Home and School Visitor Certification

Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) Home and School Visitor (HSV) Certification coursework can be completed in combination with the MSW, Post-MSW, or through a separate Home and School Certification program only, which is a 40-credit course of study.

The certification curriculum is presented as an interprofessional preparation for social work practice in elementary and secondary schools in Pennsylvania.

Students develop the competencies required for certification through coursework in both the School of Social Work and in the School of Education in the Reap College of Professional Studies.

A total of six specific education courses are required (18 credits) in addition to the MSW coursework.

Preparation for certification includes a minimum 360 hours of supervised social work practice in school settings. MSW and HSV Certification only candidates will accomplish the practice requirement through first-year field placements; Post-MSW certification candidates who have completed a school-based field placement have met the requirement or can complete a 360-hour field placement in a school setting.

Global Studies Opportunities

The School of Social Work offers opportunities to explore International Social Work during 12-day in-country experiences. Past experiences have included trips to Nepal, India, UK, Ireland, and South Korea through the Global Perspectives course.

An International Field Education experience sponsored by The Schierling Foundation for Excellence in Global Social Work provides a four week in-country Field experience. MSW students were placed in Kenya and Romania in the past.

Transfer of Credits and Credit for Life or Work Experience

Only credits earned in CSWE-accredited Schools of Social Work are accepted for transfer. Prior to enrolling in the Marywood University MSW Program, a student may request the transfer of up to twenty-one (21) credits.

When an applicant requests transfer of credits from another accredited MSW program, the following considerations will apply. Each application will be evaluated on its own merits. Credits may be transferred provided the work is at the level of 3.00 or better on a 4.00 point scale, at least three graduate level credits, deemed relevant to the student’s area of concentration, and completed not more than five years prior to the date of application. All decisions regarding the acceptability of courses transferred into the MSW Program from another institution will be the responsibility of the Director in consultation with appropriate faculty in the area of the curriculum in which the course falls. It is the responsibility of the applicant to have an official copy of the transcript, listing the courses for which transfer credit is sought, sent to the Admissions Office along with a detailed description, or syllabus, of the courses in question.

Once enrolled in the MSW Program, a student may request transfer of up to six (6) credits of electives that were earned in accredited schools of social work subsequent to the student’s enrollment at Marywood. The same grade requirements as above must be met.

The School of Social Work does not grant academic credit for life or work experience.