Apply Now for 2024

Fall 2024 On-Campus MSW Application Main Deadline: April 1, 2024
Summer 2024 Online MSW and MSN Application Deadline: March 12, 2024
Summer 2024 DSW Application Deadline: March 19, 2024

Workforce Development Programs

Stipends and Scholarships

Overview

The workforce development stipend and scholarship programs at the USC Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work offer MSW students the opportunity to specialize in an area of practice where there is a high need for qualified social workers. Students receive a financial incentive in the form of a stipend or scholarship that requires workforce development responsibilities during the MSW program and after graduation. Stipend/scholarship recipients benefit from specialized curriculum and practicum placements.

Workforce Development

Stipend and scholarship programs available to MSW students provide financial aid combined with specialized career training, and the potential to expedite your entry into the workforce post-graduation. 

Learn More

 

How It Works

Students can apply to workforce development stipend/scholarship programs from an area(s) of focus based on their interests. Stipend/scholarship programs differ in length, funding, requirements and competitive application processes. Learn more about the different options below, including a description of each stipend/scholarship program and corresponding information sheets and application process.

Please keep in mind that these programs rely on the availability of external funding every year.

Toggle
Addiction Treatment Certification

RecoverUSC: Addiction Treatment Certification Project

The RecoverUSC: Addiction Treatment Certification Project is funded by the California Department of Health Care Access and Information (HCAI), and is a statewide initiative aimed at preparing MSW, MAS, and MSN students to support the growing workforce needs within communities impacted by substance use. The project aims to expand and retain the addictions workforce and provide recipients with hands-on training to bring meaningful contributions to the Addictions field.

Overview

The RecoverUSC: Addiction Treatment Certification Project pays for courses related to certification for Master of Social Work (MSW), Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) and Master of Addiction Science (MAS) students who are selected to participate. The stipends are provided as financial support during the training year to assist students with additional educational expenses.

The stipend amounts are as follows:

Full-time students: $20,000 per academic year

MSW Trainee Selection and Eligibility Criteria

The program is open to MSW students who meet the following criteria:

  • Good academic standing in the foundation year and advanced year of MSW study.

  • Matched or agree to intern at practicum placements working directly alongside persons with a substance use disorder. Examples include residential rehab, outpatient facilities, detox centers, Federally Qualified Health Center, etc.

  • Not receiving funding support from other HCAI-administered training or scholarship programs.

  • Possess or have an interest and commitment to learning about substance use, treatment, interventions and care.

  • Agree to select the Adult Mental Health and Wellness or Children, Youth and Families track.

  • Agree to follow option ONE or TWO (detailed below) as well as register and complete the required courses to obtain CA CAADE Certification. Subject to change based on course availability.

  • Agree to take the California SUD Certification Exam (fees covered by USC).

OPTION ONE: (Courses in bold are outside of the required MSW curriculum)

ADSC 501 Foundations in Addiction Science (4 Units)
SOWK 511 Critical Decision-Making in Integrative Social Work Practice (3 Units)
SOWK 523 Foundations of Integrative Social Work Practice (3 Units)
SOWK 617 Substance Related and Behavioral Addictive Disorders and Recovery (3 Units)
SOWK 651 Clinical Psychopharmacology for Social Workers (3 Units)
SOWK 691 Applied Learning in Practicum Education III (3 Units)
SOWK 693 Applied Learning in Practicum Education IV (3 Units)

OPTION TWO: (Courses in bold are outside the required MSW curriculum)

ADSC 501 Foundations in Addiction Science (4 Units)
RXRS 405 Breaking Brains: The Pharmacology of Addiction (4 Units)
SOWK 511 Critical Decision-Making in Integrative Social Work Practice
SOWK 523 Foundations of Integrative Social Work Practice (3 Units)
SOWK 617 Substance Related and Behavioral Addictive Disorders and Recovery
SOWK 691 Applied Learning in Practicum Education III
SOWK 693 Applied Learning in Practicum Education IV

For students applying for the RecoverUSC: Addiction Treatment Certification Project at USC, eligibility means students in:

  • First Year, Spring semester: Will receive the highest priority in the selection process.

  • Summer semester: Can apply but will receive lower priority until the school can evaluate whether the student will be able to complete training requirements on time.

  • Fall semester: Will receive the lowest priority, however, can submit a student interest form to be notified of eligibility in the following spring semester.

Application Process

Students should review the RecoverUSC: Addiction Treatment Certification Project Information Sheet, which will assist students in preparing for an understanding what is expected with this project, before attempting to complete the student interest form.

Students can express their interest at any time through the student interest form. Formal review and follow-up with students will occur mid-semester. Submissions to the student interest form will receive a response before the end of each semester. 

Practicum Training Requirements

Second year (SOWK 691, SOWK 693) eligible practicum training sites include community-based agencies, hospitals, schools and correctional units that are approved by USC and licensed or certified by the Department of Health Care Services.

Additional Training Comments

Graduates are NOT required to provide post-graduate service as SUD providers, however, are highly encouraged to stay within the area of addiction. 

For more information or specific eligibility questions, please contact Jennifer Parga, associate teaching professor and RecoverUSC: Addiction Treatment Certification Project coordinator.

Toggle
Geriatric Social Work

Geriatric Social Work Education Consortium (GSWEC)

The Geriatric Social Work Education Consortium (GSWEC) is a partnership of schools of social work and social and human service agencies that are dedicated to serving older adults in various settings, such as primary care medical offices, health and wellness programs, case management services, adult day social programs, long-term care ombudsman services, in-home services, and information and referral services. These agencies provide professional clinical social work services to older adults to help them maintain their health and well-being in the community as they adapt to circumstances associated with aging. They use a person-centered approach and focus on what is important to the older adult when identifying services and creating service recommendations.

The GSWEC Program offers two stipend programs for students interested in working with older adults. First-year MSW students have the option of receiving a stipend of $1,000. Second-year MSW students receive a stipend ranging from $4,000 to $8,000.

This initiative aims to strengthen geriatric social work education, increase social workers’ competency in the area of aging, and introduce students to an emerging, high-growth field within social work. To participate, students must maintain good academic standing (including practicum placement) and complete a practicum placement with a GSWEC-affiliated agency in the Los Angeles area.

Students who are selected for a GSWEC stipend and practicum placement participate in three all-day didactic trainings throughout the school year, and work with their practicum instructor to develop a macro project that benefits the older adults in the agency where the student is placed. All these opportunities enhance MSW graduate employment opportunities.

To be considered for a GSWEC stipend, students must complete an application, demonstrate an interest in primarily serving adults, age 55 and older and their families/caregivers, and interview with practicum instructors at GSWEC placement sites. While the goal is for stipend recipients to work with the geriatric population after graduation, there is no mandatory "employment-payback" requirement. The GSWEC stipend is funded by the GSWEC agencies serving older adults.

Please carefully review the GSWEC Student Practicum Guide for more details. You can also view additional information about GSWEC practicum agencies.

Click on this link to access the GSWEC application, which is due no later than February 22, 2024, at 5:00 PM PST. For more information, please contact Associate Professor Kelley Macmillan.

Toggle
Integrated and Interprofessional Behavioral Health

Next Generation Partnership Project

This one-year year stipend of $10,000 is available to second year MSW students, including those from the Virtual Academic Center (VAC), who graduate in the spring (ideally) or summer semester and who are committed to providing integrated behavioral health services focused on the needs of children, adolescents, and transitional age youth (CATAY) in high need communities. Recipients of this stipend must be placed in a qualified practicum placement serving CATAY clients. NGPP requires recipients to participate in a series of specialized training sessions, maintain good academic standing (including practicum education), and pass specific elective courses along with other stipend requirements.

Although the goal is for stipend recipients to work with the target population upon graduation, there is no mandated “employment-payback” requirement. This stipend is funded by a federal grant from the Health Resources and Services Administration through its Behavioral Health Workforce Education and Training (BHWET) Program.

  • Please carefully review the Next Generation Partnership Project Information Sheet for more details.
  • Applications will be accepted beginning February 26, 2024 and due by May 6, 2024. Please note applications may continue to be accepted after the deadline until slots are filled with students who best fit the criteria and requirements. A different timeline might be adopted for students from the VAC. Click on this link to access the Next Generation Partnership Project Application.
  • Campus-based students: for more information, please contact Associate Teaching Professor Umeka Franklin.
  • VAC students: for more information, please contact Assistant Teaching Professor Jenebah Lewis.
Toggle
Primary Care Project (PCP)

Primary Care Project (PCP)

This one-year scholarship of $30,000 is available annually to students enrolled in the MSW program at the campus-based and Virtual Academic Center (VAC) who will graduate in the spring or summer semesters of their last year. The scholarship is funded by a federal grant from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) through its Scholarships for Disadvantaged Students (SDS) program.

The scholarship will be awarded to students who are committed to providing behavioral health/primary care services in medically underserved communities (MUCs) in Southern California and throughout the United States. To be eligible, recipients must complete qualified practicum placements that offer direct practice in integrated health/behavioral health settings. Additionally, students must meet the federal definition of a student from a disadvantaged background, which includes being economically, educationally, or environmentally disadvantaged. Those selected for the PCP will receive training in integrated behavioral health/primary care internships and will be expected to seek employment in behavioral health/primary care settings with a focus on MUCs upon graduation.

Please keep in mind that this program is a federally funded program and awarded annually.

  • Please carefully review the Primary Care Project Information Sheet for more details.
  • Visit the Primary Care Project page for program details, goals, qualification, and application process and timeline. 
  • Applications for cohort 5 will be accepted between January 8, 2024 and May 3, 2024. Priority consideration will be given to applications received by March 8, 2024. The selection process may extend into the summer and will be based on the students who best fit the criteria and requirements of the scholarship program.

  • If you have any questions about the Primary Care Project application process, you can reach out to Dr. Suh Chen Hsiao.

Toggle
Public Behavioral Health

CalSWEC Public Behavioral Health MSW Training Program

The CalSWEC Public Behavioral Health MSW Training Program, funded by the California Office of Health Care Access and Information (HCAI), is a statewide initiative aimed at preparing MSW students for effective behavioral health care in publicly funded programs. The program promotes the integration of behavioral health services with other public systems and seeks to enhance the retention and development of MSWs in public behavioral health programs in California.

Stipend Overview

The CalSWEC Public Behavioral Health MSW Training Program offers stipends to eligible MSW students who are selected to participate. The stipends are provided as financial support during the training year to assist students with their educational expenses.

The stipend amounts are as follows:

$25,000 per academic year, disbursed in two installments of $12,500 each.

Trainee Selection and Eligibility Criteria

The program is open to MSW students who meet the following criteria:

  • Enrolled in participating MSW programs (full-time or advanced standing).
  • Good academic standing in either the foundation year or advanced year of MSW study.
  • Matched with practicum placements at sites receiving public funding for behavioral health care services.
  • Not receiving funding support from other HCAI administered training or scholarship programs.

The program seeks MSW students who demonstrate: 

  • Interest and commitment to learning about behavioral health care in public service settings.
  • Linguistic and cultural competencies relevant to underserved consumers in California.
  • Strong and sustained commitment to careers as behavioral health care providers in publicly funded programs.

For students applying for CalSWEC’s PBH MSW Training Program at USC, eligibility means students graduating in:

  • Spring semester: will receive the highest priority in the selection process.
  • Summer semester: can apply for now but they will receive lower priority until the school can evaluate case-by-case if a student will be able to complete training requirements on time.
  • Fall semester: are not eligible to apply at this stage. 

Application Process

Round 1 applications are due March 29, 2024 for all CURRENT MSW students.

Round 2 applications are due May 31, 2024 for all INCOMING MSW students. 

Access the PBH MSW Training Program Application

The USC Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work will review applications, conduct panel interviews with finalists and select awardees. Selected trainees will be notified after verifying their practicum placement eligibility. Stipends are provided based on campus enrollment rules, with two disbursements per academic year. 

Practicum Training Requirements

Foundation year trainees contribute to the delivery of publicly-funded behavioral health care services, while advanced year trainees provide such services. Eligible practicum training sites include community-based behavioral health care clinics and agencies, inpatient psychiatric hospitals, schools, colleges, SELPAs, inpatient and outpatient health care settings, as well as child welfare, regional center, juvenile delinquency, court, and adult corrections units that offer publicly funded behavioral health care programs and services.

Practicum Seminar Expectations

Foundation year and advanced year trainees must register for their respective first- and second-year practicum seminars (SOWK 591, SOWK 593 or SOWK 691, SOWK 693) virtually with an identified CalSWEC Public Behavioral Health faculty member.  In addition, students will be required to take one elective to develop their skills to work in behavioral health and to secure California licensure. Students can choose to register for either SOWK 612: Assessment of Mental Disorders or SOWK 677: Mental Health Practice with Children and Adolescents.

Trainees are expected to participate in all program meetings and trainings, complete surveys, provide updated contact information and fulfill post-graduation obligations.

