{"id":72494,"date":"2025-07-15T14:29:35","date_gmt":"2025-07-15T18:29:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/ssw\/?post_type=bu-program-page&p=72494"},"modified":"2026-05-05T16:51:23","modified_gmt":"2026-05-05T20:51:23","slug":"tracks-majors","status":"publish","type":"bu-program-page","link":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/ssw\/degree-program\/msw\/tracks-majors\/","title":{"rendered":"Majors & Tracks"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Where\u2019s your passion leading you?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Whether you\u2019re interested in empowering individuals, families, and groups or you\u2019re a big picture thinker who wants to drive change at a community and systems-level, our major & minor tracks \u2014 Clinical Practice and Macro Practice \u2014 each provide the skills and perspectives you need to help shape a better world. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Regardless of which major you choose, coursework and field placements weave theory and practice throughout your learning experience.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Majors & Minors<\/h3>\n\n\n

Clinical Practice Major<\/h2>
Highly skilled clinical social workers are needed in a variety of settings including mental health and community health centers, hospitals, rehabilitation facilities, substance treatment centers, family services, child welfare and children\u2019s services, schools, geriatric facilities, housing agencies, criminal justice, and more.<\/p>\n

Clinical social work practitioners learn how to use their professional relationships to engage in purposeful conversations and therapeutic activities while working with clients dealing with challenging life circumstances. Through coursework, field education, and supplementary programs, students develop competencies in assessment and diagnosis, treatment, and prevention for a variety of emotional and behavioral problems.<\/p>\n

Clinical Practice focuses on individuals, families, and group work, drawing on knowledge of social, economic, environmental, and political systems to inform understanding of personal challenges. Frameworks for assessment and intervention include cognitive-behavioral, psychodynamic, family systems, and the Liberation Health model. Work is collaborative, strengths-based, and engages with the goal of self-determination in decision-making <\/p>\n

Want more? Clinical Practice majors may choose to also minor in Macro Practice.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Macro Practice Major<\/h2>
This program is ideal for those committed to championing change initiatives and tackling the root causes of social problems. Transform your passion into partnership with communities and organizations, drawing on the most relevant knowledge, policies, and strategies designed to improve living and social environments.<\/p>\n

Macro Practice focuses on organizational, community, and system-level interventions where macro social workers tackle the root of social problems, including structural racism and oppression. You\u2019ll learn to facilitate systemic change to promote equity and ensure all individuals, families, and communities have the opportunity to thrive. Through coursework, field education, and supplementary programs, students learn theory and develop skills in community organizing, human services management, leadership, planning, advocacy, and program and policy development. <\/p>\n

Students and faculty work together to understand and develop ways to overcome intersecting oppressions based on race, gender, class, sexual orientation, identity, ability, and other social factors.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Macro Practice Minor<\/h2>
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Clinical Practice majors may choose to minor in Macro Practice. Students from all MSW programs (On-Campus, Online and Hybrid) may choose to pursue a Macro minor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you wish to minor in macro practice, you’ll need to complete two of the following macro courses: <\/p>\n\n\n\n