Master of Social Work (MSW) Programs in Connecticut - Campus and Online

There are seven accredited, non-profit universities that offer Master of Social Work (MSW) degree programs in the state of Connecticut: Central Connecticut State University; Fairfield University; Quinnipiac University; Sacred Heart University; Southern Connecticut State University (SCSU); the University of Connecticut (UConn); and the University of Saint Joseph. All seven of these schools have programs that are either fully campus-based or use a hybrid format, combining campus-based classes with some online instruction. In addition, Quinnipiac University, Sacred Heart University, and University of Connecticut offer fully online MSW programs, in addition to their on-campus and hybrid program options.

The seven universities that offer MSW programs in Connecticut all have traditional and advanced standing options. Traditional MSW programs, like master’s degree programs in many other fields, are designed for students who hold a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university; they do not require applicants to have majored in social work. Advanced standing programs, however, are programs specifically designed for students who hold a Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) degree from an undergraduate program that is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE).

All of the Connecticut universities currently offering MSW programs, except for Central Connecticut State University (which is in Candidacy Phase), are accredited by the CSWE.

• Central Connecticut State University (Candidacy Status)
• Fairfield University (Accredited)
• Quinnipiac University (Accredited)
• Sacred Heart University (Accredited)
• Southern Connecticut State University (Accredited)
• University of Connecticut (Accredited)
• University of Saint Joseph (Accredited)

More details on the MSW programs offered by the schools listed above are provided below in the following sections:

• Traditional Campus-Based MSW Programs in Connecticut
• Traditional Online MSW Programs in Connecticut
• Advanced Standing Campus-Based MSW Programs in Connecticut
• Advanced Standing Online MSW Programs in Connecticut
• Directory of All MSW Programs in Connecticut

Traditional MSW Programs in Connecticut

Traditional MSW programs are full-length master’s programs that provide advanced training in clinical social work practice, macro social work practice, and/or advanced generalist social work practice. These programs can typically be completed in two, three, or four years of full-time or part-time enrollment and, as mandated by the CSWE, require a minimum of 900 hours of field education internships at social work and human services agencies and organizations.

Traditional MSW programs are open to candidates who hold a bachelor’s degree and meet other admissions requirements, such as a minimum cumulative undergraduate grade point average (GPA) of 2.5 or 3.0 (or higher) on a four-point scale. These programs do not require students to hold a bachelor’s degree in social work (BSW).

As noted above, all seven of the Connecticut universities that have MSW programs offer traditional program options in a fully campus-based format or in a hybrid/blended format that requires students to attend a significant number of classes on campus. Additionally, three universities–Quinnipiac University, Sacred Heart University, and University of Connecticut–offer fully online traditional MSW programs.

Traditional Campus-Based MSW Programs in Connecticut

Central Connecticut State University offers a traditional, campus-based MSW program in Trauma-Informed Health Care. This 60-credit program includes required courses in social work theory and practice, social welfare policy, social justice and equity, human behavior, integrative social work practice, psychopathology, trauma and neurobiology in social work, and differential diagnoses. Students also take a trauma elective where they can focus on social work in healthcare, military social work, crisis interventions, addictions and substance use, and social work for community trauma. Finally, students choose one non-trauma focused elective in areas like organizational social work, working with LatinX communities, and school social work. Students are also required to complete 1000 hours of field experience (one 500-hour foundational practicum and one 500-hour advanced practicum) to earn their degree.

Fairfield University’s School of Education and Human Development offers a traditional MSW program in a hybrid, low-residency format that includes online courses and a number of campus-based seminars that students are required to attend. This is a full-time, cohort-based program in which groups of students progress at the same pace through 60 credits of coursework. The program has a Clinical Specialist specialization with a focus on clinical work, social justice, and social change for individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities. Coursework in the program covers social justice and diversity, narrative and solutions-focused therapy, clinical skills in social work practice, and social work research and program evaluation. Students may elect in the second year of the program to complete a Sexual and Gender Minority Mental Health concentration. All students must complete 900 hours of field practicum, divided between a 450-hour field experience in their first year and a 450-hour advanced field experience in their second year.

