Social workers promote the personal and social development of people in their communities.
The MSW program in Community Practice: Community Organization, Policy, and Leadership will prepare you to promote the personal and social development of people in their communities based on the values of social justice, human rights, and full access to social participation. Complete the 60-credit program in two or three years of full-time study. Employed students are encouraged to choose the three-year plan.
Your MSW program will include specialized courses in community organizing, policy practice, and leadership development; experience in community-based participatory research; and 1,100 hours of supervised field practice in two different internships over two years. With field settings throughout Connecticut, the MSW program will arrange your internships according to your professional interests and goals.
MSW graduates are qualified for professional social work positions in public and private agencies at the local, state, and national levels and for applying for the State of Connecticut LMSW Licensure Examination shortly after graduation.
The MSW Program is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE).
Applications
Applications are accepted from September 1 through December 31 for admission in the fall semester of the following year.
Program Highlights
- 60-credit program
- Two-year and three-year program plans
- Small classes with flexible scheduling
- Highly regarded faculty who are experts in their fields
- Field settings throughout Connecticut
- Advanced Standing available
Program Plans
The 60-credit MSW in Community Practice: Community Organization, Policy, and Leadership may be completed in two or three years of full-time study, including 1,100 hours of field practice. Employed students are encouraged to choose the three-year program plan.
During the first part of the program, students develop generalist knowledge and skills, and they complete 500 hours of field practice (about 20 hours per week) in the fall and spring semesters of an academic year (three-year students begin field practice in their second year). During the second part of the program, students take specialized courses in community organization, policy practice, and leadership development; and they integrate community-based participatory research with 600 hours of specialized field practice (about 22 hours per week). Field placements are arranged to meet students’ professional interests and goals.
Qualified BSW graduates may apply for admission with Advanced Standing to the MSW Program. Students who are admitted with Advanced Standing have demonstrated competencies in generalist social work (equivalent to 21 credits) through exemplary performance in their BSW program.
Advanced Standing students complete 39 credits, including a field placement of 700 hours (about 24 hours per week). The Advanced Standing program may be completed in one calendar year of full-time study (summer, fall, and spring semesters) or in two academic years of full-time study (two fall semesters and two spring semesters). Employed students are encouraged to select the two-year plan.
Applicants to the Advanced Standing Program complete the regular MSW application process, and in addition, they submit a third educational or professional reference letter and their final field evaluation (for BSW graduates) or first-semester field evaluation (for current BSW students). Applications are accepted from September 1 to December 15 for admission in the summer or fall semester of following year.
Program Requirements
Visit the graduate catalog for application and program requirements.
For further information: SocialWork@southernct.edu