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 field 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 field internships at a program or agency in their local community and work with Social Work Department field office to identify acceptable field sites. Field 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 880Field Internship I 13
SW 881Field Internship 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 982Field Internship III 34
SW 983Field Internship 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
Social Action in the Dominican Republic
Child Maltreatment
Mental Health Aspects of Intellectual & Developmental Disabilities
First Responders
SW and the Digital Age
Understanding Developmental Disabilities
School Social Work
Introduction to Addiction: Assessment and Intervention
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 Field Internship I

3

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

4

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

  • 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.