Review of Troy University’s MSW Program (2025)
Wade graduated from the MSW program at Troy University.
Troy University is located in Troy, Alabama. The school is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE).
Name: Wade Simpson, LMSW
LinkedIn: Wade Simpson, LMSW
Graduation date: July 2025
Tuition: For more information about tuition and costs, click here.
Why social work? Social work, for me, combines so many different things that I love: clinical work, policy and social justice, and applied, real-world skills that can make real impacts on the clients we serve. I knew I wanted to make a difference, and social work has made that a reality for me everyday!
Where were your internships? I did both of my internships in different programs at a local family service center in my city. I was on a 2-year track, so my first program focused on facilitating supervised visitations with families under court mandated visitation orders. I spent two years working in child welfare, so this was natural for me! My second internship at that same agency the next summer was in a program that focused on behavioral interventions, truancy, and retention in high schools in my local school district. It was very school social work adjacent! I enjoyed my internships a lot.
What made you choose your MSW program? I grew up about an hour outside of Troy, and a lot of students from my high school went there for undergrad. I didn’t end up there for my bachelors, but I knew I would have a degree from Troy eventually. Troy’s MSW program had the concentration I wanted, low tuition, and fantastic professors with a reputation of producing excellent social workers in Alabama. It was a no-brainer for me!
What was the best thing about your academic program? For me, it was the professors and the concentration I chose. I was in a direct practice/clinical track, so almost all of my professors were LICSWs who had a plethora of experience to add into the curriculum. In my opinion, this was vital to my success in the program. Having professors who have worked for years in clinical roles, teaching clinical skills, and giving constructive feedback helped me SO much with understanding and applying the materials in my job and internships during the program.
Who were your favorite instructors? Ms. Stacey Harrell and Ms. Hannah Deep were my favorites! Ms. Harrell taught some of my foundational courses and Ms. Deep was my clinical practicum instructor. They were both amazing and brought so much nuance into my education with their experience.
What are you listening to? I live in the rainiest city in Alabama (it’s raining as I type this!), so it’s been mostly chill, relaxing alternative music. Think Bon Iver, Fleet Foxes, and Gregory Alan Isakov. I have so many different music tastes, this is just what I’m listening to currently.
What are you currently reading? The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller.
Where do you see yourself in three to five years? What are your goals? I’m currently an LMSW, and plan to start supervision for my LICSW early next year in 2026. After getting my clinical licensure, I hope to continue honing my clinical skills and getting better everyday as a clinical social worker. I work as a therapist in a psychiatric hospital currently, and I love this work, so I could see myself doing this for a while, or possibly moving into private practice work or working at another hospital! Medical social work and psychotherapy are definitely my main two interests.
What wisdom do you have for potential MSW students? Honestly, just keep grinding. I know it feels like your program will never end and the assignments and exams keep coming each week, but know that all of these things you’re doing will make you a better social worker in the long run. Take time for yourself, spend time with people who make you happy, and turn off that computer or phone to reset and recharge. The work will be waiting for you when you come back! Make sure you’re pouring into yourself before pouring into other things; you and your clients will benefit SO much! And most of all, always know how to pivot when you need to!
For more information: Click here for more information about the MSW program at Troy University.
Thank you, Wade!
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