Master of Social Work Program Details


Master of Social Work Program Details

Master of Social Work program overview.

Tuition and fees

Application

Comprehensive KU course catalog
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Application deadlines (full-time students):

Advanced standing deadline: February 1

Traditional full-time deadline: March 1

Traditional part-time deadline: April 1

 

Master of Social Work

  1. An undergraduate degree from an accredited university. Advanced Standing M.S.W. applicants must have a Bachelor of Social Work from a CSWE-accredited program. 
  2. A 3.0 undergraduate GPA on a 4.0 scale. 
  3. Online application 
  4. Three recommenders, following stipulations on M.S.W. application 
  5. Official transcript(s) 
  6. A current resume with current/prior work or volunteer experience 
  7. Narrative statement, following instructions on M.S.W. application
  8. All applicants who are non-native English speakers must demonstrate English proficiency to be considered for MSW admission. This includes both International Students who reside in the U.S. and outside the U.S. at the time of application. Please consult the English proficiency requirements information from KU Graduate Admissions. 

Note: In order to begin practicum for the MSW Program, Full Proficiency must be met. If Full Proficiency requirements are not met at the time of admission, and additional language requirements are required from the KU Applied English Center, MSW classes and/or practicum may be delayed.

Curriculum

KU’s Master of Social Work program was designed with community and student input to ensure a dynamic educational experience that incorporates real-world opportunities. Graduates are equipped with the knowledge to provide counseling and services to individuals, families and groups, and to make changes in organizations, communities and policies that affect large populations in our society.

KU’s MSW is fully accredited from the Council on Social Work (CSWE).

Full-time curriculum requirements are listed below. Part-time curriculum plans for the Traditional MSW and Advanced Standing MSW are available on the School of Social Welfare website.

Total Credit Hours for KU MSW Program

  • Advanced Standing: 38 (24 credit hours of classroom work, 14 credit hours of field practicum)
  • Traditional: 64 (36 credit hours of classroom work, 28 credit hours of field practicum)

Traditional Plan of Study

Students who have already earned a bachelor’s degree, in any major other than social work, from an accredited university or college will apply to the Traditional MSW Plan of Study. 


Year 1 – Generalist Study

Fall:

  • SW 700 Field Education Seminar (1 credit hour)
  • SW 701 Basic Field Practicum (6 credit hours)
  • SW 708 Human Rights and Social, Economic, and Environmental Justice (3 credit hours)
  • SW 710 Multi-Level Engagement and Assessment (3 credit hours)
  • SW 755 Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in Social Work (3 credit hours)

Spring:

  • SW 700 Field Education Seminar (1 credit hour)
  • SW 701 Basic Field Practicum (6 credit hours)
  • SW 711 Multi-Level Intervention & Evaluation of Intervention (3 credit hours)
  • SW 720 Social Policy Analysis and Advocacy in Social Work (3 credit hours)
  • SW 740 Applied Research in Multi-Level Social Work (3 credit hours)
Year 2 – Specialization Year

Students will choose to specialize in either Clinical Practice or Macro Practice.

Clinical Social Work Practice
Emphasis on a particular field of practice, such as children and families, health, mental health, schools, or aging populations.

Macro Social Work Practice
Emphasis on leadership, social service administration, social policy development and social advocacy.

Year 2 – Clinical Specialization

Fall:

  • SW 801 Advanced Field Practicum – Clinical Practice (7 credit hours)
  • SW 810 Clinical Practice Skills I (3 credit hours)
  • SW 863 Mental Health & Psychopathology OR Clinical Elective (3 credit hours)
  • Choose one diversity-focused elective (options vary by campus):
    • SW 833 Interdisciplinary Aging Practice (3 credit hours)
    • SW 871 Indigenous Families (3 credit hours)
    • SW 873 Sexuality & Gender Diversity (3 credit hours)
    • SW 874 Social Work with Womxn and Femmes (3 credit hours)
    • SW 855 Study Abroad (3 credit hours)*

* Note: A social welfare study abroad fulfills the diversity selective requirement. Study abroad programs are typically offered in the summer.

Spring:

  • SW 801 Advanced Field Practicum-Clinical Practice (7 credit hours)
  • SW 811 Clinical Practice Skills II (3 credit hours)
  • SW 885 Professional Development Seminar (3 credit hours)
  • Choose one clinical elective (options vary by campus): 
    • SW 834 Social Work in Schools (3 credit hours)
    • SW 860 Loss and Grief Across the Life Course (3 credit hours)
    • SW 861 Global Gender-based Violence Prevention & Intervention (3 credit hours)
    • SW 867 Trauma Related Care Across the Life Course (3 credit hours)
    • SW 869 Assessing and Treating Substance Misuse (3 credit hours)
Year 2 – Macro Specialization

Fall:

  • SW 804 Advanced Field Practicum – Macro Practice (7 credit hours)
  • SW 840 Multi-System Community-Engaged Program Design (3 credit hours)
  • SW 841 Advanced Policy Analysis (3 credit hours)
  • SW 843 Leadership and Supervision in Program Management (3 credit hours)

Spring:

  • SW 804 Advanced Field Practicum – Macro Practice (7 credit hours)
  • SW 842 Agency-Based Evaluation (3 credit hours)
  • SW 846 Advanced Justice-Centered Community and Advocacy Practice (3 credit hours)
  • SW 885 Professional Development Seminar (3 credit hours)

Advanced Standing Plan of Study

Students who have already earned a Bachelor of Social Work from a CSWE-accredited social work program will apply to the Advanced Standing Plan of Study.

