Jenny McKinnon will seize her degree like a holy grail when her name is called at this morning's Arts Faculty Graduation Ceremony at the Charles Sturt University Wagga Wagga Campus.

As a CSU lecturer in the School of Humanities and Social Sciences, editor of the Rural Society social issues research journal, a permaculture farmer, a mother of three teenagers and a wife, she will add another feather to her cap when she graduates as the University's first Master of Social Work.

"Studying while working full time is tough - it's taken me seven or eight years, on and off, to do a course that can be done in two years as a full-time student," Ms McKinnon said.

"When I first enrolled I was doing casual work at the University, and life has become increasingly hectic over the years since taking on full-time work as well. Working for a Masters degree becomes a bit of a holy grail after a while - you can't just give up when it gets tough. I'm really so glad I did it because it's increased my knowledge base and broadened my experience as a teacher and a student."

Ms McKinnon teaches social work degree students, and coordinates the social work honours program and a counselling subject for the genetic counselling biomedical science students.

"It can get quite complicated to be enrolled in a subject that your professional colleagues teach - it can be very awkward at times - but at least the final thesis is assessed externally," she said.

"Working as a distance education student also makes me very sympathetic to my own students. It makes me appreciate the flexibility that's needed to encourage and achieve life-long learning."

Ms McKinnon said she had experienced first-hand the extent of home support and assistance that students needed to achieve academic goals. "My own parents and family have contributed so much to get me to this point - to graduation," she said.

"I was a sole parent for a lot of the time and got married last October and everyone involved has been a tremendous help. Family has to be prepared to give up some of their time and energy to help you succeed as a student.

"Now we all deserve a break. I've told my husband George that if I start talking about doing a PhD he should throw a bucket of water over me… although I have got heaps of ideas for studies that would make for a great doctoral thesis…"