MSW Program Description
The program leading to a masters degree in social work (MSW) builds on a liberal arts foundation and is designed to prepare social workers for leadership roles in developing and providing services to individuals, families, groups, communities and organizations. The MSW Program is fully accredited by the Council on Social Work Education.
Programs
Advanced Standing Program - Full-time
This program is designed for exceptional BSW students who have graduated from a CSWE-accredited BSW program within the past five years. A limited number of students are accepted into this program. Students in Advanced Standing begin graduate studies in the summer, followed by two semesters of full-time study in the academic year. In order to enroll in the fall, students must satisfactorily complete the two (2) required summer courses and achieve satisfactory performance in the no-cost Integrative Practice Seminar and field placement.
Advanced Standing Admissions Requirements:
Applicants for admission to the Advanced Standing program must have:
- a bachelors degree in social work from a CSWE accredited social work program. Completion of the undergraduate degree must be within the past five years;
- high academic achievement; and
- three letters of recommendation: two (2) work and one (1) academic reference. One reference letter must be from a MSW who can evaluate the applicant's performance in field placement, e.g., current or most recent practice professor or field supervisor.
Applicants must meet all other admission requirements for the MSW program.
Reference
In addition to the information requested on the MSW Recommendation Form, one of the three required references must be written by a MSW who can discuss in detail the applicant's senior field experience: e.g. required tasks; interviewing skill level; ability to complete process recordings; readiness for advanced practice.
The application deadline is March 1st.
One-Year Residency Program
program webpageThis three-year program is designed for experienced working professionals who have been employed in an approved social service agency, under the supervision of an MSW, for two years and want to pursue a master of social work degree on a part-time basis.
Students accepted into this program take two courses per semester (including summers). In the second year of study (Pre-Residency Year), students must complete a Field Lab during the fall and spring semester. In the third year of study (Residency Year), students must fulfill 900 hours of supervised field placement at their place of employment from September to May.
One-Year Residency Program Admissions Requirements:
Applicants for admission to the One-Year Residency Program must have:
- A bachelors degree in liberal arts or social work from an accredited college or university.
- Two years social work experience (at the time of application) at an approved social service agency.
- Submission of a contract among School, employing agency and applicant confirming approval of the applicant's One-Year Residency Program plan.
Applicants must meet all other admission requirements for the MSW program.
The application deadline for the One-Year Residency Program is March 31. Review of financial aid applications begins on March 1.
Three-Year MSW Program
The three-year MSW program is designed for students who have chosen the profession but are not prepared to matriculate on a two-year basis. Participants in the three-year program must meet the same admission requirements as those for full-time students. Students admitted to this program are assisted by educational advisors who help them develop individualized plans of study.
The standard three-year MSW program includes six semesters and two summers for courses. The School does not guarantee that current employment can be used as a field placement, but it is available in some cases (see also One-Year Residency Program).
Those already employed full time in a social work agency may be able to work toward an MSW without leaving their jobs, providing that:
- they have been employed by the agency for at least six months prior to beginning field placement and have passed the probationary period to be considered a permanent employee;
- the agency will provide opportunities for learning that meet the requirements of a field practicum in professional education; and
- the agency will provide a staff person with an MSW and at least two years of post-masters experience to serve as a field instructor.
Students in the three-year MSW program should meet with the Director of Field Placement early in their first year of study to discuss field placement arrangements. Students should not make their own field placement arrangements.
MSW Program Admission Requirements
Applicants for admission to the MSW program must hold:
- a bachelors degree in liberal arts from an accredited college or university plus paid or voluntary experience in the field; or
- a bachelors degree in social work from an accredited undergraduate social work program; and
- an undergraduate record demonstrating academic achievement.
It is expected that a liberal arts degree will include courses that reflect that applicants have backgrounds in several of the following areas: society, history and tradition, arts and letters, formal reasoning and analysis, the living world, the physical world, social studies.
It is expected when applicants have a broad knowledge of behavioral and social sciences, humanities and biological sciences they will enter the program with a sufficient understanding of society, social problems, and human behavior to make use of the foundation portion of this program. The School does not give credit for life experience. Students who do not have a bachelors degree in liberal arts or social work may have to take liberal arts courses prior to matriculation. GRE scores are not required for the MSW program.
