Social Work (M.S.W.)

https://chhs.unh.edu/social-work/program/msw/social-work

The University of New Hampshire's M.S.W. program provides a quality educational experience that prepares graduates for Advanced Generalist practice consistent with the purposes of the social work profession.  It concentrates on strengths and empowerment models that encourage individuals and families, and communities and organizations to realize their full potential. 

Fields of Practice

MSW students will be able to select three electives in one or more of the following:

  1. Health and mental health;
  2. Addictions and substance abuse;
  3. Children, youth, and families,
  4. Disabilities; or a self-designed field of practice.

Program Options

The Durham Campus Program is our traditional model with classes held on campus.  It takes two years to complete the full time program, with part time course of study of three and four years.  Required first year courses are scheduled Monday-Wednesday leaving Thursdays and Fridays open for first year internships.  Second year courses are scheduled Wednesdays and Thursdays leaving Monday, Tuesday, and Friday for internships.  The Durham program admits once a year in the fall.

The M.S.W Online Program allows students to earn their Master of Social Work degree online in 28 months.  M.S.W online students are required to complete two internships at a program or agency in their local community and work with Social Work Department internship office to identify acceptable sites. Internship seminar and Practice classes will have weekly synchronous online classes help on Monday or Wednesday evenings.  The online program admits three times a year (fall, spring, summer).  No campus visits are required at any time.

Advanced Standing is an option for eligible students who have graduated from an accredited B.S.W. program within five years.  This option is available in Durham or online.  Admission to this program is every summer for Durham and every fall for online.

M.S.W. Degree Requirements

An M.S.W. candidate must complete 62 credit hours of 800- or 900-level courses including two, two-semester field internships, comprising a total of 1,240 hours in the field. Grades below the B­ level in a graded course or a "fail" in a credit/fail course are considered failing grades for the purposes of determining academic standing. Repeating a course does not remove the original failing grade from the record. Graduate students receiving failing grades in 9 or more credits, received either in three courses or in any combination of courses taken twice, will be dismissed from the M.S.W. program.

Although a significant portion of the curriculum is required, students will be able to complete three elective courses. At least one of these must be taken from among Department of Social Work course offerings.

Core MSW Program Advanced Generalist Courses

Core courses
SW 820Social Welfare Policy I3
SW 830Social Work Practice I3
SW 831Social Work Practice II: Practice in Small Groups and Community Organizations3
SW 840Implications of Race, Culture, and Oppression for Social Work Practice3
SW 850Human Behavior and the Social Environment I (HBSE I)3
SW 851Human Behavior and the Social Environment II (HBSE II)3
SW 860Research Methods in Social Work3
SW 880Internship I 13
SW 881Internship II 23
SW 926Social Welfare Policy II3
SW 930Advanced General Practice III: Clinical Assessment and Intervention3
SW 931Advanced Generalist Practice IV: Community and Administrative Practice3
SW 952Human Behavior and the Social Environment III3
SW 962Data Analysis and Statistics3
SW 965Program and Practice Evaluation3
SW 982Internship III 34
SW 983Internship IV 44
Electives
Select three 3-credit elective courses of social work (other graduate programs with permission):9
Aging and Society
Social Work and Spirituality
Adolescents with Emotional and Behavioral Challenges
Child and Adolescent Risks and Resiliency: Program, Policy and Practice
Child Maltreatment
Mental Health Aspects of Intellectual & Developmental Disabilities
First Responders
SW and the Digital Age
Understanding Developmental Disabilities
School Social Work
Affirming Practice with Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer+ People
Understanding Suicide
SW & Creative Arts
Fund Development and Grantwriting
Adventure Therapy: Facilitation and Processing of the Experience
Intimate Partner Violence
Special Topics in Social Work and Social Welfare
Social Work Supervision
Theory and Practice of Family Therapy
Social Work and the Law
Total Credits62
1

