The Master of Social Work (MSW) degree is a nationally recognized Advanced Generalist program accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE). The MSW Program prepares graduates for theoretically grounded advanced generalist social work practice, advocacy, research, and leadership. The MSW program strives to center anti-oppressive and collaborative practice. Our program equips students for versatile career paths such as clinical practice with individuals, partners, families, and/or groups; school-based work; leadership; and policy advocacy.
Learning Objectives
Through experiential learning, in the pursuit of social, racial, economic, and environmental justice, the goals of the Advanced Generalist MSW program are to prepare graduates who:
- Are equipped for generalist and advanced generalist practice with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities.
- Serve as skilled practitioners who engage in ethical, autonomous, and multi-disciplinary practice across system levels utilizing a Person-in-Environment perspective.
- Serve as leaders who advance social, racial, economic, and environmental justice, promote human rights, and engage in social action and policy change to eliminate oppressive conditions for all people.
- Advance social work values and ethics through practice in organizational and community settings.
- Value and appreciate human relationships and diversity in multiple forms; and model and advocate for equitable and inclusive practices and cultural humility.
- Practice life-long learning, engage in scientific inquiry, and utilize critical thinking to inform practice at all system levels, as well as using practice to inform research.
- Critically apply relevant theories and social work values to engage, assess, intervene and evaluate practice within changing contexts at all systems levels.
- Demonstrate advanced generalist skills through competency in practice-based learning settings.
Program Options
The School of Social Work offers different program options for completing the MSW degree:
- Full Program – For students who have an undergraduate degree in a different discipline, our two-year full-time program starts every fall and is offered in person. Students in this program complete nine elective credits (three elective courses), enabling them to complete one of five graduate certificate programs offered by the School of Social Work or to engage in interdisciplinary coursework. Refer to the full MSW program schedule.
- Advanced Standing – For students who have earned a BSW from an accredited program within the past seven years, this accelerated path starts every summer and is offered in person. Students complete this program over three semesters for a total of 39 credits, which includes three elective credits (one course). Refer to the Advanced Standing program schedule.
- Part-time Online/Hybrid Learning Options – The School of Social Work also offers a part-time online program that is completed in three years for the full program or in two years for students with Advanced Standing. Hybrid programs meet for one in-person learning weekend per semester at the cohort location. Current cohorts include Fort Collins (off-campus), Boulder, and Denver. Refer to the Hybrid MSW Program website for more information.
- MSW/MPH Dual Degree – In partnership with the Colorado School of Public Health, the School of Social Work offers a dual degree Master of Social Work/Master of Public Health program. Refer to the MSW/MPH website for more information.
- MACP/MSW Joint Degree – In partnership with CSU's Department of Psychology, the School of Social Work offers a joint degree Master's in Addiction Counseling in Psychology and Social Work. Refer to the MACP/MSW website for more information.
Students who successfully complete the MSW program are prepared to pursue licensure in accordance with the Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA) in Colorado and the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB). Licensure requirements may vary in different states and US territories.
Learn more about the Master of Social Work on the School of Social Work website.
Students interested in graduate work should refer to the Graduate and Professional Bulletin.
Effective Fall 2025
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | |
| SOWK 500 | Foundations in Social Work | 3 |
| SOWK 511 | Practice Skills with Individuals and Groups | 3 |
| SOWK 530 | Anti-Oppressive Social Work Practice | 3 |
| SOWK 600 | Social Work Research Methods | 3 |
| Elective1 | 0-3 | |
| Total Credits | 12 | |
| Spring | ||
| SOWK 513 | Clinical Assessment Skills | 3 |
| SOWK 520 | Social Welfare Policy and Advocacy | 3 |
| SOWK 588 | Foundation Practice-Based Learning | 6 |
| Elective1 | 0-3 | |
| Total Credits | 15 | |
| Summer | ||
| Elective1 | 0-3 | |
| Total Credits | 3 | |
| Second Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| SOWK 605 | Program Evaluation in Social Work | 3 |
| SOWK 630 | Advanced Generalist Practice with Individuals | 3 |
| SOWK 631 | Advanced Community Practice | 3 |
| SOWK 688 | Field Placement | 7 |
| Elective1 | 0-3 | |
| Total Credits | 16 | |
| Spring | ||
| SOWK 633 | Mezzo and Macro Social Work II | 3 |
| SOWK 634 | Advanced Practice with Families and Groups | 3 |
| SOWK 688 | Field Placement | 7 |
| Elective1 | 3 | |
| Total Credits | 16 | |
| Program Total Credits: | 62 | |
A minimum of 62 credits are required to complete the full MSW program.
