The University of Tennessee at Martin has developed a Master of Science degree program in social work. The program will begin in August 2026, and applications to the program will open later this month.
Students of the social work graduate program will receive a Master of Science in Social Work (MSSW) degree. The first MSSW degree is on track to be conferred in May 2027.
The MSSW program will be an online degree program that focuses on the preparation of advanced, generalized-study social workers to provide services to individuals, families and groups in rural communities.
The program will offer two admissions options: advanced standing and regular standing.
Advanced-standing admission is for those who graduate with an undergraduate degree in social work. It allows full-time enrolled students to earn a graduate degree in one year (two semesters).
Regular-standing admission is for those who graduate with an undergraduate degree in a major other than social work. It allows full-time enrolled students to earn a graduate degree in two years (four semesters).
The UT Martin MSSW program will also include a part-time option for both types of admission.
“A degree in social work enhances any profession that works with people: law, health care, education, business, even sports,” said Alicia Maya Anderson, UT Martin Bachelor of Science in Social Work program director and professor of social work. “In my 25 years of work in the profession, I have yet to find one area where a social worker’s skills and approach would not be beneficial.”
Dr. Katrinna Matthews, associate professor of social work, was recently named UT Martin’s MSSW program director.
The social work program began at UT Martin in 1970 and is located within the Department of Behavioral Sciences. Since 2010, the Bachelor of Science degree in social work has been expanded to the UTM regional centers in Jackson, Parsons, Ripley, Selmer, Somerville and Springfield.
Through this expansion, students enrolled at any of the regional centers can earn a Bachelor of Science degree in social work.
For more information about the UT Martin social work program, contact Donaldson at 731-881-7521 or amaya@utm.edu or Matthews at 731-881-7520 or kmatthe2@utm.edu.
For more information about UT Martin, visit www.utm.edu or call 1-800-829-UTM1 (-8861).
PHOTO: Shown is the Sociology Building on the campus of UT Martin, where the offices of Dr. Alicia Maya Donaldson and Dr. Katrinna Matthews are located. They direct the Bachelor of Sciences in Social Work and the Master of Science in Social Work programs, respectively. The university announced the development of a Master of Science in Social Work program, with applications opening this month.
