USC School of Social Work • Founded in 1920 – the oldest School of Social Work on the West Coast

• Long history in clinical social work practice

• Consistently ranked in the top 10 by U.S. News & World Report

• Hamovitch Research Center – Over $22 million in sponsored research

• Culturally diverse student body

• Only social work school with Military Social Work focus

• Small class sizes

• Faculty and staff support

• “Trojan Family” - strong alumni base

Virtual Academic Center

Best of Both Worlds

Interactive web based learning environment

Same quality education as the on-site program

Hands-on traditional field education

MSW Program OverviewFoundation Coursework• Core theory and practice

Concentrations• Community Organization,

Planning & Administration (COPA)• Families and Children• Mental Health

Sub-Concentrations• Military Social Work & Veterans Services

Field Education• 1,050 hours in community practice

Fits Military Lifestyle

• Complete entire degree at USC

• Live and work virtually anywhere

• Begin the program at your convenience

• Opportunity to give back military communities and turn your life experiences into a professional career

Admissions Requirements

• GRE not required.

• Completed bachelor’s degree with a preferred interdisciplinary liberal arts background.

• Minimum cumulative undergraduate GPA of approximately 3.0”(or last 60/90 units).

• Strong academic promise to perform successfully at the graduate level.

• Commitment to social work values.

• Experience in providing service to people is preferable, but not required.

• Emotional maturity and stability, with the capacity for self-awareness.

Application ProcessThe following six components are required for an MSW application to be considered complete:

1.Online Graduate Admission Application (including application fee)

2.Supplemental Form: Social Work (complete on the online application)

3.Resumé (upload to the online application)

4.Statement of Purpose (upload to the online application)

5.Recommendations (submitted online; two required, third optional)

6.Official Transcript(s)

Online Graduate Application: http://www.usc.edu/admission/graduate/applyonline/

Scholarships

• Lincy Foundation Scholarship is awarded to selected spouses, dependants or children of active duty service members, veterans and those who have fallen in military service.

• Gary Sinise Endowed Scholarship is made possible by the generosity of Gary Sinise and others and awarded each academic year to a selected active duty service member or veteran who has been wounded in the line of duty.

Save the Date

Deadlines Start Dates

October 21, 2011* November 28, 2011

November 22, 2011* January 9, 2012

*subject to change

Center for Innovation and Research on Veterans and Military Families (CIR)

STRENGTHENING THE TRANSITION OF VETERANS AND THEIR FAMILIES INTO THE COMMUNITY

The Goal:Improving the lives of community-dwelling veterans and their families

The Four Pillars of CIR:

Research

Innovation

Education & Training

Partnerships

Research: Educational and Behavioral Health Intervention Interdisciplinary Engages military and civilian resources Influences evidence-based, translational applications of

empirically-supported interventions

Current Projects

• Therapist knowledge, skill, and sense of competence• Evidence-based training for military behavioral health• Reintegration of deployed CA National Guard members• Homeless veterans in Skid Row• School based interventions for military children• Virtual reality avatars as clinical training tools• Gaming technology as family intervention

Innovation: Innovative Use of Current Technology and Development of New Technologies

Education & Training:

Military Social Work Sub-Concentration• SOWK 641 – Clinical Practice with Servicemembers and

Veterans• SOWK 640 – Clinical Practice with the Military Family• SOWK 642 – Military Culture and the Workplace

Environment• SOWK 599 – Health Challenges for Wounded Warriors

and their Caregivers

Continuing Education for Providers• On-ground at City Center• Online Launch: December 5, 2011

Partnerships: Over 500 community care and healthcare organizations in Southern California 60 military-specific organizations California National Guard Department of Defense Department of Veterans Affairs Elected officials Foundations For-profit companies Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health Technology partnerships Professional associations US VETS Veterans Centers

http://cir.usc.edu

•

USC Veterans Certification Office

Certification of Veteran Education Benefits at USC

The USC Veteran Affairs Office will provide the V.A. with a certification of the vet’s enrollment status and applicable tuition and fees.

Questions regarding other types of benefits/services/eligibility should be addressed directly to the V.A.

