Master of Social Work

About This Program
	Flexible Options Offered weekdays and evenings at: Springfield College, Brennan Center, 45 Island Pond Road, Springfield, Mass. Offered weekends at: Springfield College, Brennan Center, 45 Island Pond Road, Springfield, Mass. Seven Hills Foundation & Affiliates, 81 Hope Ave, Worcester, 01603
	Looking for other degrees in Social Work? Master of Social Work Advanced Standing Program Master of Social Work/Juris Doctor Dual Degree
	Resources Curriculum Social Work FAQs Field Placement Field Placement FAQ
	Admissions Contact Samantha Sargent Recruitment and Admissions Coordinator for the School of Social Work and Behavioral Sciences ssargent2@springfield.edu (413) 748-3060
	Faculty Contact Anthony Hill Chair of the Department of Social Work ahill@springfield.edu Phone: (413) 748-3068

The Springfield College master of social work (MSW) program provides students with the education and experience needed to make a difference in the field of social work. Hands-on experience and faculty members who are recognized for their work locally, nationally, and internationally for their work, provide students with a well-rounded social work education.

The Master of Social Work program prepares social workers for professional practice through a single concentration in advanced generalist practice. Students graduate well-equipped to work at the individual, family, group, organization, and community levels with evidence-based and knowledge-guided practice.

Mission:
Through the teaching of social work knowledge and practice, the Masters in Social Work program at Springfield College prepares individuals to meet universal human needs in order to engender mutually beneficial interaction between individuals and societal systems at all levels, based on principles of economic and social justice, dignity, and human rights.

Program options:

Master of social work weekday program (full-time, two years)- In this option, classes meet on Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 9 to 3:50 p.m.. In addition to classroom work, a field practicum is required in each of four semesters and participation in fall field seminars is required. The field practica take place during weekday business hours.
Master of social work evening program (full-time, two years)- In this option, classes meet on a weekly basis on Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 5:15 to 8:30 p.m. All courses are in a hybrid format.
Master of social work weekend program (part-time, three years)- In this option, classes meet seven times per semester in the fall and spring and in two summer semesters, on Saturdays and Sundays from 9 to 3:40 p.m. In addition to classroom work, a field practicum is required in the fourth, fifth, seventh, and eighth semesters, along with fall field seminars. The content and quality of the weekday and weekend programs are the same. The field practica take place during weekday business hours.

Fieldwork Requirements:

Full-time Weekday Program

First Internship, First Year: 450 hours, 15 hours per week for 15 weeks for two semesters.
Second Internship, Second Year – 600 hours, 20 hours per week for 15 weeks for two semesters.
Part-time Weekend Program

First Internship, Second Year – 450 hours, 15 hours per week for 15 weeks for two semesters.
Second Internship, Third Year – 600 hours, 20 hours per week for 15 weeks for two semesters.

Learn more about fieldwork

View the weekday and evening course schedule View the weekend course schedule

Request More Information

Springfield College master of social work (MSW) graduate Michael Smith discusses the benefits of the program and how the courses fit his schedule. Smith is a high school adjustment counselor and also teaches at Springfield College as an adjunct professor.

GRADUATE SPOTLIGHT

Kevin Green

School of Social Work MSW student, Massachusetts Literacy Champion for 2018

Springfield College School of Social Work MSW gradiate Kevin Green was named a Massachusetts Literacy Champion in 2018. This award is presented annually to eight individuals who are active in the literacy education field and they are using innovative methods to help improve literacy in Massachusetts...

Admissions Requirements

This program enrolls students in all terms.

Complete the application form. No application fee.

Start your application process by completing the online application form. Be sure to complete your application by submitting all the required materials outlined in this section.

Graduate Admissions Essay

Once your application form is processed you will receive an email with your application portal login credentials. Once you login to your application portal you'll be able to upload your essay.

Your professional statement should describe (1) professional goals and reasons for pursuing an MSW degree in this program; and (2) the education, professional/work experience, and personal characteristics that make the applicant a good candidate for an advanced generalist MSW program.

Resume

Please include any college activities, out-of-school leadership experiences, work history, and community involvement to support your interest in or qualifications for graduate study. Once your application form is processed you will receive an email with your application portal login credentials. Once you login to your application portal you'll be able to upload your resume.

Letters of Recommendation

This program requires two letters of recommendation. Recommenders will receive an email when you submit your application and will be able to upload your letter to your application.

Official Transcripts from All Institutions Previously/Currently Attended

An official transcript from each college/university you have attended is required.
Transcripts must be in English. If the transcript is not in English you will be required to submit a professional credential evaluation completed by any member of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services. In some cases, including if you plan to request coursework be transferred, a course-by-course translation is required. For this we recommend the World Education Services or Josef Silny & Associates, Inc.
In order to be considered official, transcripts must be received directly from the original source, by email to graduate@springfield.edu, or mailed to the college address:
Springfield College
Office of Graduate Admissions
263 Alden Street
Springfield, MA 01109

International Applicants

All international applicants from non-English speaking countries are required, in addition to the items listed above, to submit:

Proof of English language proficiency by way of the TOEFL or IELTS. If your undergraduate degree was earned in the United States and you successfully completed College level English, we will consider English language proficiency met.
Please note: Transcripts must be in English. If the transcript is not in English you will be required to submit a professional credential evaluation completed by any member of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services. In some cases, including if you plan to request coursework be transferred, a course-by-course translation is required. For this we recommend the World Education Services or Josef Silny & Associates, Inc.

Our Associate Director of International Admissions Nicholas Venn can answer any questions you may have about enrolling in Springfield College as an international student. You may email him at nvenn@springfield.edu or via phone at (413) 748-3891.

To submit materials:

After submitting your online application form you will receive user login credentials to access your student application portal. From that portal, you will be able to upload your graduate admissions essay and your resume. Recommenders will receive an email when you submit your application and will be able to upload their letter to your application. In order to be considered official, transcripts must be received directly from the original source, by email to graduate@springfield.edu, or mailed to the college address:

Springfield College
Office of Graduate Admissions
263 Alden Street
Springfield, MA 01109

Curriculum

I. Standard curriculum (60 credit program)

The sixty credits are distributed across four sequences, two field practicums and seminars, and three electives, as follows:

Human Behavior in the Social Environment sequence (three courses, nine credits).
Social Work Practice sequence (four courses, twelve credits).
Social Work Research sequence (two courses, six credits).
Social Welfare Policy sequence (three courses, nine credits).
Foundation Field Practicum and Seminar (7.5 credits, 450 practicum hours per academic year).
Specialization Field Practicum and Seminar (7.5 credits, 600 practicum hours per academic year).
- Advanced standing students take an additional field seminar in the spring semester for .5 credits.
Electives (nine credit hours).

Guided by the School’s mission, the master of social work curriculum is designed within a generalist foundation year and an advanced generalist specialization year. The first year provides students with theoretical perspectives across the four sequences, as well as grounding in fundamental skills in individual, family, group, and community intervention.

The advanced generalist specialization year is designed to provide “skill sets” that build on the foundation year. The curriculum provides students with opportunities to develop advanced clinical assessment, intervention, supervisory, and administrative skills in practice; mastery of diagnostic skills; a set of complex social action skills in policy; and a set of research skills.

The focus on “skill sets” occurs within the context of three programmatic themes: social change, human rights, and social justice. In comparison to generalists, advanced generalists are able to assess more complex situations with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities and to intervene with more advanced, sophisticated and targeted practice skills.

Electives enrich the specialization year curriculum by providing students the opportunity to explore areas of advanced generalist practice in greater depth, depending upon individual interests, strengths, and/or needs. Typical elective courses include: