MSW EDP Program Format & Schedule
The part-time MSW Extended Degree Program provides a flexible schedule for working professionals and offers a path to graduation in just 9-11 quarters (~3 years ). The program first introduces students to foundational social work practice with the generalist curriculum. Students then progress into the specialized curriculum to deepen their clinical social work practice.
The generalist curriculum provides the knowledge and skills students need for entry-level social work practice, preparing them to serve in a variety of settings—with individuals, families or groups as well as with organizations, communities, or institutions. The generalist curriculum also acquaints students with the profession’s values, ethics and history.
The specialized curriculum builds advanced knowledge of relevant policies, systems, theories and practice methods across a variety of settings and populations. Students are prepared for specialized professional clinical practice in a way that fosters social work leadership, effective social interventions, a commitment to a just and diverse society, and a commitment to public service.
Schedule
EDP students attend all four quarters per year (Autumn, Winter, Spring, and Summer) and take 9-11 quarters to complete the degree. It is common for EDP students to continue working full-time up until they begin their specialized practicum, where students almost always need to drop down to half-time employment.
Each student’s credit plan and program of study varies, but this outline reflects the most common path our EDP students take:
In the first three quarters, students take 2 classes per quarter. Beginning in the fourth quarter, most students begin their practicum hours and continue taking 1-2 classes each quarter.
Generalist Practicum: begins in the fourth quarter, with 1-2 days per week in field learning.
Specialized Practicum: begins in the eighth quarter, with 2-3 days per week in field learning.
Required classes for EDP Evening typically meet weekly on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday evenings from 6-9pm.
Beginning in the second year, electives are generally offered on Thursday evenings or Saturdays.
Most classes will be in-person, but some may occasionally be offered remotely.*
Evening students may take courses in our full-time program and hybrid program on a space-available basis.
In the first three quarters, students take 2 classes per quarter. Beginning in the fourth quarter, most students begin their practicum hours and continue taking 1-2 classes each quarter.
Generalist Practicum: begins in the fourth quarter, with 1-2 days per week in field learning.
Specialized Practicum: begins in the eighth quarter, with 2-3 days per week in field learning.
Required classes for EDP Hybrid students typically meet weekly on Friday and Saturday afternoons as a mix of both in-person and remote learning. Students can expect to come to campus for in-person learning 4 times each quarter per class. The other weeks will mostly be synchronous online sessions, with the possibility of asynchronous content in some courses.
Beginning in the second year, elective courses are usually offered on Thursday evenings from 6-9pm or Saturdays. Some electives will follow the hybrid format (mix of online and 4 in-person sessions), while others may be entirely on campus (Thursday evenings weekly or 4 Saturday sessions of 6 hour blocks), or entirely online.*
Hybrid students may take courses in our full-time program and evening program on a space-available basis.
The School of Social Work offers more than 600 practicum sites around the state. We place students in a multitude of settings, including behavioral health agencies, hospitals, community nonprofits, child welfare agencies, and substance use treatment centers.
MSW students will generally have two practicum placements: one during their generalist year and one in their specialized year. The generalist placement provides students with a range of learning opportunities across micro, mezzo, and macro practice. The specialized year offers broader responsibilities and more complex skill development in clinical practice.
EDP students typically begin their generalist practicum placement in summer (their fourth quarter of enrollment). The generalist practicum requires completion of 9 credits (360 hours) and students usually take between 3-4 quarters to complete those hours.
EDP students start their specialized practicum placement during their second summer in the program. The specialized practicum requires completion of 17 credits (680 hours) and students usually take between 3-5 quarters to complete those hours.
Students are assigned a Field Faculty advisor who offers guidance, supervision, and support in the practicum process. Although our Field Office offers a wide variety of practicum sites with varying work hours, EDP students should plan to complete practicum hours during weekday, M-F, 8-5pm).
*Disclaimer: The School of Social Work reserves the right to (1) add or delete courses; (2) change instructor, time, day or location of courses; (3) cancel any course for insufficient registration or academic/administrative decision without notice; (4) unregister students from courses for which they have mis-enrolled or have not received permission to enroll; or (5) move students into a different section of a multi-section course. Students will be notified of any changes