- Psychology
- Class of 2015
- Salina, KS
Kelly Hopkins Accepted Into MSW Degree Program at Newman University
2015 May 27
Kelly Hopkins , of Salina , KS, who graduated from Kansas Wesleyan University on May 9, 2015, with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology, has been accepted into the Master of Social Work degree program at Newman University in Wichita, KS.
The Master of Social Work Program at Newman University prepares social workers for leadership in direct family-centered social work practice, teaching knowledge, skills and values in eight curricular areas: social work values and ethics; diversity; social and economic justice and populations-at-risk; human behavior and the social environment; social welfare policy and services; social work practice; research; and field practicum.
"I chose Newman's Master of Social Work Program after talking with several therapists I work with who had also attended Newman, and they spoke very highly of the program," Mrs. Hopkins said. "As a non-traditional student with a full-time job, a husband and four children, I was attracted to Newman because it offers a program that works well with my schedule and allows me to travel to and from school and still maintain my family and employment."
Graduates of the program are eligible for licensure as professional social workers through the Behavioral Sciences Regulatory Board (BSRB) in Kansas. Hopkins intends to use her MSW degree in the clinical/behavioral health field: Parent-Child Interaction Therapy, Trauma-Focused Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, and Counseling for Trauma Recovery with Children (including art therapy).
Hopkins became interested in the field of social work while volunteering as a CASA (court-appointed special advocate) for Saline County starting in 2012. She said it was while working with CINC (Child In Need of Care) cases that she realized her calling.
"Attending KWU has been an amazing experience for me," Hopkins said. "I would recommend it to any non-traditional student looking to go back to school. Dr. Hoekstra and Professor Gillespie have been instrumental in my education; they always made themselves available when I needed advisement. My internship placement on the Behavioral Health Unit at Salina Regional Health Center was also amazing and a perfect fit for me. I can't say enough about my experience at KWU."