Find Your Purpose in the MSW Program
The social work profession is rapidly evolving, and today’s social workers build careers that span multiple settings, populations and roles. To help students thrive in this dynamic landscape—and stay ready for what’s next—we’ve redesigned our Master of Social Work (MSW) curriculum to deliver a more holistic, flexible and future-focused educational experience.
The MSW curriculum at the Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel School of Applied Social Sciences offers:
- Customizable options: With four academic paths and a variety of elective options, our curriculum mirrors real-world practice and gives you a high degree of choice and autonomy.
- Flexible formats: Whether you're taking classes on campus, online or over the weekend, you can select any specialty, building a strong, integrated foundation while gaining focused experience that can adapt as your professional interests and career path evolves as you grow.
- Comprehensive training: Our 60-credit-hour MSW program, as well as our 39 credit-hour Advanced Standing MSW program are accredited by the Council on Social Work Education and meet the educational requirements for clinical social work licensure in all 50 states.
Choose your Specialty
All courses are taught by our expert faculty and instructors who set the standard for how other schools of social work are measured. You’ll be prepared to be a leader in the field, no matter what path you choose.
Community Practice for Social Change
As a student specializing in community practice and social change, you will develop an understanding of the context of social challenges and difficult human problems while making a visible macro-level impact on people and their communities. You’ll learn to make organizations more effective, foster stronger, more inclusive communities, build coalitions to promote justice and advocate for vulnerable populations, and strategize about policy and systems change.
Discover more about the Community Practice for Social Change path.
Adult Behavioral Health
The Adult Behavioral Health path will prepare you for mental health practice in a variety of professional settings such as hospitals, community agencies, and private practice settings. It is critical for all students pursuing a social work career in adult behavioral health to also have training in substance abuse disorders, so you learn about the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of substance-related and other addictive behaviors.
Discover more about the Adult Behavioral Health path.
Child and Family Practice
This path prepares students to work with families and in child welfare and child and adolescent mental health services. Common themes explored in courses include neurodevelopmental disorders, autism, depression, anxiety, childhood trauma, and school social work.
Find out more about the Child and Family Practice path.
Trauma and Healing
The Trauma and Healing path prepares students to become confident, trauma-informed practitioners. Students learn how to recognize trauma symptoms and disorders, understand their lasting impact on individuals and communities, and apply evidence-based approaches to effective trauma intervention. The path also emphasizes self-awareness and sustainability, helping students navigate the personal, community, organizational and systemic challenges that can arise in trauma-focused work.