Quinnipiac University has a fully campus-based, traditional MSW program with a curriculum that provides professional training and instruction in health and mental health social work. The program’s 60-credit curriculum requires 900 hours of field education, fulfilling the training requirements for licensure eligibility in clinical social work. The curriculum for this program covers social work practice with diverse individuals and groups, combating oppression, clinical assessments, and advanced research in designing social work interventions. Full-time students can complete the Quinnipiac University traditional MSW program in two years; students who opt for part-time enrollment can choose between three-year or four-year extended tracks.

Sacred Heart University’s School of Health Sciences offers a campus-based traditional MSW program with two specialization options: Direct Clinical Practice, and Direct Community Practice. The program is designed to be completed in two years of full-time enrollment. The program’s courses cover diversity and social justice, social systems’ impact on human behavior, social work research methods, clinical assessments and diagnoses, fighting racism, and integrated social work practice. In addition to attending classes on-campus, students have the option of taking some of their courses online to create a hybrid program of study. Students also complete 1000 hours of field practicum: 500 hours of generalist field education in year one; and 500 hours of specialized Direct Clinical Practice or Direct Community Practice field education in year two. In addition, all students must complete a Capstone Project that integrates social work theory, practice, and leadership.

Southern Connecticut State University (SCSU) has a traditional, campus-based MSW program that also has online course options so students can pursue a more flexible, hybrid course of study. The program, which is offered through SCSU’s Department of Social Work, has a Community Practice: Community Organization, Policy, and Leadership specialization, as well as a Clinical Practice specialization with five concentration options: Children and Families; Families and Elders; Mental Health and Substance Use: Co-Occurring Disorders; and Social Work in School Settings. Regardless of their area of specialization, students take courses that prepare them to engage in social welfare policy advocacy, work with diverse individuals and groups, combat sociopolitical oppression, and apply research to social program development. The Clinical Practice specialization features courses in advanced clinical practice methods with individuals, groups, and family systems, while the Community Practice specialization includes courses on community welfare, leadership and management, and social administration. All students must complete 950 hours of site-based field education, including 550 hours in their chosen specialization. The 60-credit program has two-year and three-year completion plans.

The University of Connecticut (UConn) has a traditional, campus-based MSW program that it offers through its School of Social Work. The program has three concentrations: Community Organizing (CORG); Individuals, Groups, and Families Practice (IGFP); and Policy Practice (POPR). In addition, students can specialize further in one of three Focused Areas of Study (FAS): International Issues in Social Work, Health and Wellness, and Gender and Social Justice. Required courses cover micro and macro practice foundations, social work research methods, and racial oppression. Depending on their concentration, students can explore courses in areas like grassroots organizing, clinical conditions, political advocacy, program development, human rights, international development, social gerontology, health equity, and LGBTQ+ experiences. Students can complete the program in two years of full-time enrollment, or they can opt for part-time enrollment and graduate in three or four years. The 60-credit program requires a total of 960 field education hours.

The University of Saint Joseph (USJ) has a traditional MSW program that uses hybrid course delivery, combining in-person, campus-based classes with online instruction. The 61-credit program has a Clinical Social Work curriculum with three specialization options: Health and Mental Health; Veterans Services; and Child and Family Services. Students in the program have the option of a two-year, full-time completion plan, or a part-time plan that takes three years to complete. Courses in the program cover history of social policy; culture, diversity, and human rights; advocacy and social justice; advanced clinical practice; community-engaged research; and community mental health. The program requires students to engage in 1080 hours of site-based field experiences.

Traditional Online MSW Programs in Connecticut

Quinnipiac University offers an online version of its traditional, campus-based MSW program. The online program is equivalent to the campus program, both in terms of its specialization in Health and Mental Health, and its course offerings. The curriculum for the program integrates social work research; social work practice with individuals, groups, and communities; strategies for fighting diversity and oppression; and social welfare policy advocacy. Students are required to complete 900 hours of field education in addition to their content coursework.

