Struggling between MPA & Macro MSW

[Lauren A.]

Hello everyone, 

I have been considering going to grad school for a while now. The only issue I'm having is trying to decide what I want to go back for. I graduated from my undergrad  program with a BSW with a minor in Child and Family studies. Then I went to work as a case manager. So the obvious thought would be to get my MSW. But I know MSW programs put a lot of focus on  direct practice and clinical studies, which I have decided is not the route I want to go. So I've been thinking about applying for an MSW but just with a macro/policy focus. Then I discovered MPA programs and it seems like that may be the better route. Does anyone have any advice?

Basically can anyone shed any light on the big huge difference between getting your MSW with a macro concentration and getting your MPA?

 

Thanks!

[Ben414]

What type of career do you want? We can give you a general idea of the difference between the two, but you can get more personalized advice if you can tell us what you're planning to use the degree for.

[Lauren A.]

 

2 hours ago, Ben414 said:

What type of career do you want? We can give you a general idea of the difference between the two, but you can get more personalized advice if you can tell us what you're planning to use the degree for.

Ben414,

My goal is to continue to work in the nonprofit sector, but on a more administrative level. Possible be a director over a program. 

[Ben414]

By "administrative," do you mean handling work requests and grants, assisting with production of reports and presentations, etc for the entire organization? Or do you mean working for a specific part of the organization where you have an expertise in that area, such as overseeing research projects in child welfare because you've been a case worker and you know research methodology?

In general, the benefit of a MSW is to gain specific knowledge of whatever field you're learning. This will be most useful if you are planning on directly applying those skills in your desired career. Most of the skills learned in a MSW or MPA can be independently learned fairly well, so you could combine the specific knowledge and skills to have a good chance at landing a job that requires or prefers specific knowledge.

The benefit of a MPA is that it's more general; if you take the right classes, it will teach you the most of the skills that are needed by most all admin positions. This will be most useful if you are not sure whether you want to go into a specific field or if you want to not lay all of your eggs in one basket. I would guess a vast majority of admin jobs won't care that much about specific knowledge of a certain field (even those that work in a specific area and not for the entire organization); having a familiarity may be strongly preferred, though. For these jobs, the general skills will be most important  for you to land the job.

Edited June 19, 2017 by Ben414

[3dender]

I believe both approaches can get you where you want to go.  The macro division of MSW degrees is heavily geared towards organizational management.  The advantage to the MPA would be if you think you may eventually want to work outside of the SW/therapy field, although experience managing a non-profit within the field could help you cross over.  Sorry not to be more helpful but that's because it sort of seems like 6 of one, half-a-dozen of the other.

My answer is based on my wife's experience, who just graduated with an MSW last month from a top-5 program.  She originally thought she'd want to do the macro track but changed to direct practice because it didn't involve enough therapeutic training.

[hopeful88]

What about a joint MPP/MSW? That's a good option if you're interested in social welfare policy (as opposed to just organizational management). But it sounds like that may not be your goal.

[Ben414]

On 6/21/2017 at 0:39 AM, hopeful88 said:

What about a joint MPP/MSW? That's a good option if you're interested in social welfare policy (as opposed to just organizational management). But it sounds like that may not be your goal.

Personally--and others may disagree with this--I wouldn't spend another year of lost income and tuition to get another degree when it's very likely that one or the other will more than suffice. There are many situations where getting either isn't worth it, and very few where getting both would be worth it.

[Lauren A.]

On 6/19/2017 at 7:34 AM, 3dender said:

I believe both approaches can get you where you want to go.  The macro division of MSW degrees is heavily geared towards organizational management.  The advantage to the MPA would be if you think you may eventually want to work outside of the SW/therapy field, although experience managing a non-profit within the field could help you cross over.  Sorry not to be more helpful but that's because it sort of seems like 6 of one, half-a-dozen of the other.

My answer is based on my wife's experience, who just graduated with an MSW last month from a top-5 program.  She originally thought she'd want to do the macro track but changed to direct practice because it didn't involve enough therapeutic training.

Thanks for your feedback! I'm happy that your wife is one of those people that enjoys direct therapeutic interventions; that's not my flavor at all lol I enjoy being able to directly interact with my customers, but I struggle so hard with only making an impact one person at a time, instead of being able to make a decision and it change a multitude of lives (I feel underutilized doing it, because I'm such a big picture thinker). 

Im thinking I may just apply for my MSW because I can get it done within one year (and that's a year of money saved). Use it to get more experience in the field, and then getting Executive MPA (which if you have 5 years of experience, some programs only last 12-15 months). Or I might apply to both MPA & MSW programs and see what happens

[Lauren A.]

On 6/21/2017 at 0:39 AM, hopeful88 said:

What about a joint MPP/MSW? That's a good option if you're interested in social welfare policy (as opposed to just organizational management). But it sounds like that may not be your goal.

