Sacred Heart University Online

Master of Social Work (MSW) - Advanced Standing

Social workers are an essential part of American health care. They strive to anticipate and respond to the critical issues facing individuals, families, communities, and society at large. Along with exerting a positive affect on quality of life, social workers aim to provide people with the tools they need to lead more fulfilling and meaningful lives. If this sounds like something you see for yourself, then earning a CSWE-accredited Master of Social Work from Sacred Heart University should be part of your plan. The advantages are clear – from enabling you to specialize and prepare for clinical work to the experience you can gain and the higher salary you can command.

Master of Social Work Curriculum

While grounded in the liberal arts, the MSW curriculum at SHU aligns itself to the tenets of social-work and the Catholic Intellectual Tradition of academic excellence. The principles of service to others, respect for human dignity, dedication to scientific inquiry and social and economic justice are reinforced in coursework throughout the program.

Immediately after graduation, you'll qualify to sit for the Licensed Master of Social Work exam and can start earning hours towards state licensure for clinical social work (LCSW).

Graduate in 20 Months

Advanced Standing students who enter the program can graduate in as little as 20 months. To qualify as an Advanced Standing student, you'll need a Bachelor's in Social Work earned within the last 6 years from a program accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) with a GPA of 3.0 or higher. The Advanced Standing option will be offered in the Fall of 2018.

Advanced Standing students will already have completed approximately half of their practicum education hours in the BSW program and will enter the master’s program at the Specialized Year. The Advanced Standing student will be required to complete 550 hours of practicum education.