Master of Social Work (MSW)
The Master of Social Work (MSW) program offers an advanced generalist curriculum that prepares students to practice in a variety of human service settings. Graduates engage in professional social work roles—both clinical and administration—providing services to individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities. The curriculum has a special focus on services in rural communities with heavy emphasis on clinical addictions, gerontology, and health.
Programs
Students who have a Bachelor of Social Work degree from a Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) accredited institution are eligible for the Advanced Standing MSW Program, which requires 36 credit hours.
Students who have an undergraduate degree other than the Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) will need to apply for the Traditional Standing MSW program, which requires 57 credit hours.
Any student who has not had a statistics course in the last 5 years, will need to take this course before enrolling or in the first semester of the MSW program. We recommend SOCW 440 for Traditional Standing students and SOCW 540 for Advanced Standing students.
Master of Social Work (MSW) Programs
The MSW is offered through the following options:
Advanced Standing Program – 36 hours
This program is designed for undergraduate social work students who have graduated from a CSWE accredited bachelors of social work program. Students in the Advanced Standing MSW Program can complete the program in three semesters (full-time) or six semesters (part-time).
Traditional Standing Program - 57 hours
Traditional Standing MSW program is designed for graduate students with an undergraduate degree in a field other than social work. Students in the Traditional Standing MSW Program can complete the program in six semesters (full-time) or nine semesters (part-time).
Degree Requirements
Students must receive a B- or better in pre-practicum and practicum classes.
36-57 credits
Traditional Standing Program, 57 credits
Traditional Standing MSW program is designed for students who have chosen to pursue a graduate social work degree with an undergraduate degree in a field other than social work.
Degree requirements
Students must receive a B- or better in pre-practicum and practicum classes.
Pre Practicum Courses
Pre practicum courses for the foundation classes include SOCW 540, SOCW 611, SOCW 612, SOCW 621, SOCW 630, and SOCW 631. Pre practicum courses for the core courses include SOCW 602, SOCW 603, SOCW 613, SOCW 614, SOCW 640, SOCW 641, SOCW 651, and SOCW 652.
Required Foundation Classes
| SOCW 540 | Research Methods and Statistics | 3 |
| SOCW 611 | Social Work Practice 1 | 3 |
| SOCW 612 | Social Work Practice 2 | 3 |
| SOCW 621 | Social Welfare Policy and Programs | 3 |
| SOCW 630 | Micro Perspectives of Human Behavior in the Social Environment | 3 |
| SOCW 631 | Macro Perspectives of Human Behavior in the Social Environment | 3 |
| SOCW 662 | Social Work Field Practicum 1 | 3-12 |
Required Core Classes
| SOCW 602 | Diversity, Oppression, and Privilege | 3 |
| SOCW 603 | Rural Social Work | 3 |
| SOCW 613 | Advanced Generalist Rural Practice 1 | 3 |
| SOCW 614 | Advanced Generalist Rural Practice 2 | 3 |
| SOCW 640 | Social Work Practice Evaluation and Analysis | 3 |
| SOCW 641 | Social Work Program Evaluation and Analysis | 3 |
| SOCW 651 | Social Work Practice with Mental Health and Addictions | 3 |
| SOCW 652 | Differential Assessment in Mental Health and Addictions | 3 |
| SOCW 663 | Social Work Practicum 2 | 3 |
| SOCW 664 | Social Work Field Practicum 3 | 3 |
6 credits from
| SOCW 570 | Selected Aspects of Social Work | 3 |
| SOCW 671 | Social Work with Elders | 3 |
| SOCW 674 | Social Work in Health Care | 3 |
| SOCW 680 | Social Work Leadership and Administration | 3 |
| SOCW 681 | Social Work Practice with Children and Families | 3 |
| SOCW 682 | Advanced Social Welfare Policyand Programs | 3 |
| SOCW 690 | Independent Study in Social Work | 3 TO 6 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 57 |
Advanced Standing Program, 36 credits
Advanced Standing MSW program is designed for students who have chosen to pursue a graduate social work degree with an undergraduate degree in social work (typically Bachelor of Social Work/ BSW) from a program accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE). Students my pursue the Advanced Standing MSW program if their BSW was earned after 1974.
Degree requirements
Students must receive a B or better in pre-practicum and practicum classes.
Pre Practicum Courses
Pre practicum courses for the core courses include SOCW 602, SOCW 603, SOCW 613, SOCW 614, SOCW 640, SOCW 641, SOCW 651, and SOCW 652.
| SOCW 602 | Diversity, Oppression, and Privilege | 3 |
| SOCW 603 | Rural Social Work | 3 |
| SOCW 610 | Advanced Standing Seminar | 3 |
| SOCW 613 | Advanced Generalist Rural Practice 1 | 3 |
| SOCW 614 | Advanced Generalist Rural Practice 2 | 3 |
| SOCW 640 | Social Work Practice Evaluation and Analysis | 3 |
| SOCW 641 | Social Work Program Evaluation and Analysis | 3 |
| SOCW 651 | Social Work Practice with Mental Health and Addictions | 3 |
| SOCW 652 | Differential Assessment in Mental Health and Addictions | 3 |
| SOCW 663 | Social Work Practicum 2 | 3 |
| SOCW 664 | Social Work Field Practicum 3 | 3 |
3 credits from
| SOCW 570 | Selected Aspects of Social Work | 3 |
| SOCW 671 | Social Work with Elders | 3 |
| SOCW 674 | Social Work in Health Care | 3 |
| SOCW 680 | Social Work Leadership and Administration | 3 |
| SOCW 681 | Social Work Practice with Children and Families | 3 |
| SOCW 682 | Advanced Social Welfare Policyand Programs | 3 |
| SOCW 690 | Independent Study in Social Work | 3 TO 6 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 36 |
Total Credit Hours: 36-57