SIOUX FALLS Housed in the Sharon Lust School of Education, Augustana University will begin offering courses for a master of social work in fall 2025 as part of its Harriet Emily Scott Social Work Program.
The MSW program at Augustana is one of only two MSW programs in South Dakota. This comes after the university began offering a minor in social work in fall 2023 and bachelor of social work in fall 2024.
There is an incredible need for social work programs in South Dakota, especially Sioux Falls, said Bart W. Miles, program director of the MSW.
Dating back to 1969, Augustana and Sioux Falls College (now the University of Sioux Falls) pioneered the development of both social work and social work education in the region with its Joint Social Work Program before graduating its last student in 2004-05. The demand for social workers in the state and a partnership with Sanford Health is what initiated the development of a social work program once again at Augustana.
Sanford really wanted to bring more behavioral programs back to Augustana, so there was a Behavioral Health Academy created in the partnership between Augustana and Sanford, explained Miles.
Students who have earned a BSW from an accredited program will be able to enter the MSW program with advanced standing, which means they can complete the program in one year. Those who have earned bachelors degrees in other areas can complete the MSW program in two years. While Augustanas BSW is offered entirely face-to-face, the universitys MSW program will be offered in a hybrid format to serve working professionals in a variety of different fields or settings. Those who live outside a 50-mile radius of campus, will be able to complete the program online.
Augustana is also offering a stand-alone certificate program in integrated behavioral health a four-course curriculum available for those beyond the masters degree level; those who are already social workers, but want to work in the health care setting. For more information about the Augustana MSW program, visit augie.edu/MSW. To participate in an MSW Zoom information session on Dec. 5, visit augie.edu/MSWInfo. For more information on the BSW at Augustana, visit augie.edu/BSW.
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