MSW/MBA Dual Degree

Augsburg College offers a dual MSW/MBA degree in social work and business administration. Students enrolled in the dual degree program learn to create better managed and financially sound service organizations to serve diverse communities, both locally and globally.

The Dual Degree

Many social service agencies today require that agency managers combine financial and business expertise with social work practice and policy formation. The MSW/MBA dual degree enables graduates to function in a workplace that demands the delivery of quality services with increasingly limited resources.

Concentration

The MSW/MBA dual degree includes an accelerated third year of study for MSW students who elect the Program Development, Policy, and Administration (PDPA) concentration. In this macro practice concentration, students learn to affect positive change in social service systems through their work with communities, organizations, and social policy makers.

Prior Augsburg MSW graduates who have completed the necessary PDPA coursework may return to complete the MBA portion of the dual degree.

Schedule

Years 1 and 2 (September through June)
MSW classes meet on alternating weekends—Friday evenings, Saturday
mornings, and Saturday afternoons.

Year 3 (12-16 months)
MBA classes meet primarily one night per week. The MBA program
includes a summer term.

Curriculum

• 18 full MSW courses for Foundation students or 13 full MSW courses for Advanced Standing students
• Either 920 hours (Foundation) or 500 hours (Advanced Standing) MSW field practicum experience
• The MSW summative evaluation project may be accepted by the MBA program
• Complete a minimum of 8 MBA courses, including MBA 510 – Managerial Economics, MBA 520 – Accounting for Business Managers, MBA 530 – Managerial Finance, MBA545 – Organizational Development, MBA 550 Marketing Management, MBA 560 Communication Issues in Management, MBA 575 – Strategic Technology, MBA 595 – Strategic Management.

Faculty

The MSW faculty are internationally known for their teaching and research. Their knowledge and experience cover a broad spectrum of social work practice, and they are passionate about working interactively with students to help them succeed. MSW adjunct faculty are innovative practitioners and administrators from agency-based settings.

The MBA faculty is comprised of experts from many fields of industry who have strong connections in the business community and have held senior positions in large organizations. MBA faculty possess both academic credentials and professional experience required to help students develop in their careers.

Accreditation and affiliations

The Augsburg Master of Social Work program is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE). Augsburg College is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and a member of the North Central Association.

(The Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association — www.ncahigherlearningcommission.org or 312-263-0456.)

MSW application

• Early application deadline: December 1
• Final application deadline: January 15

MSW application deadlines are firm, meaning all application materials must be in the Graduate Admissions office by 5 p.m. or postmarked by that date. If an admitted student’s admission file is complete by 5 p.m. on December 1, the student will receive a $200 credit toward tuition. MSW application materials include a completed application, a personal summary, all official transcripts, three letters of recommendation with checklists, and a $35 application fee.

MBA application

MSW/MBA dual degree applicants may apply to both programs at the same time. Otherwise, admitted MSW students may wait to apply to the MBA program until their 1st year of MSW coursework has begun and prior to their concentration year. The GMAT is waived for MSW/MBA dual degree applicants. MBA application materials include: completed application, 2 short essays, an updated resume, 2 letters of recommendation, and a personal interview with the MBA program director.

Admission to one program does not guarantee admission to the other.

Locations

The MSW portion of the program is held on the main campus in Minneapolis. For the MBA portion of the program, dual degree students are able to choose from the main Minneapolis campus; Thrivent Financial for Lutherans™ in downtown Minneapolis; or downtown Rochester at Bethel Lutheran Church.