Program Contact: Carol R. Awasu 203-582-6433
The Master of Social Work (MSW) program includes both the on-campus and online formats and prepares students for achievement and leadership in the field of social work. The curricular approach of the MSW program is unique in that it directly engages students in interprofessional education and the health and mental health care team approach.
Quinnipiac’s MSW program embraces the university’s commitment to the development of professional expertise through practice experience. Students must have at least 900 hours of professional preparation in field internship practicum (400 hours in the generalist year and 500 hours in the specialized year). The generalist and specialized field internships offer students the opportunity to practice skills learned in the classroom in real-world settings.
The 60 credits required for the MSW degree include 30 credits in the generalist curriculum and 30 credits in the specialized practice curriculum. Students with a BSW from a CSWE-accredited program may apply for Advanced Standing and complete 30 credits over one or two years.
The specialized practice curriculum has a specialization in health and mental health. All MSW students are required to participate in interprofessional education activities offered by the Center for Interprofessional Healthcare Education. These requirements are embedded in field education courses in both the generalist and specialized years. The MSW program at Quinnipiac University does not give credit for life or work experience.
For those who have already earned a Bachelor of Social Work (BSW), Quinnipiac offers an Advanced Standing Master of Social Work program.
Students entering Quinnipiac as undergraduates who are interested in the social work program have the option of pursuing a dual-degree bachelor's to master's program. The Accelerated Dual-Degree BS in Health Science Studies/Master of Social Work (3+2) begins with an undergraduate degree in Health Science Studies in the School of Health Sciences. The Accelerated Dual-Degree Bachelor's/Master of Social Work (3+2) begins with undergraduate study in the College of Arts & Sciences.
Undergraduate students at Quinnipiac may choose to apply for the Dual-Degree 4+2 program. Undergraduate students earn a BA or BS in 4 years and apply to the 4+2 program in their junior year. In their senior year, they take 9 MSW credits and then transition to the MSW program.
Students who are interested in earning a JD and a Master of Social Work may earn both degrees on an accelerated basis by enrolling in the joint Dual-Degree JD/MSW program. Please see the Admission tab for additional details.
Graduates of the MSW program are eligible to take the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) examination.
Traditional MSW Program of Study
Students can choose between two plans of study for the on-campus traditional MSW.
The curriculum for the professional courses in the program is subject to modification as deemed necessary to maintain a high-quality educational experience and keep current with best practices in the profession.
Two-year full-time MSW
Students in this plan of study enter the MSW program in the fall semester and complete the degree over four terms of study in two academic years. In addition to their classes, students are required to complete generalist and specialized practice field placements.
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall Semester | Credits | |
| SW 500 | Generalist Field Education Practicum I | 3 |
| SW 501 | Social Work Practice I: Social Work Practice with Individuals and Families | 3 |
| SW 504 | Social Welfare and Social Policy | 3 |
| SW 505 | Social Work Research | 3 |
| SW 511 | Human Behavior in the Social Environment I: Theories for Practice for Individuals and Families | 3 |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| SW 502 | Generalist Field Education Practicum II | 3 |
| SW 503 | Social Work Practice II: Practice With Groups and Communities | 3 |
| SW 507 | Anti-Oppressive Practice | 3 |
| SW 512 | Human Behavior in the Social Environment II: Theories for Groups, Organizations and Communities | 3 |
| SW 580 | Clinical Assessment and Diagnosis | 3 |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Second Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| SW 600 | Specialized Practice Field Education Practicum in Health/Mental Health I | 3 |
| SW 601 | Social Work Practice III: Specialized Clinical Social Work Practice | 3 |
| SW 604 | Evaluation Research Work Programs and Practice | 3 |
| Select two electives 1 | 6 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| SW 602 | Specialized Practice Field Education Practicum in Health/Mental Health II | 3 |
| SW 603 | Social Work Practice IV: Specialized Organizational Social Work Practice | 3 |
| Select three electives 1 | 9 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Total Credits | 60 | |
- 1
Of the five elective courses, two must be clinical elective courses.
Three-year extended MSW
Students complete the generalist and specialized curricula over three years with 9 credits per semester in the first and second years and 12 credits per semester in the third year. In addition to their classes, students are required to complete generalist and specialized practice field placements.
