- by Emma Maskell -

Emma Maskell in the Glazer Music Performance Center lobby

This spring I will be graduating with a Bachelor of Science degree in social work! I cannot believe that time has flown by this quickly and that I will finally have my degree! I have chosen to continue my education at Nazareth University in the Master of Social Work program. I decided to stay at Naz to complete my master’s degree for numerous reasons.

The Faculty
The social work department has some of the most amazing people as staff that I have had the pleasure to learn from. The faculty is always there to support you in any way that they can. I have done two different internship placements as an undergraduate social work major. The faculty is always there to listen to your interests and they work endlessly to ensure that you get into a placement in the area that you are interested in.

The Community
The Nazareth social work community is such a supportive group of students. When you are with these people for years in this program and then go on to your master’s, you become very familiar with everyone. It has gotten to the point where we feel more like a family, and we all know each other’s goals and ambitions. We are all there to see each other succeed. That sense of community and belonging is a feeling that I wouldn’t trade for the world.

Advanced Standing
If you majored in social work during your undergraduate time at Naz then you have the opportunity to join the master’s program by completing only 36 credit hours. The program can be completed in one year of full-time study (summer, fall, and spring) or in two years of part-time (fall, spring, summer, fall, and spring).

Specializations
When you go into the social work master’s program there are many options if you want to complete a specialization:

  • Play Therapy
  • Trauma-Informed Care
  • Evidence-Based Practice in Mental Health
  • School Social Work
  • Interdisciplinary Specialty Program in Autism
  • Early intervention, which may include participation in Project RISE: Rochester Interprofessional Scholars of Early Intervention
  • Gerontology