Program Contact: Carol R. Awasu 203-582-6433
Quinnipiac’s MSW Advanced Standing program is designed for those who have already completed a bachelor’s degree in social work (BSW). To qualify, students must have a BSW conferred from a CSWE-accredited program prior to beginning the MSW Advanced Standing program.
Students complete 30 credits of coursework over two semesters, including 500 hours of field education (total of 30 credits). Students may complete this curriculum in one academic year by studying full time, or within 2 academic years. Students in both plans of study are required to complete the requisite hours in interprofessional education with the Center for Interprofessional Healthcare Education.
MSW graduates are prepared for employment in a full range of clinical and macro social work positions, including careers in health and mental health, substance use, aging/gerontology, child and family welfare, school social work, justice systems, community and policy practice. Graduates of the MSW program are eligible to take the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) examination.
Students can choose among two plans of study (full-time or two-year) for the Advanced Standing 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.
Full-Time Advanced Standing
Students complete the specialized practice curriculum full time. In addition to their classes, students are required to complete a specialized practice field placement.
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall Semester | Credits | |
| SW 580 | Clinical Assessment and Diagnosis | 3 |
| 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 |
| SW 607 | Anti-Racism, Social Justice: Health and Mental Health | 3 |
| 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 elective courses 1 | 9 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Total Credits | 30 | |
- 1
Of the three elective courses, two must be clinical elective courses.
Two-Year Advanced Standing
Students complete the specialized practice curriculum over two years with a reduced course load. In addition to their classes, students are required to complete a specialized practice field placement.
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall Semester | Credits | |
| SW 580 | Clinical Assessment and Diagnosis | 3 |
| SW 607 | Anti-Racism, Social Justice: Health and Mental Health | 3 |
| Credits | 6 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| Two elective courses 1 | 6 | |
| Credits | 6 | |
| 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 |
| Credits | 9 | |
| 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 1 elective 1 | 3 | |
| Credits | 9 | |
| Total Credits | 30 | |
- 1
Of the three 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. MSW 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 Advanced Standing MSW program, students will demonstrate the following competencies:
- Demonstrate ethical and professional behavior.
- Engage diversity and difference in practice.
- Advance human rights and social, economic and environmental justice.
- 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 be eligible to apply for admission, applicants must have earned a BSW from a CSWE-accredited program prior to the beginning of the MSW Advanced Standing program. All BSW courses must have grades of B or better.* Admission is selective and not guaranteed.
*Applicants to the advanced standing program may be admitted conditionally if their GPA or BSW course grades do not meet the required admission criteria. Such cases will be considered on an individual basis by the admissions committee. Students who are admitted conditionally must earn at least a 3.00 their first term to continue in the advanced standing program as a fully accepted student.
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 visit Assessment of Student Learning Outcomes for more information.