Whether you are a current undergraduate student in an unrelated field, a recent graduate with a BSW, or a working professional interested in a career change, Saint Mary’s Master of Social Work program will help you achieve your goals of making a difference in your local or global community. Working in field placements chosen to strengthen your classroom learning, our programs will prepare you to go immediately into the workforce or further your study in a doctoral program.
At Saint Mary’s, you will learn from faculty members who understand the current, complex field of social work. Considerable attention is paid to your ability to think critically and communicate effectively, imperative skills in today's job market. Our Social Work faculty are devoted to furthering their fields, practicing what they teach and bring you the very latest in professional theory and practical advances. As a student in our MSW program, open to both men and women, you will receive a generalist education as well as a chance to choose a speciality in Clinical/Mental Health or Health with an option in Aging during your second year. Your education here will provide you with research opportunities regarding inclusivity, diversity, and equity, all while providing you with the full course and fieldwork necessary to obtain an MSW.
Your education in Social Work doesn’t stop in the classroom; your faculty will help match you with a field placement in your community. In fact, you’ll be working in the field every semester alongside your online coursework. As you narrow your focus down to a concentration in your second year, your field placement will change to ensure you are getting the most relevant and specific experience possible as you work toward graduation and your eventual career as a Social Worker.
Social work is one of the fastest growing careers in the United States, according to the U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics. There were more than 715,000 social work jobs in 2020. The profession is expected to grow by 12% by 2030.
As a student in our MSW program, open to both men and women, you will receive a generalist education as well as a chance to choose a speciality in Clinical/Mental Health or Health with an option in Aging during your second year. Your education here will provide you with research opportunities regarding inclusivity, diversity, and equity, all while providing you with the full course and fieldwork necessary to obtain an MSW.
We are currently in the process of applying for national social work accreditation and expect to be in the pre-candidacy phase by this coming spring. We expect to achieve candidacy status in the first year of the program (2023-2024) and enter a two-year cycle for full accreditation (2025-2026) the process used by our national social work accrediting body for all MSW programs. According to accreditation policy, "Students admitted during or after the academic year in which the program is granted candidacy will be recognized as having graduated from an accredited program, once the program is fully accredited."