The Mandel School’s Master of Social Work (MSW) combines practice, research, theory, policy and field education to prepare you for clinical and macro-level practice. Our competency-based curriculum is the first in the nation to be approved by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE). It is designed to provide you with the knowledge and practical skills to advance key social justice issues, examine your own perceptions of diversity, and become more culturally-aware and inclusive in your role as a social work professional.
The online MSW is a 60 credit, two and a half-year program, so working professionals across the country can pursue graduate education. The program is designed for individuals who want to address the needs of their communities by driving large-scale social change.
Below are sample patterns of enrollment for each of our paths of study.
Year One
Semester One (6 credit hours)
- SASS 502 - Change Agent Intensive (1 credit)
- SASS 503 – Foundations of Social Policy and Service Delivery (2 credits)
- SASS 504 – Theories of Human Development and Human Diversity (2 credits)
- SASS 551 - Collaborative Practice (1 credit)
Semester Two (7 credit hours)
- SASS 508 – Individual and Family Theory & Practice (4 credits)
- SASS 455 – Field Education: Organizational Theory and Practice Seminar (1 credit)
- SASS 651 - Field Education I (2 credits)
Semester Three (7.5 credit hours)
- SASS 507 – Community Theory & Practice (2 credits)
- SASS 509 – Group Theory and Practice (2 credits)
- SASS 528 - Evidence Informed Practice (2 credits)
- SASS 652A - Field Education II – A (1.5 credits)
Year Two
Semester Four (8.5 credit hours)
- SASS 547 - Problems Identification, Screening and Assessment Diagnosing (3 credits)
- SASS 549 - Theory/Practice Approaches in Direct Practice Social Work (3 credits)
- SASS 456 – Field Education: Organizational Theory and Practice Seminar II (1 credit)
- SASS 652B - Field Education II - B (1.5 credits)
Semester Five (7.5 credit hours)
- SASS 542 - Evaluating Programs and Practices (3 credits)
- SASS 566 - Assessing and Engaging Community for Social Change (3 credits)
- SASS 653A - Field Education III - A (1.5 credits)
Semester Six (7.5 credit hours)
- SASS 425 – Nonprofit Financial Management (3 credits)
- SASS 569 – Planning and Implementing Social Change (3 credits)
- SASS 653B - Field Education III – B (1.5 credits)
Year Three
Semester Seven (7.5 credit hours)
- SASS 407 – Nonprofit Revenue Planning and Development (3 credits)
- SASS 567 – Strategic Power Building with Communities (3 credits)
- SASS 654A - Field Education IV-A (1.5 credits)
Semester Eight (8.5 credit hours)
- SASS 531 – Collaboration and Strategic Partnerships (3 credits)
- SASS 561- Community Practice Policy: Analyzing & Changing Social Policy (3 credits)
- SASS 588 - Integrated Seminar (1 credit)
- SASS 654B – Field Education IV – B (1.5 credits)
Total MSW Program Hours: 60 credits
Year One
Semester One (6 credit hours)
- SASS 502 - Change Agent Intensive (1 credit)
- SASS 503 – Foundations of Social Policy and Service Delivery (2 credits)
- SASS 504 – Theories of Human Development & Human Diversity (2 credits)
- SASS 551 - Collaborative Practice (1 credit)
Semester Two (7 credit hours)
- SASS 508 – Individual and Family Theory & Practice (4 credits)
- SASS 455 – Field Education: Organizational Theory and Practice Seminar (1 credit)
- SASS 651 - Field Education I (2 credits)
Semester Three (7.5 credit hours)
- SASS 507 - Community Theory & Practice (2 credits)
- SASS 509 – Group Theory and Practice (2 credits)
- SASS 528 - Evidence Informed Practice (2 credits)
- SASS 652A - Field Education II – A (1.5 credits)
