Social Work (MSW)
Description
The Master of Social Work degree prepares graduates for advanced practice in clinical social work. Students can elect to focus their advanced year studies in a specialized course of study. On-campus students can also earn certificates in Health Care and Social Work, Public Policy, Trauma Practice or School Social Worker/School Adjustment Counselor as a Massachusetts School Social Worker. Online students can earn certificates in Groups and Families Practice, Trauma Practice, or Mental Health Practice. Simmons University School of Social Work MSW program is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE).
The mission of the MSW program is to prepare masters level professional practitioners with skills for clinical social work practice in a multicultural world using knowledge based on scientific inquiry and field-informed practice. This educational experience, consistent with the history and philosophy of the social work profession, is grounded in a values perspective that emphasizes client strengths and diversities, actively opposes all forms of oppression and supports social and economic justice. The education is designed to help students develop competence, critical thinking and problem-solving abilities as well as cultural sensitivity, and self-awareness.
Students learn multiple social work roles and skills necessary to be effective within evolving fields of practice. Graduates will be able to work with a variety of populations and social issues, using a broad and flexible array of interventions at an advanced level. They will have the ability to work with individuals, families, groups and communities to facilitate development and change in the service of social justice. Graduates will be prepared to practice with an appreciation for the dignity and worth of the person and the importance of human relationships; with a sense of integrity and a commitment to human rights.
Learning Outcomes
The MSW program prepares students to work with a variety of populations and social issues, using a broad and flexible array of evidence-informed interventions at an advanced level. Students will develop the skills necessary to work with individuals, families, groups, organizations and communities to facilitate development and change in the service of social, economic and environmental justice. The MSW program prepares students to practice with an appreciation for the dignity and worth of the person and the importance of human relationships; with a sense of integrity and a commitment to supporting human rights and actively opposing structures and practices that oppress and marginalize individuals, groups and communities.
In alignment with the 2015 Council on Social Work Education's (CSWE) Educational Policy and Accreditation Standards, the Simmons University Master’s Social Work Programs utilize a competency-based educational framework whereby student abilities and Program success are demonstrated by measurable outcomes.
Requirements for entry into program
Students must have a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with at least a 3.0 (B) grade point average. Relevant work or volunteer experience is also required, in addition to a statement of professional and educational intent, academic transcripts and three professional references.
Requirements for entry into 12-month program for BSW graduates
Applicants who hold a bachelor’s degree in social work (BSW) and who have graduated from a college or university accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) within the last five years can apply for the three- semester Advanced-Standing Program. Application materials include academic transcripts, 3 recommendation letters, statement of professional and educational intent, Advanced-Standing statement that includes a two to three page summary of their BSW internship learning, including social work models and approaches utilized; a case example that exemplifies how the applicant applied theory to guide his or her understanding of the case and intervention or treatment plan; and a self-assessment of learning to date, including goals and challenges anticipated in an advanced clinical placement and a copy of the applicant’s most recent BSW field placement evaluation
Delivery Modes Available
Available On-campus Programs
Full-Time Program
Students in the full-time MSW program can complete degree requirements in two years. They are assigned a field placement for three days a week for both years of the program and take classes two days per week.
Extended Program
The Extended-Study Program offers students the option to expand a two-year program into two-and-a-half, three or four years. The first year of the program could be called part-time, as students devote two days a week to classes and study. In the subsequent years, students must plan four or five days per week for classes and field placements. Most students complete the program in three years. Note: A limited number of 16 hour per week/11 month placements are available to students in the Full-Time and Extended Programs.
Advanced-Standing Program
The Simmons School of Social Work offers a 12-month Advanced-Standing Program to qualified applicants with a bachelor's degree in Social Work (BSW) who have graduated within the last five years from a program accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE). The program includes one three-days-per-week (24-hour) field placement from September to August, concurrent with a total of eight advanced-level courses.
16-Month Program
Students complete four consecutive semesters commencing in the Spring term; a 3 day per week field placement is required each semester. A few select courses must be taken in the online program, SW@Simmons. The 16-month program is only offered to campus students. It is a 65-credit degree.
Online Program
Accelerated Program
Students in the Accelerated SocialWork@Simmons program typically require 16 months (four terms) to complete their degree. Internships are two days (16 hours) per week for the Foundation Year and three days (24 hours) for the Advanced Year. Students take a total of four courses concurrently on the other days.
Full-Time Program
Students in the Full-Time SocialWork@Simmons program typically require two years (six terms) to complete their degree. Internships are two days (16 hours) per week for the Foundation Year and three days (24 hours) for the Advanced Year. Students take three to four courses concurrently on the other days.
Extended Program
The Extended Program (eight terms) offers students the option to expand the full-time program into two-and-a half years. In the first-year students take two classes a week. In the subsequent years, students take between two and four classes per week for classes and field placements. Most students complete the program in three years. Internships, taken during the second and third years of the program, are two days (16 hours) per week in terms four and five, and three days (24 hours) per week in terms seven and eight.