Elective Course List
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ANTH 545 | Global Mental Health--Theory and Method | 3 |
| ANTH 546 | Culture, Mind, and Cognitive Science | 3 |
| EDCO 500 | Career and Employment Concepts | 3 |
| EDCO 550 | Professional School Counseling | 3 |
| EDCO 653 | Counseling for Cultural Diversity | 3 |
| EDCO 655 | Brief Counseling | 3 |
| EDCO 662 | Counseling Children and Adolescents | 3 |
| EDHE 675 | Campus Crisis Management | 3 |
| HDFS 534 | Marriage and Family Therapy | 3 |
| HDFS 592 | Grant Writing--Research/Program Development | 3 |
| HDFS 608 | Program Planning and Implementation | 3 |
| HDFS 610 | Risk and Resilience | 3 |
| HDFS 611 | Early Child Development | 3 |
| HDFS 613 | Adult Development and Aging | 3 |
| HDFS 636 | Aging and the Family | 3 |
| HDFS 644 | Foundations in Family Therapy | 3 |
| HDFS 692A | Family Issues: Intimacy and Human Sexuality | 3 |
| HDFS 692B | Family Issues: Parenting | 3 |
| HDFS 692C | Family Issues: Family Policy and Programming | 3 |
| HES 620 | The Science of Healthspan | 3 |
| PBHL 520 | Health Systems Policy and Management | 3 |
| PPA 501 | Program Evaluation and Quantitative Methods | 3 |
| PSY 517/IE 517 | Perspectives in Global Health | 3 |
| PSY 600H | Advanced Psychology: Lifespan Development | 3 |
| PSY 600J | Advanced Psychology: Health Psychology | 3 |
| PSY 677 | Psychology of Women, Men, and Gender | 3 |
| SOWK 482A | Social Work in Costa Rica | 3 |
| SOWK 550 | Animal Assisted Therapy and Human-Animal Bond | 3 |
| SOWK 551 | Fundamentals of Mediation | 3 |
| SOWK 552 | Conflict Management: Health and Elder Care | 3 |
| SOWK 553 | Multi-Party Conflict Resolution | 3 |
| SOWK 554 | Conflict Resolution in the Workplace | 3 |
| SOWK 556 | Divorce and Family Mediation | 3 |
| SOWK 557 | Human-Animal Interventions--Grief and Loss | 3 |
| SOWK 560 | Social Work Practice in Schools | 3 |
| SOWK 561 | Exceptionalities in Education | 3 |
| SOWK 660 | Nonprofit Program Development | 3 |
| SOWK 661 | Nonprofit Financial Development | 3 |
| SOWK 662 | Nonprofit Volunteer Development & Management | 3 |
| SOWK 676 | Psychopharmacology and Community Health | 3 |
| SOWK 677 | Trauma-Informed Care | 3 |
| SOWK 678 | Social Work Skills for Addictions Practice | 3 |
- 1
Students are required to complete nine elective credits from the above list of pre-approved elective courses. Alternative courses may be considered to fulfill the elective requirements contingent upon departmental approval prior to completion of the course(s).
Effective Fall 2025
Advanced Standing MSW
This option is available only to those who have earned a BSW from a program accredited by the Council on Social Work Education and have earned that degree within the past seven years. The BSW degree must be granted prior to the beginning of advanced standing classes. Applicants must have earned a minimum GPA of 3.0 for the entire BSW.
Students attend one full year consisting of three semesters, starting with the Summer term.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| FIRST YEAR | ||
| SUMMER (7-10 Credits) | ||
| SOWK 516 | Assessment in Social Work | 2 |
| SOWK 531 | Anti-Oppressive Principles and Pedagogy | 3 |
| SOWK 604 | Applied Social Work Research | 2 |
| Elective 1 | 0-3 | |
| FALL (16-19 Credits) | ||
| SOWK 605 | Program Evaluation in Social Work | 3 |
| SOWK 630 | Advanced Generalist Practice with Individuals | 3 |
| SOWK 631 | Advanced Community Practice | 3 |
| SOWK 688 | Field Placement | 7 |
| Elective 1 | 0-3 | |
| SPRING (16 Credits) | ||
| SOWK 633 | Mezzo and Macro Social Work II | 3 |
| SOWK 634 | Advanced Practice with Families and Groups | 3 |
| SOWK 688 | Field Placement | 7 |
| Elective 1 | 3 | |
| Program Total Credits: | 39-45 | |
A minimum of 39 credits are required to complete the Advanced Standing MSW program.
