Do you consider yourself an empathetic and compassionate human being?
Can you see yourself securing a career in the helping professions?
Are you thinking about boosting your career opportunities with a graduate degree?
If this sounds like you, then you may want to consider a career in the dynamic, mission-driven field of social work. Many people write social work off as an option because they think it only means working at CPS or providing therapy, and that is not the case: social workers are employed in a vast array of career environments and are needed to serve many unique groups of people.
With this in mind, we spoke to Meg Haller, an extraordinary graduate student who is pursuing the MSW MPA dual degree program at West Virginia University — here's her story.
Tell us a little bit about yourself: name, age, and hometown?
My name is Meg Haller, and I am 23 years old. I currently live in Morgantown, WV, but my hometown is Wheeling, WV. I got my bachelor’s degree in Social Work from WVU.
What first interested you in the field of social work?
I was a part of a lot of service clubs in high school, and I was very passionate about volunteering. Whenever someone would ask me what I wanted to do as a career, I always told them I wasn’t sure, but I knew I wanted to help others. My passion for helping others ended up landing me in the field of social work.
Why did you choose to pair your MSW with an MPA?
When I completed my BSW, I knew I wanted to continue on and get my MSW, but I also knew I wanted to do more. I ended up finding the dual degree with Public Administration, and it felt like a perfect fit for me. I knew I did not want to go into direct practice social work, and I had more of an interest in community development, research, and policy. I knew the MSW program would dive into these topics, but I wanted to expand and go a little deeper. I knew getting an MPA would provide me with the skills and information I would need.
I was not sure what exactly I wanted to do upon graduation, and I knew the dual degree program would provide me with a broad range of skills and in turn open up my opportunities upon graduation.
What was the most challenging and exciting aspect of the MSW MPA program?
I believe the most challenging aspect of the program was also the most exciting. In your last year of the program, you complete six hundred hours in a field placement. During this time, you also must maintain your class load, and if you pursue a dual degree, this can be very challenging. Although it was challenging, it was also where I learned the most because I was able to take all my class concepts and theories and put them into practice in real time.
Why did you choose the on-campus MSW and how did that learning format match your learning style?
I chose an on-campus MSW because I have always preferred in-person classes over online courses. I loved interacting with my peers within the classroom as this allowed an opportunity for important conversations that enhanced my learning. We were also able to work together to practice class concepts and therapy techniques within the classroom.
How did this MSW MPA dual degree program prepare you to achieve your career goals?
The combination of class concepts from both programs have helped mold me into a well-rounded professional as I have a lot of skill sets in my “tool kit.” I am able to look at policies with empathy and social work ideals while also seeing the implications it may have for staffing, finances, and development based on the skills I learned from the MPA program. This applies to concepts across the board as I am able to use concepts from both programs everyday in my current position.
My current position may not seem like a typical social work job, as I am a pilot grants coordinator with the WV Clinical and Translational Science Institute (WVCTSI), but that is not the case. This position works to help others because I help to provide funding to investigators on projects that help address healthcare needs of West Virginia. Our funding priorities include healthcare research addressing addiction, and resultant emerging epidemics, cancer, cardiovascular disease, chronic lung disease, and neuroscience.
Every day, I use the skills I learned from the MSW program when working with my colleagues and researchers. I am able to effectively communicate and understand others because of the concepts taught within the MSW program. I am able to look at projects and research through a very unique lens as I wear both my MSW and my MPA “hats” everyday.
To learn more about WVCTSI, you can visit their website!
Tell me about one faculty member who transformed your experience in the MSW MPA program in a positive way.
Dr. Jenifer Gamble was a faculty member within the MSW program who served as my field instructor during my field placement. We met on a weekly basis, and the insights that she provided me with I still use today. She always encouraged me to reach outside of my comfort zone and challenge myself. Because of her support and encouragement, I was able to do more than I ever thought possible at my placement site.
What advice would you give to a professional thinking about getting an MSW?
I would encourage them to go for it! I would also encourage them to do their research into the social work profession because many people write it off as they think it only means working one-on-one with individuals or providing therapy, and that is not the case. Social work is a very broad profession, and there is so much you can do with a MSW degree because there is such a variety of concepts learned when obtaining a social work education.
Benefits to getting an MSW on campus at WVU:
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Full-time, advanced-standing students can complete the degree in one calendar year:
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Advanced-standing meaning the student has completed a BSW program within the last 8 years.
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The online version of the program is part time only and takes at least 2 years to complete for advanced-standing students.
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A dual MSW MPA dual degree can be achieved in 2 years (plus one summer semester) for an on-campus, advanced-standing student.
Learn about landing a career in the helping professions:
At West Virginia University, we are dedicated to preparing the next generation of driven changemakers who can secure a career in the helping professions and ultimately, positively impact the lives of others. Please feel free to explore our MSW program, our MPA program, or our MSW/MPA dual degree program. You can also sign up for a virtual MSW info session!
If you're ready to join the community of experts at WVU, we invite you to request more information or start your online application today.
We're hosting a variety of virtual MSW info sessions this fall and winter — RSVP for one today!
