Master’s of Social Work Graduates Honored in Hooding Ceremony

Dressed in commencement regalia, 22 students from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville's Graduate School arrived at Julia's Banquet Center in Alton on Saturday, Aug. 12. The group was honored in a hooding ceremony to celebrate their accomplishments for completing the master's degree in social work (MSW) program curriculum.

Organized by the Graduate Student Social Work Association (GSSWA) and their faculty advisor, Jennifer Erwin, PhD, the event recognizes the student's achievements in the two-year graduate program.

In addition to coursework, the MSW program requires a completion of 950 hours at a practicum site, which ranges from hospitals to small nonprofits and large behavioral health providers.

"The practicum offers students the opportunity to apply the knowledge and skills learned in the classroom and allows students the opportunity to address real-world ethical dilemmas that often arise in social work practice when professional values and ethics seem to conflict with organizational policy, family values, or societal norms and expectations," Erwin explained.

"Many of our students balance not only the practicum and coursework, but also maintain jobs and fulfill the needs and expectations of dependent family members," Erwin added. "This ceremony seeks to reward that success."

MSW graduates aim to enhance the lives of individuals, families and communities who may be under-served, at-risk or experiencing challenges by taking a client-centered approach and advocating for systemic change. Graduates are equipped with comprehensive social work knowledge and refined practice skills to engage in professional roles in their career.

Photo: SIUE Master's of Social Work graduates.