Year 1 – Specialization Year – Clinical Specialization 

Summer:

  • SW 712 Social Work Practice Seminar (3 credit hours)
  • Choose either:
    • One of the following clinical electives (options vary by campus):
      • SW 866 Children's Mental Health (3 credit hours)
      • SW 868 Assessing & Treating Suicide and Self-Harm (3 credit hours)
    • OR
      • SW 863 Mental Health & Psychopathology (3 credit hours) (required, you can choose to take in the summer or fall)

Fall:

  • SW 801 Advanced Field Practicum – Clinical Practice (7 credit hours)
  • SW 810 Clinical Practice Skills I (3 credit hours)
  • Choose one diversity-focused elective (options vary by campus):
    • SW 833 Interdisciplinary Aging Practice (3 credit hours)
    • SW 871 Indigenous Families (3 credit hours)
    • SW 873 Sexuality & Gender Diversity (3 credit hours)
    • SW 874 Social Work with Womxn and Femmes (3 credit hours)
  • Choose either:
    • SW 863 Mental Health & Psychopathology (3 credit hours) (required, you can choose to take in the summer or fall)\
    • OR one of the following clinical electives (options vary by campus):
      • SW 866 Children's Mental Health (3 credit hours)
      • SW 868 Assessing & Treating Suicide and Self-Harm (3 credit hours)

Spring:

  • SW 801 Advanced Field Practicum – Clinical Practice (7 credit hours)
  • SW 811 Clinical Practice Skills II (3 credit hours)
  • SW 885 Professional Development Seminar (3 credit hours)
  • Choose one clinical elective (options vary by campus):
    • SW 834 Social Work in Schools (3 credit hours)
    • SW 860 Loss and Grief Across the Life Course (3 credit hours)
    • SW 861 Global Gender-Based Violence Prevention & Intervention (3 credit hours)
    • SW 867 Trauma-Related Care Across the Life Course (3 credit hours)
    • SW 869 Assessing and Treating Substance Misuse (3 credit hours)
Year 1 – Specialization Year – Macro Specialization

Summer:

  • SW 712 Social Work Practice Seminar (3 credit hours)
  • Choose one (options vary by campus):
    • SW 863 Mental Health & Psychopathology (3 credit hours) 
    • SW 866 Children's Mental Health (3 credit hours)
    • SW 868 Assessing & Treating Suicide and Self-Harm (3 credit hours)

Fall:

  • SW 804 Advanced Field Practicum – Macro Practice (7 credit hours)
  • SW 840 Multi-System Community-Engaged Program Design (3 credit hours)
  • SW 841 Advanced Policy Analysis (3 credit hours)
  • SW 843 Leadership and Supervision in Program Management (3 credit hours)

Spring:

  • SW 804 Advanced Field Practicum – Macro Practice (7 credit hours)
  • SW 842 Agency-Based Evaluation (3 credit hours)
  • SW 846 Advanced Justice-Centered Community and Advocacy Practice (3 credit hours)
  • SW 885 Professional Development Seminar (3 credit hours)

Field Practicum

Social work internships (practicums) provide each student with real-world social work experience, working directly with individuals, families, and communities. Our Practicum Education Office works closely with students and agencies to secure skill-based practicum experiences with qualified social work mentors. The Practicum Education Office arranges all placements with a student’s input. Every effort is made to secure opportunities close to the student’s home, and all practicums are no further than a one-hour drive.

Traditional MSW students have two practicum placements: one during the foundation level and one during the advanced level of the program. Each placement is for two consecutive semesters for 14 credit hours a year, totaling 28 credit hours.

  • 416 total clock hours during the first year (foundation/generalist study year)
  • 512 total clock hours during specialization year
  • In both years, students must attend their practicum a minimum of 16 hours per week in both the fall and spring semesters.

Advanced Standing MSW students have one practicum placement, which lasts for two consecutive semesters or 14 credit hours for the year.
•    512 total clock hours during Advanced Standing/specialization year
•    Students must attend their practicum a minimum of 16 hours per week in both the fall and spring semesters.

For more information visit the MSW Practicum Education page.
 

Questions?

Amea Chandler
Assistant Director Jayhawk Academic Advising