Fort Valley State University, the historically Black educational institution in Georgia, announced that it will now offer a master of social work degree program. The master’s degree program will be offered in-person and totally online. The first classes are scheduled to begin during the Spring 2023 semester.
The graduate-level program will focus on mental health, addiction, and clinical behavioral health. Internship and fieldwork placements will allow students to further their understanding of addiction and mental health through direct practice. The MSW degree program will also allow students to engage, assess, intervene, and evaluate individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities to prepare for immersion in a culturally diverse landscape.
“We are very excited about this wonderful opportunity to start a new master’s program for our social work majors, who have long been awaiting it,” said Komanduri Murty, professor and chair of the university’s department of behavioral and social sciences. “Our faculty are fully prepared to equip students in the MSW program to develop a holistic perspective and deeper understanding of human behavior.”
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics projections, the overall employment of social workers will grow by 11 percent from 2018 to 2028, much faster than the average for all occupations. “There is a great demand for master-level social workers in Middle Georgia, and FVSU’s program will help to fill that need,” said Olufunke Fontenot, provost and vice president of academic affairs at the university.
Dr. Fontenot joined the university in 2019 and was named provost last year. She received a bachelor’s degree in law from what is now Obafemi Awolowo University in Nigeria. She earned master’s degrees in law from the University of Cambridge in England and Yale Law School and a doctorate in higher education management from the University of Pennsylvania.
