Program Overview
The MSW program offers a advanced generalist competency-based curriculum. Our graduates are expected to demonstrate professional competencies across levels of practice. These competencies are informed by social work knowledge, values, skills, and cognitive and affective processes and applied in the service of enhancing the well-being of individuals and communities.
All MSW program options and master plans of study have been carefully designed to ensure graduates gain advanced specialized practice competencies across all five client system levels including individual, families, groups, organizations, and communities.
Program Options
The MSW program is designed to help you earn your degree on a timeline that best fits your needs.
- Columbia Program Option: The Columbia MSW Program option offers a face-to-face 11-month Advanced Standing program, a two-year full-time program, or a three-year extended time program of study.
- Greenville Program Option: The Greenville MSW Program option offers a face-to-face three-year extended time program of study.
- Charleston Program Option: The Charleston MSW program option offers a face-to-face three-year extended time program of study.
- Online Program Option: COMING SOON! The two-year full-time online program option offers synchronous and asynchronous courses. Applications will be accepted for the Fall 2025 enrollment beginning September 2024.
Pathways to degree completion include the following master plan of study options:
- 11-Month Advanced Standing Program in Columbia for students who have earned a bachelor's degree in social work.
- Two-Year Full-time Program in Columbia
- Two-Year Full-time Online Program: A mix of Synchronous and Asynchronous Courses (beginning Fall 2025)
- Three-Year Extended Time Program in Columbia, Greenville, and Charleston
Degree Requirements
Our program’s academic regulations are consistent with The Graduate School and in accordance with accreditation standards established by the Council on Social Work Education.
Full-time and Extended Time students must complete 60 credit hours, and Advanced Standing students must complete 42 credit hours. All graduate-level studies must be completed in six years.
All students must also successfully complete a comprehensive assessment that is distinct from program course requirements. The comprehensive assessment requires students to synthesize and integrate knowledge acquired in coursework and other learning experiences and apply theories and principles to aspects of professional practice and research in social work.
Summer Semester
| Course No. | Title | Credit |
|---|---|---|
| SOWK 701 | Professional Development Bridge | 3 |
| SOWK 702 or SOWK ___ |
Writing for Professional Social Work Practice OR Elective Course (contingent upon results of online writing assessment) |
3 |
| SOWK 777 | Advanced Theory for Social Work Practice | 3 |
| SOWK ___ | Elective Course | 3 |
Advanced Year – Fall
| Course No. | Title | Credit |
|---|---|---|
| SOWK 779 | Advanced Social Work Interventions | 3 |
| SOWK 783 | Field Instruction III: Advanced Social Work Practice | 3 |
| SOWK 792 or SOWK 793 |
Evaluation of Social Work Practice OR Evaluation of Social Work Programs |
3 |
| SOWK ___ | Elective Course | 3 |
| SOWK ___ | Elective Course | 3 |
Advanced Year – Spring
| Course No. | Title | Credit |
|---|---|---|
| SOWK 718 | Systems Analysis of Social Work Practice | 3 |
| SOWK 778 | Advanced Analysis of Social Policy, Programs, and Services | 3 |
| SOWK 784 | Field Instruction IV: Advanced Social Work Practice | 3 |
| SOWK ___ | Practice Elective Course * | 3 |
| SOWK ___ | Elective Course | 3 |
NOTES:
* Students must complete a minimum of one practice elective in all plans of study
and may take additional practice courses.
