Master of Social Work (MSW) Programs in the Pittsburgh Metropolitan Area

In the Pittsburgh Metropolitan Area, there are two universities that offer Master of Social Work (MSW) degree programs: Carlow University; and the University of Pittsburgh. Both of these universities have programs with pathways for traditional standing students who hold a bachelor’s degree in any field or discipline, and for advanced standing students who have completed a Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) degree at an undergraduate program accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE). In addition, both programs have specialization tracks in clinical as well as macro practice social work. Finally, both programs are fully accredited by the CSWE.

• Carlow University (Accredited)
• University of Pittsburgh (Accredited)

The programs offered by Carlow University and the University of Pittsburgh are detailed in the sections below. Programs are classified based on admissions requirements, with traditional MSW programs grouped separately from advanced standing MSW programs. While there are currently no schools in Pittsburgh that offer fully online MSW programs, there are online programs offered by schools located in other areas of the state and by schools in other states that accept students who live in Pennsylvania.

• Traditional MSW Programs in the Greater Pittsburgh Area
• Advanced Standing MSW Programs in the Greater Pittsburgh Area
• Additional MSW Program Options for Pennsylvania Residents
• Directory of All MSW Programs the Greater Pittsburgh Area

Traditional MSW Programs in the Greater Pittsburgh Area

There are two schools in the Pittsburgh area that currently offer CSWE-accredited MSW programs for traditional standing students. These are full-length master’s programs that provide training and instruction in clinical and/or macro practice social work to students who have earned a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university. Like full-length master’s programs in many other fields, traditional MSW programs are typically designed to be completed in roughly two years (four semesters) by students enrolled on a full-time basis. Part-time enrollment in a traditional MSW program generally adds one to two years to the completion time, which results in most students taking three to four years to earn their degree.

As part of a traditional MSW program, students are required to engaged in a minimum of 900 hours of field education, a signature social work pedagogy that involves site-based training in the field under the supervision of licensed social workers. While some programs match students to placement sites, other programs require students to find their own placements which must then be approved by the program.

Carlow University is a private, non-profit university that has three campuses in the Pittsburgh area and a Department of Social that offers an MSW program with two designated concentrations: Direct Practice (clinical); and Macro Practice. Both concentrations have a trauma-focused curriculum. The program is offered in a fully campus-based format and in a hybrid format that combines low-residency courses that meet once per month on Saturdays with online instruction. Students in this program are required to take 60 credits of coursework and engage in 900 hours of field education prior to graduating. The MSW program offered by Carlow University is designed to be completed in two years (four semesters) by students who enroll full-time. The program also allows for part-time enrollment through a six-semester, three-year completion plan.

The University of Pittsburgh (Pitt) is a state-related, publicly funded research university that is based in Pittsburgh and that offers a campus-based traditional MSW program through its School of Social Work on its main campus. The program offers two specialization options: Direct Practice with Individuals, Families, and Small Groups; and Community, Organization, and Social Action (COSA). In addition, the Direct Practice specialization gives students the option of completing certificates in the following areas of clinical social work practice: Children, Youth, and Families; Gerontology; Home and School Visitor/School Social Worker; Integrated Healthcare; and Mental Health. The COSA specialization gives students the option of earning a certificate in the macro practice field of Human Services Management. Both specializations have a two-year, full-time track that includes 1080 hours of field education. Students may also choose to complete the program on a part-time basis, for which they are allotted up to four years to earn their degree.

Advanced Standing MSW Programs in the Greater Pittsburgh Area

Both of the universities that offer traditional MSW programs in the Pittsburgh Metropolitan Area also have advanced standing program tracks that require applicants to hold a Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) degree from a CSWE-accredited undergraduate program. Advanced standing programs are designed specifically for students who have already completed foundational coursework and field education training in social work at the bachelor’s degree level. Rather than having to repeat this coursework and training at the master’s degree level, most advanced standing students begin their MSW studies with bridge courses that prepare them for the “advanced standing” coursework and field practicums that are part of an MSW program curriculum. As a result, advanced standing students can typically earn their MSW degree in one to two years, depending on a program’s structure and the number of courses taken per term.

It is, however, important to note that admission to most advanced standing tracks is selective and commonly requires applicants to have earned their BSW degree within the last five, six, or seven years. In addition, programs may require advanced standing applicants to have demonstrated academic excellence at the undergraduate level by maintaining a minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 or higher on a four-point scale. BSW graduates who are not granted advanced standing status can still earn their MSW degree by enrolling in a traditional MSW program.

Carlow University’s Department of Social Work offers an MSW with an advanced standing track that requires applicants to hold a BSW degree from a CSWE-accredited undergraduate program and to have achieved a cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher on a four-point scale. The program is offered in a fully campus-based format and in a hybrid format that combines online instruction with low-residency courses that meet once per month on Saturdays. Advanced standing students complete a 45-credit curriculum that includes 600 field education hours. Full-time advanced standing students can earn their degree in three semesters, while part-time students follow a five-semester completion plan. The MSW program offered by Carlow University has a trauma focus with specializations in Direct Practice (clinical) social work and Macro Practice social work.

The University of Pittsburgh (Pitt) offers an MSW program through its School of Social Work on its main campus in Pittsburgh. This is a fully campus-based program with an advanced standing track for qualified graduates from CSWE-accredited BSW programs whose degree was conferred within the last seven years. In addition, applicants for advanced standing status are required to have a cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or better on a four-point scale. The MSW program has two specialization options: Direct Practice with Individuals, Families, and Small Groups; and Community, Organization, and Social Action (COSA). Students who choose the Direct Practice specialization can pursue certificates in: Children, Youth, and Families; Gerontology; Home and School Visitor/School Social Worker; Integrated Healthcare; and Mental Health. Students on the COSA track can earn a certificate in Human Services Management. Pitt’s advanced standing MSW program has a 39-credit curriculum that includes 720 hours of field education. It has 12-month and 16-month completion plans.

Additional MSW Program Options for Pennsylvania Residents

Outside of the Pittsburgh metropolitan area, there are numerous schools in Pennsylvania and in other states that offer MSW programs for traditional and advanced standing students in campus-based, hybrid, and fully online formats. Pittsburgh area residents can earn an MSW degree from a school located outside of the Pittsburgh region without having to commute to a school’s campus or relocate for the duration of the program by enrolling in an online program. These programs provide all or most of their instruction via distance learning technologies and many do not require students to attend any campus visits. In addition, online students are generally able to complete site-based field education requirements near their place of residence. To further explore the options for earning an MSW degree from schools located outside of the Pittsburgh Metropolitan Area, refer to our MSW Programs in Pennsylvania and Online MSW Programs pages.

Directory of All Master of Social Work Programs in Pittsburgh

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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