Seminar and concurrent two-day/week internship/academic year

2

Seminar and two-day/week internship continued from SW 880 Internship I

3

Seminar and concurrent three-day/week internship/academic year

4

Seminar and three-day/week internship continued from SW 982 Internship III

Durham Two Year Program

Plan of Study Grid
First Year
FallCredits
SW 820 Social Welfare Policy I 3
SW 830 Social Work Practice I 3
SW 840 Implications of Race, Culture, and Oppression for Social Work Practice 3
SW 850 Human Behavior and the Social Environment I 3
SW 880 Internship I 3
 Credits15
Spring
SW 831 Social Work Practice II: Practice in Small Groups and Community Organizations 3
SW 851 Human Behavior and the Social Environment II 3
SW 860 Research Methods in Social Work 3
SW 881 Internship II 3
SW 926 Social Welfare Policy II 3
 Credits15
Second Year
Fall
SW 930 Advanced General Practice III: Clinical Assessment and Intervention 3
SW 952 Human Behavior and the Social Environment III 3
SW 962 Data Analysis and Statistics 3
SW 982 Internship III 4
Elective 3
 Credits16
Spring
SW 931 Advanced Generalist Practice IV: Community and Administrative Practice 3
SW 965 Program and Practice Evaluation 3
SW 983 Internship IV 4
Elective 3
Elective 3
 Credits16
 Total Credits62

Please refer to our MSW Handbook listed on our website for 3 year and 4 year Durham degree plan options.

Online MSW Degree Plan - Example below is Fall cohort course of study

Plan of Study Grid
First Year
FallCredits
Term 1
 
SW 820 Social Welfare Policy I 3
SW 850 Human Behavior and the Social Environment I 3
Term 2
 
SW 840 Implications of Race, Culture, and Oppression for Social Work Practice 3
SW 860 Research Methods in Social Work 3
 Credits12
Spring
Term 3
 
SW 851 Human Behavior and the Social Environment II 3
SW 926 Social Welfare Policy II 3
Term 4
 
SW 830 Social Work Practice I 3
SW 880 Internship I 1 3
 Credits12
Summer
Elective 3
Continuation of SW 880: Field 1  
 Credits3
Second Year
Fall
Term 1
 
SW 831 Social Work Practice II: Practice in Small Groups and Community Organizations 3
SW 881 Internship II 2 3
Term 2
 
SW 952 Human Behavior and the Social Environment III 3
Continuation of SW 881: Field 2  
 Credits9
Spring
Term 3
 
Elective 3
SW 962 Data Analysis and Statistics 3
Term 4
 
SW 930 Advanced General Practice III: Clinical Assessment and Intervention 3
SW 982 Internship III 3 4
 Credits13
Summer
SW 965 Program and Practice Evaluation 3
Continuation of SW 982: Field 3  
 Credits3
Third Year
Fall
Term 1
 
SW 931 Advanced Generalist Practice IV: Community and Administrative Practice 3
SW 983 Internship IV 4 4
Term 2
 
Elective 3
Continuation of SW 983: Field 4  
 Credits10
 Total Credits62
1

Goes through Terms 4 and 5

2

Goes through Terms 1 and 2

3

Going through Terms 4 and 5

4

Goes through Terms 1 and 2

This graduate program is approved to be taken on an accelerated basis in articulation with certain undergraduate degree programs.

General Accelerated Master's policy, note that some programs have additional requirements (e.g. higher grade expectations) compared to the policy.

Please see the Graduate School website and contact the department directly for more information.

The Accelerated Masters (also referred to as early entry) program allows you to take graduate credit course senior year and have greater access to MSW elective options.  It also provides students with the option of completing graduate certificates, such as the Child Welfare or Substance Use Disorder Certificates.

  • Student demonstrates ethical and professional behavior.
  • Student engages diversity and difference in practice.
  • Student advances human rights and social, economic and environmental justice.
  • Engage in practice informed research and research-informed practice.
  • Engages in policy practice.
  • Engage with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities.
  • Assess individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities.
  • Intervenes with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities.
  • Evaluates practice with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities.