25 Best MSW Programs in New York (Online & Campus) – 2025
Written By: Pattie Trumble, MPP, MPH
Are you yearning for a career where your work will really make a difference in the lives of others? Then you should investigate MSW programs in New York. With a Master’s Degree in Social Work, you can easily find employment in hospitals, clinics, community agencies, and rehabilitation centers. The money is good, too; with an MSW, you can earn $60,440 a year on average in the Empire State. Don’t put your career dreams on hold a minute longer! Stay on this page to learn about the 25 best MSW programs in New York for 2025.
WHAT ARE THE BEST MSW PROGRAMS IN NEW YORK (ONLINE & CAMPUS) FOR 2025?
(Based on our Ranking Methodology, the following are the 25 Best campus-based and online MSW Programs in New York.
1) Columbia University - New York City
MSW Programs Offered: Two-Year full-time MSW (On-Campus & Online), 16-Month MSW (On-Campus), Advanced Standing MSW (On-Campus & Online), Part-Time To Full-Time Extended MSW (On-Campus & Online), One-Year Residency For Working Professionals MSW (On-Campus & Online), Transfer MSW (On-Campus & Online), Five-Term International MSW (On-Campus), and Part-Time ( Online)
Two-Year full-time MSW Concentrations Offered: Advanced Clinical Practice; Advanced Generalist Practice & Programming; Policy Practice; and Social Enterprise Administration.
16-Month MSW Concentrations Offered: Advanced Clinical Practice; Advanced Generalist Practice & Programming; Policy Practice; and Social Enterprise Administration
Advanced Standing MSW Concentrations Offered: Advanced Clinical Practice; Advanced Generalist Practice & Programming; Policy Practice; and Social Enterprise Administration
Part-Time To Full-Time Extended MSW Concentrations Offered: Advanced Clinical Practice; Advanced Generalist Practice & Programming; Policy Practice; and Social Enterprise Administration
One-Year Residency For Working Professionals MSW Concentrations Offered : Advanced Clinical Practice; Advanced Generalist Practice & Programming; Policy Practice; and Social Enterprise Administration
Transfer MSW Concentrations Offered: Advanced Clinical Practice; Advanced Generalist Practice & Programming; Policy Practice; and Social Enterprise Administration
Five-Term International MSW Concentrations Offered: Advanced Clinical Practice; Advanced Generalist Practice & Programming; Policy Practice; and Social Enterprise Administration
Part-Time MSW Concentrations Offered: Advanced Clinical Practice; Advanced Generalist Practice & Programming; Policy Practice; and Social Enterprise Administration
About Columbia University: Columbia University’s School of Social Work is one of the most prestigious in the nation. The university’s curriculum is widely considered to be one of the best MSW programs in New York, and the university’s name on your resume is sure to impress any prospective employer. Columbia’s MSW program was founded in 1989, making it one of the oldest social work programs in the United States. With an enrollment of more than 900 students, it is also one of the nation’s largest.
Columbia University MSW Program Details: One of the most exciting things about this MSW in New York is the number of options it offers to help you meet your educational goals. These days, most MSW programs in New York offer you online as well as campus learning tracks, but Columbia goes beyond that by offering a traditional two-year 60-credit program, a 33-credit Advanced Standing program, an accelerated 16-month program, a one-year residency for working students, an accelerated global MSW program, and programs customized for part-time and full-time students. All programs except the accelerated degrees and the part-time study option are offered in both face-to-face classroom and distance learning formats.
Your first year of studies at Columbia will be dedicated to core courses in human behavior, the social environment, social welfare policy and practice, research, and fieldwork. In the second year, you’ll have the opportunity to concentrate on one of four specialties: Clinical Social Work, Community Practice, Social Welfare Policy Analysis, and Advocacy, and Social Enterprise Administration. Additionally, you’ll be given a chance to pursue your specialty within seven specific practice areas: aging and gerontology, emerging social problems (e.g., homelessness and addiction), family and children’s services, mental health and disabilities, refugee services, and school-based services.
Columbia University places an enormous emphasis on the field education requirement of its MSW program. Starting your very first year, you’ll be doing case management, program development, and crisis intervention three days (21 hours) a week in hospitals, prisons, courts, schools, community clinics, and 800 other placements throughout all five boroughs of New York City. Online students will be matched with the more than 300 agencies and nonprofits nationwide with which Columbia maintains relationships. Students enrolled in the 60-credit MSW program are required to complete 1,200 hours of fieldwork; students enrolled in the Advanced Standing program are required to complete 600 hours of fieldwork.
Columbia University MSW Admission Requirements: Currently, Columbia is not accepting applications from candidates who don’t have bachelor’s degrees from accredited colleges or universities. Candidates’ transcripts must suggest they can maintain at least a 3.0-grade point average.
Key Highlights For Columbia University MSW Students
• In 2008, U.S. News & World Report ranked Columbia University’s social work master’s program in New York as the fourth-best graduate program in the nation.• Faculty members at the Columbia University School of Social Work helped write the Congressional act that established social security.
• Columbia waives its $75 application fee for U.S. veterans and alumni of the Peace Corps, AmeriCorps and Teach for America.
2) Fordham University - New York & West Harrison
MSW Programs Offered: On-Campus MSW (Two-Year MSW, Three- to Four-Year MSW, Advanced Standing Full-Time MSW, and Advanced Standing Part-Time MSW), Hybrid MSW (Two-Year Full-Time MSW, Three- to Four-Year MSW, Advanced StandingFull-Time MSW, and Advanced Standing Part-Time MSW), Online Traditional MSW (8 TermPart-Time MSW, 6 Term Part-Time MSW, and 4 Term Full-Time MSW), and Online Advanced Standing MSW (4 Term Part-Time MSW and 2 Term Full-Time MSW)
On-Campus MSW Concentrations Offered: Individuals & Families; Organizations & Community; Evaluation; and Policy Practice & Advocacy
Hybrid MSW Concentrations Offered: Individuals & Families; Organizations & Community; Evaluation; and Policy Practice & Advocacy
Online Traditional MSW Concentrations Offered: Individuals & Families; Organizations & Community; Evaluation; and Policy Practice & Advocacy
Online Advanced Standing MSW Concentrations Offered: Individuals & Families; Organizations & Community; Evaluation; and Policy Practice & Advocacy
About Fordham University: U.S. News & World Report considers Fordham University’s Master’s Degree in Social Work one of the best MSW programs in New York and the nation. The program takes a multidisciplinary approach to teaching, emphasizing experiential learning. Several research institutes are associated with Fordham University’s Graduate School of Social Service, including the Bertram Beck Institute on Religion and Poverty, the Interdisciplinary Center for Family and Child Advocacy, the Fordham Center for Nonprofit Leaders and the Ravazzin Center on Aging.
Fordham University MSW Program Details: If you decide to pursue this MSW program in New York, you’ll get to choose between on-campus classes, online instruction or a hybrid curriculum that incorporates both online and traditional classroom elements. The campus and hybrid platforms offer a traditional 66-credit two-year program and a 33-credit full-time advanced studies curriculum designed for students who’ve completed a bachelor’s degree in social work as well as various options for part-time students. The online program offers a greater variety of flexible options for part-time students.
On-campus instruction is offered at three sites: an 8-acre site at Lincoln Center in Manhattan, an 85-acre Bronx campus and a 32-acre site in Westchester County. Students completing the traditional campus curriculum also have the opportunity to earn specialized practice certificates either in health or crisis and resilience.
All three platforms offer specializations either in Individuals and Families, Organizations and Community, Evaluation, and Policy Practice and Advocacy. The Individuals and Families concentration focuses on providing direct services to clients, while the Organizations and Communities concentration focuses on the agencies that provide those services. The Policy Practice and Advocacy concentration will teach you how to develop the skills necessary for effecting social, economic and political change, while the Evaluation concentration focuses on identifying and applying new theories to the field of social work.
Fordham has one of the most rigorous fieldwork requirements of all the accredited MSW programs in New York. Fieldwork practicums account for nearly one-third of the credits you’ll need to graduate. You’ll be required to complete 15 hours of fieldwork a week for a total of 900 hours. Fordham maintains fieldwork partnerships with more than 12,000 agencies, programs and organizations throughout the Tri-State area as well as across the nation.
Fordham University MSW Admission Requirements: You must have a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university to be considered for this MSW school in New York. Eighteen of your undergraduate credits must be in the liberal arts.
Key Highlights For Fordham University MSW Students
• In 2018, U.S. News & World Report ranked Fordham’s MSW program as # 11 among the best MSW programs in New York and the nation.• The Graduate School of Social Service offers two concurrent degree options: an MSW/Masters of Public Health (MPH) option offered in conjunction with the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai and an MSW/Juris Doctor (JD) option offered in conjunction with the Fordham University School of Law.
• Students can use work/study assignments to satisfy their fieldwork requirements.
3) New York University - New York, Bronxville, & Sparkill
MSW Programs Offered: Two-Year Traditional MSW (On-Campus), Advanced Standing MSW (On-Campus), 32-Month MSW (On-Campus), Extended MSW (On-Campus), Extended One-Year Residence MSW (On-Campus), 16-Month Accelerated MSW (On-Campus), Non-Matriculated MSW (On-Campus), and ONRAMP MSW (Online)
Two-Year Traditional MSW Concentrations Offered: Clinical Social Work Practice
Advanced Standing MSW Concentrations Offered: Clinical Social Work Practice
32-Month MSW Concentrations Offered: Clinical Social Work Practice
Extended MSW Concentrations Offered: Clinical Social Work Practice
Extended One-Year Residence MSW Concentrations Offered: Clinical Social Work Practice
16-Month Accelerated MSW Concentrations Offered: Clinical Social Work Practice
About New York University: The Silver School of Social Work at New York University stands out among accredited MSW programs in New York for the excellence of its clinical social work program. Silver (as students and faculty dub it) houses four prestigious research institutes: the McSilver Institute for Poverty Policy and Research, the Center for Latino Adolescent and Family Health, the Center on Violence and Recovery, and the Zelda Foster Studies Program inPalliative and End-of-Life Care. In 2019,U.S. News & World Report rated this MSW in New York 13 th among the nation’s Master’s Degrees in Social Work.