Degree requirements
The MSW degree requires 65 credit hours, consisting of 48 credit hours of classroom courses and 17 credit hours of field placement.
Listed below is the MSW course sequence as of September 2020. On-campus course numbers have the prefix SW; online courses, SWO.
Generalist Year
Unless otherwise indicated courses listed are offered as both SW (on the ground) and SWO (online)
| SW 403 | Social Policy and Social Work in Organizations and Communities | 3 |
| SW 409 | Dynamics of Racism & Oppression | 3.00 |
| SW 411 | Human Behavior and Social Environment | 3.00 |
| SW 421A | Social Work Practice | 3.00 |
| SW 421B | Social Work Practice | 3.00 |
| SW 422 | Substance Use and Social Work | 3 |
| SW 441 | Social Work Research | 3.00 |
| SW 446A | Field Education | 5.00 |
| SW 446B | Field Year 1 | 4.00 |
| SWO 446L | Field Education Lab | 5 |
| Elective | 3 |
Specialized Year
| SW 404 | Advanced Policy | 3 |
| SW 414 | Assessment and Diagnosis | 3.00 |
| SW 424A | Advanced Clinical Practice | 3.00 |
| SW 424B | Advanced Clinical Practice | 3.00 |
| SW 447A | Field Year 2 | 4.00 |
| SW 447B | Field Year 2 | 4.00 |
| SW 509 | Evaluation in Social Work Practice | 3.00 |
| Elective | 3 |
| Elective | 3 |
| Elective | 3 |
Licensure and Certificate Programs
As an MSW student, you may choose to pursue a certificate program in which you will gain advanced skills in a specific area of interest through a structured sequence of courses.
Licensure in School Social Work (On-Campus)
Students in the MSW program interested in practicing as a school social worker can elect to earn the Massachusetts state license to be a School Social Worker/School Adjustment Counselor (SSW/SAC), the certification required to work as a clinical social worker in many school settings in Massachusetts.
Requirements for the MSW with Licensure as a School Social Worker/School Adjustment Counselor include:
- Sixty-two credits in the MSW program including SW 539 Social Work in Schools and SW 595, Child and Adolescent Diagnosis, one specialized social work elective and three required courses (eight credits) taken in the Simmons University Department of Education (SPND 441, SPND 444, SPND 445)
- Successful completion of the two SSW field placements; one placement must be in a school setting and one placement must be in a setting serving children and families
- Attainment of passing scores on the MTEL Communication and Literacy tests by completion of the first year of MSW study.
- Completion and submission of required documentation
Students planning to work toward the school social worker license should schedule a meeting with the Coordinator of Academic Services soon after acceptance into the MSW program to begin to plan a course schedule. Field placement planning should be guided by licensure requirements.
Certificate in Health Care and Social Work (On-Campus)
The MSW with Certificate in Health Care and Social Work is designed to educate clinical social workers to work in the new and expanding health care delivery system being implemented under the Affordable Care Act. Students complete all regular MSW program requirements, including: SW481 Social Work, Health and Health Care and SW478 Social Work Practice in Healthcare and two Health Care Certificate electives. The advanced year field placement is done in a health care setting.
MSW with Public Policy Certificate (On-Campus)
This certificate program is designed to give MSW students with an interest in macro/policy issues the opportunity to supplement their clinical education experience with a deeper knowledge of public policy. This certificate will position graduates to have more options in terms of career directions in social work, particularly around policymaking or policy advocacy, with an emphasis on building policy analysis and advocacy skills that will allow students to analyze and affect policies at local, state, and national levels. These courses will enhance students’ understanding of policy systems and theory, methods of policy analysis, and subject matter knowledge in two major policy arenas.
Certificate in Trauma Practice (On-Campus and Online)
The Certificate in Trauma Practice will prepare graduates for practice with a variety of populations in multiple settings including: schools and universities, community mental health centers, immigrant and refugee centers, the legal justice and prison systems, inpatient and outpatient hospitalization programs, and psychotherapeutic settings with children, adults, couples, families and groups. Students complete two trauma courses (
SW-528A Child and Adolescent Trauma and
SW-528B Lifespan of Trauma Treatment: Adults and Families). Students complete two Trauma Practice certificate electives.
Certificate in Practice with Groups and Families (Online)
The Certificate in Practice with Groups and Families prepares graduates to:
- Build enhanced clinical practice capacity when working with more than one client, particularly groups and families
- Become skilled in delivering evidence-based and best practice models that support clinical work with groups and families
- Develop expertise in exploring systems issues, including oppression and discrimination, that impact the lives of group and family members
Certificate in Mental Health Practice (Online)
The Certificate in Mental Health Practice prepares graduates to:
- Work with people who have experience with serious mental health conditions, including those with concurrent health conditions
- Recognize and address the significant impacts of stigma, marginalization, and discrimination that impede the health, safety, access to resources, and quality of life for people with serious mental health conditions
- Become skilled in delivering evidence-based and best practice approaches for managing symptoms and achieving wellness and recovery
- Understand the role of social worker as provider and advocate working in collaboration with interdisciplinary teams, families, and other supports and services
Areas of Focus and Certificate Programs
MSW students can choose to develop skills in different ways through the selection of elective courses. Course selection can be organized by choosing a curricular pathway or a certificate program. Students interested in an area of focus can work with their advisers on elective selection. Choosing an area of focus is not required. Examples of Areas of Focus are included below.
