the first facility of its kind in the Philadelphia metropolitan region.

The University

Widener University is a multicampus, independent, metropolitan institution located in and accredited by the commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the state of Delaware. The University distinguishes itself by connecting curricula to societal issues through civic engagement, inspiring its students to be citizens of character as well as professional and civic leaders.

Applying

M.S.W. applicants should have a bachelor’s degree, with a GPA of 3.0 or better during last two years of study. Applicants to the advanced-standing program must have a bachelor’s degree in social work accredited by the Council on Social Work Education, with a GPA of at least 3.3 in the major. All students must submit the completed application, the application fee, official transcripts, two letters of recommendation, and a statement that describes career goals, motivation, and capacity for advanced social work practice.

Ph.D. applicants are evaluated regarding the potential or ability to complete advanced academic work, as evidenced by achievement in both undergraduate and graduate professional education, the capacity for critical thinking and professional writing skill, any post-M.S.W. social work experience, motivation for advanced academic study, an ability to engage in productive professional collaboration, and a commitment to the advancement of the discipline. Applicants must submit the completed application, the application fee, official transcripts, GRE scores from within the past two years, four letters of recommendation, a sample of professional writing that illustrates a capacity for critical thinking and writing skill, a five- to six-page personal statement that describes professional goals and reasons for seeking a Ph.D. in social work, and a current resume. In addition, international students must send in TOEFL scores obtained within the past two years.

The Faculty

• FULL-TIME FACULTY
• Paula T. Silver, Professor, Director of the Center for Social Work Education, and Associate Dean of the School of Human Service Professions; Ph.D., Bryn Mawr, 1992. Social work practice, child welfare, service learning pedagogy, group treatment, cultural diversity.
• Marina Barnett, Associate Professor; D.S.W., Pennsylvania, 1998. Community organizing and organizational development, social welfare policy and history.
• Beth Barol, Assistant Professor; Ph.D., Bryn Mawr, 1998. Human development, people with developmental disabilities, cultural diversity.
• Richard Cooper, Clinical Assistant Professor; Ph.D., Temple; LSW. Social work clinical practice and counseling, sociopolitical issues regarding African Americans, adolescent and youth popular culture, hip-hop culture, racism, African American music.
• Trevor Evans, Assistant Professor and Director of the Harrisburg M.S.W. Program; M.S.S., Bryn Mawr, 1984. Substance abuse, EAP/managed care, mental health, child welfare.
• Patricia Fletcher, Field Instructor and Assistant Director of Education; M.S.W., Widener, 1994; LCSW. Adolescents and young adults, families, and women in transition.
• Barbara Gilin, Clinical Associate Professor; M.S.W., Pennsylvania, 1979; LCSW. Domestic violence, adults who were sexually abused as children, adoption issues, family therapy.
• John Giugliano, Assistant Professor; Ph.D., Smith, 2000. Clinical practice, sex addiction, sex therapy.
• Robin Goldberg-Glen, Associate Professor; Ph.D. Intergenerational relations, kinship care (surrogate grandparents), Southeast Asian elderly, family caregiving across the life cycle.
• Celeste Johnson, Assistant Professor; M.S.S., Bryn Mawr, 1978; LCSW.
• Stephen Kauffman, Associate Professor; Ph.D., Bryn Mawr, 1992. Causes of conflict and methods of resolution in a citizen participation program.
• John E. Poulin, Professor; Ph.D., Chicago, 1981. The helping relationship between social workers and their clients.
• Laura C. Sadtler, Director of Field Instruction; M.S.W., Smith, 1977; LCSW.
• Brent Satterly, Assistant Professor and Director of the B.S.W. Program; Ph.D., Pennsylvania, 2004. Clinical practice, human development, sexual orientation and gender identity.
• Carolyn Walter, Professor; Ph.D., Bryn Mawr, 1984. Women’s issues (particularly women’s health), grief and loss, supervision and teaching.
• Jeannette Wyatt, Assistant Professor and Assistant Director; M.S.S., Bryn Mawr; LCSW. Domestic violence, clinical practice.
• Thomas Young, Professor; Ph.D., Chicago, 1985. Clinical practice, emotional intelligence.
• ADJUNCT FACULTY
• Laura Blankertz, M.S.W.
• Stephanie Brooks, M.S.W.
• Dianne Butera, M.S.W.
• Bill Coffey, M.S.S.; LSW.
• Cynthia Corbin, M.S.W.
• James Dickerson, M.S.W.
• Don Dyson, M.S.S., Ph.D.
• Marc Felizzi, M.S.W.
• John Groce, Ph.D.
• Michael Hassler, M.S.W.; LSW.
• Marla McCullouch, M.S.S.
• Barbara Pope, M.S.W.
• Cheryl Sadeghee, M.S.W.
• Elliot Singer, M.S.W.
• Mimi Sullivan Hyde, M.S.W.
• Joscelyn Keeve-Crawford, M.S.S.; LSW.
• Craig Lacey, M.S.W.
• Eileen Starr, M.S.W.

Correspondence and Information

Widener University
Dr. Paula T. Silver
Associate Dean and Director
Center for Social Work Education
School of Human Service Professions
Chester, Pennsylvania 19013-5792
Telephone: 610-499-1150
Fax: 610-499-4617
Email: socialwork@widener.edu