Sacred Heart University Online Master of Social Work (MSW) - Clinical or Community Practice

The College of Arts and Sciences at Sacred Heart University offers an online Master of Social Work (MSW) with two specializations: Direct Clinical Practice or Direct Community Practice. The first part of the program focuses on human behavior, social justice, and human diversity; while the second part of the program focuses on preparation for leadership roles including patient assessment and evaluation, treatment, and intervention.

Sacred Heart University also offers an Advanced Standing Master of Social Work program that qualified students can complete in as little as 20 months. Qualifications include a Council on Social Work Education (CSWE)-accredited bachelor’s degree in social work, with a minimum GPA of 3.0, that was completed within the last 6 years.

The traditional Master of Social Work is a 60-credit program that begins in the fall, spring, or summer. Full-time students can complete the program in two years. Part-time students take a little over three years.

The Advanced Standing program consists of 30 credits and can be completed in 20 months. The MSW is 100% online with no campus visits required, however students must complete several practicums in order to meet licensure and degree requirements.

Sacred Heart University uses the Blackboard Learning Management System (LMS). Coursework is asynchronous and classes last 16 weeks each. Students should expect to spend 12 to 15 hours per week on each 3 credit course, plus field experience hours. SHU uses several interactive and multimedia tools such as podcasts, Hypothes.is, FlipGrid, VoiceThread, Poll Everywhere, Mentimeter, Quizlet, Remind and Group Me.

Courses for the full online MSW may include Human Diversity and Social Justice; Social Welfare as a Social Institution; Human Behavior in the Social Environment I-II; Interprofessional Education; Methods of Social Work Research; Generalist Practice; Social Welfare Policy and Services; Assessment of Client Systems; and Social Work Specialized Practice. Electives include courses such as Substance Abuse; Loss and Life Transition; Aging and Gerontology; Spirituality; and Children & Families. In addition, students are required to complete 1,100 hours of practicum in order to sit for the Licensed Master of Social Work (LMSW) examination.

The Advanced Standing MSW includes Human Diversity and Social Justice; Assessment of Client Systems; Interprofessional Education; Social Work Specialized Practice I-II; and Specialized Field Practicum I-II/Specialized Seminar I-II. In addition, Advanced Standing students choose either Clinical Assessment and Diagnosis or Social Work Direct Community Practice. Finally, these students choose an elective from the following courses: Substance Abuse; Loss and Life Transition; Aging and Gerontology; Spirituality; and Children & Families. Advanced Standing students complete 550 hours of field practicum.

Sacred Heart University is accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE). The online MSW programs are accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE).