Denver Campus Master of Social Work Programs

Master of Social Work Programs

Education for Social Action

We’re ranked among the nation’s top 15 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 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 programs with myriad opportunities to specialize:

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500+ Denver Campus MSW Students

22 Average Class Size

95% Denver Campus Students Receiving Scholarships

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Denver Campus MSW Program

The Denver Campus MSW Program is for students who have a bachelor’s degree in any field other than social work. If you already have a bachelor’s degree in social work, the Advanced-Standing Denver Campus MSW Program is the program for you.

Full-Time Denver Campus MSW

The full-time program allows you to obtain your degree in under two years. If you work less than 20 hours a week, then the full-time program is a fit for you. 

  • Class Schedule: Classes are held between 8:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m. on weekdays and primarily on campus (the majority of classes are held between 8:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m., but each quarter there are limited evening and online classes available during the foundation and concentration curriculum).
  • Internship Schedule: Most internships are scheduled during weekday business hours.  
  • Average Classes Per Quarter: 4
  • Start Terms: Winter and Fall  

 

Part-Time Denver Campus MSW

The part-time program allows you to obtain your degree in 3.5 years. If you plan to continue working 20 hours a week or more, then the part-time program would be the best fit.

  • Class Schedule: Classes are held between 8:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m. on weekdays and primarily on campus (the majority of classes are held between 8:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m., but each quarter there are limited evening and online classes available during the foundation and concentration curriculum). If you need courses to be scheduled exclusively in the evening, the Online MSW Program  may be a better fit for your needs.
  • Internship Schedule: Most internships are scheduled during weekday business hours. If you are currently employed in a relevant social work setting, your job may be eligible to fulfill the field internship.
  • Average Classes Per Quarter: 2  
  • Start Term: Fall  

 

Curriculum: Denver Campus MSW Program

As a Denver Campus MSW Program student, you will take 81 credit hours. During the first half of the Denver Campus Master of Social Work program, you’ll focus on the foundation curriculum, developing a generalist perspective and basic skills for working with individuals, families, groups, communities and organizations. In your second half, you'll customize your Advanced Social Work Practice concentration to match your interests and career goals. You’ll gain hands-on experience through two field internships.

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Denver Campus Advanced-Standing MSW Program

The Denver Campus Advanced-Standing MSW Program is for students who already have a CSWE-accredited bachelor’s degree in social work. If you don’t have a bachelor’s degree in social work, then the Denver Campus MSW Program is the program for you.

Full-Time Denver Campus Advanced-Standing MSW

The full-time program allows you to obtain your degree in one year. If you work less than 20 hours a week, then the full-time program is a fit for you. 

  • Class Schedule: Classes are held between 8:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m. on weekdays and primarily on campus (the majority of classes are held between 8:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m., but each quarter there are limited evening and online classes available during the concentration curriculum, after completing the Advanced-Standing prerequisite curriculum).
  • Internship Schedule: Most internships are scheduled during weekday business hours. If you are currently employed in a relevant social work setting, your job may be eligible to fulfill the field internship.
  • Average Classes Per Quarter: 4
  • Start Terms: Summer and Fall  

 

Part-Time Denver Campus Advanced-Standing MSW

The part-time program allows you to obtain your degree in 2.5 years. If you plan to continue working 20 hours a week or more, then the part-time program would be the best fit.

  • Class Schedule:  Classes are held between 8:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m. on weekdays and primarily on campus (the majority of classes are held between 8:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m., but each quarter there are limited evening and online classes available during the concentration curriculum, after completing the Advanced-Standing prerequisite curriculum). If you need courses to be scheduled exclusively in the evening, the Online MSW Program may be a better fit for your needs.
  • Internship Schedule: Most internships are scheduled during weekday business hours. If you are currently employed in a relevant social work setting, your job may be eligible to fulfill the field internship
  • Average Classes Per Quarter: 2  
  • Start Term: Fall  

 

Curriculum: Denver Campus Advanced-Standing MSW Program

As a Denver Campus Advanced-Standing MSW Program student, you will take 54 credit hours and can customize your Advanced Social Work Practice concentration to match your interests and career goals. Your first four courses are rooted in social justice; then you will start your concentration curriculum while completing a field internship.

Advanced Social Work Practice Concentration

As a Denver Campus MSW student, your concentration will be in Advanced Social Work Practice, which you can customize to meet your personal interests and career goals. The concentration will prepare you with the knowledge and skills needed to be an effective social worker in a wide range of settings. Not sure where you want to take your career? The concentration gives you the flexibility to choose courses that span a variety of social work topics and find the right fit. If you know where your interests lie, we offer several customizable pathways that allow you to specialize in your area of interest.

You can also choose from four optional certificate programs to enhance your career options and marketability.
 

Explore courses in the Advanced Social Work Practice Concentration

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Master of Social Work Pathways

If you want to specialize, you can choose from eight sample pathways, or create your own.

Certificates

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Human-Animal-Environment Interactions Certificate

The first of its kind in the nation, our Human-Animal-Environment Interactions 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 Certificate

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 Certificate

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.

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Global Social Work Certificate

Paired with the Denver Campus MSW degree, the Global Social Work Certificate will help you understand global connections and perspectives. Courses are anchored in social work values and ethics and apply a power, privilege and oppression framework to human rights advocacy and intervention, giving you the skills and knowledge needed to work cross-culturally, either at home or abroad.

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MSW Certificate in Mental Health for Ecological Resilience and Adaptation

An MSW degree paired with a certificate in Mental Health for Ecological Resilience and Adaptation will position you at social work’s forefront, preparing you to confront environmental crises and inequities. The ecological Resilience MSW Certificate will prepare you to work at the micro, mezzo and/or macro level helping humans build resilience and bolster adaptation for themselves, their communities and the world.

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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 vibrant downtown Denver (all University of Denver students get a free pass!). 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 and racial 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.

Learn more about the Denver Campus MSW degree options.

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MSW Program Features

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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. If you're already employed, some jobs may qualify for your field internship hours.

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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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Denver Campus MSW Programs: Information Sessions

We offer 1-hour, virtual and 3-hour, in-person information sessions for our Denver Campus MSW programs. During these sessions, we will discuss the MSW program, admissions process and financial aid options. There will also be a Q&A where you can chat with current students about their experience at GSSW.

The in-person information sessions include a tour of GSSW and the surrounding University of Denver campus. After the tour, prospective students and guests will receive tickets for a complimentary lunch at DU's Community Commons.

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