The University of Cincinnati Master of Social Work (MSW) program prepares you for a career in advanced social work practice. The program is designed to promote the integration of learning in the classroom with learning in a field practicum in an agency setting.

When you graduate with a Master of Social Work from the UC School of Social Work, you can expect to be prepared for advanced social work practice with individuals, families, groups, communities, and organizations and can become a licensed social worker in the state of Ohio after passing your licensing exam. Some students also choose to pursue a PhD at one of many universities across the country.

Flexible Program Options

The Master of Social Work program has four curriculum options:

• accelerated full-time
• accelerated part-time
• full-time
• part-time

Each program incorporates a thoughtful blend of on-campus and online coursework, giving you the best of both words in a hybrid learning environment.

The program has a direct practice concentration and is designed to provide you with the knowledge and skills needed for specialized practice. You may specialize in three areas of study: children & families, health & aging, or mental health. Your curriculum and field placements will be tailored to fit your area of interest and through these specialized areas, you will learn to use evidence-based interventions to assist individuals, families, and groups to make changes, solve problems, and become empowered.

careers 

Social workers practice in many settings, working with people and communities to find solutions to problems. Fields where social workers provide direct service to individuals, families, and groups include:

• Children and family services in child protective services, foster care agencies, adoptions, schools, and counseling agencies.
• Health services in hospitals, clinics, rehabilitation centers, and nursing homes.
• Mental health and substance use services in treatment and case management agencies and private practice.
• Aging service in home care agencies and senior living communities.
• Legal services in correctional facilities, treatment agencies, and mediation services.

Other social workers work with community members to improve conditions in their area. Still others work in leadership roles in social service organizations.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the job outlook for social workers is expected to grow 11% by 2028 (much faster than the national average) and the current median pay is $50,470 per year.

Curriculum

Masters of Social Work - 2 Year Full-Time

Fall Semester Year 1
Course    Title/Desc    Credit
SW7010    Psychosocial Theory for Social Work Practice (C min)    3
SW7030    Social Welfare Policies and Practice (C min)    3
SW7040    Social Work Interviewing (C min)    2
SW7041    Social Work Practice with Individuals and Families (C min)    3
SW7070    MSW Full-Time Field Instruction I (C min)    2
SW7080    MSW Full-Time Field Seminar I (C min)    1

Spring Semester Year 1
Course    Title/Desc    Credit
SW7011    Assessment and Diagnosis (C min)    3
SW7012    Human Diversity for Social Work (C min)    2
SW7043    Social Work Practice with Groups (C min)    2
SW7044    Social Work Practice with Organizations and Communities (C min)    2
SW7071    MSW Full-Time Field Instruction II (C min)    3
SW7081    MSW Full-Time Field Seminar II (C min)    1
SW7020    Social Work Research (C min)    3

Fall Semester Year 2
Course    Title/Desc    Credit
SW8070    MSW Advanced Field Instruction I (C min)    3
SW8080    MSW Advanced Field Seminar I (C min)    2
SW8020    Practice and Program Evaluation for Direct Practice (C min)    3
Direct Practice/Advanced Practice I Course
Students will take one advanced practice I course in this group pertaining to their concentration: Mental Health, Health & Aging, or Children & Families.
Course    Title/Desc    Credit
SW8041    Advanced Practice with Children and Families I (C min)    3
SW8051    Advanced Practice in Health and Aging I (C min)    3
SW8061    Advanced Practice in Mental Health I: Major Mental Illness (C min)    3
Direct Practice/Policy Course
Students will take one course from this group pertaining to their concentration area: Mental Health, Health & Aging, or Children & Families.
Course    Title/Desc    Credit
SW8040    Child and Family Services: Programs and Policies (C min)    2
SW8050    Social Programs and Policies in Health Care and Aging (C min)    2
SW8060    Policy Implications of Mental Health Social Work Practice: Negotiating the System (C min)    2
MSW Elective - 3 credit hours
Students may select any endorsed 3-credit-hour social work graduate credit elective course.
Course    Title/Desc    Credit
SW6XXX+
Social Work graduate elective
(C min)    3

Spring Semester Year 2
Course    Title/Desc    Credit
SW8071    MSW Advanced Field Instruction II (C min)    3
SW8081    MSW Advanced Field Seminar II (C min)    2
SW8025    Supervision and Leadership (C min)    3
MSW Elective - 3 credit hours
Students may select any endorsed 3-credit-hour social work graduate credit elective course.
Course    Title/Desc    Credit
SW6XXX+
Social Work graduate elective 3
 

Admission Requirements

Full-Time and Part-Time Programs

To be admitted to either the full-time (2 years, fall start) or part-time (3 years, fall start) program, applicants must have:

• A bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university
• An overall undergraduate grade point average of 3.0. (This is cumulative, taking into account all institutions attended.) In some cases, provisional admission may be granted for those with a GPA slightly below a 3.0. Please see below for more information on our Pathways Program.
• Three references, preferably one academic and two professional. 
• The following courses should be completed with a passing grade. If any are not completed, you may still apply to our program without penalty, but if you are accepted you will need to fulfill the deficiency(ies) before the end of the first year in the program:
  • One course in Biology (preferred), Physics, Chemistry, Geology, Astronomy, or Earth Science
  • One course in Statistics (the course needs to cover tests of significance, data analysis, and inferential & descriptive statistics), preferably from a social science (Sociology Statistics, for example)
  • One course in Psychology
  • One course in Sociology or Anthropology
  • One course in American History, Economics, or Political Science

As a matter of policy, the MSW Program does not accept life or work experience as a substitute for field placement or any other required social work courses.

Tuition fee-2 years$60,000

Total fee-2 years$92,000