New York University MSW Program Details: One of the reasons why NYU ranks consistently among the best MSW programs in New York State is the flexibility of its programs. Seven of NYU’s eight MSW curriculum offerings are offered in traditional campus settings: a traditional 65-credit two-year track; an accelerated 16-month track that offers the same courses as the two-year track; an accelerated 32-credit Advanced Standing track for graduates with undergraduate social work degrees; a 32-month track for individuals who are working full-time while pursuing their educational goals; an individualized, extended plan of study; an extended, one-year residency for students who are already employed as social workers; and a non-matriculated program for students who are interested in the education but not the degree. NYU also offers a reduced-cost, distance learning program that’s not oriented toward a degree.
Clinical Social Work is NYU’s MSW program’s single career track. This approach emphasizes mental health, and behavioral assessments and interventions, and has proven to be a useful focus whether your professional interests lean toward private practice, policy, research or administration. As a clinically oriented program, NYU’s program is more holistic than many other MSW programs in New York, seeking to integrate the diverse psychological, biological, environmental, cultural, family, community and societal factors that influence human development and behavior into a cohesive whole.
Whether you’re a full-time or part-time student, you’ll spend 21 hours a week in fieldwork placements for a total of 1,200 hours. The Silver School maintains more than 600 partnerships with public and nonprofit agencies throughout the Greater New York City Metropolitan Area. You’ll be assigned to your fieldwork placements on the basis of your resume and your answers to a highly personalized questionnaire that you’ll fill out before the school term starts.
New York University MSW Admission Requirements: Serious candidates for admission into NYU’s MSW program will have a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university plus significant volunteer experience. Sixty of your undergraduate credits must be in the liberal arts.
Key Highlights For New York University MSW Students
• NYU has the highest percentage of international students of any U.S college or university.• This MSW program in New York is particularly well known for its international learning options. NYU’s MSW program offers summer session, fall semester, spring semester and full academic year placements in Shanghai, China; Florence, Italy; London, England; and Abu Dhabi, UAE, and other global locations.
• NYU’s MSW program offers four joint degree options: an MSW/Master of Arts (MA) Degree in Child Development with Sarah Lawrence College; an MSW/JD in conjunction with the NYU School of Law; an MSW/Executive Master’s of Public Administration (MPA) in conjunction with the NYU Robert F. Wagner Graduate School of Public Service; and an MSW/MPH in conjunction with the NYU College of Global Public Health.
4) Hunter College - New York
MSW Programs Offered: Two-Year Full-Time MSW (On-Campus), One-Year Residency MSW (On-Campus), Advanced Standing MSW (On-Campus), Accelerated Full-Time MSW (On-Campus), and Accelerated One-Year Residency MSW (On-Campus)
Two-Year Full Time MSW Concentrations Offered: Clinical Practice with Individuals, Families, & Groups ; Community Organizing ; and Organizational Management & Leadership
One-Year Residency MSW Concentrations Offered: Clinical Practice with Individuals, Families, & Groups; Community Organizing; and Organizational Management & Leadership
Advanced Standing MSW Concentrations Offered: Clinical Practice with Individuals, Families, & Groups; and Community Organizing
Accelerated Full-Time MSW Concentrations Offered: Clinical Practice with Individuals, Families, & Groups
Accelerated One-Year Residency MSW Concentrations Offered: Clinical Practice with Individuals, Families, & Groups
About Hunter College: Hunter College’s MSW program, which is one of the best MSW schools in New York State, is part of the City University of New York (CUNY) system. This means its tuition is low compared to the tuition at MSW programs in New York City that are administered by private colleges and universities. Because of this, it’s hard to get accepted into Hunter. Hunter’s MSW program gets many applicants and can afford to be selective about whom it admits.
Hunter College MSW Program Details: Hunter College has five MSW tracks: a traditional 60-credit two-year program; an accelerated 18-month program; a three-semester work-study residency designed for students who are already working as social workers; an 18-month work-study residency; and a 36-credit Advanced Standing option for students who have a Bachelor of Social Work degree.
Hunter College doesn’t offer any distance learning options. All five MSW tracks are traditional classroom tracks, taught on the Silberman School of Social Work campus in East Harlem, several miles northeast of the main Hunter College campus in Manhattan. The School of Social Work shares a building with the School of Urban Public Health and the Brookdale Center on Aging.
The traditional two-year program and the one-year residency program offer three specialty concentrations. Clinical Practice With Individuals, Families and Groups is designed to introduce students to clinical assessments and therapeutic interventions in an urban agency setting, while Community Organizing stresses the techniques and strategies demanded to solve social problems at the neighborhood or city level. The third concentration, Organizational Management, is designed for students who want to do program planning or assume leadership positions in social agencies. Students in the Advanced Standing track can choose between Clinical Practice and Community Organizing, but the only option available to students in the accelerated tracks is Clinical Practice.
Fieldwork is an integral part of Hunter College’s MSW curriculum. You’ll be completing 21 hours of experiential learning in the field every week. You’ll get a graded evaluation at the end of every fall and spring semester based upon how well you performed during your fieldwork placement.
Hunter College MSW Admission Requirements: To be considered for admission into this social work master’s program in New York, you’ll need to have maintained a 3.0 GPA throughout your undergraduate career. You’ll be required to submit a Statement of Purpose and two letters of reference from individuals capable of assessing your professional qualifications.
Key Highlights For Hunter College MSW Students
• For the first 75 years of its existence, Hunter College was an all-women’s school.• In 1956, Hunter College opened the first public school of social work in the nation.
• U.S. News & World Report has ranked Hunter College # 2 among Master’s universities whose students graduate with the lowest debt burden.
5) University at Buffalo - Buffalo
MSW Programs Offered: Traditional Full-Time MSW (On-Campus), Traditional Part-Time MSW (On-Campus), Advanced Standing Full-Time MSW (On-Campus), Advanced Standing Part-Time MSW (On-Campus), Traditional Part-Time MSW (Online), and Advanced Standing Part Time MSW (Online)
Traditional Full-Time MSW Concentrations Offered: Trauma-Informed and Human Rights Perspectives
Traditional Part-Time MSW Concentrations Offered: Trauma-Informed and Human Rights Perspectives
Advanced Standing Full-Time MSW Concentrations Offered: Trauma-Informed and Human Rights Perspectives
Advanced Standing Part-Time MSW Concentrations Offered: Trauma-Informed and Human Rights Perspectives
Traditional Part-Time Online MSW Concentrations Offered: Trauma-Informed and Human Rights Perspectives
Advanced Standing Part Time Online MSW Concentrations Offered: Trauma-Informed and Human Rights Perspectives
About University at Buffalo: The School of Social Work at the University at Buffalo is a flagship school within the State University of New York (SUNY) system. Since the University at Buffalo is a public institution, the tuition you’ll pay here for your MSW degree will be roughly one-quarter to one-third of what you might expect to pay at a private school. SUNY-Buffalo’s MSW program’s emphasis on trauma-informed social work within a greater human rights and socialjustice context is unique among the various MSW schools in New York State.
University at Buffalo MSW Program Details: SUNY-Buffalo’s MSW in New York State offers four campus options and two online options. The traditional two-year curriculum is a 60-credit track that requires 900 hours of fieldwork; you can complete it as a full-time student in two years or as a part-time student in three years. The advanced placement curriculum, designed for students who already have a bachelor’s degree in social work, is a 35-credit track that requires 480 hours of fieldwork; you can complete it as a full-time student in one year or as a part-time student in 1.5 years.
If online studies are a better fit for your educational goals, SUNY-Buffalo gives you the opportunity to enroll in the traditional, 60-credit track but you’ll have to pursue your degree over a three-year period. SUNY-Buffalo also offers its advanced placement curriculum online for students to complete in 1.5 years. Online coursework uses a mix of synchronous and asynchronous delivery. Spots in the distance learning program are limited; you’ll be given preference if you live more than 50 miles away from campus.
While all of SUNY-Buffalo’s MSW programs incorporate the trauma-informed human rights perspective, you’ll have plenty of opportunities to personalize your coursework in areas you’re passionate about. If you want to earn a clinical social work license (LCSW) for example, you can easily do so by taking the 12 required credits as electives.
SUNY-Buffalo’s fieldwork opportunities across Western and Central New York and northern Pennsylvania include nursing homes, mental health facilities, correctional facilities, family courts, Native American services and medical care facilities. You’ll complete your fieldwork requirement in two semesters, working 15 hours a week. Students enrolled in the 60-credit MSW track must complete 900 hours of fieldwork; students enrolled in the Advanced Standing track must complete 480 hours of fieldwork.
University at Buffalo MSW Admission Requirements: To apply successfully to SUNY-Buffalo’s MSW in New York, you’ll need a baccalaureate from an accredited institution and a minimum of 24 undergraduate liberal arts credits. Six of those credits must be in the arts or humanities, and six must be in behavioral or social sciences.
Key Highlights For University at Buffalo MSW Students
• The School of Social Work at the University at Buffalo was ranked # 21 in the nation by U.S. News & World Report in its 2023 survey.• Future U.S. President Millard Fillmore was one of the original foundersof the University at Buffalo, 115 years before the SUNY system acquired it.
