University of Louisville Reviews of Master's in Social Work

"As a native of Louisville, Kentucky, I knew first hand growing up that I wanted to attend the University of Louisville. My school has a prestigious reputation of having nation wide recognized programs that prepare their students for the career paths they choose to go. I am so thankful to be a graduate of the Kent School of Social Work. As a social work student at Kent I have learned multiple clinical social work skills that I will use each day in my future work as a medical social worker. One of the most profound skills I have learned that I use everyday is to the ability to work well with diverse populations. I have the appropriate skills sets to be a culturally competent social worker and I have found that I enjoy serving others that are different than me because they have taught me the value of social justice and what it looks like for everyone . I am thankful that the Kent School as prepared me as a professional and I plan to give back to the program in the future so that future students can too continue their education to becoming a good social worker."

"The Kent School of Social Work at the University of Louisville is overall a great program! The teachers and staff will go beyond what is expected of them to make sure you are not only learning the material but able to apply it into your real life practice. Every teacher I have had has also taken time to promote self care, an essential thing to do during graduate school and your professional career. I would highly recommend the Kent School at UofL for someone who is a driven individual who wants to be in a learning community of respectful teachers and students."

"The University of Louisville Kent School is Social Work has been one of the most challenging, yet rewarding experiences. The professors and content have pushed me to challenge myself and as a result, helped me grow tremendously not only as a social worker but as a person as well. The professors do a great job of making sure you understand the content in order to effectively apply it to your own practice. One of the main aspects of the program is developing the ability to think critically, this was daunting at first but the school has the ability to successfully help you shape your mind in order to think critically, and as a result you will work as a competent and successful social worker"

"I am currently working toward a Master's of Science in Social Work with a specialization in Couples & Family Therapy. I love my school, and I love the Kent School of Social Work. The work is challenging and involving, interesting and entertaining. The professors are knowledgable and care deeply for the subject matter, and their students."

"The University of Louisville is a beautiful campus filled with diverse students and faculty. I began my studies in criminal justice and American sign language. The ASL program was extremely eye opening to different communities and cultures that I was unaware existed. Learning from the Deaf community made me want to explore other facets of life, so I decided to pursue my masters degree in Social Work. The Kent School of Social Work has been an amazing experience and I have learned a great deal about myself, my community, and society as a whole."

"University of Louisville's Kent School of Social Work is a national leader. The curriculum and quality of leadership is beyond measure. Administrators, faculty and staff are very accessible and try to accommodate each student. My program offers a great variety of classes and specializations. I also believe an indirect benefit is the very strong network you are connected to via social media. I've engaged with alumni from all specializations and backgrounds who provide key guidance on how to best navigate the program as well as providing insight on opportunities the university offers that will enhance my student and professional experience."

"I am currently working on my Masters Degree at the Kent School of Social Work through the University of Louisville. Coming into this program, I was extremely sheltered and did not know the barriers many populations I am surrounded by faced daily. The curriculum provided through the Kent School is providing me with the knowledge, skills, and hands on experience required to be an effective social worker. Recently, I was accepted into the Mental Health Specialization program which will allow me to further my education in the field I am hoping to pursue upon graduation. The Kent School faculty has worked diligently to find an internship placement that fits my interests and areas of growth for the future. They have spent time getting to know me and what is most important in my education as a way to provide the best possible learning experience. I would recommend the Kent School of Social Work to any persons interested in furthering their education."

"While the Social Work program at the University of Louisville is the number 1 program in Kentucky, there are many things to consider. As a Master's level program, the current curriculum provides challenges for a working adult. The financial obligations and time commitment of the program is intensive, although you will be recommended not to work while pursuing this degree. There are few evening and weekend class options, but practicum does require weekday commitment. Dual degree options are available but not solidified with other departments, so this will provide an additional challenge and frustration if you are interested. The majority of my experience with the faculty thus far has been enjoyable. The school needs improvements, specifically with their communication to students and its advising services. Overall, the program is average to above average, but in order to not be completely disappointed, I am providing a transparent review."

"The Kent school at University of Louisville is the best social work program in the state of Kentucky. I am enrolled to get my master's in Social work and also couples and family therapy. There are so many different options of added curriculum that you can take. The teachers are great and so knowledgeable, the atmosphere is very profession and conducive to learning, and the classes are challenging in all the right ways."

"University of Louisville's Kent School of Social Work has been an exceptional experience. Due to its MSSW as opposed to an MSW it is heavily research involved, and teaches its students to effectively use evidence based research to confirm interventions. The professors I had were very helpful and proactive in their learning curriculum. When I entered into graduate school, my writing skills were not up to par. However I had a professor pull me aside and give me tips on how to write effectively at a graduate level. Grad school writing was a lot easier for me after I had this individual meeting and the professors here are very willing to work with students on an individual level. The curriculum was rigorous however it was doable and I still managed to do many of my hobbies while still working hard at school. UofL has been a great experience and after I graduate this summer, I am looking forward to the next step in my career field. I definitely feel prepared to take on a Social Work job at a professional level. Great environment, Great Campus, and great learning!"

