Program Contact: DeVonne Allen 203-582-7344
Quinnipiac’s Advanced Standing Online MSW 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. Students may complete this curriculum in one academic year by studying full time, or part-time 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.
The MSW degree meets the academic requirements for licensure as a Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW) and Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) in Connecticut. Please check the licensure requirements for your particular state.
Plans of Study
Students can choose among two plans of study (full-time or part-time) for the Advanced Standing MSW. Full-time students complete the degree in one academic year. Part-time students complete the degree in two academic years. In addition to their classes, students are required to complete a specialized practice field placement.
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. Students will take the following courses during their degree program:
One year full-time plan of study
| First Year | Credits | |
|---|---|---|
| Semester 1 | ||
Term A |
||
| SW 604 | Evaluation Research Work Programs and Practice | 3 |
| SW 607 | Anti-Racism, Social Justice: Health and Mental Health | 3 |
Term B |
||
| SW 580 | Clinical Assessment and Diagnosis | 3 |
| Elective 1 | 3 | |
| Semester 2 | ||
Term A |
||
| 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 |
Term B |
||
| SW 600 (cont'd) | ||
| Elective 1 | 3 | |
| Semester 3 | ||
Term A |
||
| 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 |
Term B |
||
| SW 602 (cont'd) | ||
| Elective 1 | 3 | |
| Credits | 30 | |
| Total Credits | 30 | |
- 1
Two of the three electives must be clinical based electives.
Two year part-time plan of study
| First Year | Credits | |
|---|---|---|
| Semester 1 | ||
Term A |
||
| SW 607 | Anti-Racism, Social Justice: Health and Mental Health | 3 |
Term B |
||
| SW 580 | Clinical Assessment and Diagnosis | 3 |
| Semester 2 | ||
Term A |
||
| SW 604 | Evaluation Research Work Programs and Practice | 3 |
Term B |
||
| Elective 1 | 3 | |
| Semester 3 | ||
Term A |
||
| 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 |
Term B |
||
| SW 600 (cont'd) | ||
| Credits | 18 | |
| Second Year | ||
| Semester 4 | ||
Term A |
||
| 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 |
Term B |
||
| SW 602 (cont'd) | ||
| Semester 5 | ||
Term A |
||
| Elective 1 | 3 | |
Term B |
||
| Elective 1 | 3 | |
| Credits | 12 | |
| Total Credits | 30 | |
- 1
Two of the three electives must be clinical based electives.
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.
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 in early July. 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.
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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**