Social Work: MSW
Department: Social Work Department
College: College of Humanities and Social Sciences
About This Degree
The MSW degree is built on the advanced generalist philosophy and framework, which allows graduates to practice as social workers in a wide variety of environments. This means that rather than being limited to a specific type of graduate social work program, such as medical social work or child and family social work, students are able to use their degree to work in many different areas. Accordingly, the program instills in students the advanced generalist practice knowledge and skills essential to promoting social welfare, especially among vulnerable populations, in institutions such as education, health, employment, housing, and criminal justice. The department’s conceptualization of advanced generalist social work education emphasizes direct practice skills.
The advanced generalist model was adopted at USU for several reasons:
- It fits well with Utah State University’s land-grant heritage and mission that mandates providing educational access to diverse statewide communities
- Many of Utah’s communities are rural, where the need for MSW-level social workers is particularly acute, but access to MSW programs is severely limited
- Studies have supported the efficacy of the generalist and advanced generalist curriculum not only for rural practice, but for practice in other settings as well.
Utah State University’s master of social work program is offered in both a full-time and part-time option. The two-year, full-time program is available to those attending the main USU campus in Logan. The three-year, part-time program is currently available at other locations throughout the state of Utah.
The MSW program admits students to the traditional full-time and part-time programs every year, with classes beginning in Fall (late August.) The full-time Advanced Standing program begins coursework summer semester (early May) and the part-time Advanced Standing program begins coursework in the Spring semester (early January.) Those interested in applying for one or more of these programs should contact the social work office to learn when the next application cycle begins.
Locations
- Castle Dale
- Ephraim
- Nephi
- Price (USU Eastern)
Location Restrictions
To view all degrees and programs available at USU, visit Degree Finder. Please note, not all degrees and programs are available at every location. We recommend searching by location unless you intend on relocating. Contact a Statewide Campuses advisor to verify program availability in your area.
View Potential Careers
A MSW is necessary to provide clinical services (e.g., psychotherapy) and for advancement to supervisory or administrative positions.
With an MSW, you will be able to work in the following areas:
- Public welfare (administration and planning, case management, program evaluation, policy setting, public interest groups)
- Criminal justice/corrections (counseling/therapy, rehabilitation, probation, parole, youth services, victim assistance, courts)
- School social work (clinical social work, pupil personnel services, student advocacy, instruction)
- Child welfare (case management, advocacy, intervention)
- Family Services (adoption agencies, foster care organizations, etc.)
- Private Practice (or private social service agencies)
- Gerontology (advocacy/intervention, counseling, case management, programming, public policy)
- Clinical (counseling, therapy, community mental health centers, community residential homes, residential treatment centers, substance abuse treatment programs)
- Administration (management, policy development, planning)
- Local, State, and Federal Government (courts, school systems, etc.)
- Occupational (counseling, education, wellness promotion, employee assistance, organizational development, human resources, labor unions, health maintenance organizations (HMOs))
- Developmental disabilities (case management, program planning and evaluation, policy development)
- Health care (case management, counseling, program development, administration, research)
- Community organization (program and community development, advocacy, politics, education, planning)