Additional Training Commitments

Graduates are required to provide 12 months of full-time employment as behavioral health care providers in publicly funded programs in California. They must also pursue LCSW licensure in California. If trainees fail to complete the 12-month employment requirement, they may be subject to fulfill post-graduation repayment obligations.

For specific eligibility questions or more information, please contact Christina (Tina) Paddock, associate professor of social work practicum education and CalSWEC Public Behavioral Health Coordinator for USC.

Toggle
Public Child Welfare

Los Angeles Department of Children and Family Services (LA DCFS) 

This two-year stipend of $52,000 is awarded to on-campus or VAC students. Stipend recipients must demonstrate a commitment to pursue a career in the field of public child welfare at LA County DCFS.  Students must be in the Children, Youth and Families (CYF) track, participate in specialized training sessions, maintain good academic standing (including in field education), and must pass a public child welfare elective course along with other stipend requirements. During the stipend program, all students will be placed at a DCFS regional office during the last two semesters of their MSW program.

In exchange for the stipend, students agree to work for a minimum of two calendar years at LA County DCFS after graduation while receiving full compensation and benefits. This is a federally-funded stipend program under the Title IV-E provision of the Social Security Act designed to improve the field of public child welfare with MSW professionals committed to a career serving this population. 

Toggle
Public Health, MSW/MPH

USC Trojan Scholars for Advancement in Public Health 

Scholarship Overview

The USC Trojan Scholars for Advancement in Public Health (TSAPH) Program (2023 - 2027) is a one-year merit-based scholarship available annually to students enrolled in the dual degree MSW/MPH program on the UPC and HSC campuses. The scholarship is funded by a federal grant from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) and seeks to increase the public health workforce, specifically departments of public health. One scholarship spot annually is dedicated to supporting an eligible MSW/MPH student. 

Scholarship Benefits

Selected scholars will receive full tuition benefits, one-on-one mentorship and be connected with local public health partners.

Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible for the scholarship, applicants must:

  • Be enrolled as dual degree (MSW/MPH) students at USC
  • Have a GPA of 3.3 or higher
  • Be a U.S. citizen, national or permanent resident of the U.S.
  • Have submitted a complete USC MPH program admission application with all required documents
  • Be committed to working in local health departments or community-based organizations in the Los Angeles area after graduating from the USC MPH program

Application Process

More details about the program, eligibility requirements and the online application can be found on the USC MPH website.

WATCH VIDEO

For more information on this scholarship program, please contact Associate Professor Julie Cederbaum

Toggle
Public Mental Health

Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health (LAC DMH) 

Stipend Overview

The Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health (LAC DMH) offers an $18,500 stipend to select MSW students across Los Angeles County who demonstrate a commitment to public mental health. Students awarded a stipend must commit to one-year of employment post-graduation in a clinical capacity at an agency either directly operated or contracted by LAC DMH. Please consider this notice with the understanding that the USC Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work is simply sharing information about the LAC DMH stipend program. Administration of this stipend program is managed by Phillips’ California Stipend Program of Campbellsville University at the Los Angeles Education Center (CULAEC).

Eligibility

MSW students who complete their degrees by May or August each year are eligible. 

Interested students should first review the Phillips' California Stipend Program website before attempting to complete the application. Information provided on this website will assist students in preparing for what is needed for the application.

Application

The application process will take at least thirty minutes to complete and must be submitted once the process is started. Student will be unable to resubmit an application if there are mistakes. It is highly recommended that students complete the sample application, then cut and paste the information into the formal application document for submission.

Students are encouraged to prepare in advance for the multiple required essays in the application, which have a maximum 200 word count. One essay asks students to convey their interest in and commitment to working within the LAC DMH delivery system. Two of the essays ask students to demonstrate personal background/individual strengths and their work experience. Three of the essays ask students to detail their clinical experience providing in-person care and telehealth services, and to explain the importance of service provision within a multidisciplinary team. Additionally, students will be asked to complete some general information at the beginning about qualifications and experience, limited to a maximum 50 word count.

Questions regarding the 2023 LA County DMH stipends should be submitted via email to: caconsortium@campbellsville.edu

Christina (Tina) Paddock, LCSW, associate teaching professor, is the LAC DMH Stipend Coordinator for USC Social Work. Please keep in mind that Professor Paddock is simply serves as a liaison with CULAEC, so she should be contacted only if students have further questions AFTER reviewing the aforementioned information and AFTER first communicating with CULAEC.