1. The MSU Denver Difference: MSW Program Basics
Claire Alfus, MA

2. Program Overview

3. Accreditation
The MSW Program has been fully accredited by CSWE since 2011

4. Advanced Standing Program
General Information:
Summer start only
36 credit hours, including 6 credit summer bridge
Admission Standards
Must have one of the following:
A BSW degree from a CSWE accredited program obtained within the last six years
A degree recognized through CSWE’s International Social Work Degree Recognition and Evaluation Service*
A degree from a program that is covered under a memorandum of understanding with international social work accreditors*
Have a cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher
Have completed all Advanced Standing Program Admissions forms and requirements
*Applicants who received degrees from outside the United States should contact the department to determine eligibility

5. Regular Program General Information Admission Standards:
Fall start only
60 credit hours
Admission Standards:
Have a cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher
Have completed, or will complete, a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university prior to the fall semester in which students start the MSW Program*
Completion of Undergraduate Prerequisite Courses
Submission of all required application materials
*Applicants who received degrees from outside the United States should contact the department to determine eligibility

6. Enrollment Options Full Time Part Time 15 credits per semester
50 hour per week commitment
The Advanced Standing Program takes one year to complete and the Regular Program takes two years to complete
6 to 9 credits per semester
30-40 hour per week commitment
The Advanced Standing Program takes two years to complete and the Regular Program takes four years to complete
3 year timeline for the Regular Program: complete foundation year part-time (2 years) and concentration year full time (1 year) or vice versa

7. Course Delivery Options
Fully Online
Mixed Traditional
Students are guaranteed a spot in online sections of all required courses
May require synchronous activity
Online courses are not self-paced
Students may be required to participate in extracurricular online seminars
Students take courses on campus, online, and in the hybrid format:
On Campus courses
Offered days, nights, and weekends
Typically either Tuesday/Thursday or Monday/Wednesday depending on whether the student is in the foundation or concentration year
Online courses
Completed fully online
May require synchronous activity
Online courses are not self-paced
Hybrid courses
Both on campus and online requirements
Students will be required to attend class on campus on specific days throughout the semester determined by the course instructor

8. Advising Snapshot: Advanced Standing – Full Time Plan
Required Concentration Coursework
SUMMER – Year 1
SWKM 6400 Bridge Seminar (3)
SWKM 5475 Legal Issues in Social Work Practice (3)
TOTAL: 6 credits
FALL – Year 1
SPRING – Year 1
SWKM 6425 Advanced Integrative Practice: Leadership (3)
SWKM 6475 Advanced Policy and Advocacy (3)
SWKM 6450 Advanced Integrative Practice: Clinical (3)
SWKM Elective (3)
SWKM 6700 Capstone I (3)†
SWKM 6750 Capstone II (3)†
SWKM 6725 Field Experience III (3)‡
SWKM 6775 Field Experience IV (3)‡
TOTAL: 15 credits
Note: Concentration Field Placement consists of 20 hours/week
† Linked courses, student must enroll in the same section for both fall and spring semesters
‡ Linked courses, student must enroll in the same section for both fall and spring semesters

9. Advising Snapshot: Advanced Standing – Part Time Plan
Required Concentration Coursework
SUMMER – Year 1
SWKM 6400 Bridge Seminar (3)
SWKM 5475 Legal Issues in Social Work Practice (3)
TOTAL: 6 credits
FALL – Year 1
SPRING – Year 1
SWKM 6425 Advanced Integrative Practice: Leadership (3)
SWKM 6475 Advanced Policy and Advocacy (3)
SWKM 6450 Advanced Integrative Practice: Clinical (3)
SWKM Elective (3)
TOTAL: 9 credits
FALL – Year 2
SPRING – Year 2
SWKM 6700 Capstone I (3)†
SWKM 6750 Capstone II (3)†
SWKM 6725 Field Experience III (3)‡
SWKM 6775 Field Experience IV (3)‡
Note: Concentration Field Placement consists of 20 hours/week
† Linked courses, student must enroll in the same section for both fall and spring semesters
‡ Linked courses, student must enroll in the same section for both fall and spring semesters

