Live your passion
for social change
Our MSW program prepares graduates for leadership and direct-practice positions in a host of professional settings, ranging from health, aging and mental health to public education, multicultural communities and nonprofit or government agencies.
The MSW program is fully accredited by the Council on Social Work Education and designed to prepare students seeking to innovate, lead and practice in a multicultural world facing complex social challenges.
Our Part-Time Program (formerly known as the Extended Degree Program) offers students a more flexible path towards earning a master’s degree in social work.
Our Full-Time Two-Year Program (formerly known as the Day Program) is completed over a two-year period, combining classroom learning with hands-on fieldwork.
Our Advanced Standing Program is a full-time, primarily in-person, on-campus program designed for applicants who have already completed an undergraduate degree in social work.
$56.8
million
in funding for research & training
$5.8
million
in student support awarded annually
600+
field sites
for off-campus experiential student learning
14
fellows
american academy of social work & social welfare
Three Specialization Options
MSW students choose one of three specializations for their second year: Administration and Policy Practice, Community-Centered Integrative Practice, or Clinical Social Work. Specializations, course sequencing and schedule options vary by program.
Traineeships & Partnerships
Our training programs and partnerships provide the opportunity to explore various fields of social work, such as behavioral health, international social work, and medical social work. These programs offer on-site training to help students build real-world experience.
Concurrent Degree Programs
The University of Washington makes it possible to build the kind of concurrent degree program that fits your professional career goals. The most common concurrent degrees that align with social work are in public health or public policy.
Connect with an Advisor
MSW Advising with the Student Services Office
We offer remote advising sessions throughout the week on Zoom. Students can also drop in to connect with the Student Services staff in-person in room 023 on the ground floor of the SSW building.
Prospective Students
Those who are interested in pursuing a graduate degree but have not yet been enrolled should consult our admissions specialists for guidance.
Compare our MSW Program Options
ADVANCED STANDING PROGRAM |
FULL-TIME PROGRAM |
PART-TIME PROGRAM |
|
|---|---|---|---|
DESCRIPTION |
An on-campus, full-time, one year MSW program for those who already have their bachelor’s degree in social work. |
An on-campus, full-time, two year MSW program for those who don’t already have their bachelor’s degree in social work. |
A part-time MSW program for those who don’t already have their bachelor’s degree in social work. |
DURATION |
11 months | 3 quarters + Summer Bridge | Full-time |
2 years | 6 quarters | Full-time |
2-3 years | 11 quarters (3 years, including Summers) | Part-time |
CLASS SCHEDULE |
Daytime | Monday - Friday | July - June (includes Summer Bridge) | At practicum site 3 days per week |More info here
|
Daytime | Monday-Friday | September-June (does not include summer quarter) | At practicum site 2 days/week for the first year, 3 days/week for the second year | More info here
|
Evenings or Online | September-August (includes summer quarter) | At practicum site 1-2 days/week for fourth-seventh quarter; 2-3 days/week for eighth quarter+ | More info here
|
SPECIALIZATION OPTIONS |
Clinical Social Work | Administration & Policy Practice | Community Centered Integrative Practice |
Clinical Social Work | Administration & Policy Practice | Community Centered Integrative Practice |
Clinical Social Work |
ELIGIBILITY |
Bachelor’s degree in social work or social welfare from a CSWE-accredited program | 3.0 GPA | English proficiency | Recommended 2,000 hours of social service experience | See full list of the Graduate School minimum requirements here
|
Bachelor’s degree | 3.0 GPA | English proficiency | Recommended 2,000 hours of social service experience | See full list of the Graduate School minimum requirements here
|
Bachelor’s degree | 3.0 GPA | English proficiency | Recommended 2,000 hours of social service experience | See full list of the Graduate School minimum requirements here
|
TUITION & FINANCIAL AID |
Quarterly resident/non-resident tuition | Eligible for federal financial aid, fellowships, scholarships, assistantships, and tuition exemption programs | WA residents are eligible for state financial aid grants
|
Quarterly resident/non-resident tuition | Eligible for federal financial aid, fellowships, scholarships, assistantships, and tuition exemption programs | WA residents are eligible for state financial aid grants
|
Fee-per-credit-based program | Eligible for federal financial aid loans, fellowships, scholarships, and assistantships | Not eligible for tuition exemption programs or state financial aid grants
|
CAN I WORK? |
While it is possible to work part time, most students tend not to due to its rigorous schedule. |
Many of our students work part-time during the first year. However, most students tend not to work during the second year due to its rigorous schedule. |
This program allows for more flexibility for students to work. However, during the second and third years, it is challenging to balance traditional work schedules with the practicum requirements of the program. |
Discover More - Upcoming Admissions Events
We’re always adding new events! Visit our Admissions Calendar regularly, or sign up for email updates so you don’t miss anything.
CSWE Program Evaluations
Fully Accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE)
All Council on Social Work Education programs measure and report student learning outcomes. Students are assessed on their mastery of the competencies which comprise the accreditation standards of the Council on Social Work Education.
These competencies are dimensions of social work practice which all social workers are expected to master during their professional training. A measurement benchmark is set by the social work programs for each competency. An assessment score at or above that benchmark is considered by the program to represent mastery of that particular competency.
The form below is used to assist the COA in the evaluation of the program’s compliance with Accreditation Standards stated below.
- 4.0.2 The program provides evidence of ongoing data collection and analysis and discusses how it uses assessment data to affirm and /or make changes in the explicit and implicit curriculum to enhance student performance.
- 4.0.5 The program appends the summary data for each measure used to assess the attainment of each competency for at least one academic year prior to the submission of the self-study.
CSWE Program Evaluation Competency
