Degree Requirements
The MSW degree is a total of 60 credits for the entire program unless you are an Advanced Standing student, which required 30 credits.
A capstone project is required for graduation (completed during the specialized year) and incorporates program content and practice integration.
The program requires 1,100 hours of field practicum to be conducted over the course of the program. Sacred Heart University currently has an extensive network of agencies eager to accept graduate-level students. Agencies include those in urban and suburban settings, and public and private not-for—profit organizations such as: schools, hospitals, adult mental health clinics, juvenile justice, adult probation, substance abuse programs, disabilities, adoptions, child protective services, public housing, domestic violence, refugee and re-settlement, adult psychiatric services and children’s mental health.
Advanced Standing students will already have completed approximately half of the field practicum hours in the BSW program and will enter the master’s program at the Specialized Year. The Advanced Standing student will be required to complete a 550-hour field practicum
Required Courses (54 credits)
| SW 580 | Generalist Field Practicum II | 3.00 Credit(s) |
| SW 590 | Methods of Social Work Research | 3.00 Credit(s) |
| SW 675 | Specialized Practice I | 3 |
| SW 676 | Specialized Practice II | 3.00 Credit(s) |
| SW 678 | Specialized Field Practicum I | 3.00 Credit(s) |
| SW 680 | Specialized Field Practicum II | 3.00 Credit(s) |
| SW 585 | Assessment of Client Systems | 3.00 Credit(s) |
| SW 591 | Research Practicum | 3.00 Credit(s) |
| SW 586 | Clinical Assessment & Diagnosis | 3.00 Credit(s) |
| SW 587 | Community Assessment | 3.00 Credit(s) |
Choose one of the following required research courses during your Generalist Year (this option is only available for students studying on ground):
- SW 591 Research Practicum
- SW 592 Research for Social Work Practice
Choose one of the following required courses based on your academic focus during your Specialized Year:
- SW 586: Clinical Assessment & Diagnosis
- SW 587: Community Assessment
Elective Courses
2 Electives from the list (6 credits) - effective Fall 2019:
| SW 530 | Group Work | 3.00 Credit(s) |
| SW 540 | Mental Health & Addiction | 3 |
| SW 550 | Loss & Life Transition | 3.00 Credit(s) |
| SW 555 | Children and Families | 3.00 Credit(s) |
| SW 570 | Inter-Professional Education | 3.00 Credit(s) |
| SW 524 | Human Diversity & Social Justice | 3.00 Credit(s) |
| SW 565 | Social Welfare Policy I | 3.00 Credit(s) |
| SW 566 | Social Welfare Policy II | 3.00 |
| SW 567 | Human Behavior & Social Environment I | 3.00 Credit(s) |
| SW 568 | Human Behavior & Social Environment II | 3.00 Credit(s) |
| SW 575 | Social Work Generalist Practice I | 3.00 Credit(s) |
| SW 576 | Social Work Generalist Practicum II | 3.00 Credit(s) |
| SW 578 | Generalist Field Practicum I | 3.00 Credit(s) |