The application deadline for the Three-Year MSW Program is March 31. Review of financial aid applications begins on March 1.
Two-Year MSW Program
The two-year MSW program is designed for students who have chosen to pursue a graduate social work degree and are prepared to matriculate on a full-time basis. Participants in the Two-Year Program are in classes two days a week (enrolled in four classes per semester) and in field placement three days a week.
During the first year of study in the Two-Year Program, students are required to take eight foundation courses (SW 601, 602, 603, 604, 611, 612, 613, and 614).
In the second year of study, students select a method of concentration (clinical or macro practice). Students are required to take: a research course each semester (SW 715 and a research option); two required advanced practice courses and field placement (Clinical: SW 704 & SW 714 or Macro: SW 708 & SW 718) and four elective couses (two) each semester. Students must take (one) practice elective in the selected area of concentration and (one) free elective. Educational advisors help students develop individualized plans of study and advise on elective courses both within the School and the Unviersity (students may take up to two elective courses within Penn's professional and graudate schools with approval from their educational advisor).
MSW Program Admission Requirements
Applicants for admission to the MSW program must hold:
- a bachelors degree in liberal arts from an accredited college or university plus paid or voluntary experience in the field; or
- a bachelors degree in social work from an accredited undergraduate social work program; and
- an undergraduate record demonstrating academic achievement.
It is expected that a liberal arts degree will include courses that reflect that applicants have backgrounds in several of the following areas: society, history and tradition, arts and letters, formal reasoning and analysis, the living world, the physical world, social studies.
It is expected when applicants have a broad knowledge of behavioral and social sciences, humanities and biological sciences they will enter the program with a sufficient understanding of society, social problems, and human behavior to make use of the foundation portion of this program. The School does not give credit for life experience. Students who do not have a bachelors degree in liberal arts or social work may have to take liberal arts courses prior to matriculation. GRE scores are not required for the MSW program.
The application deadline for the Two-Year MSW Program is March 31. Review of financial aid applications begins on March 1.
Course Requirements for the MSW Degree
All courses in the MSW program are grouped according to five content areas, or sequences. These are American Racism, Social Change, Human Behavior in the Social Environment (HBSE), Research, Social Policy, and Social Work Practice.
Field Placement
The School's emphasis on education-for-use receives practical expression in the field practice component of the curriculum. Learning by doing, in conjunction with theoretical learning and supervision by a qualified field instructor, has long been recognized as the most effective way to acquire competence and skills in social work practice.
Field placement assignments are determined by the student's educational needs and objectives. Field practice provides students with: (1) learning experiences directly related to the classroom curriculum; (2) opportunities to test what they have learned; and (3) means of evaluating their own social work practice. Student experiences in field practice are integrated into classroom work.
MSW students spend three full days per week in an approved agency. Students in the dual degree or joint programs must also complete the field placement requirement. All field placements and arrangements are made by the School. Students are neither required nor encouraged to arrange their own field placements.
Those already employed full-time in a social work agency may be able to work toward an MSW without leaving their jobs, providing that:
- The student must be functioning as a social worker in a social agency.
- The student must be employed at the agency for at least 6 months prior to the beginning of the field placement or have passed the probationary period and be considered a permanent employee.
- The employer, with full knowledge of the school requirements of the student, must indicate a willingness to provide the student with this opportunity.
- The student may request to do one or two years of placement at the agency as long as she/he has a different field placement assignment each year.
- The agency must be willing to reassign the student to different activities for the portion of the work week that will be considered field placement time. Whenever possible it is best to reassign the student to a different section or unit within the agency. The field assignment needs to challenge the student to develop new skills.
Students in the three-year MSW program should meet with the Director of Field Placement early in their first year of study to discuss field placement arrangements.
In compliance with the University's broader affirmative action commitment, agencies used for field practice must have an affirmative action program and racial and sexual harassment policies.
State law and/or particular field placement sites may require a criminal background check before a student will be permitted to do fieldwork in a number of contexts. Certain kinds of criminal convictions may affect a student's ability to obtain a field placement, which, in turn, could affect the student's ability to complete degree requirements.
The Field Placement Manual is available for download in Adobe Acrobat (pdf) format.
The Field Evaluation Forms are available for Field Instructors at www.sp2.upenn.edu/resources/field/fieldeval.html.