Review of Monmouth University's Global and Community Practice Specialization MSW Program (2025)
Nicole is an MSW student at Monmouth University’s School of Social Work.
Monmouth University’s School of Social Work is located in West Long Branch, New Jersey. The school is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE).
Name: Nicole Baldonado
LinkedIn: Nicole Baldonado
Anticipated graduation date: Spring 2027
Tuition: For more information about tuition and costs, click here.
Why social work? I lived from age twelve as an American in Ukraine, moving there shortly after the nation gained independence from the Soviet Union. My life there gave me an early awareness of global needs and resources. I saw with my own eyes the disparity between my middle-class, American, early childhood and the poverty Ukrainian families faced because grocery shelves were empty and salaries often could not be paid in the recovering economy. Visiting orphaned babies who lived in poverty-stricken hospitals heightened my awareness of global inequity.
That experience also developed in me a passion for recognizing the value and unique strengths of local communities and their cultural and social norms, which I’ve been honored to see empower people in crisis to thrive despite inequities. Ukrainian friends and I collaborated to provide diapers for the babies we were visiting, lead activities for children exposed to tuberculosis, and organize a blood drive in cooperation with a city hospital. In later years, I was able to volunteer with teams from multiple countries to do work in refugee camps in Hungary and youth mentorship in Kosovo and Slovakia. These types of experiences and a growing dedication to social justice led me to social work.
What is your current internship? As a working professional, I am a part time student, so I will be doing my practicum next year. However, I am hoping to be placed related to my work on a psychosocial, parenting and violence prevention program for caregivers in crisis, called Hope Groups. My role there is to develop and adapt content for strengthening parents and caregivers in the midst of war, displacement, and other mass crises. I also provide training and technical advising for local organizations that implement the program in their communities. In my internship, I want to focus additionally on advocacy, public policy, and strategies for scaling and sustaining MHPSS programming. I’m also hoping to research the correlations between violence against women and violence against children and work on issues of child marriage and female genital mutilation.
What made you choose your MSW program? A colleague recommended Monmouth to me, especially related to my global work. In the end, I chose the Monmouth MSW program because it “ticked off” all my boxes and then some. For a little background, my family and I were displaced from Ukraine to Poland because of the Russian war. It was important to us that our children not be uprooted again, so I was looking for a program either in Poland or online. I was also hoping for a synchronous online program, so that I could interact with faculty and students in real time during classes. Advanced standing was important to me, since I earned a BSW and have a great deal of work experience, and Monmouth offers advanced standing.
Additionally, Monmouth offers a part time option, which made it possible for me to continue working while pursuing grad school. I am a macro practitioner, so I was immediately drawn to Monmouth’s Global and Community Practice concentration and their emphasis on human rights in the curriculum. I had several online meetings with faculty before being accepted into the program, and I was impressed by their macro and global expertise, as well as their openness and warmth.
Finally, I love that the staff and faculty are creative and flexible and that the program offers employer-based practica, when appropriate. I’m also excited to share that beginning in the fall of 2026, Monmouth will offer a first-year option online, as well.
What was the best thing about your academic program? The first time I looked up Monmouth’s Global and Community Practice curriculum, I immediately said, “THIS is what I want to study!” While macro focus in MSW programs is growing, it is still far less common than clinical specializations. Classes like Social Innovations, Environmental Justice and Sustainable Development, and Applications of Social Justice and Human Rights are amazing fits for my current work and the types of ideas in which I have been hoping to develop skills and knowledge. I’m also so grateful for the faculty, their openness and the experience they share with us. I’m still in my first semester, so I look forward to becoming more familiar with the program and faculty!
Who are your favorite instructors? Dr. Anne Deepak and Dr. Michael Cronin are amazing instructors. In Dr. Deepak’s class, I am consistently challenged to take a further step back and consider every issue from a deeper systemic perspective. I thought I previously had a fairly strong macro lens in my work, but I am continually learning how to strengthen that from a theoretical framework in Dr. Deepak’s class.
Dr. Cronin empowers us to translate the theoretical into the practical and vice versa, making for extremely practical application for my daily work. Together, these approaches to teaching create a cycle that strengthens my ability to critically evaluate and apply theory.
What are you listening to? When I need to relax, I either sit in quiet or listen to music by Jack Johnson or Ziggy Alberts. I also just love to hear the sounds of my children laughing!
What are you currently reading? I am starting an audiobook version of The Tipping Point: How Little Things Can Make a Big Difference by Malcolm Gladwell. I am interested in social norms theory and have been taking in anything I can related to this idea. I’m excited to see if there is any overlap in this book with that theory.
Where do you see yourself in three to five years? What are your goals? My goal is to continue working in the humanitarian sector, focusing on family and caregiver strengthening to protect children in their care. I want to move into working more on social norms and how to come alongside communities to investigate their own norms and values related to family strengthening and child protection. I’m also beginning now to learn more about the intersections between violence against children and violence against women, and I hope to be working more directly in that sphere in the next three to five years. In terms of my education, I’d like to be actively pursuing a doctorate or PhD by that time, as well.
What wisdom do you have for potential MSW students? When I started on my social work journey, I wanted to become a counselor. It only took a few sessions of shadowing an LCSW in her sessions for me to recognize that micro work is not where my strengths or passions lie. If you have a BSW or a background in social services, you likely already have a good sense of whether you are a micro, mezzo or macro practitioner. Regardless, be open to new experiences in your work and practicum. Social work is such a beautifully wide profession, and there are so many avenues to pursuing the type of work you will specialize in.
Self-care, self-care, self-care! We all know this work is challenging and emotionally taxing. Make an effort now to learn what practices “fill your cup” and set a standard for yourself that you will always engage in these practices. If you have the attitude that you’ll “get to that later,” later will not come. You are worth taking care of yourself, and you will have more to offer in your work if you are consistently filling that cup.
Advice to applicants: The Monmouth MSW program is such a welcoming environment, and the faculty make themselves available to support you all along the way. Ask questions when you need clarification, be pro-active, and think creatively. You’ll find that the staff and faculty are not just willing, but eager to come alongside you and make sure you are on the best path for your unique educational journey. Best of luck!
For more information: Click here for more information about the MSW program at Monmouth University.
Thank you, Nicole!
Social work students and graduates are not paid by Social Workers Are Awesome for their program reviews.
Interested in reviewing your social work program? Reach out to Social Workers Are Awesome here.