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall Semester | Credits | |
| SW 504 | Social Welfare and Social Policy | 3 |
| SW 505 | Social Work Research | 3 |
| SW 511 | Human Behavior in the Social Environment I: Theories for Practice for Individuals and Families | 3 |
| Credits | 9 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| SW 507 | Anti-Oppressive Practice | 3 |
| SW 512 | Human Behavior in the Social Environment II: Theories for Groups, Organizations and Communities | 3 |
| SW 580 | Clinical Assessment and Diagnosis | 3 |
| Credits | 9 | |
| Second Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| SW 500 | Generalist Field Education Practicum I | 3 |
| SW 501 | Social Work Practice I: Social Work Practice with Individuals and Families | 3 |
| Select 1 elective 1 | 3 | |
| Credits | 9 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| SW 502 | Generalist Field Education Practicum II | 3 |
| SW 503 | Social Work Practice II: Practice With Groups and Communities | 3 |
| Select 1 elective 1 | 3 | |
| Credits | 9 | |
| Third Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| SW 600 | Specialized Practice Field Education Practicum in Health/Mental Health I | 3 |
| SW 601 | Social Work Practice III: Specialized Clinical Social Work Practice | 3 |
| SW 604 | Evaluation Research Work Programs and Practice | 3 |
| Select 1 elective 1 | 3 | |
| Credits | 12 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| SW 602 | Specialized Practice Field Education Practicum in Health/Mental Health II | 3 |
| SW 603 | Social Work Practice IV: Specialized Organizational Social Work Practice | 3 |
| Select two electives 1 | 6 | |
| Credits | 12 | |
| Total Credits | 60 | |
- 1
Of the five elective courses, two must be clinical elective courses.
Requirements for Academic Progression and Graduation
All graduate students in the MSW program are expected to maintain a GPA of at least 3.00 on a 4.00 scale. Full-time graduate students are required to achieve a 3.00 GPA each semester. All graduate students in the MSW program are required to have a cumulative GPA of 3.00 by the time of graduation (MSW students earning dual/joint degrees must have a GPA of 3.00 in the MSW degree component). The MSW program requires students to achieve a grade of C or better (or Pass in a pass/fail format) in all MSW courses. All MSW students are required to demonstrate professional behavior according to the MSW Program's Standards for Professional Practice and the NASW Code of Ethics. Review of academic progression and/or professional performance may occur during the semester and does occur at the end of each semester.
Student Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of the MSW program, students will demonstrate the following competencies:
- Demonstrate ethical and professional behavior.
- Advance human rights and social, racial, economic and environmental justice.
- Engage anti-racism, diversity, equity, and inclusion (ADEI) in practice.
- Engage in practice-informed research and research-informed practice.
- Engage in policy practice.
- Engage with individuals, families, groups, organizations and communities.
- Assess individuals, families, groups, organizations and communities.
- Intervene with individuals, families, groups, organizations and communities.
- Evaluate practice with individuals, families, groups, organizations and communities.
Mission Statement
The mission of the Quinnipiac University MSW program is to prepare social workers for specialized practice in health and mental health through a curriculum that focuses on clinical and organizational practice, experiential learning and interprofessional teamwork. Guided by respect for human dignity and a commitment to social justice, the MSW program uses a person-in-environment framework to ready students for professional practice in dynamic contexts.
MSW Program Values
The MSW program’s core values reflect the NASW Code of Ethics for Social Workers: service, social justice, the dignity and worth of the person, the importance of human relationships, integrity and competence.
MSW Program Goals
The MSW program has the following five goals:
- Prepare students to be competent ethical social workers in a variety of health and mental health settings.
- Prepare students to engage in anti-racist and anti-oppressive clinical and organizational social work practice.
- Prepare students to advocate for equity and social justice at all levels of social work practice.
- Prepare students to integrate social work perspectives within interprofessional collaborations and across systems.
- Promote lifelong learning and professional development for students, alumni and social work colleagues.
Admission
To qualify for admission to the program, students must have earned a bachelor’s degree from a college or university accredited by a recognized regional accrediting association, with a preferred minimum GPA of 3.00 and at least 20 semester credits in liberal arts. Students with a BSW from a CSWE-accredited program are encouraged to apply for Advanced Standing.
Exemption Exams and Transfer Policy
Upon written request to the MSW Program Director, exemption exams will be offered to students who have taken a similar course in the past 5 years and have achieved mastery of the content of SW 504, SW 505, SW 507, SW 511 and/or SW 512.
Students will need to provide a syllabus from the course that they believe covered similar content and a transcript showing a grade of B or higher in the course. If approved by the MSW Program Director, a course outline for the corresponding course(s) (SW 504, SW 505, SW 507, SW 511, and/or SW 512) will be shared with the applicant requesting the exemption exam. Each exemption exam will be written and graded by a faculty member who regularly teaches that particular course. Each exam must be passed with a grade of 90% or higher. Students will be notified in writing of Pass or Fail for the exam. An exemption exam may not be repeated. If an exemption exam is passed, the student will not need to take that particular course, and this will be noted on the student’s record. However, no credit is given for the exempted course. The student will replace the exempted course(s) with elective credit; 60 credits are required for completion of the MSW degree.
Transfer Credit for Generalist Year of MSW Field and Coursework
Students who have completed a full year of generalist field- and coursework (each course completed with a grade of B or higher) at a CSWE-accredited graduate school of social work in the United States within five years of the term for which they are applying, may apply for transfer of those MSW credits.