I've looked into joint programs, and I agree with @Ben414 about the amount of debt I would accrue....I just cannot imagine ever paying that off, even with the possibility of PSLF still being around. I am definitely interested in staying in the nonprofit social welfare realm, right now I work for a community action agency that fights poverty through different assistance opportunities, scholarships, and basic case management. I'm just unsure what way I want to go, as in what issue I'm most passionate about - I feel like I'm still discovering that. 

Edited June 28, 2017 by Lauren A.

[MaxwellAlum]

Just throwing out there that the MPA at the Maxwell School (Syracuse) is a 12-month program, and they have some nonprofit and social policy focused courses, plus the core requirements which focus on management, budgeting and analysis skills you'll need for those administrative roles.

[datik]

1 hour ago, MaxwellAlum said:

Just throwing out there that the MPA at the Maxwell School (Syracuse) is a 12-month program, and they have some nonprofit and social policy focused courses, plus the core requirements which focus on management, budgeting and analysis skills you'll need for those administrative roles.

 

And its not impossible to get funding (I got offered like 80% of tuition with some research responsibilities)

[3dender]

I definitely think it's a good idea in your shoes to aim for shorter programs, for both time and cost. There are also plenty of accelerated MPA programs that aren't even mid-career/executive (UK, UC-Denver jump to mind).

[chocolatecheesecake]

On 6/18/2017 at 9:52 AM, Lauren A. said:

 

Ben414,

My goal is to continue to work in the nonprofit sector, but on a more administrative level. Possible be a director over a program. 

Since you wrote this, I definitely recommend you get an MPA over a MSW.

Don't do the MSW degree just because it seems like a shorter time commitment or because you know more about it. Look at all your options before you decide. I think your goal makes you a better fit for the MPA because you will learn about things like budgeting, management, public finance, even how to work with government officials to receive grants. Your final projects could be working with a group to analyze the financial status of the non-profit or government that you want to work for. When I took these sorts of non-degree classes in an MPA program, I met a lot of other non-profit professionals who were taking evening classes so they could eventually be promoted and find the administrative jobs they wanted. I think it sounds like a good fit for you because you can get the practical skills you will need in the positions you're aiming for. 

But don't just take my word for it, or even those of other people on GradCafe. Since you know (or you think you know) where you want to end up after this degree, go talk to the people that you have met or know are in these positions. Cold-email acquaintances of friends or third-degree connections on LinkedIn who have the kinds of jobs you want. Ask them how they got there, if they got a degree, what degree it was/ what school it was at, and if it helped them get where they are now. I think this forum is quite good for people who don't know their way, and can learn about different options, but in terms of depth for a particular job track, you'll learn a lot more when you go talk to those people. Good luck! 

[Lauren A.]

On 6/28/2017 at 8:53 AM, MaxwellAlum said:

Just throwing out there that the MPA at the Maxwell School (Syracuse) is a 12-month program, and they have some nonprofit and social policy focused courses, plus the core requirements which focus on management, budgeting and analysis skills you'll need for those administrative roles.

I'll definitely look into this!

[Lauren A.]

On 6/28/2017 at 10:33 AM, datik said:

 

And its not impossible to get funding (I got offered like 80% of tuition with some research responsibilities)

Did you go to Maxwell too?

[Lauren A.]

On 7/1/2017 at 1:37 AM, chocolatecheesecake said:

Since you wrote this, I definitely recommend you get an MPA over a MSW.

Don't do the MSW degree just because it seems like a shorter time commitment or because you know more about it. Look at all your options before you decide. I think your goal makes you a better fit for the MPA because you will learn about things like budgeting, management, public finance, even how to work with government officials to receive grants. Your final projects could be working with a group to analyze the financial status of the non-profit or government that you want to work for. When I took these sorts of non-degree classes in an MPA program, I met a lot of other non-profit professionals who were taking evening classes so they could eventually be promoted and find the administrative jobs they wanted. I think it sounds like a good fit for you because you can get the practical skills you will need in the positions you're aiming for. 

But don't just take my word for it, or even those of other people on GradCafe. Since you know (or you think you know) where you want to end up after this degree, go talk to the people that you have met or know are in these positions. Cold-email acquaintances of friends or third-degree connections on LinkedIn who have the kinds of jobs you want. Ask them how they got there, if they got a degree, what degree it was/ what school it was at, and if it helped them get where they are now. I think this forum is quite good for people who don't know their way, and can learn about different options, but in terms of depth for a particular job track, you'll learn a lot more when you go talk to those people. Good luck! 

Thank you so much for the advice. I never even thought about using LinkedIn to get some cold email options. I'll definitely sit down and use this advice while I'm tweaking my game plan

[datik]

1 hour ago, Lauren A. said:

Did you go to Maxwell too?

Ended up accepting my admission to HKS, as I had a national scholarship