Master of Social Work
The Brown School at Washington University in St. Louis offers a top-ranked Master of Social Work (MSW) program. Through coursework and fieldwork, students gain the knowledge and skills needed to tackle some of society's greatest challenges and to succeed in a variety of professional settings.
Our program has trained our graduates for work across an incredible breadth of professional positions in more than 50 countries around the globe. Our customizable curriculum allows students to design their own course of study tailored to the type of work that they will do and the communities with which they will work.
Students have remarkable flexibility to shape their MSW experience at the Brown School. Our curriculum is structured to ensure that students will be prepared to make a positive impact in their field of choice. To this end, students are able to do the following:
- Choose from several concentrations or declare their own individualized concentration.
- Add an optional specialization to increase their skills.
- Broaden their knowledge with a dual degree.
Students can also tailor their experiences beyond the classroom:
- Choose from more than 300 MSW practicum sites locally, nationally and internationally.
- Conduct research with our renowned faculty.
- Develop their skills internationally through a practicum or research assistantship.
- Join some of the Brown School's student groups that raise awareness and advocate for social change.
Contact Info
| Website: | https://brownschool.wustl.edu/academics/master-of-social-work |
Master of Social Work
Our two-year, 60-credit degree provides students with the fundamentals needed to have an impact on the field of social work while also providing them with opportunities to advance their analytical, leadership and team-building skills.
Our flexible curriculum includes outstanding research opportunities, real-world learning experiences through practica, and the opportunity to personalize their MSW. If students have earned a Bachelor of Social Work from a school accredited by the Council on Social Work Education, they may also be eligible for advanced standing credit.
Required Courses
The list below includes the required courses that students use to build their course of study. Because of the flexibility and customization of each MSW degree at the Brown School, the order in which students take their courses may vary.
| Requirements | Units |
|---|---|
| FOUNDATION COURSES | 21 credits |
| SWFN 5001 Research Methods with Statistical Applications | 3 |
| SWFN 5002 Human Behavior | 3 |
| SWFN 5003 Social, Economic and Political Environment | 3 |
| SWFN 5004 Social Justice and Human Diversity | 3 |
| SWFN 5005 Social Work Practice with Individuals, Families, and Groups | 3 |
| SWFN 5006 Social Work Practice with Organizations and Communities | 3 |
| SWFN 5007 Social Welfare Policies and Services | 3 |
| FOUNDATION PRACTICUM | 4 credits |
| SWFN 5050 Foundations of Field Education | 0 |
| SWFN 5051 MSW Foundation Practicum I | 3 |
| SWFN 5052 MSW Integrative Foundation Field Seminar | 1 |
| CONCENTRATION COURSES* | 15 credits |
| Theory, Problems, and Issues | 3 |
| Social Policy | 3 |
| Practice Methods | 9 |
| CONCENTRATION PRACTICUM | 5 credits |
| SWCP 6000 MSW Concentration Practicum I | |
| SWCP 6001 MSW Concentration Practicum II | |
| OTHER REQUIREMENTS | |
| Evaluation | 3 credits |
| SWEV 6000 Social Policy Analysis and Evaluation (Required if in Policy specialization) | |
| or SWEV 6001 Evaluation of Programs and Services | |
| SWEV 6002 (Required if in Social Impact Leadership concentration) | |
| Leadership and Management | 3 credits |
| SWLM 6000 Management and Leadership of Organizations (Required for most) | |
| SWTH 6012 (Required if in Management or Social Entrepreneurship specialization) | |
| SWPM 6050 (Required if in Social Impact Leadership concentration) | |
| Electives** | 9 credits |
- *
Specific course options vary according to the concentration that a student pursues.
- **
Students use elective credits during years one and two to earn an optional specialization or to take other graduate course work.
Dual degree students fulfill their MSW elective course requirements with their non-MSW program coursework.
Our curriculum emphasizes an evidence-based approach to problem solving. As such, our faculty have found that an understanding of statistics analysis is critical to every student's success. Foundation courses will allow students to develop this competency.
Curriculum and required credits are subject to change.