New articulation agreement with NMU provides clear pathway to MSW

Finlandia University is excited to announce a new articulation agreement between FinnU and Northern Michigan University that will provide a clear pathway for students interested in pursing a Master’s of Social Work degree.

“We developed this partnership so that any students in those Psychology, Sociology or Criminal Justice majors can then qualify for what we’re calling the Early Assurance Program into Northern’s MSW program,” said Dr. Jason Oyadomari, Dean of the Suomi College of Arts & Sciences.

While the agreement won’t guarantee FinnU grads admittance into the MSW program, Dr. Oyadomari said it will give them a leg up by laying out all the expectations and requirements needed to get into Northern’s program so they meet all pre-requisites. In addition, FinnU students will have the application fee waived, receive an earlier decision on their application by several months, and be able to meet with Northern’s faculty and see the campus prior to applying.

“If students identify they’re interested in this pathway early on, we have it set up that they can make the contact and visit Northern’s campus and meet the faculty,” said Dr. Oyadomari. “That will better help them see what they’re working towards, expectations, and who they’ll be working with so it gives them basically a second level of advising very early on that other students won’t have without this articulation.”

FinnU students will need to take a few additional courses from NMU prior to graduation in order to meet all the prerequisites, but Dr. Oyadomari said the courses can be taken online and over the summer.

“Many people might just think of social work as one thing, but they do work in various areas like in schools, with children, in family situations, even in health care facilities and areas of mental health and substance abuse,” said Dr. Oyadomari. “We are seeing an increased need, so social work is quite a valuable aspect of our society.” 

The Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates a13 percent increase in the number of new social work jobs available in the coming years.

For questions about the program, please reach out to Dr. Oyadomari at jason.oyadomari@finlandia.edu.