• SUNY-Buffalo offers a number of dual degree programs, including an MSW/JD in conjunction with the SUNY-Buffalo Law School, an MSW/Master’s of Business (MBA) in conjunction with SUNY-Buffalo’s School of Management and an MSW/MPH in conjunction with the University of Buffalo’s School of Public Health and Health Professionals.
6) University at Albany - Albany
MSW Programs Offered: Full-time MSW (On-Campus), Part-time MSW (On-Campus), Advanced Standing MSW (On-Campus), and Non-Degree MSW (On-Campus)
Full-time MSW Concentrations Offered: Clinical Social Work and Macro Social Work
Part-time MSW Concentrations Offered: Clinical Social Work and Macro Social Work
Advanced Standing MSW Concentrations Offered: Clinical Social Work and Macro Social Work
Non-Degree MSW Concentrations Offered: Clinical Social Work and Macro Social Work
About University at Albany: The University at Albany is part of the State University of New York system. Its MSW program awarded 148 master’s degrees in social work in 2020 and was ranked fifteenth in popularity among social work master’s programs in New York State by the college review site CollegeFactual.com. The curriculum has been specifically designed to give students a generalist perspective into social work that utilizes an evidence-based, outcomes-oriented planning model.
University at Albany MSW Program Details: All three of SUNY-Albany’s MSW degree tracks are campus-based programs. The traditional track is a 60-credit curriculum that takes two years to complete. Students can receive up to 21 credits if they have an undergraduate degree in a major related to social work, which allows them to enroll in the Advanced Standing track and complete their MSW degree in one academic year plus one summer semester.
Approximately 20 percent of the students in this MSW program in New York opt to enroll part-time and complete their degree requirements in four years. Students taking advantage of this option are generally students who are holding down jobs while they attend school. SUNY-Albany also accommodates students who want to take social work-related classes without committing to an MSW degree. This option, too, is only offered on campus.
After two semesters of general education core classes, you’ll be given the opportunity to focus on one of two concentrations. The Clinical specialization will prepare you to deliver direct services designed to enhance the social functioning of individuals, families and other groups. The Management Efficiency, Advocacy and Empowerment, Community Building, Resource Development and Outcome Evaluation (MACRO) track will prepare you for a career in organizational program construction and assessment.
SUNY-Albany’s MSW program includes a fieldwork requirement. You’ll spend two semesters working two days a week for a total of 1,000 placement hours. You’ll work with two separate agencies: The first will be a general placement while the second will reflect your choice of the Clinical or MACRO specialization. SUNY-Albany’s MSW program partners with more than 700 organizations in New York’s Capital District and surrounding counties. Field practicums are graded Satisfactory or Unsatisfactory, and students must receive a Satisfactory to continue in the MSW program.
University at Albany MSW Admission Requirements: Successful SUNY-Albany MSW applicants will have a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university. Applications are evaluated on the basis of academic performance, volunteer experience, reference letters and future professional goals.
Key Highlights For University at Albany MSW Students
• U.S. News & World Report ranks SUNY-Albany’s MSW program 46 th in the nation.• SUNY-Albany’s MSW school in New York has a long history of gerontological activism and offers a specialization in services to senior citizens through its Internships In Aging Project.
• Students with prior professional experience can use work/study assignments as fieldwork practicums.
7) Stony Brook University - Stony Brook
MSW Programs Offered: Full-time MSW (On-Campus), Part-Time MSW (On-Campus), and Advanced Standing MSW (On-Campus)
Full-time MSW Concentrations Offered: Community, Policy, & Political Social Action (CPPSA) ; Families, Youth, & Transition to Adulthood (FYT) ; and Integrated Health: Physical, Psychological, & Social Well Being (IH)
Part-Time MSW Concentrations Offered: Community, Policy, & Political Social Action; Families, Youth, & Transition to Adulthood; and Integrated Health: Physical, Psychological, & Social Well Being
Advanced Standing MSW Concentrations Offered: Community, Policy, & Political Social Action; Families, Youth, & Transition to Adulthood; and Integrated Health: Physical, Psychological, & Social Well Being
About Stony Brook University: Stony Brook University is the second flagship university in the State University of New York system. The Stony Brook School of Social Welfare is housed in the Basic Science Tower attached to the Stony Brook University Hospital on the East Campus, which it shares with the medical school, the School of Nursing, and the School of Health Technology and Management. In 2020, this MSW school in New York awarded degrees to 285 students.
Stony Brook University MSW Program Details: Like many of the social work master’s programs in New York offered by universities in the SUNY system, Stony Brook’s three MSW tracks must be pursued on campus. The traditional two-year program is a 70- to 72-credit curriculum; it focuses on general courses during the first year and courses related to your chosen specialization during the second. The advanced credit option, which is only open to students who’ve graduated from an accredited baccalaureate program in social work, consists of 36 credits. If you select the part-time enrollment option, you’ll be required to take at least two classes a semester, and you’ll be expected to graduate within three to four years.
Stony Brook’s MSW in New York offers three specializations for students who’ve completed their general course requirements. The Community, Policy and Political Social Action (CPPSA) specialization will prepare you to work as a community organizer, or to advocate for legislative or policy changes that will promote social justice. The Families, Youth & Transition to Adulthood (FYT) specialization will prepare you to work as a child and family advocate within child welfare agencies, the family court system and similar organizations. The Integrated Health (IH) specialization focuses on rectifying the long-term effects of violence, trauma and addictions in underserved populations.
Fieldwork will be an integral part of your Stony Brook MSW experience. If you’re pursuing the traditional two-year track, you must complete a minimum of 16 credits of fieldwork; if you’re an Advanced Standing student, you must complete 12 credits. Fieldwork placement opportunities include housing rights organizations; day treatment centers; adult criminal, juvenile and family courts; advocacy and political organizations; eating disorder clinics; and methadone maintenance clinics. You’ll have input into selecting the population and organization for your fieldwork practicum that will be most relevant to your future career goals.
Stony Brook University MSW Admission Requirements: To be considered for admission, you must either have or be in progress of pursuing a Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution of higher learning. Your undergraduate grade point average will need to be 2.5 or higher.
Key Highlights For Stony Brook University MSW Students
• When Stony Brook was first founded in 1957 as the State University College on Long Island, it was set up to educate high school teachers.• Stony Brook’s School of Social Work offers three dual degree programs: an MSW/MPH, an MSW/JD in conjunction with the Touro College Jacob D. Fuchsberg Law Center and an MSW/ MA in Medical Humanities, Compassionate Care and Bioethics.
• Stony Brook has a very extensive career coaching and placement networkdesigned to help students find employment following graduation.
8) Syracuse University - Syracuse
MSW Programs Offered: MSW (On-Campus), Advanced Standing MSW (On-Campus), Traditional MSW (Online), and Advanced Standing MSW (Online)
MSW Concentrations Offered: Advanced Integrated Practice (AIP) and Advanced Clinical Practice (ACP)
Advanced Standing MSW Concentrations Offered: Advanced Integrated Practice and Advanced Clinical Practice
Traditional MSW Online Concentrations Offered: Advanced Integrated Practice and Advanced Clinical Practice
Advanced Standing MSW Online Concentrations Offered: Advanced Integrated Practice and Advanced Clinical Practice
About Syracuse University: Syracuse University is one of the MSW programs in New York that offers its full curriculum as both a campus and online option. In 2020, Syracuse University’s MSW program in New York awarded 78 master’s degrees. The university’s School of Social Work, which was founded in 1956, is now a part of the David B. Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics.
Syracuse University MSW Program Details: You’ll be able to enroll in Syracuse University’s two-year, 60-credit MSW both as a campus classroom experience and as a distance learning format. The first 36 credits in this track consist of foundational courses like Fundamentals of Social Work and Human Diversity in Social Contexts. The final 24 credits are courses specific to your specialization choice.
There’s also a 10-month, 36-credit Advanced Standing option available both on campus and online that’s designed for students who’ve graduated from an accredited undergraduate social work program with a grade point average of 3.0 or higher. You won’t have to take any foundational courses for this track; instead, you’ll take courses specific to your specialization choice and electives.
Syracuse University’s MSW program offers two specializations. The Advanced Integrated Practice MSW concentration is intended for students who want to pursue leadership or research roles in healthcare systems, nonprofits and other human service organizations. The Advanced Clinical Practice MSW concentration is intended for students who want to practice clinical mental health in inpatient and outpatient settings as licensed clinical social workers.
As with other MSW programs in New York, fieldwork is an essential part of the training you’ll receive at Syracuse University. The University maintains partnerships with more than 200 social agencies and human services organizations across 14 counties in New York State. You’ll be required to participate in two internships for a total of 1,000 hours, the first related to your foundational studies and the second related to your specialization. Internships are typically scheduled for two semesters of the same year.
Syracuse University MSW Admission Requirements: Admission to this MSW school in New York requires a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university. Applications are submitted online, and you’ll need to submit an 800-word personal essay addressing your professional goals and the reasons why you’ve chosen Syracuse University to pursue them.
Key Highlights For Syracuse University MSW Students
• Syracuse University offers a unique Military Culture & Mental Health Practice concentration for students interested in working with military service members, veterans or military families.• Syracuse University sponsors a “Social Work in Europe and the U.S.: A Four-Nation Experiential Comparison” program, which will give you the opportunity to analyze international models of social work intervention and visit social service agencies in France, Germany and Switzerland.
• As an MSW student, you’ll have the opportunity to choose a social justice minor. The social justice minor requires 18 credits.
9) Binghamton University - Binghamton
MSW Programs Offered: Full-Time MSW (On-Campus), Part-Time MSW (Blended), and Advanced Standing MSW (On-Campus)
Full-Time MSW Concentrations Offered: Advanced Generalist Practice
Part-Time MSW Concentrations Offered: Advanced Generalist Practice
Advanced Standing MSW Concentrations Offered: Advanced Generalist Practice
About Binghamton University: Binghamton University is part of the State University of New York (SUNY) system. Its Department of Social Work is operated under the auspices the university’s College of Community and Public Affairs and is housed on the downtown campus. This MSW program in New York uses a generalist approach to social work education.
