ONLINE
at Delaware State University
Expand your education in a field dedicated to making a difference in the lives of individuals and communities worldwide!
MASTER OF SOCIAL WORK (MSW)
Delaware State University’s online Master of Social Work (MSW) program prepares students for advanced generalist practice, equipping them with the competencies needed to engage, assess, intervene, and evaluate individuals, families, treatment groups, organizations, and communities.
The curriculum covers critical issues such as poverty, health disparities, substance abuse, and social justice. Students also learn to evaluate interventions, integrate theories of personality and psychopathology, address health and mental health disparities from a public health perspective, and understand and assimilate theories and practice principles that guide human service administration.
CONVENIENCE & AFFORDABILITY
Exclusively Online Coursework: Synchronous and Asynchronous
Completion of your MSW full-time (two years) or part-time (three to four years)
Competitive tuition rates (visit desu.edu/tuition-fees)
QUALITY
Our program is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) and aims to:
1. Train advanced practitioners to use empowerment and strengths-based approaches rooted in a Black perspective to support marginalized populations.
2. Prepare social workers with critical thinking skills to serve diverse and rural communities in a global society.
3. Equip practitioners to focus on prevention, identify protective factors, and build strong professional relationships to address complex client challenges.
4. Develop social workers who can advocate for systemic change and create policies informed by trends and best practices in serving diverse populations.
5. Teach practitioners to use scientific methods and program evaluations to enhance service effectiveness and client outcomes.
GRADUATE PREPAREDNESS
Graduates are prepared for leadership roles in social work practice, including administration and community organizing. Graduates can meet licensing requirements through the Delaware Division of Professional Regulation or by applying to local licensing boards in other states.
CURRICULUM
The Master of Social Work is a 60-credit-hour program, and its curriculum has five core sequences: Human Behavior and the Social Environment, Social Work Practice, Policy in Social Work, Field Practicum, and Research.
Students are required to complete 400 hours of field practice in the first year (or second year part-time) and 500 hours in the final year. This generally correlates to two days per week for the first year (or second-year part-time) and three days per week in the final year.
Students can select two elective courses on topics such as Theories & Treatment of Addiction, Child Welfare, School Social Work, International Social Work, Integrated Behavioral Health, and Rural Social Work Practice and Spirituality.
CERTIFICATE OPTION
Spanish for Social Work Graduate Certificate | The Spanish for Social Work Graduate Certificate Program is designed to provide dual-language students with the knowledge, skills, and values needed to apply social work techniques with Spanish-speaking populations and in Spanish-speaking settings. Students take courses in Writing and Translation, Intercultural Communication, Spanish for Social Work, and a field practicum at an agency serving Spanish-speaking populations.
Why expand your education in social work? A degree in social work opens doors to impactful careers in areas such as aging, child welfare, healthcare, mental health, school social work, community organization, policy development, and international social work. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects employment in community and social service occupations is expected to grow 7.8% from 2022 to 2032, faster than the average for all occupations.
APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS
Completion of an undergraduate degree with a cumulative GPA of 2.5
Three letters of recommendation (for Advanced Standing applicants, one letter must be from a Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) Director, Field Director or Field Supervisor)
Personal essay
Priority Deadlines — March 15 (Fall) | September 15 (Spring)
Regular Deadlines (Full-time) — July 15 (Fall) | October 30 (Spring)
Regular Deadlines (Part-time) — August 10 (Fall) | November 15 (Spring)
Enrollment is contingent upon receipt of all required documents no later than two weeks prior to the enrollment period for U.S. applicants and four weeks prior for international students.
Advanced Standing Available!
Applicants who have graduated with a BSW degree in the last five years may receive up to a maximum of 30 credits applied toward the MSW degree at the time of admission if they meet the requirements for regular status AND the following Advanced Standing requirements: Overall GPA of 2.75 or higher and “B” or better in social work foundation
courses from a Council on Social Work Education-accredited BSW program, minimum of “B” in undergraduate field placement from a BSW program, and successful completion of an Advanced Standing summer seminar.
Deadlines — May 31 (Fall) | September 15 (Spring)