Sacred Heart University offers a fully online, traditional MSW program through its School of Health Sciences. The program has a 60-credit traditional track with specializations in Direct Clinical Practice, and Direct Community Practice. The curriculum for this program is the same as that of Sacred Heart’s on-campus traditional MSW program, with students taking courses on social systems, human behavioral health, clinical diagnoses, combating discrimination, and integrating research into social work practice. Students can complete this program, including 1000 hours of required, site-based field education experience and a final Capstone Project, in 3.5 years. Apart from field education, there are no in-person requirements for this program.

University of Connecticut offers a fully online, traditional MSW program with a concentration in Individuals, Groups, and Families Practice (IGFP). This program consists of 60 credits, with students taking courses on micro and macro social work foundations, child and adolescent trauma, addressing social and racial oppression, treating substance abuse, researching and evaluating programs, analyzing social welfare policy, and building interventions for clinical conditions that children, adolescents, adults, older adults, and families experience. As with the campus-based version of this program, all students must complete 960 hours of field practicum, divided between a 480-hour foundational practicum and a 480-hour advanced practicum.

Advanced Standing MSW Programs in Connecticut

Advanced standing MSW programs are designed specifically for students who hold a Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) degree from an undergraduate program accredited by the CSWE. Students entering an advanced standing program are given credit for all or most of the social work coursework and field education they completed during their undergraduate degree, as the curriculum for BSW programs overlaps with the generalist curriculum students complete in the first year of a traditional MSW program.

Thus, advanced standing students are prepared to begin their master’s studies at roughly the mid-point of a two-year, traditional MSW program, which is often referred to as the “specialization” or “advanced standing” year. This allows advanced standing programs to significantly reduce the number of credits required for students to graduate and the amount of time it takes to earn their degree. For example, full-time, advanced standing students can commonly earn their MSW degree in one year, while students attending school part-time generally take two years to complete their MSW studies.

It is important to note that admission to advanced standing programs is not automatic for BSW graduates; in addition to holding a BSW degree, advanced standing program applicants may be required to have earned their degree within the last five, six, or seven years and to have maintained an undergraduate grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 or higher on a three-point scale. BSW graduates who are unable to gain admission to an advanced standing program can still apply to traditional programs in order to earn their MSW degree.

Advanced Standing Campus-Based MSW Programs in Connecticut

Fairfield University has an advanced standing option for applicants to its hybrid, low-residency MSW program that has a Clinical Specialist focus. Eligibility for the advanced standing track is restricted to candidates who hold a BSW degree from a CSWE-accredited undergraduate program. The advanced standing curriculum consists of 30 credits, including 450 hours of field education. Students take advanced courses in areas like diversity, equity, and social justice promotion; human behavior and mental health; psychopathology and assessment techniques; social work ethics; and solutions-focused therapy. In addition to its clinical social work focus, this program has an optional l Sexual and Gender Minority Mental Health concentration. Students in the advanced standing program can complete their degree in three semesters of full-time enrollment.

Quinnipiac University’s campus-based MSW program with a Health and Mental Health focus has an advanced standing track for qualified students. Advanced standing students can pursue a full-time or part-time course of study, and take courses in clinical assessments and diagnoses, evaluating social work programs, anti-racism, promoting social justice in mental health and healthcare, and organizational social work practice. In addition, all students must complete 500 hours of advanced field practicum. Students who opt for part-time enrollment in the advanced standing program can take up to two years to complete the degree requirements.

Sacred Heart University has a campus-based advanced standing MSW program in which students attend classes one day per week when school is in session and engage in 550 hours of field education. The program has two specialization options: Direct Clinical Practice, and Direct Community Practice. Students take courses on systems-focused approaches to social work, clinical diagnoses and assessments, and tackling racist policies and social structures. In addition to their field education, students complete an integrative Capstone Project. To be eligible for the program, applicants must hold a BSW degree from a CSWE-accredited undergraduate program earned within the last six years with a B or better in all social work courses and an overall undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher. The advanced standing program is designed to be completed in one year of full-time enrollment.

