Newman University launches Clinical Master of Social Work program for working adults in Kansas, featuring trauma-informed practice framework, flexible part-time study options, and three concentration areas preparing graduates for LMSW licensure and LSCSW pathway.
— Newman University has launched a Clinical Master of Social Work program designed for working adults in Kansas, featuring a trauma-informed practice framework that distinguishes it from peer institutions across the state. The program has maintained full accreditation from the Council on Social Work Education since 2000, with reaffirmation completed in June 2023, and prepares graduates for licensure as Licensed Master Social Workers (LMSW) upon graduation, with a pathway to Licensed Specialist Clinical Social Workers (LSCSW) after completing required supervised post-MSW practice in Kansas. By integrating neurobiological, clinical, and systems-level approaches to trauma—a curricular restructure implemented in Fall 2018—Newman addresses a critical gap in accessible, clinically focused graduate education for professionals who cannot pursue traditional full-time programs.
More information is available at https://newmanu.edu/academics/social-work
Many Kansas professionals face significant barriers when pursuing advanced social work credentials, including inflexible schedules and full-time enrollment requirements that conflict with employment obligations. Newman’s program responds directly to these challenges by offering part-time study options that span four years for the Traditional track and two years for the Advanced Standing track. Courses are delivered through multiple formats—on-campus, hybrid, and fully online asynchronous options—allowing students to maintain employment while completing the 62 credit hours required for the Traditional program or 34 credit hours for Advanced Standing applicants holding Bachelor of Social Work degrees from CSWE-accredited institutions. On-campus and hybrid courses, when offered, typically meet once per week for three hours during evening sessions, while online courses allow students to complete coursework at their own pace.
The program’s trauma-informed practice framework represents a distinctive pedagogical emphasis, as Newman is one of a few accredited MSW programs nationally offering a trauma certificate or trauma focus in their curriculum. This positions Newman graduates with specialized competencies in contemporary behavioral health and clinical social work. Students select from three concentration areas: Clinical Social Work, School Social Work, and Social Work Administration, tailoring their education to specific career trajectories. The Clinical Social Work concentration fulfills the educational requirements, including coursework in psychopathology and diagnosis, for Kansas LSCSW eligibility. Graduates must also complete post-graduate supervised clinical experience and pass the ASWB Clinical Exam to obtain LSCSW licensure, which enables them to diagnose mental disorders using DSM-5 criteria, conduct independent psychotherapy, and establish private practices with direct insurance billing capabilities.
Graduates gain hands-on experience through practicum placements in community social service agencies, which may include major regional employers such as Comcare, St. Francis Ministries, Ascension Via Christi, and Ember Hope. These practicum placements provide real-world integration with Kansas’s behavioral health infrastructure while building professional networks that support career advancement. Graduates pursue roles in mental health agencies, hospitals, school districts, military and veteran affairs programs, and private clinical practice, with the program’s CSWE accreditation ensuring eligibility to sit for the ASWB Master’s Exam immediately upon degree completion.
The university charges $640 per credit hour. This positions the program competitively within the Kansas MSW market, where tuition rates at other institutions, such as the University of Kansas online MSW at $695 per credit hour, vary. Federal unsubsidized loans up to $20,500 per academic year are available to students enrolled in at least six credit hours per semester. The university accommodates employer tuition reimbursement policies through deferred payment arrangements and monthly installment plans. While Newman does not currently offer institutional scholarships for MSW students, the program’s accreditation status and clinical outcomes support the investment relative to licensure preparation and career mobility.
The Traditional track admits students each fall with a part-time application deadline of July 31. Advanced Standing applicants holding BSW degrees from CSWE-accredited programs may begin in either summer or fall semesters with deadlines of April 30 and July 31 respectively. No GRE scores, interviews, or prerequisite coursework are required for admission. Applicants with undergraduate GPAs below 3.0 may still apply with supplementary evidence of academic capability. MSW Program Director Yelando Johnson can be reached at johnsony@newmanu.edu or 316-942-4291 extension 2326 for enrollment guidance and program details. Newman University was ranked first among Most Focused Master’s Degree Colleges for Social Work in Kansas by College Factual for the 2021-2022 academic year, reflecting the institution’s sustained commitment to social work education and workforce development.
Further details can be found at https://newmanu.edu/
Contact Info:
Name: Clark Schafer
Email: Send Email
Organization: Newman University
Address: 3100 McCormick , Wichita, Kansas 67213, United States
Website: https://newmanu.edu/
Source: PressCable
Release ID: 89194407
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