- Miami students can declare their interest in the Combined Program anytime during their academic career.
- Upon earning a minimum of 64 credit hours and a 3.00 cumulative GPA, students may apply to a Combined Program by completing the Graduate School application and submitting required materials.
- Standard Miami University Graduate School application and admission procedures apply.
- Students remain classified as undergraduates until they have officially graduated from their undergraduate psychological science program.
- Students have a maximum of 5 calendar years to complete their master’s degree from the time they are admitted to the program.
- Social Work graduate classes are typically offered in a hybrid format, generally meeting face-to-face once every two weeks. Classes are scheduled from 4-6:40PM and from 7-9:40PM Monday to Thursdays.
Combined Program: BA Psychological Science and Master's of Social Work
| Class Number | Course Name | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| PSY 111 | Introduction to Psychology | 3 |
| PSY 112 | Foundational Experiences in Psychology | 1 |
| STA 261 | Statistics | 4 |
| PSS 218 | Introduction to Research Design and Analysis | 4 |
| PSS 219 | Advanced Research Design and Analysis | 4 |
| PSS 211 | Career and College Development in Psychological Science | 3 |
| PSY Breadth courses | Select one course from each breadth area: Biopsychology, Cognitive, Developmental, Individual and Social | 15 |
| PSS 350 | Introduction to Counseling Methods | 3 |
| PSS 401 | Capstone in Psychological Science | 3 |
| Additional 300- and 400-level class requirement | Use any two FSW courses here | |
| 46 Semester Hours |
Note. Students can “double count” up to 9 credit hours of graduate level courses toward the 124 credits required for undergraduate degrees. Six of these credit hours may replace two 300/400- level PSS/PSY classes (see table); 3 credits would count as general elective credits. In order for the MSW classes to count toward the Psychological Sciences undergraduate degree, submit the course replacement form.
| Class Number | Course Name | Credit Hours | Semester |
|---|---|---|---|
| FSW 515 | Culturally-Informed Practice | 3 | Junior Fall |
| FSW 613 | Ethics, Professionalism, and Self-Care | 3 | Senior Fall |
| FSW 621 | SW Practice I | 3 | Senior Fall |
| FSW 611 | Social Welfare Policy I | 3 | Junior Spring |
| FSW 622 | Social Work Practice II | 3 | Senior Spring |
| FSW 641 | Adv SW Practice focus (lifespan) | 3 | Senior Spring |
| FSW 619 | Evaluating Clients and Programs | 3 | Grad Summer |
| FSW 664 | Field I | 3 | Grad Summer |
| FSW 723 | Assessment and the DSM | 3 | Grad Summer |
| FSW 602 | Diverse Families in Context | 3 | Grad Fall |
| FSW 617 | Human Behavior in the Social Environment | 3 | Grad Fall |
| FSW 688 | Practice with Substance Use Disorders | 3 | Grad Fall |
| FSW 668 | Clinical Interventions in SW | 3 | Grad Fall |
| FSW 765 | Field Seminar 2 | 3 | Grad Fall |
| FSW 642 | Adv SW Policy Analysis focus (lifespan) | 3 | Grad Spring |
| FSW 717 | Social Work Capstone | 3 | Grad Spring |
| FSW 724 | Agency Administration | 3 | Grad Spring |
| FSW 766 | Field Seminar 3 | 3 | Grad Spring |
Application Process and Eligibility
- This is an Oxford program, and we are working toward offering all of our Master’s classes in Oxford, but some classes may be held on the Middletown campus.
- For graduate students, tuition and fees are based on the number of credits taken per semester (not a flat rate for full-time students), and there is no difference in tuition rates for in-state vs. out-of-state/international students.
- All students complete a total of 900 field practicum hours (Summer, Fall, and Spring semesters of the graduate program) where they develop knowledge and skills in a local agency. We have partnerships with over 100 non-profit agencies, schools, hospitals, and local Veterans Affairs. Internship settings are typically located within 50 miles of Oxford, Ohio.
