College of Liberal Arts & Social Sciences > Academics > Social Work > Graduate Programs > Social Work (MSW) > Degree Requirements

Degree Requirements

Degree Requirements

Course Requirements 

All candidates for the MSW degree enrolled in the 2-year or the 4-year program must complete 88 credit hours of course work, including 56 credit hours (14 courses) of course work detailed below:

Course Title Quarter Hours
MSW 401PROFESSIONAL WRITING AND DEVELOPMENT4
MSW 411HUMAN BEHAVIOR AND THE SOCIAL ENVIRONMENT I4
MSW 412HUMAN BEHAVIOR AND THE SOCIAL ENVIRONMENT II4
MSW 421INTRODUCTION TO SOCIAL WORK RESEARCH4
MSW 431SOCIAL WELFARE POLICY I4
MSW 432ADVANCED SOCIAL WELFARE POLICY II4
MSW 481FOUNDATION PRACTICE I4
MSW 491FOUNDATION FIELD EDUCATION I4
MSW 482FOUNDATION PRACTICE II4
MSW 492FOUNDATION FIELD EDUCATION II4
MSW 483FOUNDATION PRACTICE III4
MSW 493FOUNDATION FIELD EDUCATION III4
Select eight credit hours of graduate level study (400 and above) as electives 18
1

Special topics courses (MSW 450) are included as possible electives. 

In addition to the requirements listed above, students must select and complete requirements for a concentration, detailed under the "Concentration Requirements" tab of this page.

MSW 499 is also available as an elective or substitution for some courses.

​Notice for Graduates of CSWE-Accredited Baccalaureate Programs

Every candidate for the MSW degree has to demonstrate competencies in the professional foundation of social work. For graduates of CSWE-accredited baccalaureate programs, up to 12 credit hours of eligible coursework can be waived if applicants received a grade of ‘B’ or better in corresponding undergraduate courses. These courses are limited to the following:

Course Title Quarter Hours
MSW 411
HUMAN BEHAVIOR AND THE SOCIAL ENVIRONMENT I
MSW 421
INTRODUCTION TO SOCIAL WORK RESEARCH
MSW 431
SOCIAL WELFARE POLICY I

Applicants are assessed at the time of admission. The waivers will not count as graduate credits earned and all students granted course waivers status must meet all other requirements of the program, including a minimum of 76 earned graduate credit hours for degree completion.

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