Social Work, MSW
The mission of the CCSU Master of Social Work Program is to prepare clinical social work practitioners with the advanced knowledge and skills to specialize in mental health and addiction treatment with individuals, groups, families and communities, informed by social determinants of health, harm reduction strategies, ecological systems perspective, and cross-cultural developmental theories.
Candidates for admission will be considered on the basis of the following criteria:
- A completed online application with supplemental materials (ccsu.edu/apply):
- Applicants must hold a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution of higher education. Applicants for the Advanced-standing program must have a Bachelor’s in Social Work and must have been earned within 5 years from an accredited program.
- Grade point average: Minimum 2.70 grade point average (GPA) for all undergraduate courses and a 3.00 for all Social Work courses including graduate courses, based on a 4.00-point scale where an A is 4.00. Advanced standing students must meet a 3.0 overall GPA for consideration.
NOTE: Applicants who earned a GPA less than the minimum requirement must address the details surrounding their GPA within their personal essay/statement of purpose (see criterion 5.d.) or their application will not be considered for possible admission to the program. If a student does not meet the minimum GPA, they may be conditionally admitted based on the expectation that they maintain a 3.0 GPA for their first semester in the program.
- Three recommendations from individuals able to testify to the student’s suitability as a prospective social worker.
- Two- to three-page typewritten (double-spaced) personal essay/statement of purpose describing the following:
- Personal and professional reasons and experiences that influenced you to pursue a graduate program that prepares you to enter the social work )profession.
- Personal and professional attributes you believe will contribute to your academic success as a graduate student.
- Personal and professional characteristics you believe will contribute to your future success as a clinical social worker.
- Description of reasons for earning a GPA less than the minimum requirements, steps taken to overcome the issue(s), and results of integrating this experience that allowed you to positively become the person you are today as well as evolve into the person you ideally want to become (see the *NOTE: within criterion 3 for those applicants to whom this applies).
A formal interview by the program’s faculty admissions committee will assess the prospective student’s application materials as well as personal/professional attributes and life experiences that may support the individual’s ability to be successful in the field of clinical social work.
All applications must be fully completed and received by February 1 (Note: the deadline for the Fall 2024 semester has been extended to August 15) to be considered for admission beginning the following fall academic semester. The graduate admissions application (including the provision of all required documents and supplemental materials) is completed via online submission protocols outlined by the Office of Graduate Recruitment & Admissions. For additional information regarding the graduate admissions application process, please visit the Graduate Admissions page.
Note: Because admission to the master’s in social work advanced standing is a highly competitive process, meeting the minimum graduate and program specific application criteria and requirements does not guarantee acceptance into the program.
Master of Social Work: Entry-Level Track
For students who have not earned a bachelor's degree in social work prior to matriculation
Foundation Courses
| SW 501 | Integrative Seminar: Social Work Theory with Practice - Year 1 Semester 1 | 3 |
| SW 502 | Social Welfare & Mental Health Policy and Services | 3 |
| SW 503 | Human Behavior in the Social Environment I | 3 |
| SW 504 | Disrupting for Social Justice and Equity within the Social Construct of Race | 3 |
| SW 505 | Practicum Instruction I | 4 |
| SW 506 | Integrative Seminar: Social Work Theory with Practice - Year 1 Semester 2 | 4 |
| SW 507 | Social Work: Practice with Groups | 3 |
| SW 508 | Human Behavior in the Social Environment | 3 |
| SW 509 | Social Work Research Methods I | 3 |
| SW 510 | Social Work Practicum Instruction I - Year 1 Semester 2 | 4 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 33 |
Required Advanced Courses
| SW 571 | Integrative Seminar: Social Work Theory with Practice - Year 2 Semester 1 | 3 |
| SW 572 | Psychopathology: Advances in psychological theory and advances in differential assessment/diagnosis I | 3 |
| SW 573 | Understanding Trauma, Attachment, and Neurobiology in Social Work Practice | 3 |
| SW 574 | Social Work Research II | 3 |
| SW 575 | Social Work Practicum Instruction III | 3 |
| SW 576 | Integrative Seminar: Social Work Theory with Practice - Year 2 Semester 2 | 3 |
| SW 577 | Psychopathology: Advances in psychological theory and advances in differential assessment/diagnosis II | 3 |
| SW 578 | Social Work Practicum Instruction IV | 4 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 25 |
Trauma Electives (6 cr)
| SW 550 | Social Work Practice in Health Care | 3 |
| SW 551 | Social Work in the Military and with Veterans | 3 |
| SW 554 | Social Work Crisis Intervention | 3 |
| SW 555 | Social Work with Trauma and Substance Use Disorders | 3 |
| SW 556 | Social Work and Trauma Informed Community Practice | 3 |
Select 6 credits from the courses listed above.
Non-Trauma Elective (3 cr)
| SW 552 | School Social Work and the Education of Exceptional Students | 3 |
| SW 553 | Social Work Practice with the Latino Community | 3 |
Select 3 credits from the courses listed above.
Total Credit Hours: 67
Master of Social Work: Advanced Track
For students who have earned a bachelor's degree in social work before matriculating into the program
Required Courses
| SW 571 | Integrative Seminar: Social Work Theory with Practice - Year 2 Semester 1 | 3 |
| SW 572 | Psychopathology: Advances in psychological theory and advances in differential assessment/diagnosis I | 3 |
| SW 573 | Understanding Trauma, Attachment, and Neurobiology in Social Work Practice | 3 |
| SW 574 | Social Work Research II | 3 |
| SW 575 | Social Work Practicum Instruction III | 3 |
| SW 576 | Integrative Seminar: Social Work Theory with Practice - Year 2 Semester 2 | 3 |
| SW 577 | Psychopathology: Advances in psychological theory and advances in differential assessment/diagnosis II | 3 |
| SW 578 | Social Work Practicum Instruction IV | 4 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 25 |
Trauma Electives (6 cr)
| SW 550 | Social Work Practice in Health Care | 3 |
| SW 551 | Social Work in the Military and with Veterans | 3 |
| SW 554 | Social Work Crisis Intervention | 3 |
| SW 555 | Social Work with Trauma and Substance Use Disorders | 3 |
| SW 556 | Social Work and Trauma Informed Community Practice | 3 |
Select 6 credits from the courses listed above.
Non-Trauma Elective (3 cr)
| SW 552 | School Social Work and the Education of Exceptional Students | 3 |
| SW 553 | Social Work Practice with the Latino Community | 3 |
Select 3 credits from the courses listed above.
Total Credit Hours: 34
Total Credit Hours: 34-67