Finishing My Degree and Furthering Education

Discussion in 'General Distance Learning Discussions' started by Baker91, Feb 18, 2020.

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  1. Baker91

    Baker91 New Member

    Hi everyone, I have been reading some other posts on this forum and figured I'd post some of my questions for some feedback.
    I'm currently finishing up my Associates degree in Criminal Justice from South Georgia Technical College and want to begin working on my Bachelors. I'm thinking of working on a B.A. in Psychology and then working on my Masters in Social Work. For those I was thinking of Valdosta State University and doing their online classes/programs to finish.
    I have a few coworkers that keep mentioning to me to try Columbia Southern University because they got their degrees from their. What is everyone's opinion of Columbia Southern?
    Are there any really well accepted strictly online degree schools?
     
  2. Rich Douglas

    Rich Douglas Well-Known Member

    Well accepted by whom?

    CSU is accredited by the DEAC, a recognized institutional accrediting agency. However, its credits and degrees may not be accepted in transfer or to satisfy a prerequisite at a regionally accredited school. CSU also does not offer a master's in social work, so it is unclear why you would even mention it.

    You have much to research and learn before asking these questions, for the answers may not have meaning to you. Perhaps you should figure out where you might want to get your master's (since that seems to be your goal) and determine what your professional goal is as well. Then we can go from there. ("There.")
     
  3. chrisjm18

    chrisjm18 Well-Known Member

    As far as I know, Valdosta is very affordable, probably even more than Columbia Southern University. I suggest that you go with Valdosta (regionally accredited, public university). CSU is nationally accredited and a for-profit. Since you want to pursue an MSW, why not pursue a B.S.W? If not, you won't be eligible for advanced standing (2-year MSW). You'll have to complete it in a minimum of 3 years. Just a personal preference, always endeavor to pursue an online program at a school that has a brick and mortar campus. Just my two cents!
     
  4. chrisjm18

    chrisjm18 Well-Known Member

    I saw what you did "there.":D
     
  5. Baker91

    Baker91 New Member

    Thank you for your feedback. I have looked into getting a B.S.W. but I really do think that working on the B.A. in Psychology and then the M.S.W. will benefit me most allowing me to broaden my career choices in the end. I know it will take longer but I'm not really in any sort of time crunch to finish.
     
  6. Baker91

    Baker91 New Member

    Thanks for your feedback. It took me second to get your "There" statement, honestly read over it a couple times and still missed it. Ha.
    I simply mentioned CSU because I do know they offer a lot of online programs, even if they do not offer the M.S.W.
    . Professional goal is still in the air for me, I'm in one profession now (Law Enforcement) but am looking to transition out.
     
  7. Kizmet

    Kizmet Moderator

    There are some online MSW programs and you can find the list on the CSWE website (they also list online BSW programs). In general, if your goal is to get an RA grad degree then you'd do best to get an RA undergrad degree. I don't want to spark yet another RA v. NA debate but I think it's plain to see that there's an advantage to an undergrad RA degree in this case. As for BA degree programs in Psych . . . there are a million of them. There's probably a couple right in your own backyard. Do some research and come back with more questions

    https://cswe.org/
     
  8. Rich Douglas

    Rich Douglas Well-Known Member

    I was just teasing and meant no ill will to the poster. Hard to believe, but I post a lot. I make mistakes like that, too.
     
  9. Rich Douglas

    Rich Douglas Well-Known Member

    Doing your bachelor's degree won't really define who you are professionally, but a master's can. Please give serious consideration to your desired professional outcomes. That could influence heavily the field you study as well as the school you select.
     
  10. Rich Douglas

    Rich Douglas Well-Known Member

    Although discussions have been going on for years, there really is no debate. One side tends to cite facts, research, anecdotes, and observations. The other tends to be heavily vested in an unreal outcome--almost always the posters on that side of the discussion are defending degrees they themselves have earned.

    I don't believe I've ever belittled anyone for choosing a nationally accredited school, but I've gone up against a bunch of unsupported assertions about it over the years, invariably by people who have made that choice. It's really defensive and they can get really offensive.

    Calling degrees from accredited schools "Micky Mouse" or "b.s."--whether it's because the school is nationally accredited or for-profit--doesn't really interest me, does not advance the subject, and certainly doesn't help the targets of those broadsides.
     
  11. Lerner

    Lerner Well-Known Member

    I always thought that the MSW degree requires a BSW degree for entry. The degrees have a requirement of practicum hours to be completed (internship).
    With an RA degree in another discipline, one may need to take undergrad classes for 12 to 16 months in SW before becoming eligible for admission into the MSW program.
    I think Licensing in SW also requires CSWE accreditation of the program.
    The Commission on Accreditation confers accreditation status on schools of social work and baccalaureate social work programs.
    Online and Distance Education Offerings by Accredited Programs
    https://www.cswe.org/Accreditation/Directory-of-Accredited-Programs/Online-and-Distance-Education
     
  12. Kizmet

    Kizmet Moderator

    None of this is true. A Psych BA will get you in (if your GPA is good enough)
     
  13. Lerner

    Lerner Well-Known Member

    You are correct but I think I'm also it depends on the school and the track one is choosing and how the MSW program accepts BA in Psy credits.

    Some graduate MSW have 2 tracks. 60 credits track (for non-BSW degreed person) and 30 credits (for BSW)
    Since some BA in Psy degrees may have some overlap with BSW degree it may or may not meet the requirements for the 30 credit track.
    For a person with a bachelor's degree in Clinical Psychology from Cal State Long Beach, the degree was not sufficient into 30 credit program entry.
    Some schools did offer advanced entry into the general program (60 credit) reduced by 9 or 12 credits.

    Here is an example:

     
  14. Lerner

    Lerner Well-Known Member

    Students must have graduated from a program accredited by the Council for Social Work Education (CSWE) to be eligible to pursue social work licensure.
    So check that the program is CSWE accredited if licensure is desired.
     
  15. Kizmet

    Kizmet Moderator

    I'll bet that all of that is true. But it's not what you said earlier.
     
  16. Lerner

    Lerner Well-Known Member

    Indeed, I stand corrected
    "I always thought that the MSW degree requires a BSW degree for entry.
    With an RA degree in another discipline, one may need to take undergrad classes for 12 to 16 months in SW before becoming eligible for admission into the MSW program."

    The program is there and as mentioned by Kizmet good GPA is needed. I saw some programs that require GPA of 3.0 and above.
    But if one holds properly accredited BSW they can complete the MSW in advanced placement in some programs they will need only 30 credit units instead of 60.

    So it depends on the final goal.
     
  17. Kizmet

    Kizmet Moderator

    I have a friend who did this. Not online but classroom based. She did her BSW at Eastern Connecticut State and then did her MSW in 1 year at UConn. It was a very smart move and if a person knows that the goal is an MSW it makes a lot of sense to do the BSW as opposed to a BA Pych degree. The BA Psych degree will still get you in but you'll have to do the full two years. Plus, there are a lot of online BSW programs. The CSWE link will get you the list.
     

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