Masters level, or graduate, social work programs include a variety of general and specialized courses of study. Additionally, a masters in social work may include a certificate or concentration in a professional focus. According to the Council on Social Work Education's (CSWE) 2008 Statistics on Social Work Education in the United States, the most frequently offered masters levels certificates include Aging/Gerontology, School Social Worker and Addictions/Substance Abuse. Other types of graduate social work degrees include Developmental Disabilities, Human Service Management, Religious Services and Marriage and Family.
A masters in social work typically includes some degree of practical, internship or hands-on course work. This helps the beginning practitioner build important real-world skills and allows the seasoned professional with a bachelor's degree in the field to improve communication and interpersonal abilities. The CSWE 2008 education poll states that the majority of graduate level programs, 83.5 percent, offer a general direct practice clinical experience at the master's level. Other social work master's programs may allow, or depending on the program require, students to participate in specialized practicum or internship courses such as Management/Administration, Community Planning/Organization, Social Policy or Program Evaluation.
By the year 2009 there were 196 master's programs in social work in the United States. Although these universities offer a wide array of course depending on specific programming goals, there are some classes that are fairly consistent among different school's curricula. These courses may include human behavior, crisis and intervention, macro social work practices, racism, ethics, professionalism and social welfare policy. Specialized courses may include more focused topics such as child development, family and marriage counseling, drug and alcohol abuse or poverty.
A full-time master's in social work program typically takes two years to complete. Additionally, field placement requirements of at least 900 clock hours may be necessary for graduation. Many schools offer part-time programs for students that have work and/or family obligations. This may double the time, and take up to four years to complete. The two year full-time option may be more advantageous for the student looking to complete a degree and enter the workforce in a quick or timely manner. According to CSWE statistics, more students prefer this shorter degree option, with 26,731 students enrolled in full-time master's programs and only 16,668 in part-time options during the 2008 school year.