Elective Course List
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ANTH 545 | Global Mental Health--Theory and Method | 3 |
| ANTH 546 | Culture, Mind, and Cognitive Science | 3 |
| EDCO 500 | Career and Employment Concepts | 3 |
| EDCO 550 | Professional School Counseling | 3 |
| EDCO 653 | Counseling for Cultural Diversity | 3 |
| EDCO 655 | Brief Counseling | 3 |
| EDCO 662 | Counseling Children and Adolescents | 3 |
| EDHE 675 | Campus Crisis Management | 3 |
| HDFS 534 | Marriage and Family Therapy | 3 |
| HDFS 592 | Grant Writing--Research/Program Development | 3 |
| HDFS 608 | Program Planning and Implementation | 3 |
| HDFS 610 | Risk and Resilience | 3 |
| HDFS 611 | Early Child Development | 3 |
| HDFS 613 | Adult Development and Aging | 3 |
| HDFS 636 | Aging and the Family | 3 |
| HDFS 644 | Foundations in Family Therapy | 3 |
| HDFS 692A | Family Issues: Intimacy and Human Sexuality | 3 |
| HDFS 692B | Family Issues: Parenting | 3 |
| HDFS 692C | Family Issues: Family Policy and Programming | 3 |
| HES 620 | The Science of Healthspan | 3 |
| PBHL 520 | Health Systems Policy and Management | 3 |
| PPA 501 | Program Evaluation and Quantitative Methods | 3 |
| PSY 517/IE 517 | Perspectives in Global Health | 3 |
| PSY 600H | Advanced Psychology: Lifespan Development | 3 |
| PSY 600J | Advanced Psychology: Health Psychology | 3 |
| PSY 677 | Psychology of Women, Men, and Gender | 3 |
| SOWK 482A | Social Work in Costa Rica | 3 |
| SOWK 550 | Animal Assisted Therapy and Human-Animal Bond | 3 |
| SOWK 551 | Fundamentals of Mediation | 3 |
| SOWK 552 | Conflict Management: Health and Elder Care | 3 |
| SOWK 553 | Multi-Party Conflict Resolution | 3 |
| SOWK 554 | Conflict Resolution in the Workplace | 3 |
| SOWK 556 | Divorce and Family Mediation | 3 |
| SOWK 557 | Human-Animal Interventions--Grief and Loss | 3 |
| SOWK 560 | Social Work Practice in Schools | 3 |
| SOWK 561 | Exceptionalities in Education | 3 |
| SOWK 660 | Nonprofit Program Development | 3 |
| SOWK 661 | Nonprofit Financial Development | 3 |
| SOWK 662 | Nonprofit Volunteer Development & Management | 3 |
| SOWK 676 | Psychopharmacology and Community Health | 3 |
| SOWK 677 | Trauma-Informed Care | 3 |
| SOWK 678 | Social Work Skills for Addictions Practice | 3 |
- 1
Students must complete at least one elective from the above list of pre-approved elective courses. Alternative courses may be considered to fulfill the elective requirements contingent upon departmental approval prior to completion of the course(s).
For more information, please visit Requirements for All Graduate Degrees in the Graduate and Professional Bulletin.
Summary of Procedures for the Master's and Doctoral Degrees
NOTE: Each semester the Graduate School publishes a schedule of deadlines. Deadlines are available on the Graduate School website. Students should consult this schedule whenever they approach important steps in their careers.
Forms are available online.
| Step | Due Date |
|---|---|
| 1. Application for admission (online) | Six months before first registration |
| 2. Diagnostic examination when required | Before first registration |
| 3. Appointment of advisor | Before first registration |
| 4. Selection of graduate committee | Before the time of fourth regular semester registration |
| 5. Filing of program of study (GS Form 6) | Before the time of fourth regular semester registration |
| 6. Preliminary examination (Ph.D. and PD) | Two terms prior to final examination |
| 7. Report of preliminary examination (GS Form 16) - (Ph.D. and PD) | Within two working days after results are known |
| 8. Changes in committee (GS Form 9A) | When change is made |
| 9. Application for Graduation (GS Form 25) | Refer to published deadlines from the Graduate School Website |
| 9a. Reapplication for Graduation (online) | Failure to graduate requires Reapplication for Graduation (online) for the next time term for which you are applying |
| 10. Submit thesis or dissertation to committee | At least two weeks prior to the examination or at the discretion of the graduate committee |
| 11. Final examination | Refer to published deadlines from the Graduate School Website |
| 12. Report of final examination (GS Form 24) | Within two working days after results are known; refer to published deadlines from the Graduate School website |
| 13. Submit a signed Thesis/Dissertation Submission Form (GS Form 30) to the Graduate School and Submit the Survey of Earned Doctorates (Ph.D. only) prior to submitting the electronic thesis/dissertation | Refer to published deadlines from the Graduate School website. |
| 14. Submit the thesis/dissertation electronically | Refer to published deadlines from the Graduate School website |
| 15. Graduation | Ceremony information is available from the Graduate School website |