OpenSP2 provides professional and continuing education opportunities from Penn’s School of Social Policy & Practice. We welcome individuals and organizations to learn with SP2 either on-campus at Penn or wherever they are in the world. We offer programming with a focus on accessing SP2 faculty and research centers for immediate application and professional growth.

Programs are offered in a number of formats, in areas designed to allow individuals to advance their career and connect to new knowledge. New programs are added throughout the year and most allow for immediate enrollment.

OpenSP2 learners come from all walks of life. Many are professionals who are eager to gain new knowledge, but an equal number are curious individuals who are interested in engaging with SP2 thought leaders for application in their lives. Learners are encouraged to engage with SP2 whether for the first time or as program alums; OpenSP2 is designed to be always welcoming and available for re-engagement.

OpenSP2 programming is designed to provide courses, educational materials, and learning opportunities to the broadest possible audience. Most programming is open enrollment, but some specialized programs do require an application process. The application process has been put in place by program leadership to support the goals of the program.

Social Work Continuing Education Credit Programs

OpenSP2 is pleased to offer continuing education credit hours for licensed social workers for our online and face-to-face training programs. Participants who complete courses and programs will receive a certificate noting the total continuing education credit hours earned, the delivery mode of the program, and any other accreditation approved documentation. Participants will be required to submit these along with other documentation required by their state licensure board to receive credit for work completed.

Accreditation

CSWE

OpenSP2 is a program of Penn’s School of Social Policy & Practice an accredited Council on Social Work Education school. The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and many other states will accept continuing education credits earned from programs offered by CSWE accredited institutions. All programs offered through OpenSP2 will include a notation on final certificates of completion that they are from a CSWE accredited institution. It is essential that learners check with their states of licensure to ensure compliance.

NASW

The National Association of Social Workers reviews and approves select programs for its national continuing education program. Courses which are approved by NASW match the association’s Standards for Continuing Professional Education. OpenSP2 is pleased to offer NASW approved courses to licensed social workers. Courses which have been NASW approved are noted in our online course catalog. The NASW website includes information about which states have approved the use of NASW continued education credits and also a Frequently Asked Questions page for more details on the program.

Pennsylvania

As a CSWE accredited graduate program in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the University of Pennsylvania School of Social Policy & Practice and its OpenSP2 courses are accepted for Pennsylvania social work continuing education clock hours toward the biennial renewal of a social worker’s license as defined by the Pennsylvania Code sections 47.31-36.

New York

The University of Pennsylvania School of Social Policy & Practice is recognized by the New York State Education Department’s State Board for Social Work as an approved provider of continuing education for  licensed social workers # SW-0552.

Program Costs

Each OpenSP2 program is uniquely priced; programs are not offered for academic credit so will not follow the tuition guidelines established for credit-bearing graduate courses. Please check each course to identify course fees. Current SP2 students are eligible for discounts on most courses. Current students should contact their program director and alumni should email SP2 alumni relations for more information.

Concerns

OpenSP2 and the School of Social Policy & Practice support student learners and seek to create an educational environment that supports all types of learners. Learners who have a concern connected to a CE based course should email opensp2@sp2.upenn.edu. All emails are confidential and will be reviewed by the Online Learning Coordinator in consultation with the consulting social worker. The Online Learning Coordinator will email a reply to the learner within 24 hours to solicit additional information and make sure all concerns are documented. A complete review of concerns will be examined, and a resolution will be proposed by the Online Learning Coordinator, who will have the final decision.

Cancellations and Refunds

OpenSP2 supports requests for refunds to non-credit programs in writing only to the appropriate program leadership; please see the specific program page for contact information. On-demand programs require that refund requests occur within 14 days of the start of the program, and only if less than 25% of course materials have been engaged with (based on course data analytics). Programs which run on a calendar basis with live class sessions require cancellation and refund requests to be made at least 14 days in advance of the course start date. OpenSP2 may provide a transfer option to individuals who cancel beyond the limits of this policy; that decision is at the discretion of the program leader. Individual programs and programs from affiliated PennSP2 centers each set final program cancellation and refund policies; participants should check program policies before registration and payment. OpenSP2 is a division of the University of Pennsylvania’s School of Social Policy & Practice which reserves the right to change, alter, and adjust this policy.

OpenSP2 reserves the right to cancel any program for low enrollment or other extenuating circumstances at any time, before the start of the program. If SP2 cancels a program, all participants will receive a full refund.

Please also note programs offered on 3rd party platforms (edX or Coursera) are subject to the policies of that platform.

The OpenSP2 team is standing by and ready to answer your questions about our current and future program offerings. If you have any problems or require assistance with our programming, please do not hesitate to email OpenSP2@upenn.edu.