Nicole Kelleher

I chose UNC-Charlotte for two main reasons – they offered the two programs I wanted to enroll in and did so at an affordable cost. I knew for quite a while that I wanted to attend graduate school for social work and decided I needed an online program, something that UNCC offered. Before beginning the application process for multiple schools, I ended up discovering the field of Applied Behavior Analysis and fell in love with the work. Conveniently, UNCC also offered a Certificate in ABA that I could complete at the same time as my MSW program. This, in combination with the total cost of both programs, was what pushed me to attend UNC-Charlotte.

My graduate degree and certificate will prepare me for my future by opening the doors I currently do not have access to. I want to pursue a career in the fields of social work and applied behavior analysis, something that I have not seen many people do before. By combining the education of these programs, I am not only providing myself a more well-rounded foundation to build upon, but I am also setting myself up to better understand and support my future clients and their families during our times together.

As part of the (3-year DE) MSW program, you complete practicums for your second and third year. I was fortunate that the option to complete these at current places of employment existed and that mine was approved to do so. I have only completed my first practicum experience as I am entering my third year of the program this year, but what I have experienced has been incredible so far. I was able to foster connections between my organization and community members, create marketing materials to further our outreach, and create resources for us to use with both employees and prospective clients. My supervisor and I have already begun discussing activities for the upcoming practicum as well. 

Make connections! Something I have done from the beginning (even before applying to the programs) was reach out to others when I had questions and/or wanted to connect. Before applying, I reached out to department heads to discuss their programs. After applying, I reached out to other department heads to discuss the process of combining the programs. Once, after a Zoom orientation, I even emailed a peer to ask about their headphones because they looked especially comfortable and I wanted to know what kind they were. Making connections, especially in an online format, is incredibly valuable to the overall experience.