Development of CSWE Competency Equivalency Between An On-campus and Online MSSW Program Anna C. Faul, PhD. Samantha Cotton, MSSW Pamela Yankeelov, PhD.

LOUISVILLE.EDU Overview Currently 24 accredited online Social Work Masters-level programs (Online MSW Programs, 2015). Programs range from fully online to hybrid where students have to meet on campus periodically. Current literature suggests this shift towards online learning will continue. Online Education in Social Work

LOUISVILLE.EDU Kent School of Social Work Development of an Online MSSW Program 2012: Online 60-hr MSSW program was established and 25 students were admitted. 2013: Online program expanded to admit 50 students. 2014: Began accepting 30-hr Advanced Standing students in addition to 60 hr-students.

LOUISVILLE.EDU Standard 60-hour Program Fall semester start date For students with a Bachelor’s degree in a discipline other than Social Work. Advanced Standing 30-hour Program Summer and Fall semester start dates For students that have already earned a Bachelor’s in Social Work. Specializations Gerontology (Online and On-campus) Psychosocial Oncology (Online and On-campus) Military (Online and On-campus) Mental Health (Online and On-campus) School Social Work (On-campus) Couple and Family Therapy (On-campus) Alcohol and Drug Counseling (On-campus) Programs and Specializations

LOUISVILLE.EDU Online program Independent learners Students looking for flexibility in when they take courses. Rural areas without access to a nearby graduate program. On-campus program For students looking for the traditional graduate school environment. Admissions requirements are the same for both programs. Different Programs, Different Students

LOUISVILLE.EDU Research Question: Is there equivalency between the online and on-campus programs? Development of CSWE Competency Equivalency Between An On-campus and Online MSSW Program

LOUISVILLE.EDU Admission Information Bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution of higher learning A minimum 27 credit hours in social sciences, i.e. communications (6), natural sciences (3), humanities (9), and A minimum of 3 credit hours in each of the following prerequisite courses: statistics, research methods, and human biology. 3 letters of recommendation Prospective students with less than 2.75 GPA must take the GRE or MAT. Advanced Standing Students: Minimum GPA of 3.0 in undergraduate courses Minimum GPA of 3.25 in social work courses Sample Requirements

LOUISVILLE.EDU Includes students that were accepted and enrolled in the Kent School of Social Work between 2012 and 2014 in both the on-campus and on-line programs. Total sample included 597students 192 online students and 405 on-campus students 20 students classified as hybrid (equal online/on-campus classes) were eliminated from sample. Sample

LOUISVILLE.EDU Demographics Age Gender Race Academic Background Undergraduate Major Type Undergraduate Institution Incoming GPA Critical Thinking Scores Predisposing Characteristic Variables

LOUISVILLE.EDU Biglan Classification (1973) Categorization of academic areas as either hard or soft. Hard : more science-oriented areas with an agreed upon body of theory. Categorization of academic areas as either applied or pure. Undergraduate Major Type

LOUISVILLE.EDU Carnegie Center Classification (updated 2010) Utilized the basic classification system. Institutions were categorized by type: Doctoral/research university Master’s colleges and universities Baccalaureate Colleges Specialized institutions Tribal colleges and universities Undergraduate Institution

LOUISVILLE.EDU California Critical Thinking Skills Test (CCTST) Multiple choice test geared towards measuring the core reasoning skills of students. Provides an overall score and scores in 5 sub areas. Subscales include: Analysis Inference Evaluation Deduction Induction Students at Kent School take the CCTST before beginning the program and upon completion of program. Critical Thinking Skills

LOUISVILLE.EDU CSWE competencies A mean score was calculated for the combination of all competencies. Competencies are measured through rubric scores, practicum evaluations and through self- efficacy assessments. Cumulative GPA Average grade point average for graduate courses taken at Kent School. CCTST Post-scores Outcome Variables

LOUISVILLE.EDU Predisposing Characteristics- Demographics Results VariableOnlineOn-campusP-value Age34 years SD= years SD= *** Gender85% female.989 Race77% white74% white.465

LOUISVILLE.EDU Predisposing Characteristics-Academic Background Results VariableOnlineOn-campusP-value Undergraduate Major 73% Soft and Applied Majors 43% Soft and Pure Majors.001*** Undergraduate Institution 50% Master’s Institutions 58% Doctoral/Researc h Institutions.001*** Incoming GPAMean= 3.35 SD=.391 Mean=3.35 SD= CCTST Pre-scoreMean=17.14 SD=4.51 Mean=16.7 SD=

LOUISVILLE.EDU Outcome Variables Results VariableOnlineOn-campusP-value Cumulative GPA Mean=3.44 SD=1.05 Mean=3.50 SD= Competency Scores Mean=3.84 SD=.64 Mean=3.72 SD= CCTST Post- test Mean= SD=3.97 Mean=17.71 SD=

LOUISVILLE.EDU Different Backgrounds Discussion Online Older Soft and applied undergraduate majors Masters Undergraduate Institutions On Campus Younger Soft and pure undergraduate majors Doctoral Research Institutions The programs cater for different type students

LOUISVILLE.EDU Different Backgrounds OnlineOn-campus Older StudentsYounger students Soft and Applied Majors (Ex: Accounting, Finance, education) Soft and Pure Majors (ex: Social Work) Master’s level InstitutionsDoctoral/Research Institutions

LOUISVILLE.EDU Outcomes Cumulative GPA Mean competency scores Post critical thinking scores The programs have similar outcomes

LOUISVILLE.EDU Structure of the Program Alignment between on-campus and online course curriculum Instructor Factor Majority of the online instructors have taught the same courses on-campus. Majority of sequences have a senior instructor teaching online. Increases quality control and integrity of social work online programs (Reamer, 2013) Implications