Social Work (Master of Social Work)
Offered by: Social WorkSlippery Rock University's Master of Social Work Degree is a 60-credit program, or 45-credits for advanced standing (Advanced standing students are those with a BSW from a CSWE-accredited program). Built on the foundation of SRU's successful Bachelor of Social Work, the program nurtures students’ passion to help others while providing rigorous academic courses that enable them to translate that passion into best practices.
The program is designed in response to the growing need for specialized social workers and has met the requirements of the Council of Social Work Education (CSWE). Full-time students typically complete the MSW program in two years. Advanced standing students with a BSW from a CSWE-accredited program can finish in one calendar year. Individualized paths of study are possible for part-time students who are balancing their employment with their degree. Applicants can apply for a Fall or Summer start.
Why get a master’s degree in social work?
The specialized MSW coursework allows social workers to make a greater difference helping vulnerable people in society. Completing an MSW program allows students to specialize in an area of the broad social work field and can also help those interested in pursuing leadership positions. An advanced degree in social work can also lead to career paths in related fields such as healthcare administration, advocacy work, or policy analysis.
What will you learn?
Students in SRU’s Master of Social Work program learn about social work interventions for helping diverse vulnerable individuals and their communities. SRU offers a clinical concentration in social work that prepares students to properly diagnose and treat mental health problems. Although the program offers clinical practice emphasis to the program, the curriculum addresses the general practice competencies required for all graduate social work programs.
A graduate certificate in cognitive behavioral therapy is embedded in the MSW curriculum and students automatically earn this certificate. There is also an opportunity to earn a certificate in animal-assisted social work.
Field Education
Field education serves as the signature pedagogy of social work education. This opportunity allows MSW students to apply classroom learning to real-life social work practice.
The Social Work Program works with a variety of human service agencies which provide the students with the opportunity to work with different client systems in diverse practice settings. Field education is divided into a generalist experience for 1st year MSW students and a specialized clinical experience for 2nd year and advanced standing students.
For any questions related to Field Education and/or agency partnerships with the MSW program, please contact the Director of Field Education, Dr. Kristie Abbs at kristie.abbs@sru.edu.
Careers in Social Work
An MSW degree prepares students for a variety of roles in the social services field and is the initial step towards becoming a licensed clinical social worker. Specialty areas for social workers with a master’s degree include:
- Medical or Clinical Mental Health
- Substance Abuse
- Child or Geriatric Welfare
- Marriage and Family Therapy
- Community Service Management
The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that the need for substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors will grow by 22% and the need for counselors, social workers, and other community and social service specialists will grow by 12% from 2018-2028. In Pennsylvania, the 2019 annual mean wage for substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors was $47,480.
MSW Program Requirements
To apply for Slippery Rock University Master of Social Work degree, prospective applicants must provide the following materials:
Attention: To apply for admission, please use the following link to apply now.
- $25 Application Fee
- Resume
- Two Electronic Recommendation Forms
- Personal Statement: write an essay 1 1/2 - 2 pages describing yourself and the qualities that will make you an effective social worker; your experiences related to social work; your career goals
- Official Transcripts - Undergraduate/Graduate (official transcripts must be sent by institution via electronic transcript e-share to graduate.admissions@sru.edu or via mail - faxed copies will not be considered official
- SRU current/Alumni/former students click here to order your official SRU final transcript and have it sent to graduate.admissions@sru.edu
*If you are requesting review of your graduate transcripts for transfer of credit, please complete the transfer of credit form and submit to the Office of Graduate Admissions with official graduate transcripts. Please review SRU's transfer of credit policy.
Earn your Master of Social Work degree at SRU!
Slippery Rock’s Master of Social Work program allows students with a BSW degree to take the next step in their career. Learn more about the on-campus/online hybrid format of our MSW program by requesting more information today!