All students must meet the Requirements for the Master's Degree
Overview
The Department of Social Work offers a full-time and part-time course of study toward the M.S.W. degree. An Advanced Standing option is also available for eligible students who have completed an undergraduate degree in social work from a bachelor's program accredited by CSWE within 7 years of admission.
To request a program bulletin or additional information, please contact the Department of Social Work at (802) 656-8800, MSWAdmit@uvm.edu, or visit the MSW program website.
Specific Requirements
Minimum Degree Requirements
The Master of Social Work degree requires 60 credits of graduate study, unless students are admitted with Advanced Standing status. Advanced Standing status is granted solely to students who have earned a bachelor’s degree in a program accredited, or acknowledged as being equivalent to a bachelor's in social work, by the Council on Social Work Education, and allows for a shorter course of study at 39 credits. Both regular track and advanced standing students must complete all required and elective/focus credits in social work courses.
The policies and standards for maintaining program accreditation do not permit the granting of academic credit toward graduation for life experience.
Regular Track M.S.W.
| Requirement Description | Credits | |
|---|---|---|
| Foundation Courses | ||
| SWSS 6120 | Social Work Practice I | 3 |
| SWSS 6130 | Social Work Practice II | 3 |
| SWSS 5160 | Theories in Social Work I | 3 |
| SWSS 5170 | Theories in Social Work II | 3 |
| SWSS 5200 | Soc Welfare Pol & Services I | 3 |
| SWSS 5210 | Soc Welfare Pol & Services II | 3 |
| SWSS 5027 | Foundations of SW Research | 3 |
| SWSS 6000 | Foundation Yr Practicum (taken twice credits will double) | 3 |
| An approved elective (Elective and Focus courses require advanced approval of faculty advisor) | 3 | |
| Specialized Practice Courses | ||
| SWSS 6140 | Transformative Social Work I | 3 |
| SWSS 6150 | Transformative Social Work II | 3 |
| SWSS 6160 | Integrative Appr Transform SW | 3 |
| SWSS 6270 | Adv Social Work Research | 3 |
| SWSS 6890 | Spec Practice Yr Practicum | 3 |
| 4 approved focus courses (Elective and Focus courses require advanced approval of faculty advisor) | 12 | |
Advanced Standing M.S.W.
| Requirement Description | Credits | |
|---|---|---|
| Summer Session Courses | ||
| SWSS 6990 | Special Topics (Perspectives in Social Work) | 4 |
| 1-2 approved focus courses (Elective and Focus courses require advanced approval of faculty advisor) | 3-6 | |
| Specialized Practice Courses | ||
| SWSS 6140 | Transformative Social Work I | 3 |
| SWSS 6150 | Transformative Social Work II | 3 |
| SWSS 6270 | Adv Social Work Research | 3 |
| SWSS 6160 | Integrative Appr Transform SW | 3 |
| SWSS 6890 | Spec Practice Yr Practicum (two 4 credit courses - credit will be double) | 4 |
| 3-4 approved focus courses (Elective and Focus courses require advanced approval of faculty advisor) | 9-12 | |
Comprehensive Examination
The Graduate College requirement for a comprehensive exam is met by the Department of Social Work’s Capstone course, SWSS 6160. M.S.W. Candidates complete an integrative capstone paper.
Requirements for Advancement to Candidacy for the Degree of Master of Social Work
To advance to candidacy and be eligible to take SWSS 6160 (the Capstone course), a student must have successfully completed all pre-requisites with minimum GPA of 3.00.