Master of Social Work (MSW) Programs in the Capital District, NY

The Capital District of New York State is home to two schools that offer Master of Social Work (MSW) degree programs: The College of Saint Rose; and the University at Albany, State University of New York (UAlbany). The College of Saint Rose is a private school located in the Pine Hills neighborhood of Albany. UAlbany, a large public research university that is part of New York State’s SUNY system, has three campuses in the Albany area. Both of these schools offer campus-based MSW program that have a traditional track for college graduates who hold a bachelor’s degree in any field or discipline, and an advanced standing track for students who hold a Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) degree conferred by an undergraduate program accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE).

The programs offered by The College of Saint Rose and UAlbany are both fully accredited by the CSWE:

• The College of Saint Rose (Accredited)
• University at Albany, State University of New York (Accredited)

The sections below provide details on traditional and advanced standing MSW programs offered by The College of Saint Rose and UAlbany. Due to the different requirements for admission, programs for traditional standing students are grouped separately from programs designed for students who qualify for advanced standing programs.

• Traditional MSW Programs in the Capital District
• Advanced Standing MSW Programs in the Capital District
• Additional MSW Program Options for Capital District Residents
• Directory of All MSW Programs in the Capital District of New York

Traditional MSW Programs in the Capital District

The College of Saint Rose and the University at Albany are the two schools in the Capital District of New York that currently offer MSW programs, and both schools have programs with a traditional track that does not require applicants to have earned a bachelor’s degree in social work (BSW). Traditional MSW programs are full-length master’s programs that provide college graduates with training and instruction in clinical and/or macro practice social work, including a minimum of 900 hours field education. Field education is an integral part of CSWE accredited social work programs. Students engage in field education under the supervision of MSW-trained social workers in real world settings at agencies, clinics, and organizations that provide social work services.

A typical traditional MSW program divides field placements into one or two practicums that are completed in tandem with foundational coursework during the first year of a full-time program, and an additional one or two practicums that take place in the second year of full-time program. The second year is when full-time students complete training in a social work specialization, such as advanced generalist, clinical, or macro practice social work. This allows full-time students in a traditional program to earn their degree in two years. Students who opt to enroll in a traditional program on a part-time basis generally take three to four years to complete the required coursework and field education hours.

The College of Saint Rose has a traditional Master of Science in Social Work (MSSW) program that is fully accredited by the CSWE and is basically equivalent to an MSW program. The MSSW program has an Advanced Generalist in Health and Well-being specialization that is designed to prepare students for careers in clinical and/or macro practice social work. The 62-credit traditional track requires students to engage in a minimum of 900 hours of field education while taking courses that combine campus-based classes with online instruction. Full-time students can complete the program in two years, while part-time students generally take three to four years to earn their degree.

The University at Albany, State University of New York (UAlbany) has a campus-based MSW program with a 60-credit traditional track that is offered through the UAlbany School of Social Welfare. The program has two concentration options: Clinical Practice; and Macro Practice. Both concentrations include two 500-hour field internships, ensuring that traditional standing students graduate with a total of 1000 hours of field education. Students who choose the Clinical Practice concentration have the option of further specializing in Aging or Mental Health. The Macro Practice concentration offers a Social Work Practice with a Focus in Aging specialization option. Full-time students can complete the UAlbany traditional MSW program track in two years. The program has a four-year completion plan for part-time students.

Advanced Standing MSW Programs in the Capital District

Advance standing status is conferred to qualified MSW program applicants who hold a Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) degree from an undergraduate program that is accredited by the CSWE. Many MSW programs require advanced standing students to have earned their BSW degree within the last five to ten years. It is also common for programs to require advanced standing candidates to have demonstrated academic excellence in their undergraduate program by achieving a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 or higher on a four-point scale in all of their coursework and/or in their BSW major requirements.

Students who are granted advanced standing status are credited with up to half of the coursework and field education requirements that traditional standing students in an MSW program must complete. Thus, advanced standing can earn an MSW degree in as little as one year of full-time enrollment, or two years of part-time enrollment. BSW program graduates who do not qualify for advanced standing status have the option of enrolling in a traditional MSW program in order to earn their degree.

The College of Saint Rose offers a CSWE-accredited Master of Science in Social Work (MSSW) program with an Advanced Generalist in Health and Well-being specialization that provides training and instruction in both clinical and macro practice social work. The MSSW program is fully accredited by the CSWE and is largely equivalent to an MSW program. BSW program graduates who qualify for advanced standing status receive waivers for up to half of the 62 credits required of traditional standing students. Students who are granted advanced standing status must engage in a minimum of 500 hours of field education, which is integrated into a 31-credit curriculum that can be completed in one year of full-time enrollment or two years of part-time enrollment. In additional to daytime classes, The College of Saint Rose offers MSW courses in the evenings, on weekends, and through a hybrid mix of campus-based and online instruction.

The University at Albany, State University of New York (UAlbany) offers a campus-based MSW program through its School of Social Welfare. The program has an advanced standing track for qualified applicants who hold a BSW degree conferred within the last six years by a CSWE-accredited undergraduate program. Advanced standing students at UAlbany complete a 39-credit curriculum that incorporates 500 hours of field education. Full-time advanced standing students can graduate from the program in 12 months, while part-time students generally earn their degree in two years. The MSW program offered by UAlbany has a Clinical Practice specialization with optional concentrations in Aging or Mental Health, as well as a Macro Practice specialization with an optional concentration in Aging.

Additional MSW Program Options for Capital District Residents

Outside of Albany and the Capital District, there are a number of other New York State colleges and universities that offer MSW programs for traditional and/or advanced standing students, including schools that have partially and fully online programs. These programs may be a convenient option for students who reside in the Capital District, either because they do not require campus visits or because they limit the number of times students are required to be on campus to just a few intensive residencies per year. To learn more about MSW programs offered throughout the state, refer to our MSW Programs in New York page.