Social Work - Standard Program, MSW
Advocacy, Community, Counselor, Health, Intervention, Justice, Policy, Psychology, behavioral, counseling, sociology
Join one of the nation's top social work programs to gain advanced skills in working with individuals, families, groups and communities. Learn how to address complex challenges and promote social justice through practice, policy change and community engagement, and prepare for professional licensure.
The first year of the standard program focuses on curriculum and gaining skills that build a foundational knowledge in social work. The second year of the program allows students to build specialized practice knowledge in advanced direct practice; policy, administration and community; and advanced generalist social work practice. Across all specializations, there is an emphasis on preparation for working with populations of the Southwest.
The Master of Social Work program is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education.
ASU Sync
Students on I-20 visas are not permitted to complete courses via ASU Sync and should speak with an advisor about other options to complete this program.
Students seeking to use GI Bill® benefits for ASU Sync programs should contact the Pat Tillman Veterans Center regarding certain limitations.
GI Bill® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. More information about education benefits offered by VA is available at the official U.S. government website at https://www.benefits.va.gov/gibill/.
- College/school:
Watts College of Public Service & Community Solut
- Location: Downtown Phoenix, ASU Sync, ASU at Tucson or Online
Students can choose to create their own concurrent degree combination to match their interests by working with their academic advisor during or after their first semester of study. Some concurrent combinations are not possible due to high levels of overlap in curriculum; students should speak with their academic advisor for more details.
This degree is also offered as a concurrent program with the following:
51 credit hours and a portfolio, or
51 credit hours and a thesis, or
51 credit hours including the required applied project course (SWG 593 or SWG 693), or
51 credit hours including the required capstone course (SWG 621) , or
54 credit hours and a portfolio, or
54 credit hours and a thesis, or
54 credit hours including the required applied project course (SWG 593 or SWG 693), or
54 credit hours including the required capstone course (SWG 621), or
57 credit hours and a portfolio, or
57 credit hours and a thesis, or
57 credit hours including the required applied project course (SWG 593 or SWG 693), or
57 credit hours including the required capstone course (SWG 621), or
60 credit hours and a portfolio (MSW/MPA concurrent degree), or
60 credit hours and a thesis (MSW/MPA concurrent degree), or
60 credit hours including the required applied project course (SWG 593 or SWG 693) - Advanced Generalist Track, or
60 credit hours including the required capstone course (SWG 621) (MSW/MPA concurrent degree)
STANDARD PROGRAM (ground immersion): Required Core (3 credit hours) Foundation Coursework (18 to 27 credit hours) Restricted Electives (21 to 27 credit hours) Other Requirements (3 credit hours) Culminating Experience Options (0 to 6 credit hours) ADVANCED GENERALIST TRACK (digital immersion): Required Core (3 credit hours) Advanced Generalist Track Coursework (54 credit hours) Culminating Experience Options (3 credit hours) Additional Curriculum Information The 60 credit hour advanced generalist track is the digital immersion option. These students have a bachelor's or master's degree from a regionally accredited institution. Students in the 60 hour path must take foundation year coursework in restricted electives per CSWE accreditation standards. All credit hour path criteria must be approved by the academic unit prior to selection in the iPOS. A student interested in moving to a concentration should notify the academic advisor prior to submitting their iPOS. The academic unit advises and monitors students to ensure they choose the appropriate coursework. The number of credit hours required for restricted electives depends on the credit hour path chosen and the culminating experience. Students should see the academic unit for a complete list of approved electives. The foundation year includes basic courses in direct practice, organizational and community change, social policy, human behavior and research. Foundation coursework is selected in consultation with the academic advisor. Students are required to complete two practicums: a foundation field placement (480 hours) and a specialization field placement (480 hours) in a different setting. Other requirement coursework may be substituted with approval of the academic unit. The program may be completed within four semesters (two years) or six semesters (three years).
SWG 510 Foundation Practice I (3)
SWG 501 Human Behavior and the Social Environment I (3)
SWG 502 Human Behavior and the Social Environment II (3)
SWG 511 Foundation Practice II (3)
SWG 519 Research Methods in Social Work (3)
SWG 531 Social Policy and Services (3)
SWG 533 Diversity, Oppression and Social Justice in Social Work (3)
SWG 541 Generalist Practicum I (3)
SWG 542 Generalist Practicum II (3)
SWG 585 Macro Social Work Practice (3)
SWG 610 Advanced Social Work Practice III (3) or
SWG 619 Practice-Oriented Research (3) or
SWG 623 Program Evaluation (3)
portfolio (0) or
SWG 593 Applied Project (3) or
SWG 599 Thesis (6) or
SWG 621 Integrative Seminar (3) or
SWG 693 Applied Project (3)
SWG 510 Foundation Practice I (3)
SWG 593 Applied Project (3) or
SWG 693 Applied Project (3)
Students on the 51, 54 and 57 credit hour paths have an undergraduate Council on Social Work Education-accredited BSW in social work degree or BA degree in community advocacy and social policy. Path selection depends on the student's educational background. Students are to consult an academic advisor in the unit.