A maximum of 30 credits, earned while an MSW degree candidate in no more than two years, may be granted toward the MSW degree. In order to earn the 60 credits required for the MSW degree, at least 30 credits must be completed at Quinnipiac University’s MSW program (regardless of the number of transfer credits eligible for transfer). Upon review of the transcript, it is likely that the student will need to complete more than 30 credits at Quinnipiac University MSW program, due to the unique features of the Quinnipiac University MSW program.
Students whose credits are accepted for transfer in this situation may be able to complete their studies within one year. They will enter the MSW program as full-time second year specialized students. Plans of study for those students awarded less than 30 MSW transfer credits may vary slightly from those presented in the Student Handbook/Catalog. In such cases, the student should meet with the MSW Program Director to discuss an adjusted plan of study.
Transfer Credit for Prior Graduate Coursework
Students who have completed graduate-level courses in social work or in related disciplines may request transfer for eligible courses completed with a grade of B or higher.
A maximum of 9 credits may be transferred from CSWE-accredited MSW programs; only 6 of these may be for electives. These credits may be for comparable generalist year courses to SW 504, SW 505, SW 511, SW 507, and SW 512. These credits may also be for other social work courses taken as electives (up to 6 credits only). Only those courses in which a student has received a grade of B or higher will be considered for transfer.
A maximum of 6 graduate credits from a related discipline (that is, other than social work) may be eligible for transfer credit. These credits will be counted as elective credits for the Quinnipiac University MSW degree.
Regardless of transfer credits awarded, students must still meet all MSW degree requirements at Quinnipiac University.
It is the responsibility of the admitted student to request transfer credit. The transfer credit application (along with official transcripts from the institution where the credits were earned) must be submitted to the MSW Program Director no later than the first week of classes for the semester in which the student matriculates. Applications are reviewed for relevance of the course(s) to social work, grade(s) earned, and date of completion.
Courses taken at other institutions after a student has matriculated at Quinnipiac University MSW program are not eligible for transfer credit.
Note: Grades for courses taken at other institutions are not calculated toward the GPA for the Quinnipiac University MSW program.
No course credit for life experience or previous work experience is granted.
Dual-Degree JD/MSW
Students interested in earning both a JD and a Master of Social Work may earn both degrees on an accelerated basis by enrolling in the Dual-Degree JD/MSW program. Students must apply and be accepted separately to each program. Ideally, students would apply to both programs before starting either but a student enrolled in either program could, during the first year (and possibly later), apply for and be accepted to the other program.
For more information, see the Dual-Degree JD/MSW page.
Additional Program Costs
As a clinical education program, the MSW Program requires some expenses that go beyond university graduate tuition and fees. Please note all cost estimates are subject to change:
- Clinical/Fieldwork Education Travel – Students are responsible for all expenses (e.g., gas, parking, maintenance) related to transportation to get to a fieldwork site. This includes private transportation, public transportation and air travel as necessary. Cost: variable
- Academic and Experiential Software Package Cost (Exxat-Prism & Exxat-Approve) - Students enrolled in the MSW are required to purchase access software that manage experiential learning processes management of student health requirements (physical exams, vaccinations, etc.). Additional details and costs can be found on the School of Health Sciences page.
- Background Check & Drug Screen - The MSW program requires a criminal background check and drug screening before a student is placed at an experiential learning site. The university has procedures to assist students in obtaining such screenings. Students must review university policies regarding background checks and drug screening.
The cost of the background check and drug screen is the responsibility of each individual student; additionally, certain clinical/fieldwork sites may require an additional check(s) prior to the student rotating at their specific site. Additional details and costs can be found on the School of Health Sciences page. -
Immunizations – Consistent with the School of Health Sciences policy, all students must have a full battery of immunizations and, in some cases, titer affirmation of immunity for common diseases including but not limited to: MMR, HepB, varicella, polio, TDAP, TB, COVID and influenza. These must be documented prior to the start of clinical experiences and must be maintained until graduation. Cost: variable (please check with your insurance carrier)
- Liability Insurance – All students have liability insurance coverage through the university, free of charge, while performing required clinical activity. Students may choose to purchase additional coverage at their own expense.
* All prices as of May 1, 2026, and subject to change**
The MSW program is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE).
The CSWE address is:
Council on Social Work Education
333 John Carlyle Street, Suite 400
Alexandria, VA 22314
Phone: 703-683-8080
Fax: 703-683-8099
Email: info@cswe.org
Website: CSWE.org
All Council on Social Work Education programs measure and report student learning outcomes. Students are assessed on their mastery of the competencies that comprise the accreditation standards of the Council on Social Work Education. These competencies are dimensions of social work practice that all social workers are expected to master during their professional training. A measurement benchmark is set by the social work programs for each competency. An assessment score at or above that benchmark is considered by the program to represent mastery of that particular competency.
Please click Assessment of Student Learning Outcomes (PDF) for more information.