Binghamton University MSW Program Details: Binghamton University’s full-time MSW program consists of 64 credits and takes two years to complete; it can only be taken on campus. Similarly, Binghamton’s Advanced Standing option, which is specifically designed for students who already possess a bachelor’s degree in social work, is only offered on campus. As an Advanced Standing student, you can be given credit for up to 29 units of coursework that you previously took as an undergraduate.
Binghamton University is unusual among accredited MSW programs in New York in that it gives part-time students the option of enrolling in a hybrid program that permits them to spend half their time on campus and half their time in a virtual classroom setting online. If you enroll part-time in this MSW in New York, you’ll be expected to take 6 or 7 credits each semester and finish your degree in 3.5 years.
Another thing that makes Binghamton University’s Department of Social Work stand out among MSW programs in New York is that it doesn’t offer specializations. Instead, it aims to prepare students for an advanced generalist practice with a broad base of knowledge and skills.
Like all MSW programs in New York, fieldwork is an essential part of the Binghamton University MSW experience. You’ll be required to do two field practicums for a total of 1,000 hours. Binghamton University’s Department of Social Work cultivates partnerships with more than 200 public service agencies and organization’s across New York State’s Southern Tier region.
Binghamton University MSW Admission Requirements: Binghamton University’s Department of Social Work accepts graduates of accredited colleges and universities as well as students who are within one year of graduation. To be a successful admissions candidate, you’ll need to have maintained a 3.0 GPA throughout your undergraduate career and accumulated significant volunteer experience.
Key Highlights For Binghamton University MSW Students
• In 2020, Binghamton University awarded 64 Master’s of Social Work degrees.• Binghamton University’s Department of Social Work offers three dual degree opportunities: an MSW/Master’s of Public Administration (MPA), an MSW/MA in Spanish and an MSW/Master of Science in Student Affairs Administration (MSW-MS SAA).
• Binghamton University MSW students have the second-highest pass rate on the Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) exam in New York State.
10) Yeshiva University - New York
MSW Programs Offered: Traditional Full-time MSW ( On-Campus, Virtual Classroom , & Online), Traditional Part-time MSW (On-Campus, Virtual Classroom, & Online), Advanced Standing Full-time MSW (On-Campus, Virtual Classroom, & Online), and Advanced Standing Part-time MSW (On-Campus, Virtual Classroom, & Online)
About Yeshiva University: Yeshiva University started out in 1886 as a traditional cheder offering Talmudic studies along with a smattering of secular education to Jewish immigrants from eastern Europe. Today, while the majority of the university’s students practice the Jewish faith, many students in its graduate programs, including students at its Wurzweiler School of Social Work, are not Jewish. In 2020, 100 students graduated from the Wurzweiler School of Social Work.
Yeshiva University MSW Program Details: Yeshiva University’s MSW program is one of the more flexible MSW programs in New York. You can opt to begin your studies in the fall, spring or summer semester. If you already have a bachelor’s degree in social work from an accredited university, you can earn your MSW from Yeshiva University in just one year by taking 30 credits. If you’re enrolling as a traditional MSW student, you’ll be required to complete 60 credits; as a full-time student, you’ll complete your course of study in two years.
No matter which program you decide to pursue, this MSW program in New York offers you the choice of three educational platforms: You can pursue your studies in person on the Wurzweiler School of Social Work’s campus; you can pursue your studies online at your own pace through an asynchronous distance learning format; or you can take advantage of a live virtual classroom, which uses synchronous online format.
Yeshiva University offers a generalist MSW education, but students also have the opportunity to earn seven optional certifications in specialty concentrations. The joint MSW/ Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Counselor (CASAC) credentialing program will allow you to help people with addictive disorders work through the challenges of healing and recovery. If you’re interested in working with the elderly, you may want to pursue Yeshiva University’s certification in Gerontology and Palliative Care.
Child Welfare is a certification for students who might want to work with child protection services after they graduate, while Creative Arts and Healing is designed for students who are interested in incorporating art, music or performance into their clinical social work practice. Trauma Informed Practice is for students whose future goals involve working with individuals with post-traumatic stress syndrome, and Practice With the Military is a specialization that trains students in the issues that affect military personnel, military families, and veterans.
Yeshiva University MSW Admission Requirements: To apply to Yeshiva University’s Wurzweiler School, you must submit a personal statement, one letter of recommendation and transcripts from any college or university at which you’ve earned more than nine credits.
Key Highlights For Yeshiva University MSW Students
• This MSW in New York offers field placements at human service agencies and organizations in the U.S., Canada and Israel.• All MSW students at Yeshiva University are assigned a faculty mentor who works closely with them to guide their academic studies, oversee their fieldwork practicums and help build their professional confidence.
• The Wurzweiler School is the home of the Silvia and Irwin Leiferman Center for Professional Training in the Care of the Elderly.
11) Adelphi University - Garden City, New York, Hauppauge, Poughkeepsie, & Middletown
MSW Programs Offered: Full-Time Two-Year MSW (On-Campus), MSW for Human Service Professionals (On-Campus), Spring Start 16-Month MSW (On-Campus), Part Time MSW (On-Campus), BSW-MSW Advanced Standing (On-Campus), Bilingual MSW (On-Campus), MSW (Online), and Advanced Standing MSW (Online)
Full-Time Two-Year MSW Concentrations Offered: Health Across the Life Course; Mental Health, Substance Abuse & Trauma in Context; Children & Families; and Human Services Management & Organizational Leadership
MSW Online Concentrations Offered: Health Across the Life Course
MSW Advanced Standing Online Concentrations Offered: Health Across the Life Course
About Adelphi University: Adelphi University was the first private university on Long Island. The university has since expanded into satellite campuses in Manhattan, Poughkeepsie, Middletown and Hauppauge. Adelphi’s Master’s of Social Work degree is one of the most flexible of the accredited MSW programs in New York with four physical locations and full-time, part-time, campus, and online options. There’s even a unique bilingual track for future social workers planning to seek employment in culturally diverse school systems.
Adelphi University MSW Program Details: Adelphi University offers six MSW options on campus and two MSW options online. Its traditional 64-credit two-year course of study consists of one year of foundational coursework and one year of coursework relevant to your chosen specialization. If you’ve been previously employed as a social worker, you may be eligible to enroll in the MSW for Human Service Professionals track, which will allow you to use your current job to satisfy your fieldwork requirement.
Adelphi University also offers an accelerated 16-month social work master’s program in New York and a part-time 64-credit option, which you can take as long as four years to complete. Its Bilingual School Social Work Program is a 70-credit program, which leads to an MSW degree plus a New York State certificate in bilingual school social work.
Adelphi University’s part-time online MSW track is one of the best online MSW programs in New York. It consists of both synchronous and asynchronous class sessions and intensive learning residencies on campus twice a year. A 15-month Advanced Standing track designed for students who have a bachelor’s degree in social work utilizes the same format.
Both campus and online MSW students can specialize in Adelphi University’s Health Across the Life Course concentration, which is an overview of healthcare practices from a social work perspective. Adelphi University offers five other second-year concentrations: Mental Health, Substance Abuse & Trauma in Context; Children & Families; and Human Services Management & Organizational Leadership.
Adelphi University MSW Admission Requirements: You’ll need to have a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university before you can be admitted to Adelphi University’s MSW in New York program. Having volunteer experience as well will give you a significant advantage.
Key Highlights For Adelphi University MSW Students
• Adelphi University’s MSW program is offered at all four of its campus sites.• Adelphi University’s School of Social Work on the Long Island campus hosts three institutes: The Center for Nonprofit Leadership, which provides guidance on administrative matters to regional nonprofits; the Institute for Adolescent Trauma Treatment and Training; and the Adelphi NY Statewide Breast Cancer Hotline & Support Program.
• Adelphi University maintains fieldwork partnerships with more than 1,000 healthcare, mental health and social service agencies throughout the Greater New York City Metropolitan Area and southeastern New York State.
12) Lehman College-City University of New York - Bronx
MSW Programs Offered: 2-Year Full-time MSW (On-Campus), 3-Year Extended MSW (On-Campus), and 1-Year Advanced Standing MSW (On-Campus)
2-Year Full-time MSW Concentrations Offered: Advanced Generalist Practice
3-Year Extended MSW Concentrations Offered: Advanced Generalist Practice
1-Year Advanced Standing MSW Concentrations Offered: Advanced Generalist Practice
About Lehman College-City University of New York: Lehman College is now part of the City University of New York (CUNY) system, but when it was first chartered in 1931, it was intended to be Hunter College’s Bronx campus. Since it’s a CUNY college, you’ll pay significantly less tuition than you might at a SUNY school or a private school. Lehman’s MSW program is geared toward producing social workers who know their way around an urban environment—specifically, New York City’s urban environment.
Lehman College-City University of New York MSW Program Details: Lehman College’s MSW tracks are only offered as a campus option. The college’s traditional campus MSW program is one of the best MSW programs in New York for working students because it offers evening classes. You’ll need to take at least 65 credits of core courses, electives and field placement internships at social services organizations to satisfy graduation requirements. The program is offered both as a full-time two-year option and a part-time three-year option. Students who’ve already completed a bachelor’s degree in social work can be admitted into Lehman’s social work master’s program in New York as second-year students in the college’s Advanced Standing track.
Lehman’s MSW program uses an advanced generalist practice model that aims specifically to prepare graduates for employment in urban social service agencies and organizations. That means no specialization options will be available to you as a second-year student; instead, you’ll be taught a wide range of prevention and intervention techniques that will prepare you to enter nearly every profession in the field of social work.