Foundation Year – Fall
| Generalist Year – Fall Semester Course No. | Title | Credit |
|---|---|---|
| SOWK 712 | Human Behavior and the Social Environment I | 3 |
| SOWK 714 | Diversity and Social Justice Issues for Social Work Practice | 3 |
| SOWK 716 | Human Behavior and the Social Environment II | 3 |
| SOWK 781 | Field Instruction I: Generalist Social Work Practice | 3 |
| SOWK 791 | Social Work Research Methodologies | 3 |
Foundation Year – Spring
| Generalist Year – Spring Semester Course No. | Title | Credit |
|---|---|---|
| SOWK 722 | Social Work Practice with Individuals, Families and Small Groups | 3 |
| SOWK 732 | Social Work Practice with Organizations and Communities | 3 |
| SOWK 742 | Social Welfare Policy Analysis | 3 |
| SOWK XX_ | Elective | 3 |
| SOWK 782 | Field Instruction II: Generalist Social Work Practice | 3 |
Advanced Year – Fall
| Advanced Generalist Year – Fall Semester Course No. | Title | Credit |
|---|---|---|
| SOWK 735 | Advanced Practice with Individuals | 3 |
| SOWK 775 | Advanced Practice with Groups | 3 |
| SOWK 755 | Advanced Practice with Organizations | |
| SOWK 792 or SOWK 793 |
Evaluation of Social Work Practice OR Evaluation of Social Work Programs |
3 |
| SOWK 783 | Advanced Social Work Practice | 3 |
Advanced Year – Spring
| Advanced Generalist Year – Spring Semester Course No. | Title | Credit |
|---|---|---|
| SOWK 718 | Systems Analysis of Social Work Practice | 3 |
| SOWK 766 | Advanced Practice with Families | 3 |
| SOWK 776 | Advanced Practice with Communities | 3 |
| SOWK XX | Elective Course * | 3 |
| SOWK 784 | Field Instruction IV: Advanced Social Work Practice | 3 |
NOTES:
* Students must complete a minimum of one practice elective in all plans of study.
Students may take additional practice courses.
Our MSW program offers options for Extended-time students in Greenville, SC at the University Center of Greenville and in Charleston, SC at 4130 Faber Pl Dr #100, North Charleston, SC 29405
First Year, Generalist – Fall Semester
| Course No. | Title | Credit |
|---|---|---|
| SOWK 712 | Human Behavior and the Social Environment I | 3 |
| SOWK 714 | Diversity and Social Justice Issues for Social Work Practice | 3 |
| SOWK 781.EX1* | Field Instruction I: Generalist Social Work Practice (Seminar) |
First Year, Generalist – Spring Semester
| Course No. | Title | Credit |
|---|---|---|
| SOWK 716 | Human Behavior and the Social Environment II | 3 |
| SOWK 722 | Social Work Practice with Individuals, Families and Small Groups | 3 |
| SOWK 782.EX1 | Field Instruction II: Generalist Social Work Practice (Seminar) | 2 |
First Year, Generalist – Summer Semester
| Course No. | Title | Credit |
|---|---|---|
| SOWK 742 | Social Welfare Policy Analysis | 3 |
| SOWK 732 | Social Work Practice with Organizations and Communities | 3 |
| SOWK 782. EX2 | Field Instruction II: Generalist Social Work Practice (no seminar) | 1 |
Second Year, Transition to Advanced Generalist – Fall Semester
| Course No. | Title | Credit |
|---|---|---|
| SOWK XX | Elective Course | 3 |
| SOWK 792 | Evaluation of Social Work Practice | 3 |
| SOWK 783. EX2 | Field Instruction III: Advanced Generalist Social Work Practice | 1 |
Second Year, Advanced Generalist – Summer Semester
| Course No. | Title | Credit |
|---|---|---|
| SOWK 755 | Advanced Practice with Organizations | 3 |
| SOWK 766 | Advanced Practice with Families | 3 |
| SOWK 784.EX1 | Field Instruction IV: Advanced Social Work Practice | 1 |
Third Year, Advanced Generalist – Fall Semester
| Course No. | Title | Credit |
|---|---|---|
| SOWK 718 | Systems Analysis of Social Work Practice | 3 |
| SOWK 776 | SOWK 776 | 3 |
| SOWK 784.EX2 | Field Instruction IV: Advanced Social Work Practice (completion credit) | 2 |
NOTES:
* Students must complete a minimum of one practice elective in all plans of study.
Students may take additional practice courses.
Advanced Year – Fall
| Course No. | Title | Credit |
|---|---|---|
| SOWK 779 | Advanced Social Work Interventions (Health/Mental Health only) | 3 |
| SOWK 783 | Field Instruction III: Advanced Social Work Practice | 3 |
| SOWK 792 | Evaluation of Social Work Practice | 3 |
Advanced Year – Spring
| Course No. | Title | Credit |
|---|---|---|
| SOWK 718 | Systems Analysis of Social Work Practice | 3 |
| SOWK 778 | Advanced Analysis of Social Policy, Programs, and Services (Health/Mental Health only) | 3 |
| SOWK 784 | Field Instruction IV: Advanced Social Work Practice | 3 |