Grand Valley State University Reviews of Master's in Social Work

"Grand Valley State University prepared me to be in the world as a new social worker. The teachers were all knowledgeable and shared stories from their own experiences in the world. The practicum was also a very valuable experience in order to prepare me for my career upon graduation."

"GVSU offers a lot of opportunity for grad students to expand their horizons and get involved. The faculty and staff is always available and eager to help."

"Pros- The grad school is located at the heart of Grand Rapids which is a bigger city meaning more opportunities for students. Since it is a bigger city there are chances to work with different people of different backgrounds and social economic statuses. It is not a very big school meaning easier access to teachers and other resources like volunteer opportunities. Cons- The lack of access to much financial help is the biggest problem. Housing around the area is very expensive and often pushes students to live outside of the area."

"The only aspect of the Master's of Social Work program are that all the classes are at night. My job is also at night, so there were conflicts in scheduling as I acclimated to the program. The pros are that you have a good variety of classes to choose from as you narrow your focus. I have also had great experiences with the faculty at Grand Valley."

"The curriculum is hands on. You learn how to get a job and what to do once you have received a job in your field. The social work program is alot of counseling and more of the direct care work which I love. It lacks a little on the administrative part of my field though."

"Pros: Advanced Generalist Practice Small class sizes"

"The Advanced Generalist Master of Social Work program at Grand Valley really allows the student to become a well-rounded social worker. It's great to have experience in both micro and macro work, and allows the student to have many options once they enter the field. While the field placement is long and there is only one location, it really gives us a chance to form a valuable relationship with our site, and encourages networking with future employers. Grand Valley is a great school!"

"I believe that the school provides good education for the value. Some of the professors are adjunct, so they are not as invested in your education as those that are full time tenure professors.I enrolled because I was not ready to choose a specialty and GVSU offers an advanced generalist degree."

"This is a new graduate program so the availability of classes is extremely restricted. The program is not designed for working students, especially those who are working full time."