Social Work - Advanced Standing - Direct Practice, MSW
Build advanced clinical skills in just one year. Designed for students who hold a Bachelor of Social Work, this program offers a direct practice concentration that prepares you to support individuals, families and groups through evidence-based interventions.
Quick facts
Credits
Additional facts
STEM-OPT extension eligible: No
International students (F1), this program is not eligible for the STEM-OPT extension.
Accreditation and professional licensure
The MSW program is accredited by the Council of Social Work Education'...
Accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
Social Work - Advanced Standing - Direct Practice program description
ASU ranks No. 20 for best graduate social work program by U.S. News & World Report, 2024.
The advanced direct practice specialization of the Master of Social Work program offers you four areas of practice, including children, youth and families; health; behavioral health; and child welfare. This program is designed to be completed in-person, in an accelerated and intensive, one-year format.
Across all areas, the curriculum is guided by social work values that emphasize evidence-based practice, client strengths, social justice and client empowerment. The primary curriculum goal of the MSW program is to educate you to be a advanced social work practitioner who demonstrates the knowledge, skills, values and ethics of the profession and is competent for specialized practice.
You learn how to diagnose and assess mental health conditions, create treatment plans and provide appropriate interventions in a variety of clinical and community settings.
Why study social work at ASU?
The Watts College offers an advanced standing track that enables you to earn your Master of Social Work in three semesters. This accelerated pathway saves you time and reduces tuition costs while maintaining the high clinical standards you need to succeed in professional practice.
As a student in the social work degree, you'll benefit from ASU's location in the Phoenix metropolitan area and access to a vast network of community partners across the Southwest. This connection gives you opportunities to engage with diverse populations and practice settings that prepare you for the realities of clinical work. The curriculum emphasizes client strengths, evidence-based practice, and the values and ethics of the profession.
You'll learn to diagnose and assess mental health conditions, create treatment plans and provide interventions grounded in social justice and client empowerment. You'll complete 480 hours of supervised field experience, gaining professional-level expertise in areas such as behavioral health, child welfare and community practice.
Additional details
Student organizations provide opportunities to connect with peers and explore your interests beyond the classroom. Groups include the American Indian Social Work Student Association, Compassion for Her, Macro Social Work Student Network, Phi Alpha Honor Society, Social Work Advancement Team and the Social Work Student Organization on the Downtown Phoenix campus, as well as the Tucson Student Council.
Curriculum
This graduate degree includes courses focused on a specialized topic, so you can advance your skills for further professional opportunities. Explore all courses below:
39 credit hours including the required capstone course (SWG 621)
Required Core (3 credit hours) Advanced Direct Practice Concentration (12 credit hours) Other Requirements (6 credit hours) Restricted Electives (15 credit hours) Culminating Experience (3 credit hours) Additional Curriculum Information Students complete their practicum during the fall and spring semesters. All credit hour path criteria must be approved by the academic unit prior to selection in the iPOS. The academic unit advises and monitors students to ensure they choose the appropriate coursework. Students should see the academic advisor when selecting courses and for a complete list of approved restricted elective coursework. Students select electives in:
SWG 514 Bridge Seminar I (3)
SWG 606 Assessment of Mental Disorders (3)
SWG 619 Practice-oriented Research (3)
SWG 641 Advanced Practicum: Direct Practice I (3)
SWG 642 Advanced Practicum: Direct Practice II (3)
SWG 515 Bridge Seminar II (3)
SWG 516 Social Work Skills Seminar (3)
SWG 621 Integrative Seminar (3)
Students must start the program in the summer and complete a total of nine credit hours. The remainder of the program is completed within two semesters.
What you'll learn
The following learning outcomes highlight some of the knowledge and skills you'll develop to support your future success.
- Plan, implement and evaluate evidence-based interventions
- Apply knowledge of human behavior in the social environment when working with individuals, families and groups
- Apply professional values and ethics during the advanced direct practice practicum
Plan, implement and evaluate evidence-based interventions Admission requirements
Here are the admission and application details
All students are required to meet general university admission requirements.
U.S. applicants (opens in new window) | International applicants (opens in new window) | English proficiency (opens in new window)
Applicants must fulfill the requirements of both the Graduate College and the Watts College of Public Service and Community Solutions. Applicants must have a BSW from a Council on Social Work Education-accredited program with a minimum GPA of 3.20 (scale is 4.00 = "A") in the last two years of work leading to the BSW (junior and senior GPA). Applicants must have received their BSW degree no more than six years prior to the date of admission to the MSW program. All applicants must submit: Additional Application Information A combination of academic and professional references is desirable. References from friends, family members or personal therapists are not accepted. At least one of the three required references must be from the applicant's BSW practicum instructor or, if employed in a social work-related job for two or more years, from the applicant's supervisor. Guidelines for writing the statement can be found at the program website. For questions about the application process, students should contact the School of Social Work.
An applicant whose native language is not English must provide proof of English proficiency regardless of their current residency.
Application deadlines
| Session | Modality | Deadline | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Session A/C | In Person | 02/01 | Final* |
*A final deadline means that all applications and application materials must be received by Admission Services by the deadline date. Applications that are incomplete may not be considered after the final deadline. Applications that are submitted past the final deadline may not be considered.
Paying for college
Use our calculator to estimate your full-time or part-time tuition fees for this program prior to any financial aid. Keep in mind that most of our students receive financial aid, which can reduce out-of-pocket costs.
Get an estimateCareer opportunities
Careers this social work degree prepares you for
Graduates have the preparation they need to work with individuals, families and small groups. They work in areas such as adult and juvenile corrections, behavioral health, homeless services, mental health organizations, schools, nonprofits and government agencies, and gerontology services.
Career examples include:
- counselor
- group therapy clinician
- hospital or school social worker
- individual counselor
- mental health service professional
- outreach coordinator or shelter director
- wellness programmer
Contact information
Use the contact information below to get in touch if you're a current student or have general questions.
Prospective students should fill out the Request for Information form.
School of Social Work
|
UCENT 800
mswadvising@asu.edu
602-496-0800
Frequently asked questions about degree programs
Accelerated programs allow students the opportunity to expedite the completion of their degree.
Accelerated master's
These programs allow students to accelerate their studies to earn a bachelor's plus a master's degree in as few as five years (for some programs).
Each program has requirements students must meet to be eligible for consideration. Students typically receive approval to pursue the accelerated master's during the junior year of their bachelor's degree program. Interested students can learn about eligibility requirements and how to apply.
Concurrent degrees allow students to pursue their own personal or professional interests, earn two distinct degrees and receive two diplomas. To add a concurrent degree to your existing degree, work with your academic advisor.
Joint programs, or jointly conferred degrees, are offered by more than one college and provide opportunities for students to take advantage of the academic strengths of two academic units. Upon graduation, students are awarded one degree and one diploma conferred by two colleges.
ASU adds new programs to Degree Search frequently. Come back often and look for the "New Programs" option.
ASU Online offers programs in an entirely online format with multiple enrollment sessions throughout the year. See https://asuonline.asu.edu/ for more information.
The Western Regional Graduate Program (WRGP) provides a reduced tuition rate to non-resident graduate students who qualify. Visit the WRGP/WICHE webpage for more information: https://graduate.asu.edu/wiche.
