Social Work Graduate Programs
About the Master of Social Work Program
The mission of the graduate Social Work Program is to prepare students to serve as clinical social workers who practice in rural environments with the knowledge and skills at the master’s level to improve well-being for individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities. Available as either an on-campus or an online program, the emphasis is on promoting interdisciplinary learning and practice to actively address social issues. The graduate program simultaneously trains students in advanced clinical practice while also providing them with skills transferrable across all practice levels.
Online MSW Program Option
The master's in social work online program offers two entry points — the one that’s best for you will depend on your educational background and experience prior to enrollment.
- Master of Social Work Foundation program is intended for those looking to refocus or pivot their careers. This 17-course, 62-credit track is open to all eligible students with a bachelor’s degree and can be completed in as few as 10 semesters (40 months).
- Master of Social Work — Advanced Standing program for students who have obtained a bachelor’s degree in social work from an accredited university within the past 5 years may be eligible for our online. It offers an accelerated pathway where students explore strategies to help people in marginalized communities gain better access to social services.
On-Campus MSW Program Option
The MSW on-campus program has four options:
- One-Year Advanced Standing (open only to recent graduates of CSWE-accredited undergraduate social work programs)
- Two-Year Full Time
- Three-Year Part Time
- Four-Year Part Time
The three-year part-time on-campus option allows applicants to choose to take the first half of the MSW program over two part-time years rather than a single, full-time year. This option involves enrolling in the field during years two and three. In the four-year part-time on-campus option, applicants may spread the program out into four years of study, with years two and three requiring enrollment in the field. The MSW degree must be completed within four years of enrollment.
Special Program Focus
Responding to community demands, the Department of Social Work developed a master's program (on-campus and option) with an emphasis on service in rural environments. The Master of Social Work (MSW) program was admitted to candidacy for accreditation by the Council on Social Work Education in February 1999 and has been fully accredited since 2002. The primary purpose of the program is to graduate clinical social workers who have the knowledge and skills for advanced practice in rural environments to improve the well-being of individuals, families, groups, organizations and communities.
Program Learning Objectives
This MSW program is a competency-based program with 45 practice behaviors at the foundation level and 43 practice behaviors at the advanced level. The 9 social work competencies promulgated by the Council on Social Work Education (2015) are as follows:
- Demonstrate ethical and professional behavior.
- Engage diversity and difference in practice.
- Advance human rights and social, economic, and environmental justice.
- Engage in practice-informed research and research-informed practice.
- Engage in policy practice.
- Engage with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities.
- Assess individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities.
- Intervene with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities.
- Evaluate practice with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities.
One-Year Advanced Standing Status
The Advanced Standing Program is an accelerated curriculum option available only to highly qualified graduates of baccalaureate social work programs accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE). Consideration is given only to those undergraduate social work graduates with superior academic standing and exceptional references.
Applicants seeking Advanced Standing admission must meet all the admissions criteria required for standard admission. In addition, Advanced Standing applicants must:
- Have, within five years of graduate school admission, earned a baccalaureate degree in social work from a program accredited by CSWE
- Have a minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.0
- Have a reference from their senior-year field instructor
- Submit a copy of the most recent evaluation of their senior year field placement.
Students admitted to the Advanced Standing program will be expected to engage in the field placement process during the spring semester prior to their program enrollment.
Program Requirements
The program has no thesis requirement and no comprehensive examination. Students do conduct a two-semester, Institutional Review Board-approved research study and participate in supervised field internships.
Graduate Handbook (PDF)