Program Overview

Overview of the MSW Program

The mission of Utah State University's MSW program is consistent with the intent of CSWE Educational Policy standards regarding the purpose and structure of social work education and with the University's mission and vision. The mission is grounded in the Social Work Department's guiding philosophy, which is based on two broad traditions: generalist and advanced generalist social work practice and the land grant university heritage. The program is committed to enhancing the quality of life in Utah, the nation, and the world, through community engagement, leadership development, research, and extension, and is reflective of the fundamental need to adjust social institutions to the democratic and egalitarian ideals of both the University and Social Work profession.

Career Opportunities

In the state of Utah, graduates with a master's degree in Social Work are eligible to be licensed as certified social workers (CSW) upon graduation and are also eligible to begin working toward clinical licensure (LCSW). There are many career opportunities for social workers who can practice in a wide variety of public and private agency settings, including child welfare, youth services, mental health, criminal justice, hospitals, and more. Social workers also work with diverse client populations. The job market for social workers is expanding, both locally and nationally.

3-Year Part-Time Program

The three-year part-time program begins fall semester yearly. Over the course of nine semesters, students will complete 60 credits. In addition to coursework, students in the three-year program will complete two internship, or practicum, experiences totaling 900 hours of field education. Applications may be submitted in the Fall prior to admittance. Notification of admittance will be distributed in February of each application cycle.

Application Requirements

The MSW program has admissions criteria and procedures that reflect its goals and objectives, which also incorporate the School of Graduate Studies requirements for admission to a master's program at USU. Requirements include:

• A bachelor's degree in any field that will be completed before matriculation in the degree program
• A 3.0 or higher GPA for most recent 60 semester or 90 quarter credits
• Completion of a quantitative course (research or statistics) and intro to social/behavioral course
• Three satisfactory letters of recommendation
• A statement of purpose
• Completed Resume
• $55 application fee
• Group Interview

Class/Practicum Requirements

The MSW Traditional Part-time program has the following class and practicum requirements:

• Year 1:
  • Summer: SW 6000 (Principles & Philosophy of SW), SW 6050 (HBSE I)
  • Fall: SW 6150 (Generalist Practice), SW 6200 (Research Methods)
  • Spring: SW 6300 (Social Policy Analysis), Social Work Elective
• Year 2:
  • Summer: SW 6100 (Generalist Practice)
  • Fall: SW 6400 (Supervised Practicum I), Social Work Elective
  • Spring: SW 6650 (Research Methods II), SW 6450 (Supervised Practicum II)
• Year 3:
  • Summer: SW 6700 (Advanced Generalist Practice), SW 6725 (Diagnosis & Intervention)
  • Fall: SW 6750 (Advanced Generalist Practice II), SW 6900 (Supervised Practicum III)
  • Spring: SW 6600 (Policy & Administration), SW 6950 (Supervised Practicum IV)

Cost of Attendance

The cost of attendance for the MSW Traditional Part-time program is as follows:

• Year 1:
  • Summer: 6 credits, $2,736
  • Fall: 6 credits, $2,736
  • Spring: 6 credits, $2,736
• Year 2:
  • Summer: 3 credits, $1,368
  • Fall: 7 credits, $3,192
  • Spring: 8 credits, $3,648
• Year 3:
  • Summer: 6 credits, $2,736
  • Fall: 9 credits, $4,104
  • Spring: 9 credits, $4,104
• Total: 60 credits, $27,360

Admission Timeline

The admission timeline for the MSW program is as follows:

• Application Opens: July 1
• Application Deadline: October 1
• Application Decision Notification: January
• Starting Semester: Summer
• Graduation: May

No Entrance Exam Required

No entrance exam is required for Utah State University's MSW program.