THE HEADLINE
NEW PARTNERSHIP CREATES OPPORTUNITY FOR NO-COST
M.S.W. EXPERIENCE

Beginning this fall, a new program will offer up to 100 aspiring social workers the opportunity to earn their master’s degrees for free at Fordham’s Graduate School of Social Service. 

GSS has partnered with the Audacia foundation to launch a first-of-its kind initiative aimed at eliminating financial barriers to health care and mental health care careers while expanding access to care in underserved New York communities. 

Tuition, Books, and Fees Fully Covered

The Career Pathways Training Program offers eligible students the opportunity to earn a Master of Social Work at Fordham with the cost of tuition, books, and fees fully covered in exchange for committing to three years of post-graduate employment with an institution serving a population that is at least 30% uninsured or Medicaid-reliant. 

“The program offers a transformative opportunity for those seeking to pursue their education and advance their careers,” said GSS Dean Debra McPhee, adding that it will remove the financial obstacles that may limit some New Yorkers from pursuing social work education. 

Full-Time Job Placement Help

In addition to the financial assistance, the program offers support services such as tutoring, test preparation, and help with full-time job placement upon completion.

The program is state funded, with tuition and fees awarded through the Audacia foundation, a non-profit devoted to workforce development in the health care field. Fordham is the first school of social work to partner with the foundation to offer the CPT program. In the first two weeks since the application window opened for the fall, GSS has received more than 70 applications.  

According to McPhee, the program is a continuation of the University’s long-standing legacy of training social workers dedicated to improving the lives of the poor and marginalized. 

“For 109 years, Fordham-educated social workers have played a critical role in delivering quality health and mental health services across a wide variety of New York communities and organizations,” said McPhee. “This program will others to follow in the footsteps of our distinguished alumni and make a meaningful impact on the future of health and mental health services in New York.”