NEW MASTER OF SOCIAL WORK PROGRAM AT PITT-JOHNSTOWN

PITTSBURGH, Jan. 7 -- The University of Pittsburgh School of Social Work is now offering a Master of Social Work (MSW) program at the Pitt-Johnstown regional campus, joining the Pittsburgh campus as having the only accredited programs of this type in western Pennsylvania.

The program, which began this week with 30 students, is tailored for working professionals who are interested in advanced direct practice in mental health and health care. It will take two and a half years to complete, requiring 46 credits, including field placement. The students, attending part-time through Pitt-Johnstown's Murtha Educational Center, already have Bachelor degrees in social work from accredited schools or have completed courses offered through the School of Social Work Continuing Education Program. The University's Center for Instructional Development and Distance Education will assist in delivering this program with the newest educational technologies.

"The opportunity for students to complete all of their degree requirements in Johnstown without the burden of extensive travel is a tremendous benefit," noted Pitt-Johnstown President Albert Etheridge. "And because the Pitt MSW is a licensable degree, the community will benefit from having an increased number of licensed social workers."

David E. Epperson, Dean of the School of Social Work, says the expansion into Johnstown is timely, and just one of many efforts that makes him excited about the School's future. "Given the commitment and vitality of our faculty and students, and the major social issues of this country, this School has always been on the forefront," he said. Pitt's School of Social Work MSW program currently ranks 8th among approximately 150 MSW programs nation-wide, according to The Gourman Report.