This article was originally published in UKNow.
On Friday, April 15, the United States Army and the University of Kentucky College of Social Work (CoSW) will honor 24 graduating officers during a ceremony at Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio, Texas.
Last week, the graduates successfully completed the Army-University of Kentucky Master of Social Work (MSW).
“As a land-grant institution, our commitment to armed forces education is codified via federal legislation,” Jay Miller, dean of the CoSW, said. “Our college is extremely proud — and honored — to actualize this commitment via our Army MSW program. These successful graduates are the embodiment of that commitment.”
In October 2016, the CoSW established a partnership with the Department of Defense (DoD) to offer a one-of-a-kind master’s degree.
A satellite site was founded within the Army Medical Department Center and School at Fort Sam Houston. The satellite implements the full-time, 60-hour CoSW program. The curriculum is delivered in a condensed format over 14 continuous months of study, and all classes are administered through the Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston campus. The goal is to develop well-qualified clinical social workers to fill positions across military service branches.
“In a time of shrinking resources and personnel reductions, many military specialties are being reduced. However, the need for uniformed Army social workers has grown. As a result, the DoD continues to request the Army-UK MSW program increase the number of social workers we develop each year,” Dexter R. Freeman, assistant director of the Army-MSW program, said. “As the program continues to grow each year since partnering with UK, the need to expand our role as producers of military-focused research has also increased. Ultimately, adding value to our partnership with a R1 university such as UK.”
Dean Jay Miller, Colonel Jill Henderson, the UK Army MSW program director and social work consultant to the Army Surgeon General, and Senior Associate Provost Katie Cardarelli will speak at the graduation.
A reception will follow at the Army Medical Department Museum.
For more information about the Army-UK program, please visit the CoSW website.
