In her 20 years as a clinical therapist, Dr. Kelli Gast has seen a continued rise in the need for mental health services and a surge since the pandemic. What she hasn’t seen is enough providers to meet the growing demand.
To help fill that gap, Gast helped develop 独家黑料’s new Master of Social Work program, with classes beginning summer 2025.
The clinically focused program builds on 独家黑料’s longstanding undergraduate social work accreditation and its reputation for students exhibiting professionalism and readiness as they enter the field.
“The foundation of social work is relationships, and I think that's modeled so beautifully at 独家黑料,” Gast said. “It’s a really supportive and practice-based environment.”
This support-driven structure aims to prepare graduates for immediate, impactful work as mental health providers.
Students will experience multiple benefits:
In larger programs, students often must find their own internship opportunities.
“By doing field placements for students and providing a strong clinical experience, we will help ensure our graduates are confident on day one,” Gast said.
Program details
The MSW program offers both one- and two-year pathways to accommodate a range of educational backgrounds.
The one-year Advanced Standing Program, beginning in summer 2025, is designed for individuals with a bachelor’s degree in social work and features fully online evening courses to support working professionals. Students will get a feel for campus, however, with an in-person orientation and virtual use of simulation labs.
Applications open on Nov. 15, with a priority deadline of Jan. 15.
The two-year Foundation Program provides a pathway for those with undergraduate degrees in fields other than social work. Students in this track will complete one year of on-campus coursework and an in-person generalist practicum before advancing to the second-year curriculum. The Foundation Program is set to begin in January 2026.
Outcomes
Graduates will be eligible to become Licensed Clinical Social Workers, equipped to provide diagnostic assessments, treatment planning, and direct mental health care.
“It is a highly valued credential,” Gast said, as it allows clinicians to bill insurance and other revenue sources necessary to work in a variety of settings such as hospitals, mental health agencies, schools, and human services agencies.
Masters-level social workers who are not interested in clinical practice would be eligible for non-clinical licensure and equipped to work in a variety of health, educational, or human service settings in program development, program leadership, supervision, policy development, and advocacy.
With a curriculum that emphasizes trauma-informed and anti-oppressive practices, one goal Gast hopes to achieve is addressing mental health concerns early in a child’s life. This may prevent mental health struggles and substance abuse later in life or even prevent troubles with the law, she said.
“If we can detect behavioral issues at a young age and find the right support, we can avoid more of those life-long, drastic outcomes,” she said.
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