Tips for MSW Course Planning

The sequencing below is an example of the quickest route to program completion and based on the semester students begin the program, and their selected program option (online or in-person/hybrid.) MSW students are not required to take courses in this exact sequence and may complete the program part-time or full-time and are encouraged to devise a plan that best fits their unique situations and needs. Please meet with your MSW Faculty Advisor each semester to select the course plan that is best for your needs. Each MSW course is NOT offered every semester, your advisor can assist you in planning appropriately for sequences other than the examples below. (Please note a fulltime course load in graduate school is defined as 6-credits per semester, or more for financial-aid purposes.)

First Year (Fall)

MSW711 Ethics Across Social Work – 3 credits
MSW720 Multidimensional Assessment – 3 credits
MSW722 Mental Health and Diagnosis – 3 credits

First Year (Spring)

MSW723 Applied Research: Assessment and Evaluation – 3 credits
MSW724 Strength Based Leadership – 3 credits
MSW725 Treatment Approaches in Direct Practice – 3 credits
MSWXXX MSW Elective of Choice – 3 credits

Second Year (Fall)

MSW732 Field Placement II (Must be taken with MSW-733) – 3 credits
MSW733 Field Placement Seminar II (Must be taken with MSW-732) – 3 credits
MSW727 Complex Trauma – 3 credits

Second Year (Spring)

MSW734 Field Placement III (Must be taken with MSW735) – 3 credits
MSW735 Field Placement Seminar III (Must be taken with MSW734) – 3 credits
MSW736 Advanced Practice Colloquium (take in final semester) – 3 credits

Total Credits = 39

Tips for MSW Course Planning

The sequencing below is an example of the quickest route to program completion and based on the semester students begin the program, and their selected program option (online or in-person/hybrid.) MSW students are not required to take courses in this exact sequence and may complete the program part-time or full-time and are encouraged to devise a plan that best fits their unique situations and needs. Please meet with your MSW Faculty Advisor each semester to select the course plan that is best for your needs. Each MSW course is NOT offered every semester. Your advisor can assist you in planning appropriately for sequences other than the examples above. (Please note a full-time course load in graduate school is defined as 6-credits per semester, or more for financial-aid purposes.) *Pennsylvania requires any social worker seeking the Pennsylvania School Social Work Certification to be a Liciensed Social Worker (LSW) in the State of Pennsylvania before this certificate is issued.

DISCLAIMER: This plan is subject to the availability of courses in a particular term. Updated May 2024.


First Year (Fall)

MSW700 The Foundations of Generalist Practice – 3 credits
MSW702 Social Welfare and Policy – 3 credits
MSW714 Human Behavior in the Social Environment (HBSE) – 3 credits

First Year (Spring)

MSW715 Diversity, Inclusion & Cultural Humility – 3 credits
MSW716 Human Behavior in the Macro Social Environment – 3 credits
MSW724 Strength Based Leadership – 3 credits

Second Year (Fall)

MSW730 Field Placement I (Must be taken with MSW-731) – 3 credits
MSW731 Field Placement Seminar I (Must be taken with MSW-730) – 3 credits
MSW711 Ethics Across Social Work – 3 credits
MSW720 Multidimensional Assessment – 3 credits

Second Year (Spring)

MSW722 Mental Health and Diagnosis – 3 credits
MSW723 Applied Research: Assessment and Evaluation – 3 credits
MSWXXX MSW Elective of Choice – 3 credits

Third Year (Fall)

MSW732 MSW Field Placement II (Must be taken with MSW733) – 3 credits
MSW733 MSW Field Placement II (Must be taken with MSW732) – 3 credits
MSW727 Complex Trauma – 3 credits
MSW725 Treatment Approaches in Direct Practice – 3 credits

Third Year (Summer)

MSW734 MSW Field Placement III (Must be taken with MSW735) – 3 credits
MSW-735 MSW Field Seminar III (Must be taken with MSW-734) – 3 credits
MSW-736 Advanced Practice Colloquium (Take in final semester) – 3 credits

Total Credits = 60

Tips for MSW Course Planning

The sequencing below is an example of the quickest route to program completion and based on the semester students begin the program, and their selected program option (online or in-person/hybrid.) MSW students are not required to take courses in this exact sequence and may complete the program part-time or full-time and are encouraged to devise a plan that best fits their unique situations and needs. Please meet with your MSW Faculty Advisor each semester to select the course plan that is best for your needs. Each MSW course is NOT offered every semester. Your advisor can assist you in planning appropriately for sequences other than the examples above. (Please note a full-time course load in graduate school is defined as 6-credits per semester, or more for financial-aid purposes.) *Pennsylvania requires any social worker seeking the Pennsylvania School Social Work Certification to be a Liciensed Social Worker (LSW) in the State of Pennsylvania before this certificate is issued.

DISCLAIMER: This plan is subject to the availability of courses in a particular term. Updated May 2024.


First Year (Fall)

MSW700 The Foundations of Generalist Practice – 3 credits
MSW702 Social Welfare and Policy – 3 credits
MSW714 Human Behavior in the Social Environment (HBSE) – 3 credits
MSW715 Diversity, Inclusion & Cultural Humility – 3 credits

First Year (Spring)

MSW716 Human Behavior in the Macro Social Environment – 3 credits
MSW720 Multidimensional Assessment – 3 credits
MSW730 Field Placement I (Must be taken with MSW-731) – 3 credits
MSW731 Field Placement Seminar I (Must be taken with MSW-730) – 3 credits

First Year (Summer)

MSW724 Strength Based Leadership – 3 credits
MSW727 Complex Trauma – 3 credits

Second Year (Fall)

MSW722 Mental Health and Diagnosis – 3 credits
MSW723 Applied Research: Assessment and Evaluation – 3 credits
MSW711 Ethics Across Social Work – 3 credits

Second Year (Spring)

MSW725 Treatment Approaches in Direct Practice – 3 credits
MSW732 MSW Field Placement II (Must be taken with MSW733) – 3 credits
MSW733 MSW Field Placement II (Must be taken with MSW732) – 3 credits
MSWXXX MSW Elective of Choice – 3 credits

Second Year (Summer)

MSW734 MSW Field Placement III (Must be taken with MSW735) – 3 credits
MSW-735 MSW Field Seminar III (Must be taken with MSW-734) – 3 credits
MSW-736 Advanced Practice Colloquium (Take in final semester) – 3 credits

Total Credits = 60

Tips for MSW Course Planning

The sequencing below is an example of the quickest route to program completion and based on the semester students begin the program, and their selected program option (online or in-person/hybrid.) MSW students are not required to take courses in this exact sequence and may complete the program part-time or full-time and are encouraged to devise a plan that best fits their unique situations and needs. Please meet with your MSW Faculty Advisor each semester to select the course plan that is best for your needs. Each MSW course is NOT offered every semester. Your advisor can assist you in planning appropriately for sequences other than the examples above. (Please note a full-time course load in graduate school is defined as 6-credits per semester, or more for financial-aid purposes.) *Pennsylvania requires any social worker seeking the Pennsylvania School Social Work Certification to be a Liciensed Social Worker (LSW) in the State of Pennsylvania before this certificate is issued.

DISCLAIMER: This plan is subject to the availability of courses in a particular term. Updated Fall 2023.

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