Program Overview

Social Work Masters Program

The Social Work Masters program at SUNY Plattsburgh is designed to prepare students for leadership roles in social change through interdisciplinary collaboration, innovation, and advocacy. Students may qualify for NYS licensure in social work in two years of full-time study, or in as little as one year if they have advanced standing and hold a bachelors in social work from a CSWE accredited program.

What Will I Learn?

The program prepares students for advanced practice with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities across micro, mezzo, and macro levels of social work practice. Students will gain a holistic view of societal challenges and how they appear in various settings.

• Learn to critically reflect and deepen understanding of how racism and oppression shape human experiences and influence social work practice
• Relationships with healthcare, human service, and social work organizations ensure well-being is addressed comprehensively across rural and urban communities

Extensive Fieldwork Opportunities

Students will practice and hone their skills over a minimum of 950 hours of fieldwork across diverse settings with placements tailored to their career interests, including policy and politics, advocacy, health centers, and community-based organizations.

What is Unique About Our Program?

The program combines interpersonal clinical skill-building and fierce advocacy strategies to help students emerge as social work scholars and human rights advocates. Emphasizing resilience and well-being, students will learn to foster healing and empowerment through trauma-informed, equity-driven, and culturally humble approaches.

Collaborative Approach to Learning

Students will be empowered to create and share knowledge across diverse fields, collaborating with faculty from various departments, such as anthropology, psychology, and public relations.

Career Opportunities

Social workers are needed in virtually all facets of community life, including schools, hospitals, clinics, prisons, senior homes, and a wide variety of public and private offices/practices. The demand for social workers is increasing, with the Bureau of Labor Statistics projecting an 11% increase in the need for social workers through 2028.

• Health Services
  • Nursing homes
  • Hospices
  • Public health agencies
  • Substance use treatment programs
  • Aging services
  • Hospitals
  • Intellectual and developmental disabilities services
  • Mental health services
  • Military and veteran mental health services
• Public Agencies
  • Community action agencies
  • Legal services agencies
  • Domestic and interpersonal violence programs
  • Criminal justice agencies
  • Policy analysis
  • Corporate social responsibility
• Child and Family Services
  • Child welfare agencies
  • Family services agencies
  • Child and adult day care centers
  • School (elementary and secondary)
  • Children and youth services
  • Home care agencies
• Community Services
  • Residential treatment programs
  • Homeless shelters
  • Vocational rehabilitation services
  • Income maintenance programs
  • Community outreach programs
  • Environmental social work
  • Advocacy: Community, groups, families, and individuals

Program Requirements

Admission requirements, including expected GPA, coursework, and other required materials, can be found on the graduate admissions page. Program-specific transfer credit requirements may be found on the Transferring Graduate Credit page.

Professional Licensure Disclosure

The Master of Social Work program at SUNY Plattsburgh is registered by the New York State Education Department and thus meets the educational requirements for licensure/certification for New York state. The program has been determined to meet the educational requirements for licensure/certification in New York; however, it is essential to note that SUNY Plattsburgh is not the licensure/certification authority, and individual candidates must contact the licensure/certification authority in the applicable state for guidance on requirements and application processes.

Additional Programs in Social Work

• Major
  • Social Work, B.S. (Plattsburgh main campus)
  • Social Work, B.S. (online)
• Certificate
  • Global Social Action Certificate