Southern Connecticut State University (SCSU) offers a 33-credit advanced standing MSW program that is primarily campus-based but that includes some online instruction (students can complete up to 50% of their course credits online). The program, offered through SCSU’s Department of Social Work, gives students the option of a Community Practice: Community Organization, Policy, and Leadership specialization and a Clinical Practice specialization. The Clinical Practice specialization has five concentration options: Children and Families; Families and Elders; Mental Health and Substance Use: Co-Occurring Disorders (COD); and Social Work in School Settings.

Students who enroll full-time in SCSU’s advanced standing program can complete their degree in one calendar year by taking courses in successive summer, fall, and spring semesters. Program requirements include courses on systemic oppression and social functioning, substance use, psychopathology, analysis of social welfare policies, and social work program development and research. Students are also required to complete 550 hours of specialized field education. Eligibility for advanced standing admission at SCSU is extended to students who hold a BSW degree from a CSWE-accredited undergraduate program earned within the last six years and whose cumulative undergraduate GPA was 3.0 or higher on a four-point scale.

The University of Connecticut (UConn) offers a campus-based, 35-credit advanced standing MSW program through its School of Social Work. To qualify for advanced standing status, applicants must have earned a BSW degree from a CSWE-accredited undergraduate program in the last six years and have a cumulative undergraduate GPA of at least 3.0 on a four-point scale, although a 3.5 or higher GPA is preferred. There are three designated specializations that advanced standing students can choose from: Community Organizing (CORG); Individuals, Groups, and Families Practice (IGFP); and Policy Practice (POPR). Students in the program focus primarily on their specialization coursework. For example, CORG students take courses in theories of community interventions, grassroots organizing, and program planning and evaluation, while IGFP students take courses in advanced practice for individuals and groups, fighting against human oppression, and advocating for clients across settings and populations. POPR students can explore courses in financing social work policies, program development and assessment, and social welfare policy analysis. UConn’s advanced standing option also requires 560 hours of field education.

The University of Saint Joseph (USJ) offers its hybrid MSW program that combines campus-based classes with online instruction in an advanced standing format for students who hold a BSW degree from a CSWE-accredited undergraduate program conferred within the last six years. Advanced standing students are expected to have earned a B or better in all social work major undergraduate courses but are allowed to retake up to two courses in which their grade was below a B. This program has a Clinical Social Work focus with three specialization options:Health and Mental Health; Veterans Services; and Child and Family Services. Students of this program take a bridge course and a skills lab before starting their advanced curriculum, which includes courses on community-engaged research, advanced clinical practice, community mental health, and integrative social work practice. Students also complete 600 hours of field education, in as few as ten months of full-time enrollment.

Advanced Standing Online MSW Programs in Connecticut

Quinnipiac University has an online advanced standing MSW program with a focus in Health and Mental Health, which is equivalent to its campus-based advanced standing MSW in terms of course offerings and field education requirements. Students complete 30 credits on topics such as treatment planning, diagnosing mental health conditions, promoting social and racial justice, equity in mental health and healthcare, and organizational social work leadership. All students must fulfill 500 hours of advanced field practicum in addition to their didactic coursework.

Sacred Heart University offers an advanced standing MSW program in a fully online format. The program, which requires applicants to hold a BSW degree from a CSWE-accredited undergraduate program conferred in the last six years, has two specializations: Direct Clinical Practice, and Direct Community Practice. In addition to holding a BSW degree, advanced standing program applicants must have earned a B or better in all undergraduate social work courses and have a cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher. Students take advanced courses in systems approaches to social work, clinical assessments, community engagement, evidence-based interventions, and anti-racism and fighting discrimination. The 30-credit advanced standing track requires 500 hours of field education and can be completed in 20 months.

University of Connecticut has an online version of its advanced standing MSW program with a concentration in Individuals, Groups, and Families Practice (IGFP). This program consists of 35 credits and features courses that focus on advanced social work practice with individuals, groups, and families; working with special populations; and promoting justice and equity across settings and populations. In addition to their content coursework, students fulfill 560 hours of advanced field practicum in a setting that is relevant to their career interests.

Directory of All Master of Social Work Programs in Connecticut

T Traditional programs, Advanced Standing programs, Campus programs, Hybrid programs (campus and online instruction), Hybrid-Online programs (3 to ~6 campus visits per year), Online programs (fully online to 2 campus visits per year)

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