Outline• Steps to Certification• Chapter 33 – Post 9/11 GI Bill• Yellow Ribbon• Financial Aid• Useful Websites

•Apply for admission•Receive formal notification of admission•Register for classes•Complete the USC Application for Semester Entitlement (ASE)•Provide a copy of your online application for benefits to the VA•Provide a copy of your certificate of eligibility from the VA to USC•Provide a copy of a valid photo identification to USC•USC sends certification of the vets eligibility and status to the VA•VA processes the certification (typically 4-6 weeks to complete)•VA tuition and fee payments come directly to USC (Chapter 33)

Steps to Certification

Chapter 33 – Post 9/11 GI Bill

• Tuition and fees are capped at $17,500 per academic year (if less than 100% certified, this amount will be reduced by the VA)

• Monthly Housing Allowance (MHA); vets enrolled in distance learning will receive up to ½ the national average BAH ($673.50 for 2011 academic year)

• An annual books and supplies stipend of $1,000 paid proportionately based upon level of enrollment

Yellow RibbonEligibility• Must be Chapter 33, Post – 9/11

participant.• Certification of 100% eligibility

by VA.• Active duty service members

and their spouses are NOT eligible.

• Children of active duty members MAY be eligible.

Yellow Ribbon (continued)• SOWK has designated 20 awards for on line students• SOWK will provide up to $10,000 annually with a

matching amount from the VA• Yellow Ribbon awards are applied on a “first come,

first served” basis per the VA• Awards can be renewed each year if SOWK and USC

continue participation in YR• Awards cannot exceed tuition and fees

Financial Aid•Veterans may be eligible for financial aid

independent of their VA benefits.• Visit the USC Veteran Affairs website and select the link “Financial Aid and Veteran Benefits.”• http://www.usc.edu/admission/fa/applying_receiving/rotc/

Useful Websites

• www.gibill.va.gov• www.usc.edu/va• www.usc.edu/admission• www.usc.edu/finaid

USC Office of Financial Aid

Financial Aid Application Steps

1) 2011-2012 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) www.fafsa.ed.gov

•Use 2010 income•USC's Federal School Code: 001328•As soon as possible

2) Supplemental Form for Graduate StudentsAvailable at www.usc.edu/financialaid• Submit after step one• Log in to your “My Financial Aid & Documents” (top right corner)

and click on “Document Library” • As soon as possible

Calculating USC TuitionTuition• 15-18 units per semester - Flat rate

$21,081 (2011-12 AY) fall term• 1-14 units per semester -Per unit rate $1,420 per unit (2011-12 AY) fall term

If you are taking less than 15 units, calculate your individual tuition by multiplying the number of units you will take by the per-unit rate.

Example: 6 x $1,420= $8,520 11 x $1,420= $15,620

The most current per-unit costs can be found online at www.usc.edu/soc. Tuition rates are updated each academic year. Please check with your academic department regarding any program fees.

Federal Direct Loan Program

Federal Direct Stafford LoanAnnual Maximum= $20,500 *For more information please visit www.usc.edu/financialaid and click on loans and Federal

Direct Stafford Loan.

Federal Direct Graduate PLUS Loan May be borrowed for: cost of attendance minus other aid receivedHas credit requirementsFor more information please visit www.usc.edu/financialaid and click on loans and Federal

Direct Graduate PLUS loan.

* If you are concurrently enrolled in or attending another institution during the 2011-12 academic year, your Stafford Loan eligibility will be less.

Public Service Loan ForgivenessThe Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Program was established to encourageindividuals to enter and continue in full-time public service employment byforgiving the remaining balance of their Federal Direct Loan Program loans afterthe borrower has made 120 qualifying monthly payments (beginning anytime after October 1, 2011) while employed full-time by a public service organization.

The 120 required payments must be made under on or more of the followingDirect Loan Program repayment plans:

• Income Based Repayment (IBR) Plan• Income Contingent Repayment Plan• Standard Repayment Plan

For more information, please visit www.studentloans.gov

Veteran Education Benefits and Financial Aid

Aid Coordination•Title IV funds•Veteran Education Benefits

Contact USC Financial Aid Office

(213) 740-1111 Option 2

www.usc.edu/financialaid

Learning Platform Demo

Get Started Today!

Call us at 1-877-700-4MSW or visit our website

http://msw.usc.edu

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