"The Kent School of Social Work at the University of Louisville has inspired me to become a more accepting and empathetic person through incorporating controversial topics into classroom discussions in an appropriately safe environment. I have been able to broaden my horizons and think critically about other points of views through challenging my classmates and being encouraged by my professors to remain passionately curious. The Kent School has awakened me to larger-scale social problems at a macro level that I may have overlooked without the instruction of Policy and Diversity professors, allowing me to further advance my capabilities as a professional social worker. In addition to macro level work, I have learned to recognize personal biases that may interfere with my ability to practice social work in a professional environment; more importantly, The school has taught me how to solve these ethical dilemmas through incorporating a proactive self-care, promoting self-awareness, and discussing potentially controversial issues with supervisors and superiors. In general, Social Work is a field that I was passionate about prior to beginning my educational career at The Kent School of Social Work; however, my education from this institution has ignited the flame within me that I find necessary to fight the battle for justice that plagues our society today."

"I would recommend the MSSW program at U of L to anyone seeking a quality social work education from a well-established and well-connected program. Many (though admittedly not all) the instructors are knowledgeable, caring professors who bring great expertise to the class and go out of their way to help students succeed. There are many opportunities to cultivate connections with fellow students, particularly in the foundation half of the 60-hour program. The program and instructors have many connections with social workers and other professionals in the Louisville area, creating plenty of practicum choices and other networking opportunities for students. The curriculum covers the basics well, but be aware that in many cases depth of instruction must be sacrificed to breadth. Also bear in mind that any social work degree will require a measure of busywork to complete and bureaucracy to satisfy. Overall, I would recommend the University of Louisville generally and the Kent School MSSW program specifically to anyone looking for a good program."

"The Kent School of Social Work at the University of Louisville is an outstanding school that deserves consideration from future social workers. Although the coursework is difficult at times, it truly prepares you for a future of advocacy for many who are underserved throughout the world. The teaching staff at the Kent School of Social Work are competent and always willing/able to help you in any way possible achieve your goals as a future social worker."

"I am so grateful to be able to learn from a diverse range of experienced and talented social work professionals and professionals. The attention to course material and the sincere care professors show toward students is excellent and deeply enriching to my experience in the MSSW program. Would certainly recommend people who are interested in social work to look into this program."

"Excellent program with knowledgeable staff. I feel like my degree will help me advance in my career field. I found professors are knowledgeable, helpful, and friendly. The professors have always been prompt in answering my emails. This program is not for the faint of heart though! Expect a fair amount of work."

"The Kent School of Social Work at the University of Louisville is a great program and allows social workers to specialize to further your career. The Kent School have knowledgeable professors and great resources to scholarships and employment opportunities."

"The Kent School of Social Work, housed within the University of Louisville, is a program dedicated to the education and cultivation of successful social workers. The Kent School offers social work courses to significantly enhance students' knowledge of generalist social work perspectives as well as specialties in a variety of social work fields, including education, mental health, substance abuse, and gerontology. Kent School faculty and staff show incredible dedication and expertise through their professional practice, which adds depth to student engagement and understanding. The Kent School at U of L is a wise choice for Master's level social workers."

"The Kent School of Social Work is an 5 school, and I highly recommend it."

"University of Louisville is a great school and I believe the Kent School students and instructors are excellent. However, the price of the classes is very high for the graduate program."

"The Kent School of Social Work at the University of Louisville is a well-known and widely respected name in the field of social work and clinical therapy. The MSSW Program offers a variety of opportunities to further delve into this field. There are multiple specializations with which one can pursue in their graduate work, including Marriage/Family Therapy, Substance abuse, Gerontology (working with senior citizens), child welfare, General mental health, and others. With the foundation of the MSSW degree program, and the specialty classes in each specific area, one can gain a wealth of knowledge in their time at the Kent School. In addition, the faculty are very experienced and learned. Occasionally, you can get a Doctoral student as a professor, but even then, they have been required to be working in the field for a few years between their master's and doctorate degrees. On the other end of the spectrum, some professors have been in their specific fields for many years, whether it be in the government affecting policy, consulting, clinical therapy, inpatient facilities or non-profits, etc. Every professor brings something unique to the table. Compared to many programs, the Kent School is very affordable, but it is still a little bit costly. Without any loans or financial aid, Tuition basically runs about $10,000-$12,000 per year, including summer classes. The education is worth it, though, especially if one can access financial aid. One can live on-campus or off-campus. I chose to live off-campus, and being that each class only meets once a week, I am only on campus one or two days a week. So, do not expect the social student life to be the same as in undergraduate if you decide to live off-campus. Whether one wants to pursue a macro-social work focus (such as policy, government, etc) or a micro-social work focus (including therapy, clinical work, etc), Kent School brings both to the table in its curriculum. This means that each student must wade through the aspects opposite of their interest (i.e. a macro-focused student must learn the micro-focus side of social work), but this greatly broadens one's view of social work and of individuals and institutions alike. All in all, the U of L Kent School is a great institution. While they are not perfect, there is great opportunity here to further your education and career eligibility. I highly recommend it."