The master’s program is a hybrid program. 50% of classes are online (synchronous or asynchronous), and 50% of classes are hybrid (alternating weeks for meeting face-to-face and online). There is a required 3-semester practicum placement that would need to be completed face-to-face (about 22 hours per week).
Face-to-face classes are held on the Oxford and Middletown campuses. They are held from 4:00 - 6:40 PM and 7:00 - 9:40 PM.
Yes, the part of the master’s program that is taken after graduating with a PSS bachelor’s degree can be completed in two years part-time, instead of one year full-time.
As long as you still have at least one semester left of undergraduate courses (or are willing to delay graduation), you can apply for the PSS+MSW Combined Program. If you are graduating soon, you are eligible to apply for the two-year MSW Traditional Program.
There is a $50 application fee.
To be eligible for this program, students must have a major in psychological science (PSS), a minimum GPA of 3.0, and a minimum of 62 earned credits by the time of application. (Note: If you have less than a 3.0 GPA, you are still eligible to apply for the two-year MSW Traditional Program.)
There is no additional cost for the 18 credits that students take while an undergraduate student (these credits are part of the undergraduate tuition and rates).
After graduating with a PSS bachelor’s degree, the cost is $700 per credit hour (this cost includes ALL fees, except student health insurance and the fee to apply for graduation). There is no difference in cost for in-state vs. out-of-state residents. The MSW program is “Market Driven Tuition”, so no internal Miami funding can be used to pay for tuition (no Graduate Assistantships, Teaching Assistantships, internal scholarships, etc.).
The following are options for funding to help with tuition:
- University Partnership Program: This program is only available for students entering Child Protective Services (CPS). There are about 3 positions available per year. Students take 2 specialized classes about child welfare instead of 2 other MSW classes, receive a scholarship/stipend while in practicum, and a signing bonus when accepting a CPS job.
- Primary Health Solutions Behavioral Health Workforce Education and Training Program: Students can receive a $25,000 scholarship (paid out monthly) during two semesters of advanced practicum with Primary Health Solutions. This is a 4-year grant-funded opportunity, and 2025-2026 is the first year of the grant. There are 12-15 positions available per year.
- There are some paid internship opportunities available for students. These are generally offered by agencies that bill for services, such as those providing therapy.
- Many students apply for graduate federal student loans to help pay for the MSW program.
Most students work while in the MSW program. There are opportunities to do an employment-based practicum if the work is well-aligned with the MSW practicum requirements.
If you need to work, the employment-based practicum or a paid internship are the best options, since the three semesters (Summer, Fall, and Spring) of full-time MSW classes include being in practicum for 22-25 hours per week. Part-time students also complete three semesters of practicum. All MSW students enroll in practicum for the last three semesters of the MSW program.
Unfortunately, no internal Miami funding (including undergraduate scholarships) can be used for the tuition during the three semesters (Summer, Fall, and Spring) of full-time MSW classes. Undergraduate scholarships can be used while students are still enrolled in the undergraduate PSS degree program.
If you are a dependent of a Miami employee and eligible for a dependent tuition waiver, Miami pays about 90% of the tuition (note: graduate tuition waivers are taxable income for the employee).
A maximum of 18 credits of MSW classes can be taken as an undergraduate student. The rest of the classes require graduate student status.
If students wish to complete the combined program in a 4 + 1 time frame (4 undergraduate years + 1 graduate year), students will have to take classes during the summer. If students do not wish to complete the combined program in a 4 + 1 time frame, they have more flexibility in deciding when to take classes. Most classes are only offered once a year, but Summer classes are also offered either in Fall or Spring.
If interested in the program, contact
Social Work
Angela Curl, PhD
curla@MiamiOH.edu
Psychological Science
Beth Dietz, PhD
dietzbl@MiamiOH.edu
Camilla McMahon
mcmahocm@MiamiOH.edu
CONTACT INFORMATION
Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences
Hamilton Campus Mosler Hall 566Middletown Campus Johnston Hall 203D sbs@MiamiOH.edu 513-785-3154