Master of Social Work Program

MSU Denver’s Master of Social Work (MSW) Program educates social workers to serve the needs of individuals, families, groups, communities and organizations in a multicultural and global society.  MSU Denver’s MSW Program is fully accredited by the Council on Social Work Education, the sole accrediting body for social work programs in the United States.

Our program combines academic, research and field experience into a rigorous curriculum that teaches ethical decision making, scientific inquiry, cultural sensitivity, and global awareness as well as clinical assessment and intervention skills, leadership and management skills, and community organizing.

Program Mission

The mission of the MSW program is to educate social work leaders committed to enhancing individual and community well-being and advancing social justice.  The program promotes the values and work of the profession, through teaching, service, research and collaboration.

Goals

• Prepare students to uphold social work core values.
• Prepare students to be ethical and competent practitioners.
• Prepare students to be scientifically-informed and ethical leaders in clinical and community practice.
• Prepare students for evidence-based, systems-oriented, culturally-responsive, social justice-oriented practice.

The MSW Program is rooted in the ideas of Integrative Practice:

The strength of social work is in its versatility and roots in social justice. This program will equip students to fulfill a variety of professional roles such as clinician, therapist, leader, organizer, and activist. This Integrative Practice approach to our advanced curriculum prepares students to be leaders that understand how to work effectively across multiple systems. Social workers need a holistic approach and intersectional perspective in working with client and client systems; and understand the reciprocal connections among individuals, the social environment, and policies. Social workers as leaders is a fundamental concept that requires students to engage as agents of change and develop a clinical lens that applies to all levels of practice. Students must be skilled in their use of multi-dimensional assessments and interventions in work with individuals and at the organizational and community level. In Integrative Practice, students may select to further focus their practice in one of the many pathways offered in the program.

At MSU Denver, students get a high level of instruction at an affordable price. Our MSW Program offers:

• Multiple course delivery and enrollment options that provide flexibility for our students and increase accessibility no matter their life circumstances.
• Small class sizes, which means you get more direct contact with your faculty and advisors.
• Classroom and field experiences that prepare you for an intense professional environment
• Diverse and experienced professors who are dedicated to helping students learn and succeed.
• Hands-on advising focused on helping you reach your educational and professional goals.
• A diverse student body comprised of over 30% students of color and over 45% students over the age of 30.
• Scholarship and workforce development stipend programs to help students reach their goals.
• A unique Office of Social Work Student Services, providing dedicated student support from admission through graduation and beyond.
• A dedicated Office of Field Education, working one-on-one with students to secure field placements while maintaining relationships with over 700 agencies throughout the state.

With salaries ranging from $36,600 to $87,300 and a median pay of $55,350, it’s a good time to go into social work.  Not only is social work one of the most personally fulfilling professions, it’s also a career field primed for growth.  The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics notes that employment of social workers is expected to grow by 7% from 2022-2032 (faster than the average U.S. employment growth!).

• 69% of our graduates found a job within two months of graduation and 87% found a job in less than six months.
• 98% of graduates felt well-prepared by the program to practice social work.
• Our graduates are working in mental health or community mental health, health care, child welfare, school social work, substance abuse, family services, aging, domestic violence or crisis intervention, and corrections/criminal justice.
• Our graduates are working as program directors, medical social workers, therapists, school social workers, birth mother case workers, internal medicine social workers, therapeutic additions case workers, forensic social workers and more!

Our MSW Program is fully accredited by the Council on Social Work Education – the sole accrediting body for social work education in the United States. Accreditation assures that professional standards are met in curriculum content and delivery. Accredited programs periodically undergo rigorous review by CSWE in order to ensure compliance with educational standards.

The Department of Social Work at MSU Denver values the assessment process as it leads to instrumental data that informs program improvement on multiple levels. Our assessment methods have improved over the years, and our most recent improvement involves the sharing of assessment data with our stakeholders (students, field instructors, and other community partners). We invite you to view our recent assessment findings.