MSU Denver Child Welfare Scholars Program, Eligibility & Requirements

Scholarships are available to students in both the full time and part time BSSW and MSW programs, including those completing their degrees online and MSW Advanced Standing students.

Part time BSSW and MSW students, download the CCWSC Eligibility – MSU Denver Part-Time Programs document for more information.

Note:Part-time students are eligible for a scholarship during their internship year(s) in the program, typically years 2 and 4. Students who are already Colorado-based child welfare professionals working for county departments of social/human services are eligible every year.

All Child Welfare Scholars must:

• complete their internship in a county department of human services in a child welfare capacity serving Title IV-E eligible children and families.
• complete one year (12 months) of work in a Colorado county department human services or Colorado Tribal child welfare agency for each year a scholarship is received.

Learn more about the CCWSC work requirement and post-graduation opportunities. 

BSSW students apply to the Child Welfare Scholars Program during Spring semester of their junior year to receive a scholarship for their senior year in the program when they are in their internship.

It is highly recommended that BSSW students interested in a child welfare scholarship complete the following electives BEFORE entering their senior year. All child welfare scholars must complete these electives before graduating from the BSSW program.

• SWK 3150: Social Work and Child Maltreatment (offered each Fall semester)
• SWK 3100: Child welfare and the Law (offered each Spring semester)
• Note: Both courses are offered over the summer.

Professional Internship Experience: In order to integrate classroom knowledge with practice and to experience the roles and requirements of a professional social worker, students complete a two-semester internship during their senior year in the program. Child Welfare Scholars are required to complete their internship in a Colorado county department of human services or Colorado Tribal child welfare agency in accordance with the existing internship policies.

Learn more about the internship process.

Child Welfare Scholars must complete the same social work and non-social work pre-requisites and requirements as all other social work majors.

Junior Level Internship (JLI): In an effort to introduce students to child welfare practice earlier in their social work education, several counties now offer a “junior level internship” as part of the SWK3350: Social Work Experience class. These structured learning opportunities allow students to get a deeper understanding of the complex world of child welfare while meeting course requirements. Interested students should work with their course instructor as soon as possible to connect with the coordinator(s) at Denver or Jefferson County Department of Human Services to learn more. You can also contact: [email protected] for more information. 

MSW students can apply to the Child Welfare Scholars Program prior to their acceptance into the MSW program but will need to be accepted into the program accept the scholarship for their foundation year (Regular Program) or concentration year (Advanced Standing Program).

Foundation year students can apply to receive a scholarship for their concentration year as a new or returning child welfare scholar.

Professional Internship Experience: In order to integrate classroom knowledge with practice and to experience the roles and requirements of a professional social worker, students complete a two-semester internship during both their foundation and concentration/advanced standing year(s). Child welfare scholars are required to complete their internship in a Colorado county department of human services. Concentration year scholars will complete their internship in a county department of human services.

Learn more about the internship process.

MSW Scholars have the opportunity to complete their Capstone course under the guidance of instructors who are knowledgeable and can support child welfare related projects.

In addition, Concentration year MSW students (scholars and non-scholars) who are already working in county-based child welfare in Colorado can complete their internship seminar course in a specialized cohort facilitated by an instructor who is deeply rooted in Colorado’s child welfare system. Contact: [email protected] to learn more!

Child welfare scholarships must be used to support the Scholar’s educational expenses. Therefore, the financial scholarship will be applied directly to the Scholar’s student account at the beginning of each semester (Fall and Spring semesters only).

Due to the need for qualified social workers in child welfare in rural communities in Colorado, the Child Welfare Scholars Program provides an increased scholarship amount to those students interested in completing their internship and work requirement in a rural county in our state. “Rural” counties are defined by the Colorado Department of Human Services (CDHS). A map of rural vs. urban Colorado counties can be found here: Rural and Urban Colorado Counties CCWSC.

Scholars who receive an “urban” scholarship may complete their work payback in either an “urban” or “rural” county agency.

Child welfare scholarships for the next academic year are in the following amounts: