MSW Program

The primary aim of our MSW program is to educate outstanding social workers in an intellectually rigorous environment so they can integrate and apply clinical and macro practice methods in urban settings and diverse communities. Our multi-method curriculum prepares students for social work practice with:

  • Individuals
  • Families
  • Groups
  • Organizations
  • Communities

The School offers an integrated program of study, including methods in:

The MSW program, accredited by the Council on Social Work Education, includes foundation and advanced-level courses and field education. Students begin with foundation courses in clinical and macro practice methods, human behavior in social environment, social welfare policy, and research, and a foundation field practicum and field education integrative seminar. In the advanced curriculum, students choose to specialize in either Clinical Practice or Macro Practice. They acquire in-depth knowledge and practice skills by taking advanced methods courses in Clinical or Macro Practice, implications of racism, social work ethics, electives, and an advanced field practicum.

Our curriculum strongly reflects the School’s mission and emphasis upon empowerment of oppressed groups and social and economic justice in urban settings. Content on diversity, ethics, populations-at-risk, and social and economic justice is integrated in foundation and advanced courses.

The school encourages interdisciplinary learning opportunities and offers a rich array of dual degree and specialization programs. These programs offer students opportunities to obtain additional skills and professional credentials in allied fields.

Accreditation

All Council on Social Work Education programs measure and report MSW student learning outcomes. Students are assessed on their mastery of the competencies which comprise the accreditation standards of the Council on Social Work Education. These competencies are dimensions of social work practice which all social workers are expected to master during their professional training. A measurement benchmark is set by the social work programs for each competency. An assessment score at or above that benchmark is considered by the program to represent mastery of that particular competency. Please click here to view MSW student learning outcomes.