10. Advising Snapshot: Regular Program – Full Time Plan
Required Foundation Coursework
FALL – Year 1
SPRING – Year 1
SWKM 5400 Human Behavior in the Social Environment (3)
SWKM 5475 Legal Issues in Social Work Practice (3)
SWKM 5425 Privilege, Oppression, and Power (3)
SWKM 5500 Research Methods in Social Work (3)
SWKM 5450 Social Policy Analysis (3)
SWKM 5575 Groups, Teams and Leadership (3)
SWKM 5600 Generalist Practice I (3)
SWKM 5650 Generalist Practice II (3)
SWKM 5625 Field Experience I (3)*
SWKM 5675 Field Experience II (3)*
TOTAL: 15 credits
Note: Foundation Field Placement consists of 16 hours/week
* Linked courses, student must enroll in the same section for both fall and spring semesters

11. Advising Snapshot: Regular Program – Full Time Plan
Required Concentration Coursework
FALL – Year 2
SPRING – Year 2
SWKM 6425 Advanced Integrative Practice: Leadership (3)
SWKM 6475 Advanced Policy and Advocacy (3)
SWKM 6450 Advanced Integrative Practice: Clinical (3)
SWKM Elective (3)
SWKM 6700 Capstone I (3)†
SWKM 6750 Capstone II (3)†
SWKM 6725 Field Experience III (3)‡
SWKM 6775 Field Experience IV (3)‡
TOTAL: 15 credits
Note: Concentration Field Placement consists of 20 hours/week
† Linked courses, student must enroll in the same section for both fall and spring semesters
‡ Linked courses, student must enroll in the same section for both fall and spring semesters

12. Advising Snapshot: Regular Program – Part Time Plan
Required Foundation Coursework
FALL – Year 1
SPRING – Year 1
SWKM 5400 Human Behavior in the Social Environment (3)
SWKM 5475 Legal Issues in Social Work Practice (3)
SWKM 5425 Privilege, Oppression, and Power (3)
SWKM 5500 Research Methods in Social Work (3)
SWKM 5450 Social Policy Analysis (3)
SWKM 5575 Groups, Teams and Leadership (3)
TOTAL: 9 credits
FALL – Year 2
SPRING – Year 2
SWKM 5600 Generalist Practice I (3)
SWKM 5650 Generalist Practice II (3)
SWKM 5625 Field Experience I (3)*
SWKM 5675 Field Experience II (3)*
TOTAL: 6 credits
Note: Foundation Field Placement consists of 16 hours/week
* Linked courses, student must enroll in the same section for both fall and spring semesters

13. Advising Snapshot: Regular Program – Part Time Plan
Required Concentration Coursework
FALL – Year 2
SPRING – Year 2
SWKM 6425 Advanced Integrative Practice: Leadership (3)
SWKM 6475 Advanced Policy and Advocacy (3)
SWKM 6450 Advanced Integrative Practice: Clinical (3)
SWKM Elective (3)
TOTAL: 9 credits
SWKM 6700 Capstone I (3)†
SWKM 6750 Capstone II (3)†
SWKM 6725 Field Experience III (3)‡
SWKM 6775 Field Experience IV (3)‡
TOTAL: 6 credits
Note: Concentration Field Placement consists of 20 hours/week
† Linked courses, student must enroll in the same section for both fall and spring semesters
‡ Linked courses, student must enroll in the same section for both fall and spring semesters

14. The MSU Denver Difference

15. MSW Student Profile

16. MSW Student Profile

17. MSW Student Profile

18. Class Sizes

19. Field Placement Process and Options
The Department of Social Work at MSU Denver has a dedicated Office of Field Education that:
Works with students to secure field placements in their area of interest
Interviews both agencies and students
Ensures there is a good fit between agencies and students
The field placement process is completed the spring before you start your field placement in the fall.

20. Potential Field Agencies

21. Questions?