About This Program

Admissions Contact

Alie Baranauskas
Recruitment and Admissions Coordinator for the School of Social Work and Behavioral Sciences
abaranauskas@springfieldcollege.edu
(413) 748-3060

Program Contact

Anthony Hill
Chair of the Department of Social Work
ahill@springfield.edu
Phone: (413) 748-3068

Flexible Options

Looking for other degrees in Social Work?

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Virtual Information Session
April 24 from 5-6 p.m.
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The Master of Social Work: Advanced Standing Program at Springfield College prepares social workers for professional 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 Information:

Advanced standing program for highly qualified graduates of bachelor of social work (BSW) programs (full-time, three semesters during weekdays or part-time, four semesters during weekends)- The BSW program must be accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) and the BSW must have been successfully completed within five years of enrollment at the in the Springfield College Master of Social Work program.  The content and quality of the weekday and weekend programs are the same. This program also requires one field practicum and two field seminars.  The field practicum takes place during weekday business hours.

This program is available on weekdays or weekends to highly qualified bachelor of social work (BSW) graduates. Students who completed a BSW program accredited by the Council on Social Work Education within the past five years may be able to earn a master of social work in a summer and two full-time semesters (weekdays), or four part-time semesters (weekends).

Candidates who are accepted to this program have courses from the foundational phase of the standard MSW program waived because of evidence of mastery of their first-year competencies in their CSWE-accredited BSW programs. While 60 credits are required for the standard program, 32 credits are required for completion of the advanced standing sequence. Per CSWE standards and policies, the MSW degree earned in the advanced standing program is equivalent to the MSW degree earned in the standard program.

In addition to educational credentials, candidates for this program generally have acquired first-hand skill and knowledge related to the social work field through paid experiences. Applicants to this program must complete a supplemental application, including additional documentation.

Fieldwork Requirements:

  • Advanced Standing Program

    One internship, either Weekday or Weekend Program – 600 hours, 20 hours per week for 15 weeks for two semesters.

LEARN MORE ABOUT FIELDWORK

Kellynette Gomez standing outside
ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT

Kellynette Gomez G'18

Attending the School of Social Work: Advanced Standing weekend cohort has meant so much to me. As a deaf Latina woman, I have found people who align with similar values to mine and believe fiercely in necessary change for underserved communities. Apart from how much this has aided in my learning, the opportunity to meet diverse students and professors with similar interests has helped me find a sense of initiative. I now can move confidently into the workforce knowing that more opportunities lie ahead with chances to meet more folks with similar passions to mine. Graduating with my MSW will now be an important milestone in my life and I have Springfield College to thank for helping me get there.

Admissions Requirements

This program enrolls students in the summer term.

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. 

You must also complete the Advanced Standing Supplemental Application.

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. Other tests may be accepted on a case-by-case basis. Please refer to our language requirements for more information on acceptable tests, minimum scores, exemptions, and conditional acceptance. 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 (NACES). For this we recommend SpanTran, with its customized portal for Springfield College applicants. World Education Services or Josef Silny & Associates, Inc. are also recommended for your credential evaluations.

The staff in the Office of International Admissions can assist you with questions you may have about enrolling at Springfield College as an international student by emailing intladmissions@springfieldcollege.edu.

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

Advanced Standing Curriculum (33 credit program)

Advanced standing students are waived from the first year and must take a total of 33 credits.

A. Core Requirements (27 credits)

B. Elective credits (6 credits)

Students select two MSSW elective courses for a total of six credits, in consultation with their advisor.

APPLY ONLINE

The priority application deadline for applying for the summer semester is March 15.

All required supporting materials are due April 1.

Studying Social Work at Springfield College