January 2022 MSW Enrollment Guide

Denver Campus MSW Program

At the Graduate School of Social Work (GSSW), we are committed to community—the community within our school and the communities with whom we partner to create individual and collective impact.

We are excited to welcome you! Although we hail from diverse personal and professional backgrounds and have a wide variety of research, scholarship and career interests, our faculty, staff and students all share one thing in common: We are champions for social justice who are leading the charge for social change.

You are embarking on an incredible educational journey. You will graduate with the knowledge, skills and commitment to create a more just and equitable world for all. We look forward to sharing this journey with you.

Questions? 

Please read through this page in its entirety, as it will answer many of the questions you have as a new student. If you have additional questions, your primary point of contact is a GSSW Admission Ambassador. You can email gsswadmission@du.edu or set up a virtual one-on-one meeting

Quick Links

Looking for a way to connect, ask questions and build relationships with future classmates?

Join the Admitted Student Facebook Group
DU campus image

If you have questions about the COVID-19 pandemic in relation to your future MSW journey, visit the DU COVID-19 website.

Learn More

Tuition, Billing & Financial Aid

The next step in your GSSW educational journey is to accept the offer of admission and submit your tuition deposit, if you haven’t already.

  • Tuition Deposit Instructions

    For the incoming winter 2022 class, the deposit deadline is December 1, 2021.

    The deposit is non-refundable, but the full amount will be credited to your first tuition payment. 

    1. Accept Offer of Admission: To accept our offer of admission, visit your application status page. There, scroll to the “Forms” section and click the “Reply to Admission Offer” link to select “I ACCEPT your admission offer.”
    2. Submit your Tuition Deposit: Once you have accepted your offer, you will have the opportunity to pay your tuition deposit by clicking the “Enrollment Deposit—Submit Payment” link that appears on your application status page. This link will take you to a webpage where you can pay your deposit with a credit card.
  • Tuition & Billing

    Tuition for each quarter is due the first day of that quarter. More information about tuition, fees and payment are available at the Bursar’s Office

  • Financial Aid

    To apply for state or federal financial assistance, you must complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form as soon as possible. This application is required to determine eligibility for grants, loans and student employment. 

    If you have questions regarding FAFSA, Federal loans or the GradPLUS loan, please email finaid@du.edu

    If you have questions regarding a merit-based scholarship, graduate assistantship, deposit deadline or scholarship disbursement, contact gsswadmission@du.edu or call 303-871-2841.

Research Assistantships

If you are interested in pursuing a research assistantship, view our active research project page to identify a project that fits your interest. From there, reach out to the affiliated faculty member directly for position availability. For general questions about research assistantships, please reach out to Professor and Associate Dean for Research Jenn Bellamy

Academic Planning

  • A icon

    Explore your curriculum plan and your first quarter requirements.

    During the application process, you chose your curriculum plan. Check out your application status page if you forgot! If you need to change your curriculum plan, email gsswadmission@du.edu.   

  • B icon

    Check out your concentration and certificate requirements!

    Review the student resource portal for more information about your concentration and certificate requirements. 

    • Two-Year Program: For your first 2 quarters, you have a set of required foundation courses that are universal for all MSW programs. You must take these foundation courses prior to taking concentration-specific classes. 

    • Advanced Standing: You start your program in your concentration year and will need to be clear about concentration-specific requirements as you begin course planning.  

    You chose your concentration during the application process. If you'd like to change your concentration, please reach out to gsswadmission@du.edu at least one month before orientation. 

  • C icon

    Prepare for registration! 

    Find registration FAQs on the Registration Toolkit page. Your curriculum plan outlines the courses you will take in your first term. View your course registration dates.  

  • icon letter D

    Attend Orientation.

    Approximately one month before your scheduled start date, you will receive an invitation for the mandatory virtual orientation. Learn more

  • E icon

    Start your first term!

    You will meet with your faculty advisor during your first quarter to plan out your future terms.  

MSW Curriculum Plans

Two-Year MSW Program: 

Start Date  Curriculum Plans
January 2022 6-Quarter 2Y Curriculum Plan (Block Field) 

Advanced-Standing MSW Program:

Start Date  Curriculum Plans
January 2022 4-Quarter AS Curriculum Plan (Block Field)

Access to Campus & Registration

Course Protocols

Registration Preparation

1. You must have your DU ID number and password to register and access DU systems, including PioneerWeb and MyHealth Portal.

  • Your DU ID is 87*******
  • If you haven't yet logged into PioneerWeb, your birthdate, MMDDYY, is your preset password (Be sure to change your password once you've logged in.)

2. The GSSW Registrar team has created several useful tools to help you navigate the quarterly registration process, including:

3. Before October 27, you must check and resolve any holds on your account. You are unable to register until all holds are resolved. If you encounter issues while registering, contact us at GSSWRegistrar@du.edu.

4. Course Planning:

Here are your winter 2022 registration requirements:

  • Two-Year MSW Program

    6-Quarter 2Y Curriculum Plan (Block Field): With this plan, you will begin winter quarter with academic courses and searching for field internship, followed by both coursework and foundation internship over the next two quarters. You are required to take the following courses in winter 2022 for a total of 14 credits.​​​

    • SOWK 4000      Professional Development Seminar (1 credit)
    • SOWK 4132      Power, Privilege & Oppression from a Critical Multi-cultural Perspective (3 credits)
    • SOWK 4020      Integrated Social Work Practice for Social Justice (4 credits)
    • SOWK 4001      Clinical Social Work Skills (3 credits)
    • SOWK 4006      Human Behavior in the Social Environment (3 credits)

    Your foundation year field placement will take place in the spring/summer 2022 quarters. You will be working with your Field Advisor during the winter 2022 quarter to locate your field placement. The Field Office will contact you in late October or November to begin the field placement advising process. You will complete your concentration year placement over three quarters, starting in the fall 2022 quarter.

  • Advanced-Standing MSW Program

    Advanced Standing students are required to take the following in the winter quarter and to sign up for these specific sections where noted:

    • SOWK 4299 Advanced Standing Seminar – choose: SOWK 4299-502 CRN 3330 Tuesday 7:30-9:00 pm ONLINE with MSW@Denver program (3 credits)
    • SOWK 4132 Power Privilege and Oppression – chooseSOWK 4132-3 CRN 4756 Monday 4-5:50 pm on campus (3 credits)
    • SOWK 4201 Evidence Based Practice – choose: SOWK 4201-2 CRN 2089 Tuesday 3:00-4:50 pm on campus (3 credits)
    • Elective/Concentration Course (3 credits) – YOUR CHOICE
      • For the fourth course, students are encouraged to choose a course that will count either as an elective or will meet a specific concentration requirement. To find detailed information on concentrations, certificates, and/or stipend options, please use the GSSW Denver Campus Student Resource Portal Course Planning Tools.

5. To review course options for winter 2022, please visit the GSSW Denver Campus Registration Toolkit and explore the winter 2022 spreadsheet. The most up-to-date online class schedule will be posted on the DU Office of the Registrar Courses and Schedules page.

  • To register for the correct courses, you need to find classes with the attribute Social Work:Denver. You will indicate your preference for courses by updating your DU registration and waitlist requests. Some changes to instructors may occur between the start of registration and the first day of classes. You will be notified if waitlists indicate the need for an additional section or if you have been moved.
  • Most classes will be held in person, on campus. However, for students who require a fully online schedule, we can arrange for any of the foundation courses to be taken online. If you need a course that is not indicated as Social Work:Denver online on the schedule, please let us know. You may see other online classes for 2U@DU Distance Program, but you are unable to access these classes without approval.

6. If you haven’t already, we strongly encourage you to register and attend the Academic Q & A session on November 17, 2021. 

Field Education

With field internships, you can begin practicing your social work skills right away. With more than 700+ GSSW field agencies available in Denver—from hospitals and hospices, to child welfare agencies, policy nonprofits and animal sanctuaries—you’ll find an internship that fits your specific needs and interests. Email gsswadmission@du.edu with any questions. 

Please review the internship search process below. NOTE: if you chose a curriculum plan with a block field placement, you will start your internship search process in fall 2021. 

  • A icon

    Attend a Field Information Session

    Sign up instructions will be emailed after you submit the deposit.

  • B Icon

    Complete the Internship Search Form

    Information about the internship search form will be sent via email after the information session.

  • C icon

    Schedule an Appointment with a Field Advisor

    After you complete the internship search form, you will set up a one-on-one meeting with a field advisor, who will work with you to identify GSSW-approved field agencies for your interview and selection process. Learn more about our field advisors and some of our current field placements online.

