Wayne State University Reviews of Master's in Social Work

"I had high hopes for Wayne, and I did want to like it, despite some of the things I have heard about it. However, I have a few pretty serious criticisms that I would like to put out there in hopes that no one will fall into the situation that I have. First and foremost, they are are not entirely ADA compliant. The disabilities office will try to work with you, but the campus's overall accessibility is a joke. For an institution that claims to care about diversity, and those who have been marginalized, they sure do have a lot of barriers in place. Elevators are breaking down constantly in the older buildings and parking structures, making classes inaccessible to people who have mobility issues. This is a problem not only for people with mobility issues, but people with heart and breathing conditions, who may be carrying heavy things, or have joint problems as well. While the disability office DOES advocate for the students (which I highly appreciate), and will try to work with what your needs are, this literally a constant problem that has not been adequately addressed. Disabilities services can only do so much for students when the greater institution does not prioritize accessibility. Additionally, some of the buildings are hard to get to, and do not have nearby parking structures, so unless you sign up for disability services ahead of time and get classrooms moved around for you, you may find yourself easily walking a half mile or more from where you parked your car. The parking passes are offensively expensive as well. I don't understand how an institution can charge students a couple hundred dollars for a parking pass when each student is giving the university several thousand dollars a semester (for me personally, I'm paying close to 30k this year alone for grad school), and how they can afford to continue to buy up and build new structures--and yet not give students free, or at least cheaper parking? This especially harms all of the working class students that attend Wayne, and disabled people who need to get the closest parking available. Lastly, I find that even the quality of instruction can be pretty lacking. This is just in my experience, and so I would not be quick to apply it to all professors, but it seems as though the professors have very little quality control measures in check. Many of them simply do not know how to lecture, and their teachings are very outdated. I understand that universities sometimes prioritize research over a professor's ability to communicate and teach, but it is very frustrating to feel like I am spending more than a thousand dollars of borrowed money on a class that I have to teach myself. I will try to end this on a positive note, though, since I think these are systemic issues in American academia as a whole. Wayne state does have very responsive and supportive major specific counselors and advisers who will do their best to help you navigate through all of these issues. They are readily available, at least for my program, and will genuinely advocate for what you need. Lastly, if your program requires an internship, Wayne does have a lot of really good internship opportunities given its location and overall reputation. I am very happy with the one I have received, and I'm pretty certain I will be hired there when I graduate."

"The MSW program was the best program to ever be apart of. It provide me with all the tools that I needed to complete the degree and the teachers that were there were amazing as well. They all were from the Metro Detroit area and knew what the city was lacking in services that were needed for the people here. They brought that insight to the classroom and it was the most amazing experience that money can buy. I truly believe that I have received a phenomenal education there."

"Wayne State offers the students many options regarding choosing what they would like for their focus of their studies to be. They are supportive and willing to assist the students in many different capacities."

"Wayne State University is a school with a diverse population and campus."

"Overall I have enjoyed my experience at Wayne State University. My professors have been kind, caring, reasonable, and understanding. The material is interesting and important but sometimes the syllabus' could be streamlined to be more effective and manageable (especially with readings). Being a part time student can be challenging as well but be sure to meet with your advisers and stay on top of deadlines and you should have a great experience."

"The Masters of Social Work program takes a pragmatic approach in its attempt to prepare students for their career in the field. Wayne does an excellent job of preparing students for 'real world' challenges and provides adequate support along the way. Faculty is accessible and takes a genuine interest in each student."

"The benefits of the MSW program at Wayne State University are that it is on an urban campus in Detroit, and the university provides a lot of student support."