Applicants must fulfill the requirements of both the Graduate College and the Watts College of Public Service and Community Solutions.
Applicants are eligible to apply to the program if they have earned a bachelor's or master's degree in a closely related field from a regionally accredited institution.
The School of Social Work requires one of the following:
- Bachelor of Social Work from a Council on Social Work Education-accredited school of social work
- liberal arts undergraduate degree
- undergraduate degree with 30 credit hours in liberal arts courses at the undergraduate or graduate level
Applicants must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 (scale is 4.00 = "A") in the last 60 hours of their first bachelor's degree program, or applicants must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 (scale is 4.00 = "A") in an applicable master's degree program.
All applicants must submit:
- graduate admission application and application fee
- official transcripts of all undergraduate and graduate work
- three letters of reference
- professional resume that includes volunteer and paid work experience
- statement of educational and career goals
- signed standards of ethical and professional behavior form
- proof of English proficiency
Additional Application Information
An applicant whose native language is not English must provide proof of English proficiency regardless of their current residency.
A combination of academic and professional references is desirable. References from friends, family members or personal therapists are not accepted. At least one of the three required references must be from the applicant's Bachelor of Social Work field instructor or, if employed in a social work-related job for two or more years, from the applicant's supervisor.
The applicant's professional resume should include both work and volunteer experience in social service organizations. In order to be considered for possible admission, applicants who do not have work experience in social service organizations are required to have a minimum of 240 hours of volunteer experience in the social services over a six-month period in the five years immediately preceding application.
Guidelines for writing the statement of educational and career goals can be found at the program website.
Test scores from either the GRE or the Miller Analogies Test are required only if the applicant's junior and senior GPA was below a 3.20 (scale is 4.00 = "A"). ASU does not accept the GRE® General Test at home edition.
Students should see the program website for application deadlines.
Three-year program
Students interested in this option must specifically apply to the part-time program and complete it in accordance with the plan developed to finish the degree in three years.
Transfer credit
Any transfer work is reviewed and approved in accordance with Graduate College policy. Transfer work must have been completed within three years of the semester and year of admission to the Master of Social Work degree program at ASU with a grade of "B" (3.00 on a 4.00 scale) or better.
Exemptions
Courses must have been completed within three years of the admit term of the Master of Social Work degree. Grades received must be an "A-" or better. A letter of good standing is required from the institution where students have taken the coursework. Course equivalencies from outside of ASU are reviewed by the MSW program coordinator. Courses identified as required core and culminating experiences in the breakdown of requirements cannot be substituted.
Concurrent degrees are currently unavailable for the online Master of Social Work degree program.
Students should contact the School of Social Work with any questions about the application process.
ASU offers this program in an online format with multiple enrollment sessions throughout the year. Applicants may view the program’s ASU Online page for program descriptions and to request more information.
| Session | Modality | Deadline | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Session A/C | In Person | 06/01 | Final |
| Session A/C | Online | 06/01 | Final |
| Session | Modality | Deadline | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Session A/C | Online | 11/01 | Final |
Program learning outcomes identify what a student will learn or be able to do upon completion of their program. This program has the following program outcomes:
- Plan, implement and evaluate evidence-based interventions
- Apply professional social work theories to working with diverse, oppressed and marginalized populations in both micro and macro practice
- Apply professional values and ethics during the advanced generalist internship
There are many paths within social work that graduates can pursue. Career examples include:
- adult and juvenile correction social worker
- behavioral health hospital social worker
- community organizer
- gerontology services patient coordinator
- group and individual clinician
- homeless services outreach coordinator or shelter director
- policy analyst
- program director and grant writer
- school social worker
- social services or nonprofit administrator
ASU programs that may lead to professional licensure or certification are intended to prepare students for potential licensure or certification in Arizona. Completion of an ASU program may not meet educational requirements for licensure or certification in another state. For more information, students should visit the ASU professional licensure webpage.
School of Social Work
|
UCENT 800
mswadvising@asu.edu
602-496-0800
3 year programs
These programs allow students to fast-track their studies after admission and earn a bachelor's degree in three years or fewer while participating in the same high-quality educational experience of a 4-year option. Students should talk to their academic advisor to get started.
Accelerated master's
These programs allow students to accelerate their studies to earn a bachelor's plus a master's degree in as few as five years (for some programs).
Each program has requirements students must meet to be eligible for consideration. Acceptance to the graduate program requires a separate application. Students typically receive approval to pursue the accelerated master’s during the junior year of their bachelor's degree program. Interested students can learn about eligibility requirements and how to apply.