- Health and Aging
- Child and Family
- Addictions
- Child Welfare
- Adult Mental Health
- Trauma and Interpersonal Violence
Course Sequencing / Prerequisites
- Research, SW(O)-441 must be completed prior to enrollment in Evaluation, SW(O)-509.
- Evaluation in SW Practice, SW(O)-509 must be taken concurrently with SW(O) 447A/B
- Dynamics of Racism and Opresssion, SW(O)-409 must be completed before commencing specialized year courses.
- Field Education I, SW-446 A or SW446 L and B are concurrent with SW(O)-421 A and B.
- Field EducationI SW(O)-447A or B are concurrent with SW(O)-424A or B.
- Students must stay in the same sections (day, time, and professor) for practice classes (SW(O)-421A and 421B) and SW-424A and B (campus students).
Total Credit Hours: 65
Field Placements
Students apply their academic knowledge through direct-practice internships with individuals, groups, families agencies, and larger systems. The semesters of field placement provide a strong foundation of social work practice skills. The final semesters focus on advanced clinical skills. Field placements occur on weekdays during regular business hours.
On-campus option
- Full-Time Students: Internships are three days (24 hours) per week from September to May for both years of the MSW Program.
- Extended Program Students: Internships taken during the second and third years of the program are three days (24 hours) per week from September to May. Students can choose to do placements 16 hours per week for 11 months.
- Advanced Standing Students: Advanced standing students complete one 3 semester (Fall, Spring, Summer) field placement. Placements are 24 hours each week.
- 16-Month Students: Internships are in four consecutive semesters starting in Spring Term. Each is 24 hours per week.
Online option
In the first term of field education students complete The Field Education Lab (FEL) a 14-week, 5 credit field education course that meets twice a week for two hours. This course is designed to prepare students as generalist level social workers and as learners. Students are given practice opportunities that are observed by peers and the course instructor. Students enter community based placements the term immediately following The Field Education Lab. MSW program students are required to complete a minimum of 1104 hours of field education in their internships. Regular attendance of three days a week (or 24 hours per week) in the field is required of students during the three terms. Advanced Standing students enter field placement in term two.
Students in each of the SW@S program options typically begin fieldwork as follows:
- Extended (8 terms): 4th term
- Full-time (6 terms): 2nd term
- Accelerated (4 terms): 1st term
Employment as Field Placement (all programs)
In certain situations, the school and field education department may permit students to use a paid social work position to fulfill the field education requirement for one field placement. Generally, this arrangement is made for the foundation placement but can also occur during the advanced placement if faculty deems the site appropriate. Students who wish to use their place of paid employment as a field placement must complete a worksite-based field placement application. Each application will be carefully reviewed and decided upon within the framework of Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) and school standards and expectations. To be approved, the agency and student must agree to adhere to the criteria for such placements, which are listed in the Field Education Manual.
Field Placements
Students apply their academic knowledge through direct-practice internships with individuals, groups, agencies, and larger systems. The first internship provides a strong foundation of social work practice skills. The second internship focuses on advanced clinical skills. Field placements occur on weekdays during regular business hours.
On-campus Program
For Full-Time students, Internships are three days (24 hours) per week from September to May for both years of the MSW Program.
For Extended Program students, Internships taken during the second and third years of the program are three days (24 hours) per week from September to May. Students can choose to do placements 16 hours per week for 11 months.
For Advanced Standing students, they complete one 3 semester (Fall, Spring, Summer) field placement. Placements are 24 hours each week.
For 16-Month Students, Internships are in four consecutive semesters starting in Spring Term. Each is 24 hours per week
Online Program
During the two terms of the foundation placement, students complete a minimum of 448 hours in the field. During the two advanced placement terms, students complete a minimum of 672 hours in their field placements. MSW program students are required to complete, in total, a minimum of 1120 hours of field education in their internships. Regular attendance of two days a week (or 16 hours per week) in the field is required of students during the two foundation terms, and three days a week (24 hours per week) during the two advanced placement terms.
Students in each of the SW@S program options typically begin fieldwork as follows:
- Extended (8 terms): 4th term
- Full-time (6 terms): 2nd term
- Accelerated (4 terms): 1st term
Employment as Field Placement (all programs)
In certain situations, the school and field education department may permit students to use a paid social work position to fulfill the field education requirement for one field placement. Generally, this arrangement is made for the foundation placement but can also occur during the advanced placement if faculty deems the site appropriate. Students who wish to use their place of paid employment as a field placement must complete a worksite-based field placement application. Each application will be carefully reviewed and decided upon within the framework of Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) and school standards and expectations. To be approved, the agency and student must agree to adhere to the criteria for such placements, which are listed in the Field Education Manual.