Denver Campus Master of Social Work Program
Education for Social Action
We’re ranked among the nation’s top 20 social work graduate programs, and for good reason. At the Graduate School of Social Work (GSSW), teaching and research are shaped and guided by our social justice mandate and the needs of our community. Our small classes and 11:1 student–faculty ratio mean you’ll develop close research and scholarship collaborations with faculty mentors. Individual career planning and support services will help you realize your ambitions, and a range of organizations, activities and events — from the Shades of Brown Alliance for individuals of color and allies, to the Catalyst Series for Social Justice — will provide opportunities to connect outside of the classroom.
We offer two Denver Campus Master of Social Work (MSW) program options: the Two-Year MSW Program and the Advanced-Standing MSW Program. With eight degree concentrations to choose from, you’ll be prepared for countless career paths in a field that is adding jobs faster than most others.
Important Links
The Denver Difference
Our “outside of the classroom” is pretty incredible. The University of Denver campus is just a short train or bus ride from downtown Denver (all University of Denver students get a free pass!), a city that U.S. News & World Report has named one of the nation’s best places to live. Craft beer, food trucks and art crawls are plentiful, as are urban and mountain parks and recreation opportunities. Denver also is home to a thriving community of social justice activists. And as one of the nation’s fastest-growing cities, Denver has no shortage of social work internship and job opportunities, which are plentiful statewide, too.
450 Denver Campus MSW Students
17 Average Class Size
95% Denver Campus Students Receiving Scholarships
Prospective Denver Campus MSW Students
December 8, 2020
General Program Information Session
Join us to learn more about the Denver Campus MSW program, register for the next online information session. We’ll discuss concentrations, field internships, financial aid, and more. You’ll also get the chance to hear directly from Denver Campus MSW students.
- 1:00 p.m.
December 16, 2020
Dual Degrees Information Session
Clinical Associate Professor and Dual Degree Coordinator Karen Bensen will discuss GSSW’s 13 dual degree options (listed below), curriculum plans and how to apply.
- Business: MSW + MBA or Professional MBA
- International Studies: MSW + MA in international development, human rights, international studies or public policy
- Law: MSW + JD or Master of Legal Studies
- Public Health: MSW + MPH
- Theology: MSW + MA in pastoral and spiritual care, MA in social justice and ethics, Master of Divinity, or Master of Theological Studies
- 5:00 p.m.
January Start (2021 or 2022)
If you start in January 2021 or January 2022, you have one curriculum plan option—the 6-Quarter 2Y Curriculum Plan (Block Field).
- With the 6-Quarter 2Y Curriculum Plan (Block Field) you will start your foundation field internship in quarter 2 (spring) and will continue your foundation internship during quarter 3 (summer). Your concentration field internship will take place during quarters 4, 5 and 6 (fall, winter, spring).
Key Dates for January 2021 Start
- Final Application Deadline: December 1, 2020
- Expected Graduation Date: June 2022
Key Dates for January 2022 Start
- Regular Application Deadline: January 15, 2021
Expected Graduation Date: June 2023
September Start (2021 or 2022)
If you start in September 2021 or September 2022, you will have two options for curriculum plans—the Traditional 6-Quarter 2Y Curriculum Plan (Summer Off) and the Extended 7-Quarter 2Y Curriculum Plan (Block Field).
- With the Traditional 6-Quarter 2Y Curriculum Plan (Summer Off), you will start your foundation field internship in quarter 1 (fall) and will continue your foundation internship during quarters 2 and 3 (winter and spring). You will have summer off. Your concentration field internship will take place during quarter 4, 5 and 6 (fall, winter, spring).
- With the Extended 7-Quarter 2Y Curriculum Plan (Block Field), you will start your foundation field internship in quarter 3 (spring) and will continue your foundation internship during quarter 4 (summer). Your concentration field internship will take place during quarters 5, 6 and 7 (fall, winter, spring).
Key Dates for September 2021 Start
- Regular Application Deadline: January 15, 2021
- Expected Graduation Date: June 2023
Key Dates for September 2022 Start
- Regular Application Deadline: January 15, 2022 (application is available in August 2021)
Expected Graduation Date: June 2024
January Start (2021 or 2022)
If you start in January 2021 or January 2022, you will have one curriculum plan option—the 4-Quarter AS Curriculum Plan (Block Field).
- With the 4-Quarter AS Curriculum Plan (Block Field), you will complete your field internship in spring/summer quarters.
Key Dates for January 2021 Start
- Final Application Deadline: December 1, 2020
- Expected Graduation Date: December 2021
Key Dates for January 2022 Start
- Regular Application Deadline: January 15, 2021
- Expected Graduation Date: December 2022
July Start (2021 or 2022)
If you start in July 2021 or July 2022, you have one curriculum plan option—Traditional 4-Quarter AS Curriculum Plan.
- With the Traditional 4-Quarter AS Curriculum Plan, you will complete your field internship in fall/winter/spring quarters.
Key Dates for July 2021 Start
- Regular Application Deadline: January 15, 2021
- Expected Graduation Date: June 2022
Key Dates for July 2022 Start
- Regular Application Deadline: January 15, 2022 (application is available in August 2021)
Expected Graduation Date: June 2023
September Start (2021)
If you start in September 2021, you will have two options for curriculum plans——the 4-Quarter AS Curriculum Plan or the 4-Quarter AS Curriculum Plan (Block Field).
- With the 4-Quarter AS Curriculum Plan, you will complete your field internship in fall/winter/spring quarters.
- With the 4-Quarter AS Curriculum Plan (Block Field), you will complete your field internship in spring/summer quarters.
Key Dates for September 2021 Start
- Regular Application Deadline: January 15, 2021
- Expected Graduation Date: August 2022
Note: Traditionally, GSSW offered one start date in July each year for Advanced-Standing students. Due to COVID-19, we opened additional start dates. It is undetermined if we will offer a September 2022 Advanced-Standing start date.
Certificates
Animal-Assisted Social Work
The first of its kind in the nation, our Animal-Assisted Social Work certificate explores the therapeutic use of animals in many types of social work practice. It is paired with a Denver Campus MSW degree for added specialization that prepares you to work with human and nonhuman animals in a variety of practice settings.
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Latinx Social Work
Our Latinx Social Work certificate addresses the critical need for bilingual and culturally responsive social workers. It is paired with a Denver Campus MSW degree for added specialization that prepares you to effectively serve individuals and families of Latin American origin.
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School Social Work
The School Social Work Certificate explores all aspects of school social work, such as crisis intervention and school-based assessments. It is paired with a Denver Campus MSW degree for added specialization that prepares you to work in Colorado schools, from preschool through high school.
Want to learn more about Denver Campus MSW degree options?
MSW Program Features
Field Education
Field internships allow you to practice the concepts and theories you learn in the classroom. Students choose from more than 750 options for internships working with clients, systems and communities in professional settings.
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Global Courses & Internships
Whether you aspire to work abroad or study social work abroad to build your cultural competence to work with diverse populations in the U.S., our international social work courses and internships are a great place to start.
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