Undergraduate programs in social work usually result in the student receiving the Bachelor of Social Work (B.S.W.) degree. Admission requirements to most undergraduate social work programs simply requires admission to the college and a declaration of the intention to major in the area of social work. Degree requirements in most bachelor's degrees require the completion of 120 or more credit hours for graduation. Of these 120 hours, usually about half of the hours consist of general education courses in math, science, history and English, as well as other fields of study. In some cases, students may need to complete prerequisite introductory courses in social work before being fully admitted to the social work program. Once fully admitted, most undergraduate social work students will complete courses in the practices of social workers, social work research and human behavioral studies. Most states require some type of fieldwork or internship program to be completed as well.
Admission to a Master of Social Work (M.S.W.) program is similar among most schools and similar to other degree programs at the master's level. Students must complete the B.S.W. degree prior to admission. Admission usually requires the submission of an application along with a resume, letters of recommendation and a statement of purpose indicating why you desire to attend the school you are applying to and how the M.S.W. at that school benefits you. Unlike many master's degree programs, the M.S.W. degree usually requires the completion of around 60 credit hours (many master's degree programs requires 30-45 credit hours, depending on the field). However, there are exceptions to this 60-credit-hour guideline. States with less stringent licensing requirements may have schools that do not require as many hours. Curriculum among the master's programs usually involves study in areas such as social work theory, research, and programs and policies in social work.
Obtaining a doctorate degree in social work is only necessary if you plan to pursue advanced research in the field and possibly serve as an educator, training those who plan to enter the field as practicing social workers. Admission to most doctoral programs is very similar to that of a master' degree program. Notable exceptions might include the need to take the Graduate Record Examination, or GRE (some master's programs require this as well). Additionally, your statement of purpose should reflect a strong interest in pursuing graduate-level and lifelong research in the social work field. The curriculum requirements of most doctoral social work programs include many more classes in research methods. For example, the program at Washington University in St. Louis requires courses in Introduction to Advanced Research, Foundations of Data Analysis and Multivariate Statistics.
Washington University in St. Louis
George Warren Brown School of Social Work
1 Brookings Dr.
St. Louis, MO 63130
314-935-6676
wustl.edu