Program Overview

Social Work, MSW

The Master of Social Work (MSW) Program at the University of Pennsylvania’s School of Social Policy & Practice is one of the oldest and most well-respected social work programs in the country. The program (ranked 8th in the nation by U.S. News and World Report) is designed to prepare social workers for leadership roles in developing and providing services to individuals, families, groups, communities, and organizations in the local, national, and global arenas. Penn’s MSW degree melds cutting-edge innovation with a rich educational tradition rooted in social justice and social change.

Curriculum

• Core Requirements:
  • SWRK 6010: History and Philosophy of Social Work and Social Welfare (1 unit)
  • SWRK 6020: Human Behavior in the Social Environment (1 unit)
  • SWRK 6030: American Racism and Social Work Practice (1 unit)
  • SWRK 6040: Foundations of Social Work Practice I (1 unit)
  • SWRK 6140: Foundations of Social Work Practice II (1 unit)
  • SWRK 6150: Introduction to Social Work Research (1 unit)
  • SWRK 7130: Understanding Social Change: Issues of Race and Gender (1 unit)
  • Select one 7000 level Policy Elective with Attribute SMWP (1 unit)
  • Select one 7000 level Research Option with Attribute SMWR (1 unit)
• Electives:
  • Select four electives with at least two credits in the following subjects: MSSP, SWRK, NPLD (4 units)
• Concentration:
  • Choose one of the following concentrations:
    • Clinical Practice Concentration
      • SWRK 7040: Advanced Clinical Social Work Practice I
      • SWRK 7140: Advanced Clinical Social Work Practice II
      • SWRK 7600: Mental Health Diagnostics
    • Macro Practice Concentration
      • SWRK 7080: Advanced Macro Social Work Practice I
      • SWRK 7180: Advanced Macro Social Work Practice II
      • Choose one of the following electives:
        • SWRK 7030: Impacting Government: Policy Analysis & Coalition Building
        • SWRK 7310: Clinical and Macro Child Welfare Practice
        • SWRK 7360: Building Community Capacity
        • SWRK 7400: Strategic Planning & Resource Development for Public & Nonprofit Organizations
        • SWRK 7420: Practice with Youth Who are Marginalized
        • SWRK 7460: Political Social Work
        • SWRK 7630: Global Human Rights & US Immigration: Implications for Policy & Practice
        • SWRK 7650: Supervision and Leadership in Human Services Organizations
        • SWRK 7690: Aging: The Intersection of Policy and Practice
        • SWRK 7720: Postcolonial Social Work Practice: International Social Welfare in India
        • SWRK 7880: Harm Reduction on the Borders: Substance Use and HIV Treatment in Puerto Rico
        • SWRK 7960: Family Economic Mobility: Problems and Policies
• Total Course Units: 16

Sample Plan of Study

Penn offers three different MSW program options, enabling students to choose the course of study that best fits with their personal circumstances and career goals: the two-year Full-Time program, the three-year Part-Time program, and the Advanced Standing program. Additionally, the Penn MSW program accepts students from Pennsylvania’s CWEL program.

Joint Lectures

Sequences in the MSW program may schedule sequence-wide lectures for all sections at various points in the semester. These lectures feature experts in the field and are a mandatory component of the course(s).

Plan of Study Grid

First Year

• Fall:
  • SWRK 6010: History and Philosophy of Social Work and Social Welfare (1 unit)
  • SWRK 6020: Human Behavior in the Social Environment (1 unit)
  • SWRK 6030: American Racism and Social Work Practice (1 unit)
  • SWRK 6040: Foundations of Social Work Practice I (1 unit)
• Spring:
  • SWRK 6140: Foundations of Social Work Practice II (1 unit)
  • SWRK 6150: Introduction to Social Work Research (1 unit)
  • Select one 7000 level Policy Elective (1 unit)
  • Select one of the following: (1 unit)

Second Year

• Fall:
  • SWRK 7040 or SWRK 7080: Advanced Clinical Social Work Practice I or Advanced Macro Social Work Practice I (1 unit)
  • Select two 7000 level electives (2 units)
  • Select one 7000 level Research Option (1 unit)
  • SWRK 7100: Supervision Seminar (0 units)
• Spring:
  • SWRK 7140 or SWRK 7180: Advanced Clinical Social Work Practice II or Advanced Macro Social Work Practice II (1 unit)
  • SWRK 7130: Understanding Social Change: Issues of Race and Gender (1 unit)
  • Select two 7000 level electives (2 units)
  • SWRK 7100: Supervision Seminar (0 units)

Total Course Units: 16

Waiver Exams

Waiver Exams are offered for SWRK 6010 and SWRK 6020 every August, and for SWRK 6150 every October. Students who score a qualifying grade on a waiver exam for SWRK 6010 and/or SWRK 6020 may take an elective in place of the required course. Students who score a qualifying grade on a waiver exam for SWRK 6150 may take another advanced research course in its place, as all MSW students take two research courses.

Practice Classes

Practice classes are a year-long sequence. Students remain in the same section of SWRK 6040/SWRK 6140 for the entire year, and remain in the same section of SWRK 7040/SWRK 7140 or SWRK 7080/SWRK 7180 for the entire second year.

Supervision Seminar

Non-credit
on-tuition course. For students without an MSW practicum supervisor.