Meet our Field Advisors

 
Jessica Zaslav

Jessica Zaslav

Assistant Professor of the Practice, Field Faculty; Associate Director of Field Ed

Learn More

Channing Spears

Channing Spears

Field Education Coordinator

Learn More

Deb Blumenthal

Deborah Ann Blumenthal

Assistant Professor of the Practice, Field Faculty

Learn More

denver union station

Housing & Transportation

  • housing icon

    Housing

    You can apply for on-campus graduate housing, and the Housing Department will assign you a space if available.

    For off-campus housing, please visit the University of Denver's Off-Campus Housing Service. Login using your DU credentials to see current listings and access the Roommate Finder. 

  • train icon

    Transportation

    You’ll receive a RTD transit pass, making getting around Denver free and easy. The campus is a hub for light-rail and bus routes connecting you to downtown, the Tech Center, Denver International Airport and the entire metro area.

    RTD Denver

  • bridge icon

    Parking on Campus

    There are several paid parking options on campus, most of which are walking distance from GSSW’s Craig Hall. Parking passes are available for purchase.

    DU Parking

New Student Orientation & Academic Calendars

Required for all incoming advanced-standing and two-year students, orientation will introduce community resources, expectations and opportunities as you begin your journey at GSSW. Orientation registration information is forthcoming, but orientation dates are listed below.  

Winter 2022 orientation live sessions will be virtual and mandatory. More information is forthcoming on the GSSW Admitted Student Portal.

Start Date 

Orientation

January 2022 Dec. 16 & 17, 2021
Catalyst Series for Social Justice event

Student Life

Enrolling in graduate school is a big step, and we’ll be there for you, from your first day of orientation through your job search after graduation and your career as an alumnus. We’re dedicated to supporting students in developing and enhancing their academic and professional skills while also ensuring that resources—such as accommodation for learning differences and disabilities, health and counseling—are available and accessible.

Meet our Student and Career Services Team

 
Maggie Heyduk

Maggie Heyduk

Manager of Professional Advising

Learn More

Krislyn O'Sullivan

Krislyn O'Sullivan

Senior Professional Advisor

Learn More

Deana Ahmad

Deana Ahmad

Assistant Dean for Students

Learn More

Stacy Said

Stacy Said

Career Development Advisor

Learn More

Professor Anamika Barman Adhikari

Faculty

GSSW is home to a courageous community of faculty members whose work is advancing social justice and social work practice. Their research and scholarship spans areas such as public policy, addiction, child welfare and youth development, homelessness, and issues including ableism, sexism, racism and intersectional lived experiences. Get to know our faculty and their research, and feel free to introduce yourself and ask questions!

man on computer outside

Technology Resources

  • application icon

    PioneerWeb

    Check your PioneerWeb portal for important documents, registration info and other student essentials.

    PioneerWeb

  • service icon

    Canvas

    Access our online learning-management system to find syllabi, assignments, deadlines and more.

    Canvas

  • artwork icon

    Portfolio

    Find electronic profiles of students, faculty, staff, alumni and organizations across campus.

    Portfolio

  • email icon

    Office 365

    Access your email account, Microsoft Word, OneDrive and other resources that can help you complete your schoolwork.

    Office 365

New DU Community Commons

"A lot of people come to DU because of the proximity to the mountains and the proximity to Denver and here we are just looking at all of it. It's pretty cool."

DU Student

Discover Denver

Art & Activism

Arts & Culture

Campus is home to the acclaimed Newman Center for the Performing Arts and Myhren Gallery, and the museum district and other world-class venues—from Museo de las Americas and Su Teatro to the Museum of Contemporary Art and Clyfford Still Museum—are just a short train ride away.

black female eating

Food

From vegan to locavore to carnivore, Denver’s food scene has it all, including a wide variety of global flavors walking distance from campus. Some of our nearby favorites are Jeruselem Restaurant, Kaladi Coffee Roasters, Deiter’s Chocolates and Illegal Pete’s. You can often find faculty, staff and students sharing a meal and conversation in Craig Hall or eating or studying al fresco during one of Denver’s 300+ sunny days a year. For other restaurants and hot spots throughout the city, check out the Crimson & Gold Trail passport, which offers discounts and deals for DU alumni-owned businesses throughout the city.

Denver baseball stadium

Sports & Recreation

You don’t have to leave campus to find one of Denver’s best sports and recreation complexes: The Ritchie Center for Sports and Wellness and Coors Fitness Center. Hop a train to downtown for a pro sports matchup, or explore Denver’s more than 80 miles of urban trails and bikeways. There’s even a ski and snowboard terrain park—The Ruby Hill Rail Yard—minutes from campus.