This website contains information for MSW students who started their program prior to February 2017.

The Barbara Solomon School of Social Work and Human Services is pleased to announce it has updated the social work residency component of the program.

The current social work residency will soon be titled Social Work Skills Lab and the first offering of the Social Work Skills Lab will take place in June 2017.

The MSW program is asking students who started their program prior to February 2017 to complete a survey about which model you will pursue. Watch your email for a link to complete this survey.

Please review the information contained on this site carefully to understand the new Social Work Skills Lab model as it compares to the current residency model so you may make an informed decision about which model is best for you.

Walden is very excited about this new opportunity to help you make progress in your MSW program and enhance your preparation for the field of social work. We will work with you to assist your decision-making process and support your transition to the new Social Work Skills Lab format if you so choose.

• A required 1‐credit, 6‐week hybrid courses that combines online and face‐to‐face/residential components.
• A key learning experience that helps develop professional identity, confidence, and skills to be a Social Work Change Agent for the 21st Century. It helps you integrate and apply learning from your courses, as well as register, orient, and prepare you for your field experience.
• Allows you to travel to a host city in Georgia, Arizona or Minnesota to take part in a residential experience in which you learn from faculty mentors and network with peers from all over the U.S. (Note: Locations vary from year to year and we may not offer events in each of these states every year. Please refer to the Calendar for available dates and locations.)
• You also learn, practice, and receive feedback on the development of essential Social Work skills.
• Provides faculty mentorship by highly trained and experienced faculty who inspire you to develop your best professional self in the service of others.

The Social Work Skills Lab is a 1-credit, 6-week hybrid class that includes a 4-day, face-to-face residential component similar to the current residency model.

The new Social Work Skills Lab model has a lot of strengths, which include:

• Lab fee is covered by financial aid (travel and lodging expenses are not included in program tuition and must be paid out of pocket);
• Updated cutting edge knowledge, awareness and skills; and
• Greater content integration and enhanced preparation for field placements.

Reduced Cost Barriers

• One credit Social Work Skills Lab I and Social Work Skills Lab II courses allow you to cover the costs of the face-to-face skills labs using financial aid.

Reduced Travel Concerns

• Offering online preparation prior to the face‐to‐face experience to better connect you with your MSW faculty and peers.

Improved Experience

• Focusing on skill‐building, profession preparation, enhanced knowledge, evidence-based practices, and field experience preparation will improve, ultimately improving your experience and learning.
• Integrating a hybrid course (with both online and face-to-face components) into the Program of Study improves your ability to plan your field experience and stay on track, thus allowing you to progress through your program requirements in a timely manner.

• If you select the new Social Work Skills Lab model, we will switch your June, September or December 2017 enrollment from your selected residency to the Social Work Skills Lab in the same month at the same location.
• If you opt to stay in the current residency model, your 2017 residency enrollment will remain as currently scheduled. All 2018 and future offerings will be under the new Social Work Skills Lab model.

If you need further assistance, please contact Student Success Advising and be sure to include your name and student ID number on all communications.

Phone: 1-800-WALDENU (1-800-925-3368)