Social Work - Advanced Standing - Direct Practice, MSW
ASU Health - Clinical, Advocacy, Counselor, Health, Population, Public, Rehabilitation, Therapy, behavioral, counseling, youth
Social workers play a crucial role in improving lives and strengthening communities, one moment and one person at a time. Wherever life takes you, this master's degree prepares you, a recent Bachelor of Social Work graduate, to thrive in numerous professional settings.
ASU ranks No. 20 for best graduate social work program by U.S. News & World Report, 2024.
The advanced direct practice specialization of the Master of Social Work program offers students four areas of practice, including children, youth and families; health; behavioral health; and child welfare. This program is designed to be completed in-person, in an accelerated and intensive, one-year format.
Across all areas, the curriculum is guided by social work values that emphasize evidence-based practice, client strengths, social justice and client empowerment. The primary curriculum goal of the MSW program is to educate advanced social work practitioners who demonstrate the knowledge, skills, values and ethics of the profession and who are competent for specialized practice.
Students learn how to diagnose and assess mental health conditions, create treatment plans, and provide appropriate interventions in a variety of clinical and community settings.
This program is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education.
- College/school:
Watts College of Public Service & Community Solut
- Location: Downtown Phoenix, ASU at Tucson
- STEM-OPT extension eligible: No
39 credit hours including the required capstone course (SWG 621), or
51 credit hours including the required capstone course (SWG 621), or
60 credit hours including the required capstone course (SWG 621), or
60 credit hours including the required capstone course (SWG 621) (MSW/MPA concurrent degree)
Required Core (3 credit hours)
SWG 510 Foundation Practice I (3) or
SWG 514 Bridge Seminar I (3)
Advanced Direct Practice Concentration (12 credit hours)
SWG 606 Assessment of Mental Disorders (3)
SWG 619 Practice-oriented Research (3)
SWG 641 Advanced Practicum: Direct Practice I (3)
SWG 642 Advanced Practicum: Direct Practice II (3)
Specialization (6 credit hours)
Restricted Electives (15-36 credit hours)
Culminating Experience (3 credit hours)
SWG 621 Integrative Seminar (3)
Additional Curriculum Information
Students on the 39 credit hour path already hold an undergraduate Council on Social Work Education-accredited BSW in social work with a GPA of 3.20 in their junior and senior year within the last 6 years.
Students on the 51 credit hour path hold an undergraduate CSWE-accredited BSW degree.
The students on the 60 credit hour path have an undergraduate degree that is not directly in social work or community advocacy. Students in this path may need to take foundation coursework as part of their elective coursework to satisfy CSWE requirements. Students should see the academic advisor when selecting courses.
All credit hour path criteria must be approved by the academic unit prior to selection in the iPOS. The academic unit advises and monitors students to ensure they choose the appropriate coursework. Core course selection depends on the student's background.
Students select from specializations in:
- children, youth and families
- health, behavioral health
- public child welfare
The amount of restricted elective coursework depends on the credit hour path selected based on the student's background. Students should see the academic unit for a complete list of approved specialization and elective coursework.
General university admission requirements:
All students are required to meet general
university admission requirements.
U.S. applicants | International applicants | English proficiency
Applicants must fulfill the requirements of both the Graduate College and the Watts College of Public Service and Community Solutions.
Applicants must have a BSW from a Council on Social Work Education-accredited program with a minimum GPA of 3.20 (scale is 4.00 = "A") in the last two years of work leading to the BSW (junior and senior GPA). Applicants must have received their BSW degree no more than six years prior to the date of admission to the MSW program.
All applicants must submit:
- graduate admission application and application fee
- official transcripts of all undergraduate and graduate work
- three letters of reference
- professional resume that includes volunteer and paid work experience
- statement of educational and career goals
- proof of English proficiency
Additional Application Information
An applicant whose native language is not English must provide proof of English proficiency regardless of their current residency.
A combination of academic and professional references is desirable. References from friends, family members or personal therapists are not accepted. At least one of the three required references must be from the applicant's BSW practicum instructor or, if employed in a social work-related job for two or more years, from the applicant's supervisor.
Guidelines for writing the statement can be found at the program website.
For questions about the application process, students should contact the School of Social Work.
| Session | Modality | Deadline | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Session A/C | In Person | 02/01 | Final |
Program learning outcomes identify what a student will learn or be able to do upon completion of their program. This program has the following program outcomes:
- Apply professional values and ethics during the advanced direct practice internship
- Plan, implement and evaluate evidence-based interventions
- Apply knowledge of human behavior in the social environment when working with individuals, families and groups
Graduates have the preparation they need to work with individuals, families and small groups. They work in areas such as adult and juvenile corrections, behavioral health, homeless services, mental health organizations, schools, nonprofits and government agencies, and gerontology services.
Career examples include:
- counselor
- group therapy clinician
- hospital or school social worker
- individual counselor
- mental health service professional
- outreach coordinator or shelter director
- wellness programmer
ASU programs that may lead to professional licensure or certification are intended to prepare students for potential licensure or certification in Arizona. Completion of an ASU program may not meet educational requirements for licensure or certification in another state. For more information, students should visit the ASU professional licensure webpage.
School of Social Work
|
UCENT 800
mswadvising@asu.edu
602-496-0800
3 year programs
These programs allow students to fast-track their studies after admission and earn a bachelor's degree in three years or fewer while participating in the same high-quality educational experience of a 4-year option. Students should talk to their academic advisor to get started.
Accelerated master's
These programs allow students to accelerate their studies to earn a bachelor's plus a master's degree in as few as five years (for some programs).
Each program has requirements students must meet to be eligible for consideration. Acceptance to the graduate program requires a separate application. Students typically receive approval to pursue the accelerated master’s during the junior year of their bachelor's degree program. Interested students can learn about eligibility requirements and how to apply.