Like all MSW programs in New York, fieldwork will play a significant role in your education. If you’re enrolled in the traditional track either as a full-time or part-time student, you’ll be expected to complete 21 hours of fieldwork a week for a total of 600 hours of fieldwork over two semesters each academic year. Advanced Standing students have the same fieldwork requirements. Lehman also offers a second part-time MSW track in which students are only responsible for completing 15 hours of fieldwork per week over three semesters in an academic year. Fieldwork opportunities include social service agencies and organizations throughout the Greater Metropolitan New York City Area.
Lehman College-City University of New York MSW Admission Requirements: Lehman College only accepts MSW students with bachelor's degrees from an accredited college or university. As an undergraduate, you must have taken at least 45 credits of liberal arts classes. All students who intend to enroll in campus programs must be up-to-date with their COVID-19 vaccinations.
Key Highlights For Lehman College-City University of New York MSW Students
• The Lehman College campus in the Bronx was the United Nations’ first home.• Eighty-eight students graduated from Lehman in 2020 with masters degrees in social work.
• Since 2012, Lehman College’s Department of Social Work has received four teaching grants from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services for a total of $5 million.
13) College at Brockport-State University of New York - Brockport
MSW Programs Offered: MSW (On-Campus) and Advanced Standing MSW (On-Campus)
About College at Brockport-State University of New York: The College at Brockport is part of the State University of New York (SUNY) system. In addition to its campus in Brockport, the college also maintains a campus in downtown Rochester. SUNY-Brockport’s Department of Social Work is part of its School of Education, Health & Human Services. In 2020, the College at Brockport awarded 70 master’s degrees in social work.
College at Brockport-State University of New York MSW Program Details: SUNY-Brockport only offers two MSW tracks: a traditional, 60-credit track and an Advanced Standing 36-credit track for students who’ve already earned a Bachelor of Social Work degree. The 60-credit track can be completed full-time in two years or part-time in three years.
All classes are taught at SUNY-Brockport’s satellite campus in downtown Rochester. This program is one of the few social work master’s programs in New York that offers both day and evening classes, which makes it a convenient choice for students who don’t want to give up their day jobs in order to pursue their educational goals.
Like several other MSW schools in New York, SUNY-Brockport adheres to a generalist social work curriculum, which means you won’t have the opportunity to specialize in a specific field of interest during your second year. The second-year curriculum is designed to provide a framework for advanced integrative practice that will benefit your professional practice in all social work settings. You will have the opportunity, however, to take elective classes such as “Disabilities in Social Work,” “Sexual Health in Professional Practice” and “Evidence-Based Practice Seminar” that may reflect your specific professional interests.
All students at this MSW in New York must complete a master’s thesis containing original research that contributes to the field of social work. Most SUNY-Brockport MSW students use their fieldwork assignments as an opportunity to do this research. Fieldwork assignments take place during the daytime hours at human services agencies in the Greater Rochester Metropolitan Area.
College at Brockport-State University of New York MSW Admission Requirements: Applicants must either have completed an undergraduate baccalaureate degree or be in the process of completing one. Preference is given to applicants with a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or higher.
Key Highlights For College at Brockport-State University of New York MSW Students
• All MSW students must complete a Child Abuse Workshop in order to fulfill a New York State social work licensing requirement.• In conjunction with your SUNY-Brockport MSW, you can also work toward a Graduate Certificate in Gerontological Social Work by taking 15 credits of selected MSW courses.
• Full-time MSW students can begin studies in either the summer or the fall; part-time students can only begin studies in the fall.
14) York College-City University of New York - Jamaica
MSW Programs Offered: MSW (On-Campus) and Advanced Standing MSW (On-Campus)
MSW Concentrations Offered: Healthcare
Advanced Standing MSW Concentrations Offered: Healthcare
About York College-City University of New York: York College is part of the City University of New York (CUNY) system, which means it’s one of the most affordable options among accredited MSW programs in New York. York College is a Predominantly Black Institution (PBI) and receives federal grants supporting the school's efforts to servelow and middle-income Black Americans. The college ranks #19 in U.S. News & World Report’s listing of the top public schools in the nation.
York College-City University of New York MSW Program Details: York College’s MSW in New York is offered under the auspices of its School of Health Sciences and Professional Programs. Both of the college’s two MSW tracks must be pursued on campus. The college makes weekend and evening classes available.
If you enroll in the traditional track, you’ll be required to complete 62 credits in four consecutive quarters. If you have a bachelor’s degree in social work from an accredited college or university, you’ll be eligible to enroll in the Advanced Standing track, which requires the completion of 36 credits in two consecutive quarters. This social work master’s program in New York does not offer part-time study.
The second year of the traditional program and the entirety of the Advanced Standing program are focused on a Healthcare concentration, which prepares students to support patients and families in hospitals, clinics and other healthcare settings. Required classes associated with the Healthcare concentration include “Urban Health Disparities and Global Health,” “Social Policy Advocacy in Health Care” and “Understanding Mental Disorders.”
York College is unique among MSW programs in New York in that its administration understands that a significant portion of its student body is working their way through graduate school. The college goes out of its way to schedule fieldwork placements in such a way that they don’t interfere with students’ jobs. However, they can’t guarantee this accommodation to all students. Fieldwork placements include child welfare agencies, senior day centers, schools, criminal justice agencies, hospitals and community clinics throughout the Greater New York City Metropolitan Region.
York College-City University of New York MSW Admission Requirements: All students admitted into York College’s MSW program must be graduates of an accredited college or university with an overall GPA of 3.0. You’ll need to provide three professional references as well as a statement of purpose addressing how York College’s MSW program will help you fulfill your professional goals.
Key Highlights For York College-City University of New York MSW Students
• York College is extremely accessible by subway, bus and other forms of public transportation, which makes it a great fit for students who enjoy an urban lifestyle.• York College’s MSW degree is one of the newest MSW programs in New York State: It was started in 2018.
• Thirteen students graduated from York College with Master’s of Social Work degrees in 2020.
15) Touro University - New York City & Brooklyn
MSW Programs Offered: Full-Time Two Year MSW (On-Campus), Three-Year MSW (On-Campus), Three-Year MSW (Hybrid), Four-Year MSW (On-Campus), Flex MSW (Hybrid), and Accelerated MSW (On-Campus)
Full-Time Two Year MSW Concentrations Offered: The Aging Population, When Veterans Come Home, and Mental Illness
Three-Year MSW Campus Concentrations Offered: The Aging Population, When Veterans Come Home, and Mental Illness
Three-Year MSW Online Concentrations Offered: The Aging Population, When Veterans Come Home, and Mental Illness
Four-Year MSW Concentrations Offered: The Aging Population, When Veterans Come Home, and Mental Illness
Flex-Year MSW Concentrations Offered: The Aging Population, When Veterans Come Home, and Mental Illness
Accelerated MSW Concentrations Offered: The Aging Population, When Veterans Come Home, and Mental Illness
About Touro University: Touro College has been Touro University since 2021. It’s part of a private Jewish university system that maintains campuses in Manhattan, Brooklyn, Nevada, California, Berlin, Moscow and Jerusalem. Though many of its students practice the Jewish faith, the college accepts students of all religious denominations. The Touro College Jacob D. Fuchsberg Law Center offers a JD/MSW joint degree in conjunction with Stony Brook’s School of Social Welfare.
Touro University MSW Program Details: Touro’s basic 65-credit curriculum is offered in a campus setting and can be completed in two years by full-time students, or in three years or four years by part-time students. Like many other MSW programs in New York State, Touro offers an Advanced Standing track for students who’ve graduated from an accredited college or university with a bachelor’s degree in social work that allows them to skip the first year of the MSW curriculum. Touro also offers an accelerated MSW that can be completed in 16 months if you attend classes during the summer semester. The Advanced Standing accelerated MSW options are only offered on campus.
Touro offers two MSW tracks as hybrid options: a three-year, 65-credit curriculum and a five-semester, accelerated flex option. These tracks combine Sunday classroom attendance with online classes. Additionally, Touro allows individuals who are not pursuing a degree to attend up to two classes a year for a fee.
Three options are available to students who choose to focus on a specialty concentration. Unlike many of the other best MSW programs in New York, however, students are not required to choose a specialty; indeed admission into specialty tracks is highly selective. Students who choose to focus on a specialty are awarded fellowships.
Touro’s MSW program requires four field placements for a total of 1,200 hours of fieldwork. Your first-year field placements are designed to give you a sense of the day-to-day functioning of a social service agency. Your second-year placements aim to teach you how to interact with clients.
Touro University MSW Admission Requirements: Applicants must hold a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university. Preference is given to applicants who’ve had significant volunteer experience.
Key Highlights For Touro University MSW Students
• If you want to specialize in your second year, you have the option of applying for one of three fellowships. Students who opt into these specialization tracks receive certifications in their chosen areas along with their diplomas.The Aging Population Fellowship is designed for students who want to become geriatric social workers; associated fieldwork placements are in nursing homes, elder abuse programs and other community agencies that serve senior citizens.
The Military Social Work Fellowship teaches skills for helping veterans and their caregivers deal with post-traumatic stress disorder.
The Evidence-Based Practice in Mental Health Fellowship is offered in conjunction with the New York State Office of Mental Health and prepares MSW students to work with clients affected by schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and other serious mental illnesses.
• Touro is a Yellow Ribbon School. Veterans who attend Touro may be eligible for funds from the U.S. Dept. of Veterans Affairs beyond those allocated by the GI Bill.
• In 2020, Touro College awarded 106 MSW degrees.
