Simmons School of Social Work, the First School of Social Work in the Nation, Launches Online Master's Program

BOSTON, Feb. 18, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Simmons College School of Social Work, the nation's first school of social work, continues its 110 year tradition of innovation with its announcement today that it will offer its Master of Social Work (MSW) degree online.

The new program, SocialWork@Simmons, will offer aspiring social workers from around the country the opportunity to earn a graduate social work degree from a nationally accredited institution that is a pioneer in clinical social work education, without relocating to Boston.

"The combination of a unique online learning platform, small class sizes and top-notch field placements will provide a truly comprehensive academic experience, in keeping with the standards established for our highly regarded campus-based clinical program," said Stefan Krug, M.S.W., Ph.D., dean and professor of the Simmons School of Social Work. "This innovative program will position our graduates to advance in an industry where the need for highly skilled professionals is growing rapidly."

With SocialWork@Simmons, the College aims to help address an increased demand for social work services nationwide. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, market demand for social work practitioners is projected to grow 19 percent from 2012 to 2022, faster than the average for all occupations.

SocialWork@Simmons offers the same rigorous curriculum as Simmons's on-campus MSW program and will be taught by distinguished Simmons faculty on an innovative online learning platform. The program combines live, weekly, face-to-face sessions with self-paced, interactive coursework. Classes are limited to a maximum of 15 students per session for a truly robust learning experience. 

As with the on-campus MSW program, SocialWork@Simmons will provide students with field training through approved field placements in or near their own communities, preparing them for direct interaction with individuals, families and communities. Students will also receive personalized services including technology assistance and library access, along with comprehensive academic and career advising services while enrolled and after graduation.

Simmons is currently accepting applications for the first cohort, which will begin in July 2014. Additional cohorts will be added throughout the year. Applicants to the online program will be required to meet the same admissions and academic standards as those applying to the school's on-campus program.

The program will be offered through a partnership with 2U Inc., a leading provider of cloud-based software-as-a-service solutions that enable leading nonprofit colleges and universities to deliver their high quality education to students anywhere. For more information on SocialWork@Simmons, please visit socialwork.simmons.edu or follow the program on Twitter at @SimmonsMSW. Those interested in learning more about admissions requirements and about the program can contact an admissions counselor at 855-523-SSSW (7779) or [email protected].

About Simmons School of Social Work & Simmons College
The Simmons School of Social Work (www.simmons.edu/ssw), founded in 1904 as a joint venture with Harvard University, is the nation's oldest school of social work.  With a nationally acclaimed clinical social work program, Simmons SSW is a leader in educating students for the demands of contemporary practice with individuals, families, groups and communities. Simmons College (www.simmons.edu) is a nationally recognized private university located in the heart of Boston.

About 2U, Inc.
Founded in 2008 by a team of education and technology veterans, 2U enables leading colleges and universities to deliver their high quality education to qualified students anywhere. Our cloud-based software-as-a-service platform provides schools with the comprehensive operating infrastructure they need to attract, enroll, educate, support, and graduate their students. Our mission is to enable the education our clients provide to reach its highest potential so students can reach theirs.

To learn more, go to 2U.com. Be sure to follow us on LinkedIn (http://www.linkedin.com/company/2u), Twitter (http://twitter.com/2Uinc), and Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/2u).

SOURCE Simmons College