Overview

MASTER OF SOCIAL WORK

  • Curriculum: Coursework focuses on training you to be an ethical and competent advanced practitioner who respects diversity and promotes justice, dignity, health, and wellness through integrative, collaborative, and interprofessional practice with emphasis on leadership, collaboration, and supervision in social work.
  • Specializations: The program provides the opportunity to specialize in:
    • Play Therapy
    • Trauma-Informed Care
    • Evidence-Based Practice in Mental Health
  • Program options: 
    • 36 credits if you have an undergraduate degree in social work
    • 60 credits if you have an undergraduate degree outside of social work
    • Part-time or full-time
    • Nazareth College campus in Rochester, New York, or the satellite site in Watertown, New York
  • Results: Nazareth College's MSW program graduates ranked #2 in New York State for passing the licensed master social worker (LMSW) licensure exam, according to New York State Office of Professions, 2020 (most recent year available).

 

30 or 60 credits, full-time or part-time

 

Daytime and/or evening classes

 

In person and hybrid class options

 

Field experience, internships, and study abroad opportunities

Program Options

60-credit Program
36-credit Program (Advanced Standing)

Catalog

Program Requirements & Course Descriptions »

Course Examples

  • SWK 508: Diagnostic Process: A Strength-Based Social Work Perspective
  • SWK 605: Cultural Humility and Social Work Practice
  • SWK 606: Ethics and Social Work Practice
  • SWK 621: Advanced Social Welfare Policy
  • SWK 634 and SWK 635: Collaboration, Supervision, and Leadership in Social Work I and II
  • Elective options in trauma-informed care, play therapy, motivational interviewing, cognitive behavioral therapy, dialectical behavioral therapy, co-occurring disorders, rural social work, school social work, and social work and the law

Making Grad School Affordable

Grants, scholarships, veterans benefits, loans, and undergraduate loan forgiveness are options for paying for this grad degree.

Affordability

Graduate's Perspective

"Everyone deserves to live a fulfilling life and to have someone on their side willing to fight for them. I am ecstatic to help be this person. The Nazareth College MSW program helped me gain essential skills to help me thrive in a micro, mezzo, and macro level of social work practice. The professors are extremely knowledgeable and are always willing to go the extra mile to assist you. I would strongly recommend choosing Nazareth to obtain a master's degree!"

— Carlie Masino '21G, hired as an inpatient social worker at Rochester Regional Health

What to Expect

  • Interprofessional, interdisciplinary course training: As part of Nazareth’s College of Health and Human Services, you have the opportunity to collaborate with others in multiple health professions. Experiential opportunities are offered in most classes including collaborations within the York Institute for Wellness and Rehabilitation on campus.
  • Specialized knowledge: Your Nazareth experiences include training in ethics, diversity, cultural humility, social justice, and leadership to prepare you for future roles as a practitioner, collaborator, supervisor, and changemaker. You have the option to specialize in play therapy, trauma-informed care, or evidence-based practice in mental health.
  • Field education: Our program partners with over 250 agencies to offer experiential learning opportunities in field education. Opportunities exist across settings where you will be part of interprofessional and collaborative teams.
  • International opportunities: Short-term study abroad trips to India, Jamaica, or Finland offer interprofessional, transformational experiences and global perspective

Accreditation

Nazareth College's MSW program is registered with the New York State Education Department, and is fully accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE).

Professional Licensure Disclosure