Program Overview

Program Overview

The Master of Social Work (M.S.W.) program at Colorado State University is designed to equip students with the knowledge, skills, and values necessary to become advanced generalist practitioners. The program focuses on anti-oppressive skills, anti-racism, equity, equality, and human health and well-being across local and global systems.

Program Details

• The program is offered in a hybrid format, combining online and in-person instruction.
• The traditional program is three years in length, while the Advanced Standing program is two years.
• The program requires 62 credits for the traditional program and 39 credits for the Advanced Standing program.
• Tuition rates vary depending on the location and admission date, with rates ranging from $725 to $747 per credit.

Admission Requirements

• A bachelor's degree from a regionally-accredited institution is required.
• A minimum of 18 credits of interdisciplinary liberal arts coursework is required, spanning social, behavioral, and biological sciences.
• A 3.0 GPA (4.0 scale) is required, although occasional exceptions may be made.
• GRE scores are not required.

Advanced Standing Program

• The Advanced Standing program is available for students who have earned a bachelor's degree in social work from a CSWE-accredited program within the past seven years.
• The program requires 39 credits and can be completed in two years.

Curriculum

• The curriculum consists of foundation courses in direct social work practice, human behavior, social welfare policy, and social science research.
• Concentration courses build on the foundation courses, covering topics such as individual practice, group and family practice, community practice, and organizational practice.

Faculty and Staff

• The program is led by a team of experienced faculty and staff, including:
  • Brittanie Ash, Assistant Professor
  • Carolyn Tredinnick, Distance MSW Program Assistant Director and MSW Internship Coordinator
  • Charlotte Bright, Director and Professor
  • Cheryl Distaso, Instructor
  • David MacPhee, Professor Emeritus and Director of the Prevention Research Center Community-University-State Partnerships Division
  • Elizabeth Kiehne, Assistant Professor
  • Holly Panetta, Instructor
  • Jodie Ball, Instructor
  • Jordan Brooks, Instructor
  • Kristin Mooney, Instructor
  • Leah Cleeland, Director of Field Education and Programs
  • Marie Villescas Zamzow, On-Campus MSW Program Assistant Director and Senior Instructor
  • Mindy Van Kalsbeek, MSW Program Director and Senior Instructor
  • Quinn Hafen, Ph.D. Student and GRA
  • Sofia Gentry, Instructor
  • Timothy Frank, Graduate Programs Coordinator

Frequently Asked Questions

• What type of bachelor's degree is required for admission?
  • A four-year undergraduate degree from an accredited college or university is required.
• What is the benefit of the hybrid M.S.W. format?
  • The program supports independent learning combined with collaborative application.
• Which option do I qualify for: Traditional M.S.W. or Advanced Standing M.S.W.?
  • Advanced Standing refers to the level of experience of a student applying to the program.
• What does "advanced generalist" mean?
  • The advanced generalist model places emphasis on the knowledge and skills needed for interventions at multiple levels of practice.
• How long is the program?
  • The Traditional M.S.W. program is three years, while the Advanced Standing program is two years.

How to Apply

• Review admission requirements
• Prepare application materials, including a statement of purpose, two letters of recommendation, and official transcripts
• Complete the online application and pay the nonrefundable application processing fee
• Request transcripts from all institutions attended
• Check application status

Tuition Rates

• Tuition rates vary depending on the location and admission date, with rates ranging from $725 to $747 per credit.

Learning Experience

• The hybrid program provides access to a graduate degree with the same accredited curriculum as the on-campus program, but in a different format.
• The learning format includes a combination of online asynchronous learning, synchronous online learning, and in-person learning.

Hear from Our Students

• Quotes from current students and alumni, including Chris French, Megan Wykhuis, Allie Miller, and Julie Breidenstein.

Program Options, Locations, and Upcoming MSW Program Cohort Schedules

• The program is offered in Denver and Fort Collins, with upcoming cohort schedules available online.

Workload and Internship/Practice-Based Learning Component

• Students in the hybrid M.S.W. program have a wide array of personal and career backgrounds.
• The internship opportunities provide a dynamic platform for experiential learning, with students applying the knowledge, values, and skills within the advanced generalist practice framework in a social work agency setting.