Social Work
Master of Social Work
In-person or online
Where there's a need, there's a social worker.
Coursework focuses on training you to be an ethical and competent advanced practitioner. Through collaborative and interprofessional practice, you'll learn to follow a person-in-environment and ecological systems approach to advance individual, community, societal, and global well-being, and human rights; promote social justice, diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging; and serve as a leader and changemaker.
The program provides the option to specialize by taking a three-course sequence deep dive. Specialization options »
Highlights
36 or 60 credits, full-time or part-time
Daytime and/or evening classes
In person or online classes
Practicum experience and study abroad opportunities
Program Options
36-credit Program (Advanced Standing): This program option is for students who have an undergraduate degree in social work from a program accredited by the Council of Social Work Education (CSWE) or the Canadian Association for Social Work Education (CASWE), or from an international program evaluated by the Council on Social Work Education's International Social Work Degree Recognition and Evaluation Service (ISWDRES) as being comparable.
- The program can be completed in one year of full-time study (summer, fall, and spring) or in two years part-time (fall, spring, summer, fall, and spring).
- Requires completion of one practicum experience totaling 500 hours. (The undergraduate practicum provides the other 400 hours needed for advanced standing qualification.)
60-credit Program: This program option is for students who have an undergraduate degree in a major other than social work.
- The program can be completed in two years of full-time study (fall, spring, summer, fall, and spring) or three (enrolled in six to nine credits per semester with summer courses) or four years (enrolled in six credits without summer courses) of part-time study.
- Requires completion of two practicum experiences totaling 900 hours.
What to Expect
- Most courses meet weekly.
- In-person classes meet once a week for three hours, 9:25 a.m.–12:05 p.m. and/or 1:10–3:50 p.m. on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, or Thursdays.
- Online classes meet on Zoom in the evening on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, or Thursdays. Most classes meet from 5:15–7:55 p.m. For your seminar course each semester (roughly every other week), you can choose either 4–5:15 p.m. or 8–9:15 p.m.
- Practicum education: We help place you. We partner with over 450 agencies to provide experiential learning in diverse settings, roles, and regions that match your career goals.
- Interprofessional, interdisciplinary curriculum: As part of Nazareth’s College of Interprofessional Health and Human Services, your social work education focuses on interdisciplinary and interprofessional practice in every course — including collaboration, teamwork, and leadership with other disciplines — so you are well prepared to collaborate professionally on treatment teams.
- International opportunities: Short-term study abroad trips such as to India, Jamaica, or Finland offer interprofessional, transformational experiences and a global perspective.
- Nazareth's Center for Life's Work offers you lifelong career coaching at no charge.
Why Nazareth?
"After retiring from a business career, I wanted to gain the advanced knowledge and clinical skills necessary to do work I’m passionate about: providing trauma-informed care to adolescents and young adults. My time at Nazareth was transformative, equipping me with the skills and confidence to thrive in my career and make an impact in our community. What set Naz above others is the quality of the faculty. Nazareth professors provided incredible support — knowledge, guidance, mentorship, and encouragement. They brought diverse perspectives and real-world experiences into the classroom, challenging us to think critically and engage in meaningful discussions, even when confronting difficult topics. The curriculum allowed me to tailor my degree by choosing a specialization in trauma-informed care. I absolutely LOVE the work I am doing, seeing clients feel empowered and building their self-confidence."
— Anne Pagliaro ’24G, LMSW, therapist for Villa of Hope at Monroe County Office of Probation
Career Outlook
83%
Nazareth students' latest licensure exam pass rate is 83%, compared to 69% across New York state and 73% nationally (June 2024 report for 2023 exams). Nazareth offers a free state-licensure preparation workshop to graduating students and alumni.
98%
Many students accept social work job offers soon after graduating from the program. Among the Class of 2024, 98% were employed within six months of graduation.
Growth
Employment for social workers with master's degrees is projected to grow nearly 10% in health care and nearly 12% in mental health and substance abuse roles from 2023 to 2033, faster than the average for all occupations, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Making Grad School Affordable
Grants, veterans benefits, loans, and public service loan forgiveness are options for paying for this grad degree.
Alumni Spotlights
Hannah Mickle '21, '22G, LMSW
School Social Worker, New Hartford Central School District
"This degree opened a lot of doors for me. Once I decided that I wanted to work in a school, I was able to select courses that applied to that setting. I have learned how I can continue to be a lifelong learner, which is one of my life goals. This degree has taught me so much about empathy, working with people, advocacy for others and myself, and how to take care of me while I do the work I love."
Jordan Bailey '20, '22G
Primary Therapist for Children, Genesee Mental Health
"Nazareth's Social Work Department is very strong academically and prepares you well for your career. I felt well supported by all professors and comfortable with them. They go the extra mile for you and I felt peace of mind in the program."
Izabella Kimber '21, '22G
Therapeutic Visitation Clinician, Society for the Protection and Care of Children
"I now have experience facilitating group therapy, play therapy, developing therapeutic programs, research, crisis intervention, non profit work, and school social work. My courses in play therapy and trauma informed care guide me most in my position working with children and their biological parents towards repairing their relationship during visitation."