16) Long Island University - Brooklyn, Brookville, & Brentwood
MSW Programs Offered: Advanced Standing MSW (On-Campus), Two- Years Full Time MSW (On-Campus), Three-Year Part Time MSW (On-Campus), and Four-Year Part Time MSW (On-Campus)
Advanced Standing MSW Concentrations Offered: Child & Family Welfare, Forensic Social Work, Gerontology, Non-profit Management, and Substance Use & Addictive Behaviors
Two-Years Full Time MSW Concentrations Offered: Child & Family Welfare, Forensic Social Work, Gerontology, Non-profit Management, and Substance Use & Addictive Behaviors
Three-Year Part Time MSW Concentrations Offered: Child & Family Welfare, Forensic Social Work, Gerontology, Non-profit Management, and Substance Use & Addictive Behaviors
Four-Year Part Time MSW Concentrations Offered: Child & Family Welfare, Forensic Social Work, Gerontology, Non-profit Management, and Substance Use & Addictive Behaviors
About Long Island University: Long Island University’s two main campuses are in Brooklyn (LIU Brooklyn) and in the town of Brookville on Long Island’s Gold Coast (LIU Post). Its Master’s of Social Work program is offered under the auspices of the School of Health Professionals and Nursing, and most classes are taught at the LIU Post campus. Long Island University may be one of the best MSW schools in New York for future social workers who want to specialize in a social work niche; the school offers five distinct second-year concentrations.
Long Island University MSW Program Details: This MSW in New York is only offered on campus. The basic MSW curriculum is 60 credits, which you’ll complete in two years if you attend school full-time. However, recognizing that many MSW students hold down jobs while they pursue their educational goals, Long Island University goes the extra mile to accommodate the needs of part-time students, and the 60-credit curriculum is also offered as a part-time three-year and four-year option.
Like many other MSW programs in New York, Long Island University has an Advanced Standing MSW track, which only students who’ve graduated with a bachelor’s degree in social work from an accredited college or university are eligible to enroll in. The Advanced Standing program is 33 credits.
Long Island University’s MSW program offers five specializations for second-year students: Substance Use and Addictive Behaviors, Child and Family Welfare, Forensic Social Work, Gerontology, and Nonprofit Management. Both the Gerontology and Nonprofit Management concentrations are offered in conjunction with Long Island University’s MPA program. Long Island University’s MSW program is the only program in New York State that offers the Forensic Social Work concentration, which focuses on the application of social work to questions and issues relating to law and legal systems, and trains social workers for employment in the corrections and justice systems.
Fieldwork is an essential part of the curriculum when you choose to enroll in this MSW in New York State. Before you can graduate, you’ll be required to complete a capstone project based on research you’ve done during your fieldwork placement.
Long Island University MSW Admission Requirements: In order to be considered for admission into any of LIU Brooklyn's MSW programs in New York, you will need to have graduated with an overall GPA of 3.0 from an accredited college or university. You’ll need to submit a resume as well as an essay explaining why you think Long Island University is a good fit for your professional goals.
Key Highlights For Long Island University MSW Students
• Long Island University’s MSW program meets New York State’s academic requirements for Certification in Alcohol and Substance Abuse Counseling (CASAC).• Students pursuing Long Island University’s MSW Forensic Social Work Track will have the opportunity to qualify for New York State Advanced Certificate in Forensic Social Work while earning their MSW degree.
• In 2020, 120 students graduated from Long Island University with a Master’s Degree in Social Work.
17) College of Saint Rose - Albany
MSW Programs Offered: Two Year Full-Time MSW (On-Campus), Three Years Part-Time MSW (On-Campus), Four Years Part-Time MSW (On-Campus), and Advanced Standing MSW (On-Campus)
Two Year Full-Time MSW Concentrations Offered: Advanced Generalist In Health & Wellbeing
Three Years Part-Time MSW Concentrations Offered: Advanced Generalist In Health & Wellbeing
Four Years Part-Time MSW Concentrations Offered: Advanced Generalist In Health & Wellbeing
Advanced Standing MSW Concentrations Offered: Advanced Generalist In Health & Wellbeing
About College of Saint Rose: The College of Saint Rose is a Catholic college that was founded in 1920 as an all-women’s institution of higher learning. Although the school became coeducational in 1969, it’s still predominantly female: More than 70 percent of its incoming student body in 2020 were women. Though the college maintains its ties to the Catholic Church, it welcomes students from all religious backgrounds.
College of Saint Rose MSW Program Details: If you’re a full-time student, you can expect to complete this MSW in New York State in two years. The 62-credit program is also offered as a three-year and four-year part-time track for students whose professional and family obligations won’t allow them to pursue their educational goals full-time. These three tracks are offered at the college’s campus in the Pine Hills neighborhood of Albany. The College of Saint Rose tries to accommodate its working students as much as possible by offering evening and weekend as well as daytime classes.
The College of Saint Rose also offers a 31- to 35-credit Advanced Standing MSW degree for students who already hold a Bachelor’s of Social Work degree. This track must also be pursued in a campus setting and will take full-time students one year to complete and part-time students two years to complete.
The College of Saint Rose’s MSW is one of the social work master’s programs in New York that uses the generalist intervention model in its coursework. For students in all four of its MSW tracks who’ve completed foundational studies, that generalist model is tailored with a focus on health and well-being.
Fieldwork is an important component of College of Saint Rose’s MSW program as it is with all MSW programs in New York State. If you’re enrolled in the traditional 62-credit MSW program, you’ll be expected to complete at least 900 hours of fieldwork; if you’re enrolled in the 31-credit Advanced Standing MSW program, you’ll be expected to complete 500 hours of fieldwork.
College of Saint Rose MSW Admission Requirements: In order to be considered for admission, applicants must have graduated from an accredited college or university with a GPA of 32 or higher. You will also need to submit a resume and two professional letters of reference.
Key Highlights For College of Saint Rose MSW Students
• This MSW in New York prepares you not just for New York State LMSW licensure but for licensure in every one of the 50 states.• If small class sizes appeal to you, then you may find the College of Saint Rose to be one of the best MSW programs in New York since its student-to-faculty ratio is 12:1.
• If you’re currently employed as a social worker, you may be able to use your place of employment as a fieldwork assignment.
18) College of Staten Island – Staten Island
MSW Programs Offered: Full Time MSW (On-Campus), Part Time 3-Year MSW (On-Campus), Part-Time 4-year MSW (On-Campus), Full-Time Advanced Standing MSW (On-Campus), and Part-Time Advanced Standing MSW (On-Campus)
Full-Time MSW Concentrations Offered: Clinical Practice and Macro Practice
Part TimePart-Time 3- Year MSW Concentrations Offered: Clinical Practice and Macro Practice
Part-Time 4-year MSW Concentrations Offered: Clinical Practice and Macro Practice
Full-Time Advanced Standing MSW Concentrations Offered: Clinical Practice and Macro Practice
Part-Time Advanced Standing MSW Concentrations Offered: Clinical Practice and Macro Practice
About College of Staten Island: The College of Staten Island’s Willowbrook Campus is the largest campus of any school within the City University of New York (CUNY) system. The College also maintains a 16,000-square-foot facility in St. George, easily accessible to students commuting from Manhattan, Brooklyn and the Bronx. Staten Island-CUNY’s MSW program is one of the smaller accredited MSW programs in New York State. In 2020, 30 students were awarded a master’s degree in social work from the College of Staten Island.
College of Staten Island MSW Program Details: All five of these MSW programs in New York must be taken on campus. If you’re a full-time student, you’ll be expected to complete the traditional 60-credit MSW program in two years. However, Staten Island-CUNY also offers the 60-credit MSW program as three-year and four-year options for part-time students.
Like most other social work master’s programs in New York State, the College of Staten Island offers a customized MSW track for students who’ve earned a bachelor’s degree in social work from an accredited college or university. This 32-credit, Advanced Standing track is essentially the second year of the 60-credit MSW program with one bridge class that’s designed to orient students to the differences between undergraduate and graduate education. Full-time students are expected to complete the Advanced Standing MSW curriculum in one year; part-time students are expected to complete the curriculum in two years.
The College of Staten Island is the only one of the accredited MSW programs in New York State to offer a second-year specialization in disability studies. You’ll be able to choose between two focuses. Disabilities Studies: Clinical Practice teaches students the skills necessary to work successfully with individuals and families whose lives have been impacted by physical or developmental disabilities; Disability Studies: Macro Practice trains students to assume leadership roles in social service agencies, disability research, policy and advocacy.
As a student in the College of Staten Island’s traditional MSW program, you’ll be required to complete four internship courses, equaling 1,200 field internship hours. If you’re a student in the College’s Advanced Standing program, you’ll be responsible for completing two internship courses, equaling 720 field internship hours.
College of Staten Island MSW Admission Requirements: Applicants for the College of Staten Island’s Master’s of Social Work program must complete a statistics course before they can be admitted. Additionally, they must hold a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited institution of higher learning.
Key Highlights For College of Staten Island MSW Students
• The Disabilities Studies: Clinical Practice concentration provides the 12-credit hours of clinical courses necessary to sit for the Licensed Clinical Social Work (LCSW) exam.• Fieldwork is scheduled for two eight-hour days, Mondays through Fridays between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. throughout the first placement and for three eight-hour days throughout the second placement.
• Staten Island-CUNY has a very proactive Center for Career and Professional Development that offers up-to-date job postings, professional assistance with resumes and cover letters, networking events, on-campus recruitment opportunities and other employment assistance.
