School of Health Professions, Education, and Social Sciences (Graduate)

Dean: James Mbyirukira, Ph.D.

Graduate Faculty:

• Earl Henry, DrPh, MPH (Program Director)
• Sherine Brown-Fraser, Ph.D., RD (Chair)
• Marie Claire Boutrin, Ph.D., MPH
• Shalunda Allen-Sherrod, DSW., LICSW-S, PIP
• Edith Fraser, Ph.D., LICSW, PIP 
• Isaac Olatunji, Ph.D., MDiv  
• Tracy Thompson, MSW 
• Robyn Wright, DSW, LMSW 

Mission Statements

The School of Health Professions, Education and Social Sciences has the primary objective of educating health professionals in nursing, allied health, exercise science, nutrition and dietetics. The school aims to facilitate learning that focuses on a Christ-centered, service-oriented curriculum that promotes excellence in character development, achievement of professional goals, and adherence to professional standards.

Accreditation

Oakwood University, through its Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, is nationally accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics. This department offers the Masters in Public Health with a Concentration in Nutrition and Wellness (Online) degree/program and the Masters of Social Work with a Concentration in Clinical Social Work: Oakwood University's Master of Social Work program is currently in Pre-Candidacy for Accreditation by the Council on Social Work Education’s Commission on Accreditation.  

Pre Candidacy for a baccalaureate or master’s social work program by the Council on Social Work Education’s Commission on Accreditation indicates that it has submitted an application to be reviewed for Candidacy and had its Benchmark I approved in draft form to move forward with Candidacy review within one year. A program that has attained Pre-Candidacy has not yet been reviewed by the Commission on Accreditation or been verified to be in compliance with the Educational Policy and Accreditation Standards.  

Students who enter programs in Pre-Candidacy that attain Candidacy in the academic year in which they begin their program of study will be retroactively recognized as having graduated from a CSWE-accredited program once the program attains Initial Accreditation. The Candidacy Process is typically a three-year process and there is no guarantee that a program in Pre-Candidacy will eventually attain Candidacy or Initial Accreditation.

Prerequisites for Admission

Applicants must complete all prerequisite courses before registering for courses in the program. The prerequisite courses for the MPH are: One year of Biology with a lab or Physiology with a lab or Anatomy and Physiology with a lab, with a grade of C or better; Two courses in nutrition (one introductory nutrition course similar to ND 131-Nutrition or equivalent and one intermediate level nutrition course similar to ND 321 Life Span Nutrition, ND 323 Community Nutrition, or equivalent) with a grade of C or better.

Admission Requirements 

To be eligible for regular admissions to the MPH program, candidates will be required to meet the following criteria: Bachelor’s degree or its equivalent that is earned from a regionally accredited institution recognized by the United States Department of Education with an overall grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 or better (on a 4.0 scale) 

Criteria for admission into the Master of Social Work program: 

Submission of the following: 

1. Documented completion of a baccalaureate degree from a college or university accredited by a recognized regional accrediting association.
2. Documented completion of a broad liberal arts background (minimum 30cr) including study in the social, behavioral, and biological sciences.
3. A complete online application
4. A personal statement
5. Official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended.
6. Two letters of reference
   1. At least one must be from an academic or professional setting.
   2.  Relative reference letters are not allowed.
7. Resume

Admission into the MSW Advance Standing program

Students with a Bachelor of Social Work degree considering admission into the MSW Advance Standing program are required to submit the following documentation, in addition to the materials requested above for general admission.  

A baccalaureate degree in social work from a college or university whose social work program is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) at the time the degree is conferred; a baccalaureate degree in social work from a Canadian program accredited by CASWE; or ISWDRES verification of a baccalaureate degree in social work from an international program determined to be consistent with a degree from a CSWE-accredited program.  

Must have received their baccalaureate degree in social work no more than ten years prior to enrollment.  

Students must have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 for all baccalaureate level social work courses.  

A copy of the final field evaluation from the student’s undergraduate field placement.

Transfer Admission into the MSW program

Students who began their graduate study in a master’s program with a major of social work considering transfer admission into the MSW program are required to submit the following documentation, in addition to the materials requested above for general admission.  

Completion of graduate credits received while enrolled in a master’s degree in social work from a college or university whose social work program is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) or the Canadian Associate of Social Work Education (CASWE) at the time the courses were taken.  

Students must have received a B or higher in all courses considered for transfer.

A copy of the final field evaluation from the student’s graduate field placement.  

Provisional Admission into the MPH program 

• Overall GPA 2.5- 2.9
• Must complete the GRE prior to acceptance.
• Minimum GRE scores:
  • Verbal - 150
  • Quantitative - 150
  • Analytical - 3.5 
• If admitted, students are required to earn a GPA of 3.0 or better during the first term of matriculation to obtain regular standing and continue in the program

Provisional Admission into the MSW program

Provisional Acceptance – the applicant received a minimum score on the admission’s rubric for provisional acceptance.  A score of 14-17 results in provisional acceptance admission to the department.  Students given provisional acceptance are required to work in specific areas (i.e., academic, character areas in which they may warrant counseling, missing documentation).  

Admission to the Program

Students are admitted into the program once a year during the fall semester.

Time Limits 

MPH program 

The program is structured to meet the needs of the part-time as well as full-time student. Normal progress through the program for full-time students is four courses per semester. Normal progress for part-time students is one or more courses per semester.

The time allowed from enrollment to the graduate program to the conferring of the Masters of Public Health degree may not exceed five years. Application for an extension will be considered on an individual basis. 

MSW program 

Applicants must have earned the baccalaureate degree identified above within the past five years. Applicants who completed the baccalaureate degree identified above more than five years ago with a GPA of 3.0 or higher, may submit a letter to the MSW program requesting to be considered eligible to apply for Advanced Standing.  

Written requests should be addressed to the MSW Admissions Committee and sent directly to the MSW program director. The letter will assist the MSW Admissions Committee in determining the applicant's eligibility for entering the Advanced Standing option of the program. If the request is denied for consideration for the Advanced Standing, the applicant may apply to the Traditional Program option. A resume and unofficial transcripts should accompany the request. The applicant will receive a response regarding eligibility within ten business days of submitting the request.   

Transfer Credit and Progression 

Students wishing to transfer into the Oakwood University MPH program from another college or university must follow the same application procedure as other new students. Transfer students must also submit official transcripts from all colleges and/or universities attended. Official transcripts must be sent directly from the issuing institution to Oakwood University Office of Graduate Education . If an applicant holds a Master’s degree or has graduate credits from an accredited institution, they may transfer a maximum of nine (9) credit hours that are relevant to the MPH degree. The graduate faculty of the MPH degree in Nutrition and Wellness will evaluate all requests for transfer credit and make the final determination about the courses and credits that will be accepted. 

Graduation Requirements 

MPH program 

To graduate from the program, students are required to: 

• Complete the didactic portion of the program with a minimum overall GPA of 3.0 or above
• Pass the comprehensive examination with a score of 75% or above
• Successfully complete the capstone research project, practicum and portfolio with a minimum grade of B for each one

MSW program

Complete 59 graduate credit hours in social work and one credit hour in Orientation (OU 501), for a total of 60 credit hours, including:  

1. 30 hours in the foundational component
2. 30 hours in the concentration in clinical social work
3. Exception: Advanced standing students will complete 29 hours in clinical social work and one credit hour in Orientation (OU 501) for a total of 30 credit hours

Complete a total of 900 hours in the field education program for the Master of Social Work program. Advanced standing students must complete a minimum of 500 hours.