The School of Social Work offers two graduate degrees: A Master of Social Work (M.S.W.) and a Doctor of Philosophy in Social Work (Ph.D.). The education program leading to the M.S.W. degree covers two academic years beyond the bachelor’s degree. A minimum of 60 credits are required for the degree, 42 of which are obtained in classroom courses and 18 of which are in the form of field education. Courses and fieldwork are taken concurrently. The curriculum of the School is formed by an integrated sequence of foundation and advanced content, taken both in the classroom and field education. Upon application to the program, applicants must choose from three concentrations, Community Organizing (CO), Individuals, Groups and Families (IGFP), or Policy Practice (POPR), one of which will be the focus of the advanced content. The goal of the doctoral program in Social Work is to equip future social work leaders with the expert scholarly and research skills needed to provide intellectual leadership and direction to the profession. The program provides a rigorous curriculum designed to prepare social workers for careers as faculty in colleges and universities and as researchers. The curriculum reflects the particular attention given to the unique role of theory and research in the traditions of professional social work in relation to applied practice and to knowledge building.
Master of Social Work Degree Requirements
Foundation courses required of all students: BASC 5300, 5333, 5350, 5362, 5390, 5391; FED 5301, 5302, 5351, 5352. Below are the advanced content by concentration requirements.
Community Organizing Concentration Requirements: CORG 5300, 5301, 5353, 5354, 5370; FED 5310, 5311; POPR 5310, 5312; RSCH 5341 or 5342; six credits of electives.
Individuals, Groups and Families Concentration Requirements: FED 5310, 5311; IGFP 5301, 5302, 5303; IGFP 5345, or 5346, or 5342 or SPTP 5318; IGFP 5353, 5354; RSCH 5341 or 5342; nine credits of elective courses.
Policy Practice Concentration Requirements: FED 5310, 5311; POPR 5300, 5301, 5302, 5310, 5311, 5312; RSCH 5341 or 5342; six credits of electives.
Advanced Standing. Candidates accepted as Advanced Standing students will have to complete 35 credits as a full-time matriculated student. Course requirements are listed below. This program begins in mid-July where a total of five credits are completed. After completion of the summer courses students will complete an internship and field seminar (560 hours, nine credits) as part of the advanced year, along with required courses and electives.
Advanced Standing Summer Session Requirements: Three credit Advanced Concentration course; one credit Skills Laboratory; one credit Special Populations course.
Advanced Standing Fall and Spring Semester Requirements: Nine credits IGFP; nine credits CORG and POPR; three credit Additional Research course; eight credits Advanced Field Education; one credit Advanced Field Advising Seminar; nine credits IGRP electives; six credits CORG and POPR electives, totaling 35 credits.
Community Organizing Concentration Advanced Standing Requirements. Summer Session: BASC 5301; CORG 5300, 5340. Fall and Spring: CORG 5301, 5353, 5354, 5370; FED 5310, 5311; POPR 5310, 5312; RSCH 5341 or 5342; six credits of electives.
Individuals, Groups, and Families Concentration Advanced Standing Requirements. Summer Session: BASC 5301; IGFP 5301, 5340. Fall and Spring: FED 5310, 5311; IGFP 5302, 5303, 5353, 5354; one of IGFP 5342, 5345, 5346, or 5365; RSCH 5341 or 5342; six credits of electives.
Policy Practice Concentration Advanced Standing Requirements. Summer Session: BASC 5301; POPR 5300, 5340. Fall and Spring: FED 5310, 5311; POPR 5301, 5302, 5310, 5312, 5353, 5354; RSCH 5341 or 5342; six credits of electives.
Advanced Standing Courses Waived: BASC 5333, 5350, 5362, 5390, 5391; FED 5301, 5302, 5351, 5352.
Bachelor of Social Work Exemption. Students who received a Bachelor of Social Work (B.S.W.) within six years from an undergraduate school accredited by the Council on Social Work Education will be automatically exempt from up to six courses if a grade of “B” or better was earned and course content is equivalent.
Joint Program with Yale Divinity School
In conjunction with the Yale University Divinity School in New Haven, Connecticut, the School of Social Work offers a program in which students may earn the MSW degree from UConn and the M.Div. degree from Yale in four years instead of the five years required when these programs are taken separately. Yale University will accept up to nine elective credits earned in UConn’s MSW program. Students in the joint program will have their MSW elective credits waived (six credits for CO and POPR students and nine credits for IGFP students), thereby reducing the required MSW credits from 60 to 54 for CORG and POPR students and from 60 to 51 for IGFP students. Students should consult with the School of Social Work Joint Degree liaison to discuss the approval of their Yale elective coursework. Students must be enrolled concurrently in both schools and earn both degrees simultaneously to benefit from this arrangement.
Doctor of Philosophy Requirements
The course of study for the Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Social Work consists of 56 graduate credits. Eleven required courses totaling 35 credits provide the students with competency in advanced research methods and statistics, and social science theories. The remaining courses include two elective courses totaling six credits in related disciplines and 15 credits of dissertation research.
Doctor of Philosophy Required Courses: SSW 6410, 6411, 6412, 6413, 6414, 6415, 6420, 6425, 6435, 6445, 6460.
The programs are offered by the School of Social Work.