The Accelerated MSW: Grad School on the Fast Track

Accelerated programs allow students to complete their coursework in four consecutive semesters over 16 months. Image from Unsplash

Nedda Gilbert April 27, 2018

According to the US Department of Education, eight percent of the population now holds a graduate degree. In fact, a grad degree is the fastest growing educational credential. With this uptick, many see a professional graduate degree as the ticket to career advancement and higher earnings.

In this course, participants learn core principles, concepts, and methods of continuous improvement and explore the history of continuous improvement efforts. In a series of lectures, Master Black Belt in Six Sigma Shane Wentz, Ph.D., enables learners to enhance, optimize, and stabilize business processes and to augment quality control through varied methodologies. Participants gain the skills and knowledge to reimagine internal processes, engage in advanced problem-solving, and empower employees. The course covers high-level foundational principles of Lean, Six Sigma, and DMAIC processes before diving deep into Lean Six Sigma methods. Learners will analyze the tools of process mapping, Kaizen (a continuous improvement method/tool deemed a prerequisite for Lean transformation success), Lean (a continuous improvement philosophy that emphasizes streamlined workflows and reducing waste), and the process improvement methodology driving DMAIC: Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve, and Control.

Entrepreneurs fostering new ventures outside of well-developed entrepreneurial ecosystems like Silicon Valley face significant challenges. These markets are unlike Silicon Valley, and they will likely remain so. That doesn't mean they can't nurture and sustain new businesses. In transitioning markets that lack abundant private sector financing, creative approaches from government officials, donors, and business leaders can fill the void to support entrepreneurial activity. Northeast Ohio (where Cleveland and Case Western Reserve University are located) has become a laboratory for such innovative solutions. During our time together in this course, we will explore some of these creative approaches to promoting regional entrepreneurship. Northeast Ohio has seen a massive infusion of government and donor resources for over ten years. In that time, Northeast Ohio has promoted regional development (including job creation and follow-on funding) through alternative methods of financing startups. It has not been easy. The region has made progress, but it remains to be seen whether it has struck upon an enduring formula. A dynamic entrepreneurial ecosystem takes many years, even decades, to develop. Government policymakers and donors typically seek quicker returns on their support programs, which makes long-term support for entrepreneurship challenging. This course includes case studies and first-person testimonials from entrepreneurs who have launched products and services ranging from medical devices to LED lights to whiskey. You will learn how these entrepreneurs discovered and procured resources from various programs and intermediary organizations. You will hear from business people still in the process of developing their companies as well as those whose ventures have flourished. Our focus will extend beyond Cleveland to selected markets around the world, including Greece, Vietnam, Tunisia, Argentina, Rwanda and China. You will learn about international incentives and other supports available to developing startups and small businesses across the globe. This course examines how different communities around the world approach implementing strategies and methods to support businesses. I will ask you to reflect on how to apply the principles we learn to growing entrepreneurship where you live. The social interactive features of the online platform will enable students from around the world to share ideas and learn from one another. Most MOOCs rebroadcast professors’ lectures; this course is different. Don’t expect to see me standing in front of the camera, talking and lecturing every module. Instead, the lectures will be relatively short in length. They have more of the feel of an engaging documentary than a static classroom setting. ## __What type of person takes the *Beyond Silicon Valley* course?__ - Active and aspiring businesspeople in communities looking to initiate new startup ecosystems or bolster existing ones - Current and prospective entrepreneurs who want to learn about funding sources, risk management, and the lifecycle of startups - Professionals who work in government agencies, nongovernmental organizations, philanthropic institutions, and various private funds that fund startups - Anyone curious about how to create and grow startup ecosystems outside the major tech hubs - The principles Beyond Silicon Valley teaches have been drawn from and applied to startups worldwide, from small villages to megalopolises. You'll study success stories spanning the globe from Vietnam to Kosovo to Botswana. ## __What will you learn in *Beyond Silicon Valley*?__ - How and where startups can find funding to get their businesses off the ground - What role government can play in encouraging startups and a healthy startup ecosystem - How anchor institutions such as universities and healthcare systems participate in startup ecosystems - How nongovernmental organizations support startups - How to raise funds from venture capitalists, angel investors, and accelerators - How to navigate challenging periods in the startup lifecycle - The importance of mentoring in successful startups

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Earning a graduate degree can be personally and professionally rewarding, but it’s not without its challenges. Going to grad school means being out of the workforce for several years. Grad school also requires a big investment of time and money, which can be in short supply for adults. These challenges hold true for anyone considering a Masters of Social Work (MSW) degree. Although the traditional two-year MSW offers a faster path to becoming a licensed clinician or counselor than does a Masters in Psychology (which is a three-year program), an MSW is a demanding degree to pursue.

Because social work is a regulated profession, and graduates need to become licensed to practice in most jobs, the MSW has strict graduation requirements. One of those requirements is the completion of a back-to-back fieldwork experience. This involves 60 credits and approximately 900-1200 hours. Those pursuing an MSW without an undergrad degree in social work have no way of shortcutting that process. Although many online options exist, the MSW still takes two years to complete, and the fieldwork requirement is mandatory.

16 Month Accelerated MSW Program Options

However, some schools have condensed their traditional two-year programs into intensive courses of study. These programs offer a 16-month accelerated MSW program. The value of an accelerated track is that students get back into the workforce much faster. Accelerated programs allow students to complete their coursework in four consecutive semesters over 16 months. What these programs have in common is a calendar schedule that includes a summer semester. Using the summer months as a period for continued study, rather than a period for time-off, makes all the difference in accelerated programs.

How do accelerated MSW programs work?

Some begin in September; these involve a four semester schedule of fall-spring-summer-fall. Other programs begin mid-year in January (which is considered the spring semester). these follow a semester schedule of spring-summer-fall-spring, with graduation in May.

Accelerated MSW students complete their fieldwork assignments just as they would in traditional September to May programs. But again, the difference is that their fieldwork – like their coursework - continues over the summer months.

The advantage of a 16-month accelerated MSW is that it is identical to the traditional two-year course of study, but students graduate a semester sooner. The disadvantages are that there is no break, accelerated programs move at an intensive pace, and some fieldwork experiences and selections may not be available over a summer semester.

What does it take to be admitted to an accelerated MSW program?

Not all accelerated programs rely on the same criteria for admission. At some schools, a higher GPA is important. Prior work or volunteer experience in social work may also be essential. But these standards vary by school. You will need to do your homework to learn what options are available for accelerated study at the schools you’re interested in. If you think you may benefit from an accelerated program, consider performing volunteer work in a related social work field before of applying. A final word: the terms Advanced MSW and Accelerated MSW may get tossed around and confused with one other.

Technically, an Advanced MSW might also be considered an “accelerated" program. But this is only because students admitted into Advanced Standing MSW programs must already hold a Bachelor of Social Work (BSW). This BSW “accelerates" them, because prior studies and fieldwork experiences count for some of the qualifications an MSW would otherwise need to meet. In this way, BSW coursework and experiences play double duty, meeting MSW requirements as well. This is what makes for an “advanced" student: ultimately, an MSW candidate who jumps more quickly to graduation. Because of the intensive prior experience of the BSW, advanced MSW programs can typically be completed in only one year.