University of Hawai`i @ Mānoa
School of Social Work
Master of Social Work Degree
Distance Education Option
for
Neighbor Island Residents
Overview
~~~~~~~~SWITCHED-ON!
Social Work Interactive Television, Computer-based and
Hybrid Education Delivery:
ONline, ONscreen, and ONsite!
http://www.hawaii.edu/sswork/de
Master in Social Work Degree
Distance Education Option
Central Features
-
Will use a combination of HITS (interactive TV) and computer-based technology delivery, as well as some face-to-face instruction
- Offered to neighbor island residents, to increase access and equity to underserved areas of the state
- Comparable in all aspects except course delivery method and geographical locus to the current MSW program
- Same number of credits (57) required for graduation
- Same courses offered (in one concentration – Children and Families)
- Same standards for faculty and for support services
- Same mission and objectives
- Same admissions standards
- Taught primarily by full-time, tenure track faculty members hired specifically to teach using the distance education technology
- To be offered as a three-year program, the first cohort having begun Summer 2007, the second cohort beginning Summer 2008, and the third cohort beginning Summer 2010
- Classes offered evenings and weekends
- Practicum placements will follow the standard daytime pattern
- Cohorts of 25-30 students; two concurrent cohorts anticipated after the first year
- It is expected that a cohort will be admitted in two out of every three years (in a pattern of admit, admit, rest), to maintain two concurrent cohorts after the first year
- One concentration will be offered: Children and Families
- It is hoped that a group of five students per cohort will be DHS employees participating in the HCWEC program
- The Advanced Standing option will be available for any applicant holding the BSW from an accredited program which was awarded within seven years of the anticipated MSW graduation date
- Site Coordinators based on the neighbor islands will work with the students to facilitate their successful movement through the program, individual courses, and Practicum experiences
- For ITV courses, instructors will travel to neighbor island delivery sites once per semester on a rotating basis for a majority of the courses during the
beginning semesters for each cohort, and thereafter as advisable based on cohort need and the requirements and structure of individual courses, with particular focus on meeting skill development objectives.
