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 students attend classes during weekdays, while part-time students can take some evening classes. Field internships may require weekday hours, but if you’re already employed in a human services organization or agency, your current job may count toward your internship requirement.

Full Time vs. Part Time: Which program is right for you?

  • If you work less than 20 hours a week and want to finish your degree in under two years, then the full-time program is a fit for you.
  • If you plan to continue working 20 hours a week or more, then the part-time program would be the best fit.

Full-Time Denver Campus MSW

In the full-time program, you can obtain your degree in under two years. Classes are weekdays, and most classes must be taken on campus; limited Saturday and online class options are available. Most internships are offered during weekday business hours. You can choose between starting your MSW program during winter or fall quarters. With a winter start, you’ll have a lighter credit load some quarters, but you’ll take classes and work at your internships during summer. If you start in fall, you’ll take more credit hours some quarters, but you’ll have summers off.

  • Winter Start
    • Program length: 7 quarters
    • Curriculum plan: The Winter Start Curriculum Plan includes summer quarter.
    • Field internship: This plan is not accommodating to those seeking a school-based internship or a child welfare internship in their foundation year. If you seek a school-based internship or child welfare internship in your foundation year, you must pursue a fall start: Fall Start: Denver Campus MSW Program: Full-Time  
    • If you start in winter 2025
      • Classes begin: January 2025
      • Expected graduation date: August 2026

     

    Application Instructions

  • Fall Start
    • Program length: 6 quarters
    • Curriculum Plan: With the Fall Start Curriculum Plan, you’ll have summer quarter off.
    • If you start in fall 2024
      • Classes begin: September 2024
      • Expected graduation date: June 2026
    • If you start in fall 2025
      • Classes begin: September 2025
      • Expected graduation date: June 2027

     

    Application Instructions

Part-Time Denver Campus MSW

In the part-time program, you can obtain your degree in 3.5 years. Evening classes are available (most classes must be taken on campus). However, depending on your placement, your field internships may require you to work weekday business hours. If you choose to begin classes in the fall, you’ll start your first internship in your 5th quarter, and with a winter start, you’ll begin your internship in your 4th quarter; either way, you’ll complete internships over six quarters.

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 students attend classes during weekdays, while part-time students can take some evening and weekend classes. Field internships may require weekday hours, but if you’re already employed, your current job may count toward your internship requirement.

Full Time vs. Part Time: Which program is right for you? 

  • If you work less than 20 hours a week and want to finish your degree in one year, then the full-time program is a fit for you.
  • If you plan to continue working 20 hours a week or more, then the part-time program would be the best fit.

Full-Time Denver Campus Advanced-Standing MSW

In the full-time program, you can obtain your degree in one year. Classes are weekdays, and most classes must be taken on campus; limited Saturday and online class options are available. Most internships are offered during weekday business hours. You can choose between starting your MSW program during summer or fall quarters. With a fall start, you’ll begin your internship right away; with a summer start, you’ll take classes for a quarter before you start your internship.

Part-Time Denver Campus Advanced-Standing MSW

In the part-time program, you can obtain your degree in 2.5 years. Evening and weekend classes are available; most classes must be taken on campus. Depending on your placement, your field internships may require you to work weekday business hours.

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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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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