California State University-Los Angeles Reviews of Master's in Social Work

"CSULA School of Social Work is an outstanding program that will not financially hinder you upon graduating. Courses are well taught and organized for a granteed success, including studesnts witch families! I would highly recommend the MSW. program! Take advantage of State University Grants through early financial aid application along with a abailable stipend programs!"

"The Social Work graduate program at Cal State LA provided me with comprehensive preparation for my career. I received the perfect combination of in-class instruction along with field experience. Not only did classes include information about working one on one with people, but also included classes about changing policy and administering social programs. When i graduated, I had clear awareness about what social justice really means. What i enjoyed the most about my experience at Cal State La, however, was the relationships I made with fellow students and professors alike. Graduate school is difficult journey, but having amazing people to embark on the journey with makes it that much more rewarding. I have great relationships with many of my professors, and they have empowered me to recognize my own expertise as a scholar. i look forward to one day becoming a professor at Cal State LA and helping others to discover and develop their own expertise."

"Pros: Affordability. Diversity. Committed faculty and staff. Balanced instruction on micro and macro practice. Great place to connect with others in the field of social services in LA. Offers 2-yr and 3-yr programs. Cons: I can't think of any big Cons."

"I feel that the cons of this program is the scheduling and days available for classes as well as the required units per quarter/semester. Also One of the pros of this program is that the professors are very helpful and knowledgeable on the subject. Another pro of this program is the affordability compare to other social work programs."

"When compared to the more expensive Social Work schools in the LA area, such as UCLA and USC, Cal State LA is the most bang for your buck! I did the math and here are the three schools in comparison. USC was by far the most expensive, almost double that of UCLA. Cal State LA's tuition is half of UCLA's tuition. The MSW degree nevertheless is the same after all. Think of it this way: Do you want to have a posh study environment, be able to say that you went to a prestigious school, and brag about it, but end up left with a student loan that you have to pay back immediately after you graduated? Or do you want to not have to stress about paying back your hefty student loan? Another reason I chose Cal State LA over the other two (and over other Cal State Universities) is that Cal State LA is the only social work program in Southern California that offers a forensic concentration. This concentration prepares those students interested in working with the offender population in a very thorough way. The faculty is absolutely A-class and very supportive of the student's needs. Furthermore, those students who chose to conduct their independent research projects for their thesis are being fully supported and encouraged by the faculty. The school made it possible that a professor who does not teach thesis class this year is going to be my thesis advisor, because she is very familiar with my topic. Finally, the MSW student population at Cal State LA is highly diversified in terms of racial and socioeconomic composition, which is an ideal environment to learn how to become a true social worker. If I had to chose again, I would choose Cal State LA again without hesitation."

"CSULA has a well established MSW program and offers many opportunities to grow skills in and out of the classroom."

"The pros of graduate school at that once I complete the program I will be able to obtain a position in the Social Work field that will provide me with more experience and will allow me to eventually fullfill my dream of becoming a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. Masters Programs provide more subject specific education and allows for students to go into their field of study with more insight into their field of choice. The only con of a Master program that I see is that it costs a lot of money and makes it difficult for students to work during the program."

"Pros: Superb MSW program for what you pay for comparable programs at USC, UCLA, etc., Diversity, passion, and life/work experience of both staff, professors and students, accessibility to stipend program such as IUC, CalSwec, etc. Cons: The administrative red-tape can be a nightmare at times given that it is a state school, it not a real picturesque campus, not much happening in/around campus as it's kind of an industrial area, safety has been an issue at times"

"The graduate school of social work program at CSULA is very challenging and time consuming, but it is also worth it and rewarding. A student will gain much needed knowledge and practice in preparation for the work field. The student cohort and faculty are very supportive."

"Pros: Amazing faculty and students -the diversity is unmatched! Affordability of Grad School for same quality program as say USC. Cons:very poor school/little resources to go around, campus safety can be an issue at times, their undergrad programs are subpar,"