19) Nazareth College of Rochester – Rochester & Watertown
MSW Programs Offered: Two Years Full-Time MSW (Hybrid), Three Years Part-Time MSW (Hybrid), Four Years Part-Time MSW (Hybrid), One Year Full-Time Advanced Standing (Hybrid), and Two Years Part-Time Advanced Standing (Hybrid)
Two Years Full-Time MSW Concentrations Offered: Play Therapy, Trauma-Informed Care, Evidence-Based Practice in Mental Health, School Social Work, and Interdisciplinary Specialty Program in Autism
Three Years Part-Time MSW Concentrations Offered: Play Therapy, Trauma-Informed Care, Evidence-Based Practice in Mental Health, School Social Work, and Interdisciplinary Specialty Program in Autism
Four Years Part-Time MSW Concentrations Offered: Play Therapy, Trauma-Informed Care, Evidence-Based Practice in Mental Health, School Social Work, and Interdisciplinary Specialty Program in Autism
One Year Full-Time Advanced Standing MSW Concentrations Offered: Play Therapy, Trauma-Informed Care, Evidence-Based Practice in Mental Health, School Social Work, and Interdisciplinary Specialty Program in Autism
Two Years Part-Time Advanced Standing MSW Concentrations Offered: Play Therapy, Trauma-Informed Care, Evidence-Based Practice in Mental Health, School Social Work, and Interdisciplinary Specialty Program in Autism
About Nazareth College of Rochester: Nazareth College—known affectionately to students, faculty and alumni as “Naz”—was a Catholic college when it was first chartered in 1924, but in 2003, it was removed from the Official Catholic Directory. Naz has produced more Fullbright Scholars than any other college in the United States. The college ratings website CollegeFactual.com ranks Naz among the top 10 best MSW programs in New York State.
Nazareth College of Rochester MSW Program Details: One of the things that puts Nazareth College among the best MSW programs in New York State is its flexible enrollment options. You can be a full-time or part-time student, take classes in person or through a hybrid distance learning format, and attend a traditional 60-credit track or an Advanced Standing 36-credit track. Naz also offers daytime and evening classes.
The traditional 60-credit MSW program is offered as a full-time, two-year option and also as part-time three-year and four-year options. Classes are taught using a hybrid format that incorporates synchronous online courses with classroom experiences on campus.
Naz follows the lead of most other MSW programs in New York in offering an Advanced Standing track for students who’ve already completed foundational courses in social work as part of their studies baccalaureate in social work. Advanced Standing MSW students enroll in a 36-credit program that is essentially the second year of the 60-credit program. You’re given the option of finishing this program either in one or two years.
As a second-year student, you’ll be given the choice to specialize in one of five concentrations: Play Therapy, Trauma-Informed Care, Evidence-Based Practice in Mental Health, School Social Work, and Interdisciplinary Specialty Program in Autism. Naz is the only one of the accredited MSW programs in New York State to offer concentrations in Play Therapy and Autism. The three-course autism track is also open to non-matriculating students as a continuing education course.
Your fieldwork placements will be with social service agencies within the Greater Rochester Metropolitan Area and adjacent counties. The 60-credit MSW program requires 900 hours of fieldwork while the 36-credit Advanced Standing MSW program requires 500 hours.
Nazareth College of Rochester MSW Admission Requirements: You won’t be admitted into Nazareth College’s MSW program unless your undergraduate transcripts include 12 credits of behavioral or social sciences as well as 12 credits of mathematics and humanities.
Key Highlights For Nazareth College of Rochester MSW Students
• In 2020, Nazareth College awarded 39 students master’s degrees in social work.• Graduates of Nazareth College’s Bachelor of Social Work program can be admitted into its MSW program on an expedited basis.
• The three-course Interdisciplinary Specialty Program in Autism is open to Nazareth graduate students in a variety of disciplines, including speech-language pathology, education, social work, occupational therapy and physical therapy.
20) Keuka College - Keuka Park & Syracuse
MSW Programs Offered: Full-Time 20 Months Foundation MSW (Hybrid), Part-Time 31 Months Foundation MSW (Hybrid), Full-Time 11 Months Advanced Standing MSW (Hybrid), Part-Time 20 Months Advanced Standing MSW(Hybrid), and Online MSW ( Traditional & Advanced )
About Keuka College: Keuka College emphasizes experiential learning (in other words, fieldwork) for all its students, not just the ones enrolled in its MSW program. The college requires all students to spend 140 hours a year in self-directed learning experiences like community service projects, internships and cultural education. In addition to its campus in New York’s Finger Lakes district, Keuka College maintains a large international presence in China and Vietnam.
Keuka College MSW Program Details: Keuka College utilizes distance learning platforms in its MSW tracks far more than many other of the best MSW schools in New York do. Its traditional 65-credit MSW in New York State is offered both as a hybrid program and entirely online. If you pursue the 65-credit MSW program full-time, you can earn your MSW in 20 months; if you pursue it part-time, you can earn your MSW in 31 months.
Like most other MSW programs in New York State, Keuka College offers an Advanced Standing MSW track for students who’ve completed a bachelor's degree in social work. The 35-credit Advanced Standing track focuses on the second year of the traditional 65-credit MSW program. You can complete this MSW track in 11 months if you’re a full-time student and in 31 months if you elect to pursue this track part-time.
If you decide to enroll in Keuka College’s online MSW track, the traditional degree is 60 credits while the Advanced Standing degree is 33 credits.
Keuka College’s graduate social work education is aimed at preparing students to pass the Licensed Clinical Social Worker exam rather than the more general Licensed Master of Social Work exam. Once they’ve taken foundational classes, MSW students at Keuka College take classes like “Military Social Work,” “Narrative Therapy” and “Solution Focused Interventions” that prepare them for one-on-one work with clients and families.
Keuka College’s MSW fieldwork partners include the University of Rochester, Catholic Charities Community Services, The Salvation Army and Planned Parenthood. To earn this MSW, you’ll need to earn 900 hours of clinical field instruction if you’re enrolled in the 65-credit track and 500 hours of clinical field instruction if you’re enrolled in the Advanced Standing track.
Keuka College MSW Admission Requirements: To be accepted into Keuka College’s MSW program, you’ll need a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university. You’ll also need to submit two professional references and a personal statement that addresses how a Keuka College education will help you meet your professional goals.
Key Highlights For Keuka College MSW Students
• Keuka College students enrolled in the 65-credit hybrid track take their in-person classes at the college’s main campus in Keuka Park.• Keuka College students enrolled in the Advanced Standing part-time hybrid track take their in-person classes two evenings a week in Syracuse.
• Thirty-four Keuka College students were awarded MSW degrees in 2020.
21) Roberts Wesleyan College - Rochester
MSW Programs Offered: 24 Months Full-Time Standard MSW (Hybrid & Online), 11 Months Full-Time Advanced Standing MSW (Hybrid & Online), 48 Months Part-Time Standard MSW (Hybrid & Online), and 22 Months Part-Time Advanced Standing MSW (Hybrid & Online)
24 Months Full-Time Standard MSW Concentrations Offered: Mental Health and Child & Family Services
11 Months Full-Time Advanced Standing MSW Concentrations Offered: Mental Health and Child & Family Services
48 Months Part-Time Standard MSW Concentrations Offered: Mental Health and Child & Family Services
22 Months Part-Time Advanced Standing MSW Concentrations Offered: Mental Health and Child & Family Services
About Roberts Wesleyan College: Roberts Wesleyan College is a Christian liberal arts college with strong ties to the Methodist church. The college accepts students from a variety of religious backgrounds, however. The faculty and staff are strongly Christ-centered, and the avowed mission of its Department of Social Work is to integrate Christian faith into social work practice competencies. Though this college is one of the best MSW programs in New York for staunch Christians, it may not be the best fit for MSW students with a more secular focus.
Roberts Wesleyan College MSW Program Details: Roberts Wesleyan College offers four MSW tracks: a traditional, full-time 60-credit curriculum that takes 24 months to complete; a traditional, part-time 60-credit curriculum that takes 48 months to complete; a 38-credit full-time Advanced Standing curriculum that takes 11 months to complete; and a 38-credit full-time Advanced Standing curriculum that takes 22 months to complete. These MSW tracks are offered either as hybrid or online options.
If you choose to enroll in a hybrid program, your synchronous online classes will be scheduled for afternoons and evenings, and your in-person classes will take place at the college’s Rochester campus on Saturdays. If you choose to enroll in an online program, you’ll have the opportunity to interact with faculty and classmates in real-time in synchronous classes as well as the opportunity to proceed at your own pace in asynchronous classes.
This MSW in New York State offers two social work concentrations for Advanced Standing students and for students in the second year of the traditional 60-credit MSW track. The Mental Health concentration prepares you for crisis intervention, short-term therapy and other agency-based social work in a healthcare setting. The Child & Family Services concentration will prepare you to offer appropriate treatment interventions within agencies and organizations that serve children and their families.
As with other MSW programs in New York State, fieldwork practicums are an integral part of graduate social work education at Roberts Wesleyan College. If you’re enrolled in the traditional 60-credit MSW track, you’re required to complete 900 hours of fieldwork; if you’re enrolled in the Advanced Standing track, you’re required to complete 500 hours of fieldwork. Students enrolled in the hybrid program will be placed with agencies and organizations within the Greater Rochester Metropolitan Region and surrounding counties.
Roberts Wesleyan College MSW Admission Requirements: If you want to attend this MSW program, you’ll need a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university. Your accumulated GPA throughout your undergraduate studies must have been 2.75 or higher.
Key Highlights For Roberts Wesleyan College MSW Students
• MSW students can fulfill their fieldwork requirements through Roberts Wesleyan College’s partner agencies in Ireland, Israel and Jamaica.• The college’s Emergency Room Trauma Simulation Lab provides MSW students with the opportunity to practice and perfect crisis intervention in a healthcare setting.
• Thirty-one students received MSW degrees from Roberts Wesleyan College in 2020.