Year Two
Semester Four (8.5 credit hours)
- SASS 547 - Problems Identification, Screening and Assessment Diagnosing (3 credits)
- SASS 549 - Theory/Practice Approaches in Direct Practice Social Work (3 credits)
- SASS 456 – Field Education: Organizational Theory and Practice Seminar II (1 credit)
- SASS 652B - Field Education II - B (1.5 credits)
Semester Five (7.5 credit hours)
- SASS 542 - Evaluating Programs and Practices (3 credits)
- SASS 566 - Assessing and Engaging Community for Social Change (3 credits)
- SASS 653A - Field Education III - A (1.5 credits)
Semester Six (7.5 credit hours)
- SASS 517 – Family System Interventions (3 credits)
- SASS 585 – Social Work with Groups (3 credits)
- SASS 653B - Field Education III – B (1.5 credits)
Year Three
Semester Seven (7.5 credit hours)
- SASS 540 - Integrated Health and Wellness Specialized Policy (3 credits)
- SASS 579 – Cognitive Behavioral Interventions (3 credits)
- SASS 654A - Field Education IV-A (1.5 credits)
Semester Eight (8.5 credit hours)
- SASS 550 – Trauma Informed Social Work Practice with Children & Families (3 credits)
- SASS 582 - Social Work Practice with Child Abuse and Family Violence (3 credits)
- SASS 588 - Integrated Seminar (1 credit)
- SASS 654B – Field Education IV – B (1.5 credits)
Total MSW Program Hours: 60 credits
Year One
Semester One (6 credit hours)
- SASS 502 - Change Agent Intensive (1 credit)
- SASS 503 – Foundations of Social Policy and Service Delivery (2 credits)
- SASS 504 – Theories of Human Development and Human Diversity (2 credits)
- SASS 551 - Collaborative Practice (1 credit)
Semester Two (7 credit hours)
- SASS 508 – Individual and Family Theory & Practice (4 credits)
- SASS 455 – Field Education: Organizational Theory and Practice Seminar (1 credit)
- SASS 651 - Field Education I (2 credits)
Semester Three (7.5 credit hours)
- SASS 507 - Community Theory & Practice (2 credits)
- SASS 509 – Group Theory and Practice (2 credits)
- SASS 528 - Evidence Informed Practice (2 credits)
- SASS 652A - Field Education II – A (1.5 credits)
Year Two
Semester Four (8.5 credit hours)
- SASS 547 - Problems Identification, Screening and Assessment Diagnosing (3 credits)
- SASS 549 - Theory/Practice Approaches in Direct Practice Social Work (3 credits)
- SASS 456 – Field Education: Organizational Theory and Practice Seminar II (1 credit)
- SASS 652B - Field Education II - B (1.5 credits)
Semester Five (7.5 credit hours)
- SASS 542 - Evaluating Programs and Practices (3 credits)
- SASS 566 - Assessing and Engaging Community for Social Change (3 credits)
- SASS 653A - Field Education III - A (1.5 credits)
Semester Six (7.5 credit hours)
- SASS 564 – Social Work Practice in Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse (3 credits)
- MSW Elective (3 credits)
- SASS 653B - Field Education III – B (1.5 credits)
Year Three
Semester Seven (7.5 credit hours)
- SASS 540 - Integrated Health and Wellness Specialized Policy (3 credits)
- SASS 579 – Cognitive Behavioral Interventions (3 credits)
- SASS 654A - Field Education IV-A (1.5 credits)
Semester Eight (8.5 credit hours)
- SASS 562 – Social Work Interventions in Co-occurring Mental and Substance Abuse (3 credits)
- SASS 583 –Social Work Practice in Mental Health: Adults (3 credits)
- SASS 588 – Integrative Seminar in Mental Health (1 credit)
- SASS 654B – Field Education IV – B (1.5 credits)
Total MSW Program Hours: 60 credits
Please note that the sample patterns of enrollment on this page reflect the curriculum for students entering in fall 2024 and are subject to change in future terms. Our faculty may make enhancements or adjustments to the curriculum in future terms.