Advanced Standing MSW Pathway

The Advanced Standing MSW Pathway is only available to students with a Bachelor’s degree in Social Work from a Council of Social Work Education (CSWE) accredited social work program. This pathway can be completed in one calendar year of academic coursework and two semesters of field practicum experience.

Application Requirements:

Complete the Graduate School application.
A Bachelor’s degree in Social Work from a CSWE accredited social work program.
An overall GPA of 3.0 or higher in the baccalaureate program.
Submission of a professional resume.
Submission of three references.
- At least one reference must be able to make informed statements of the applicant’s preparedness for a graduate social work education program and the applicant’s potential contributions to the field of social work.
- Family members may not serve as references.
A personal narrative statement written in APA format that includes the following:
- A detailed discussion of why the applicant has chosen social work, including personal, family, and environmental influences.
- A detailed discussion of the applicant’s experiences working with people in a human services related capacity.
  - If the applicant has not been working in a human services field, the applicant should discuss other experiences related to working with people in a helping capacity.
- A self-reflection of the applicant’s degree of preparedness to engage in graduate-level social work education including both internal and external factors related to the applicant.
- The applicant’s preference to attend the full-time or the part-time MSW plan of study.
- How the applicant plans to use the MSW degree once they graduate.

Applicants may apply to the MSW Program at any time. The priority deadline for the MSW Programs for the upcoming academic year occurs on January 15th. The final deadline for the MSW Programs for the upcoming year occurs on February 15th. Applications must be complete before the deadline to be considered. Students will be notified of the disposition of their application within two weeks following each deadline. Applicants who are currently completing a bachelor's degree when offered admission must successfully complete the degree by May 30th in order to advance into the MSW Program.

Advanced Standing MSW Pathway students must complete 36 credit hours to obtain the MSW.

Advanced year: Summer semester
SOCW 850 Assessment and Treatment of Mental Disorders I 3 hrs
SOCW 855 Assessment and Treatment of Mental Disorders II 3 hrs

Advanced year: Fall semester
SOCW 860 Personal and Professional Development Seminar 3 hrs
SOCW 870 Medical Social Work and Behavioral Health Practice 3 hrs
SOCW 880 Advanced Clinical SW Practice with Individuals 3 hrs
SOCW 890 Advanced Clinical SW Field Practicum I (250 clock hours) 6 hrs

Advanced: Spring semester
SOCW 865 Social Work Supervision and Agency Management 3 hrs
SOCW 875 Forensic Social Work Practice 3 hrs
SOCW 885 Advanced Clinical SW Practice with Groups and Families 3 hrs
SOCW 895 Advanced Clinical SW Field Practicum II (250 clock hours) 6 hrs

Master of Social Work Course Descriptions