22) Daemen College - Amherst
MSW Programs Offered: Traditional MSW (Hybrid) and Advanced Standing MSW (Hybrid)
Traditional MSW Concentrations Offered: Children & Families
Advanced Standing MSW Concentrations Offered: Children & Families
About Daemen College: Daemen University has two campuses: One is in the town of Amherst just north of Buffalo, and the other is in Brooklyn. The university was a Catholic college when it was founded in 1947 but became nonsectarian in 1974. Daemen University has been offering MSW degrees since 2014. In 2020, Daemon University awarded Master of Social Work degrees to 28 students.
Daemen College MSW Program Details: If you’re interested in pursuing your MSW degree at Daemon University, you’ll have two formats to choose from: on-campus and online. Online classes are eight weeks in duration, and you can sign up to take two at a time. The university’s campus track begins in September while the university’s online track begins in October. Online classes use a synchronous model but are taught in the afternoons, evenings, and weekends to accommodate the needs of working students.
It will take you two years to complete the traditional 60-credit MSN program if you pursue it full-time. Like nearly all the other best MSW schools in New York State, Daemon University also offers an Advanced Standing MSW track for students who’ve graduated with a bachelor of social work degree; this track is a 30- to 33-credit MSW curriculum that’s designed to be completed in a single year.
Daemon University’s second-year concentration is Children & Families. This specialty teaches students how to identify and use clinically appropriate interventions that aim to improve the lives of children and their families. What distinguishes this Children & Families specialty from the program taught at many other MSW programs in New York is the degree to which Daemon University stresses the importance of an interdisciplinary approach.
Daemon University is similar to other MSW schools in New York in the importance it assigns to fieldwork. MSW students enrolled in the two-year program must complete 900 hours of fieldwork while students enrolled in the Advanced Standing program must complete 500 hours.
Daemen College MSW Admission Requirements: If you want to attend Daemon University’s MSW program, you’ll need to have a baccalaureate degree from a regionally-accredited college or university. You’ll also need to submit three professional references and a personal statement describing how a Daemon University education will help you meet your professional goals.
Key Highlights For Daemen College MSW Students
• Faculty and students of Daemen University’s Department of Social Work participate regularly in service work in the Dominican Republic, Thailand and other international locations.• Daemon University pays for transportation, hotel, meals and event registration when students participate in the New York State Chapter of the National Association of Social Workers’ Legislative Education Advocacy (LEAD) Day in Albany each March.
• Daemon University sponsors the Social Work Alliance, which supports networking, advocacy and voluntarism among social work professionals in the Daemon University community.
23) Nyack College - New York
MSW Programs Offered: 2 Year Full-Time Traditional MSW (On-Campus), 3-4 Year Part-Time Traditional MSW (On-Campus), 1 Year Full-Time Advanced Standing MSW (On-Campus), 2 Year Part-Time Advanced Standing MSW (On-Campus), and MSW EESSP (On-Campus)
2 Year Full-Time MSW Traditional Concentrations Offered: Clinical Social Work Practice and Leadership in Organizations & Communities
3-4 Year Part-Time MSW Traditional Concentrations Offered: Clinical Social Work Practice and Leadership in Organizations & Communities
1 Year Full-Time Advanced Standing MSW Concentrations Offered: Clinical Social Work Practice and Leadership in Organizations & Communities
2 Year Part-Time Advanced Standing MSW Concentrations Offered: Clinical Social Work Practice and Leadership in Organizations & Communities
MSW EESSP Concentrations Offered: Clinical Social Work Practice and Leadership in Organizations & Communities
About Nyack College: Despite its name, Nyack College is not located in Nyack, New York, but indowntown Manhattan. The college has been celebrated by U.S. World & News Report and The Wall Street Journal as one of the top most multicultural and ethnically diverse schools in the northeast. Nyack College is affiliated with the Christian and Missionary Alliance. If you’re not interested in studying social work from a Christian perspective, you should probably check out one of the other MSW schools in New York.
Nyack College MSW Program Details: All of Nyack College’s MSW tracks are taught on campus. If you’re a full-time student, you should be able to complete the traditional, 63-credit MSW track in two years. Part-time students are given the opportunity to complete the 63-credit curriculum in either three years or four years.
Like nearly all MSW programs in New York State, Nyack College also offers an Advanced Standing track for students who majored in social work when they were undergraduates. You can enroll in Nyack College’s Advanced Standing MSW track full-time and complete it in a year, or you can enroll in the track part-time and complete it in two years.
Nyack College also offers an option for students who’ve been employed in the social work profession for at least six months, which allows them to complete their fieldwork requirement at their place of employment. No other MSW program in New York State offers this MSW Employed Experienced Social Service Program (EESSP) track.
Nyack College offers two concentrations. The Clinical Social Work concentration focuses on therapeutic techniques that can be used in the diagnosis and treatment of a range of emotional and mental health issues. The Leadership in Organizations & Communities concentration is a systems-driven approach to remediating social justice issues.
Earning your MSW from Nyack College is contingent upon successfully completing your fieldwork requirement. Students enrolled in the traditional 63-credit curriculum are required to complete 1,050 hours of fieldwork while Advanced Standing students are required to complete 600 hours of fieldwork. Students enrolled in the MSW EESSP program must complete 900 hours of fieldwork.
Nyack College MSW Admission Requirements: Nyack College requires applicants to submit one academic reference and two professional references. All applicants must be graduates of an accredited college or university.
Key Highlights For Nyack College MSW Students
• Nyack College permits non-degree students to take classes in its MSW curriculum, but these students must formally apply to the program.• MSW students can take up to six credits of independent study if there are subject areas they’re particularly interested in that aren’t included in regular course offerings.
• Four students received Master of Social Work degrees from Nyack College in 2020.
24) St. Joseph’s University - Patchogue
MSW Programs Offered: MSW (Hybrid)
About St. Joseph’s University: St. Joseph’s University is a private Catholic university with campuses in Brooklyn and in Patchogue on Long Island. The school admits students from a variety of religious backgrounds, though, and while the university emphasizes spirituality and community service, the education you’ll receive there does not reflect Catholic doctrine. St. Joseph’s Master of Social Work program will be admitting its first class of students in the fall of 2023.
St. Joseph’s University MSW Program Details: Graduates of St. Joseph’s University’s Master of Social Work program will be generalists or clinical social workers. The program intends to utilize a hybrid learning platform that includes online courses as well as evening and weekend classes at the Long Island campus. As is the case with all the best MSW programs in New York, fieldwork will be an integral part of its social work education.
St. Joseph’s University MSW Admission Requirements: Successful applicants to St. Joseph’s University’s MSW program will have maintained a GPA of 3.0 or higher while earning their bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university. They must also have at least oneyear of experience in the field of human services or social work.
25) Utica University - Utica
MSW Programs Offered: Traditional MSW (Online) and Advanced Standing MSW (Online)
Traditional MSW Concentrations Offered: Clinical Social Work Practice
Advanced Standing MSW Concentrations Offered: Clinical Social Work Practice
About Utica University: When it was first founded in 1946, Utica University was a campus of Syracuse University in New York State’s Capital Region. The school became an independent institution of higher learning in 1995. Utica University began offering an MSW degree in 2021. The university is one of the few MSW programs in New York State that offers coursework entirely online without any kind of campus visitation requirement.
Utica University MSW Program Details: Utica University’s MSW curriculum has two tracks: a traditional 60-credit option that can be completed in two years if a student pursues it full-time and a 34-credit Advanced Standing option intended for students who already have an undergraduate degree in social work. Classes are offered in an asynchronous format that will allow you to study at your own pace while keeping up with your family and work obligations. These two MSW tracks can also be pursued part-time.
The Advanced Standing program and the second year of the 60-credit program focus on Clinical Social Work Practice from a recovery-oriented perspective. This approach draws deeply on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), an action-oriented approach to counseling that synthesizes traditional behavior therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy.
If you’re a student in the traditional 60-credit MSW track, you’ll be required to complete 900 hours of fieldwork before you graduate. If you’re a student in the Advanced Standing track, you’ll be required to complete 450 hours of fieldwork before you graduate.
MSW students at Utica University are expected to be more proactive about identifying fieldwork placements than students at many of the other MSW programs in New York State. You’ll be asked to identify five agencies or organizations where you might want to volunteer in the location where you live. The Director of Field Education and the Field Coordinator will vet them thoroughly before any official relationship with Utica University is established. Throughout your fieldwork experience, you’ll meet biweekly with your onsite supervisor to review what you have learned.
Utica University MSW Admission Requirements: You must have a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university and have maintained a grade point average of 2.5 or higher throughout your undergraduate career. You must submit a personal statement detailing your professional goals and two professional references.
Key Highlights For Utica University MSW Students
• Four hours of personal counseling is a mandatory graduation requirement for students in this MSW in New York; the intent of this requirement is to help students empathize more fully with the client experience.• Utica University’s Clinical Social Work concentration is the only clinical social work program in the U.S. that’s based on recovery theories, values and skills.
• Only residents of New York State are accepted into this MSW program because coursework is specifically designed to help students pursue licensure in New York State.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What Are The Total Number Of Accredited MSW Programs In New York?
As per the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE), currently, there are 25 accredited Master Of Social Work programs in New York.| Total MSW Programs in New York |
| 25 |
How Much Does An MSW Graduate Make Per Hour In New York?
The average salary of an MSW graduate per hour in New York is $29.66.How Much Does An MSW Graduate Make Per Year In New York?
The average salary of an MSW graduate per year in New York is $61,680.
Pattie Trumble, MPP, MPH
Pattie Trumble is a nurse who worked in both California and New York for many years as an emergency room nurse. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Economics from the University of California, Berkeley, and an Associate Degree in Nursing from the Samuel Merritt Hospital School of Nursing. After 10 years of providing direct care, she went back to school and earned concurrent Master’s degrees in both public policy and public health from the University of California, Berkeley. Thereafter, she worked for various public health agencies in California at both the community and state levels providing economic and legislative analysis.
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