Social Work, MSW

A MSW degree prepares students to facilitate change in working with people, families and communities. The MSW program is open to all undergraduate degrees and may be completed full time or part time, in either a hybrid or online format, and is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE). The MSW is an Advanced Generalist program and prepares students for social work practice across the micro-macro continuum with diverse populations. In addition, students may complete certificates in multiple areas (including but not limited to clinical practice, child welfare, substance misuse, military behavioral health, school social work) or students may complete coursework specific to an individualized plan of study to meet their area of interest. 

Students may either attend hybrid classes on UK’s main campus in Lexington or asynchronously online. The Army MSW program is offered at Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio, Texas and is a selective admission process through the Department of Defense.

 

Admission Requirements

Applicants who have previously received their BASW os BSW from a CSWE accredited program within the last seven years and meet the following GPA requirements: 1) cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher, 2) social work GPA of 3.5 or higher, and 3) graduate GPA (if applicable) of 3.0 or higher may apply for the Advanced Standing (30 Credit Hour) Program.

Applicants with a bachelor’s degree in any discipline from a regionally accredited institution are eligible to apply for the Regular Standing (60 Credit Hour) Program. Applicants must meet the following GPA requirements: 1) cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher, 2) social work GPA of 3.0 or higher, and 3) graduate GPA (if applicable) of 3.0 or higher.

 

Degree Requirements

UK College of Social Work offers full-time and part-time plans of study to earn a Master of Social Weork (MSW). 

Our regular standing MSW is a 60-credit program that consists of: 

• Fifty one credits of classwork-including 12 hours of electives  

• Nine credits of fieldwork experience. 

Our advanced standing MSW is a 30-credit program that consists of: 

• Twenty four credits of classwork-including 9 hours of electives for 30 credit program 

• Six credits of fieldwork experience. 

Plans of study for each of the programs can be found: https://socialwork.uky.edu/academics/msw/msw-program-curriculum/.  

 

When students have completed 12 or more semester hours of graduate course work with a cumulative GPA of less than 3.00, they will be placed on scholastic probation, and a probation hold will be put into place. Students will have one full-time semester or the equivalent (9 hours) to remove the scholastic probation by attaining a 3.00 cumulative GPA. If probation is not removed, students will be eligible for dismissal from the MSW Program. Additionally, students who earn an E in two or more courses will be eligible for dismissal from the MSW Program. Students who have been dismissed from the MSW Program for this reason may apply for readmission after two semesters or one semester and the summer term. If they are conditionally accepted by the program, admitted students will have one full-time semester or the equivalent (9 hours) to attain a 3.00 cumulative GPA. Exceptions to this policy can be made only by the Dean of the Graduate School. Students placed on scholastic probation are not eligible for fellowships or tuition scholarships and may not be eligible to sit for master’s final examinations. You can find the above policy in UK’s Graduate School’s most current catalog.

 

MSW Advanced Generalist 60 Hour – Foundational Courses 

• SW 600 INTRODUCTION TO SOCIAL WORK PRACTICE  
• SW 602 THEORY-INFORMED SOCIAL WORK PRACTICE WITH FAMILIES AND GROUPS  
• SW 620 UNDERSTANDING THEORY IN SOCIAL WORK PRACTICE  
• SW 521 UNDERSTANDING POVERTY, INEQUALITY, AND INJUSTICE  
• SW 625 INTRODUCTION TO SOCIAL WORK: PROFESSIONAL BEHAVIOR AND ETHICS  
• SW 630 INTRODUCTION TO SOCIAL WELFARE POLICY AND SERVICES  
• SW 636 SOCIAL WORK PRACTICE WITHIN ORGANIZATIONS AND COMMUNITIES I  
• SW 640 FOUNDATION PRACTICUM  
• SW 650 RESEARCH METHODS IN SOCIAL WORK    

  

MSW Advanced Generalist 30/60 Hour Core Courses 

• SW 722 PSYCHOPATHOLOGY FOR SOCIAL WORK PRACTICE  
• SW 724 ADVANCED PRACTICE WITH INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES  
• SW 731 ADVANCED SOCIAL WELFARE POLICY AND ANALYSIS  
• SW 733 SOCIAL WORK PRACTICE WITHIN ORGANIZATIONS AND COMMUNITIES II: INTERVENTION AND EVALUATION     
• SW 750 APPLIED RESEARCH METHODS IN SOCIAL WORK  

And Either:

• SW 740 ADVANCED SOCIAL WORK PRACTICUM I  
• SW 741 ADVANCED SOCIAL WORK PRACTICUM II  

Or:

• SW 745 ADVANCED PRACTICUM: BLOCK PLACEMENT REGULAR STANDING  
• SW 746 ADVANCED PRACTICUM BLOCK PLACEMENT (ADVANCED STANDING)  

 

General information on electives: 

At the University of Kentucky, we have certificates in Clinical Social Work, Substance Misuse, Child Welfare, School Social Work, Military Behavioral Health, and Trauma-Responsvie Practice, etc. which allow students to add an additional academic credential through the electives in the MSW program. If there is not a certificate that appeals, students can certainly create an individualized academic experience through a combination of electives.  

• SW 505 CHILD WELFARE SERVICES  
• SW 510 UNDERSTANDING THE IMPACT OF TRAUMA  
• SW 515 MEDICAL AND PSYCHOSOCIAL ASPECTS OF DISABILITIES: PHYSICAL DISABILITY  
• SW 516 MEDICAL AND PSYCHOSOCIAL ASPECTS OF DISABILITIES: PSYCHIATRIC DISABILITIES  
• SW 518 INTERNATIONAL SOCIAL WORK  
• SW 519 UNDERSTANDING INTIMATE PARTNER VIOLENCE   
• SW 520 UNDERSTANDING THE DIVERSE NEEDS OF CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS   
• SW 523 SOCIAL PERSPECTIVES ON RACISM AND ETHNIC PREJUDICES IN AMERICA   
• SW 524 SUBSTANCE MISUSE   
• SW 530 RESPONDING TO MILITARY AND VETERAN POPULATIONS   
• SW 550 CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE: ASSESSMENT AND INTERVENTION  
• SW 571 SOCIAL WORK AND THE LAW    
• SW 580 TOPICAL SEMINAR IN SOCIAL WORK: SUBTITLE REQUIRED   
• SW 616 SOCIAL WORK PRACTICE IN SCHOOL SETTINGS   
• SW 626 FORENSIC MENTAL HEALTH: EVALUATION AND TREATMENT   
• SW 702 SUBSTANCE MISUSE, VIOLENCE AND RISK MANAGEMENT  
• SW 711 TRAUMA-INFORMED PRACTICE  
• SW 712 ADVANCED TRAUMA-RESPONSIVE PRACTICE      
• SW 726 PSYCHOPATHOLOGY FOR CLINICAL SOCIAL WORK II   
• SW 728 COMPARATIVE TREATMENT MODALITIES   
• SW 730 EVIDENCE-BASED PRACTICE FOR SOCIAL WORKERS   
• SW 737 NON-PROFIT MANAGEMENT IN HUMAN SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS    
• SW 738 GUIDED INDEPENDENT WORK: MILITARY AND VETERAN POPULATIONS