Master's Degree in Social Work (MSW)
The Master of Social Work at Southern Utah University prepares you for a meaningful career helping people and communities. You will gain hands-on experience through local social service agencies while learning to support varied populations. Our advanced generalist approach gives you the real-world skills to serve individuals, families, and larger systems. Flexible electives let you focus on your specific interests so you can step directly into the workforce. At SUU, you will turn your passion for helping others into a rewarding professional path.
Department: Family Life & Human Development
College: Education & Human Development
- Applications for the Fall 2027 2-year MSW cohort close December 15, 2026
- Applications for the first Advanced Standing cohort will open August of 2027.
- Please review the application requirements to learn more about which track is appropriate for you.
Admissions Requirements
3.0+
Minimum GPA
3
Letters of Recommendation
1
Statement of Intent
Bachelor's
from Accredited University
Transcripts
Official Transcripts from all institutions attended
Bachelor's Degree Requirement
MSW Programs require a Bachelor's degree in any field.
MSW Advanced Standing Program: BSW from a CSWE-accredited program, within 10 years of anticipated start date
Statement of Intent Requirements
The statement of intent is an opportunity for applicants to tell their story. Who you are, what your professional goals are at this time, and why you are interested in pursuing an MSW degree at Southern Utah University. The statement of purpose should be at least 3 pages, utilizing APA formatting guidelines, and provide complete answers to the following prompts.
- Why are you pursuing an MSW degree at this time?
- Describe how your past academic or professional/volunteer experiences prepare you for a career in social work. How do your experiences align with social work values and ethics?
- Describe your thoughts on a social, economic, or environmental justice issue and how you hope to use your social work degree to address these issues.
- Describe your strengths and challenges, especially as it pertains to social work practice with diverse populations. Include your philosophy toward working with people with values, lifestyles, cultures, and/or religions different from yours.
- Address any academic or other issues that may not be reflected accurately on your application documents. (This is where a GPA below 3.0 or other outstanding issues should be addressed.)
- Advanced Standing applicants must complete this prompt in addition: Describe any major lessons from your social work experience (including your generalist practicum placement, as well as any post-BSW degree experience) that inform your identified practice interests for your specialist practice placement.
Advanced Generalist Specialization for the MSW
An Advanced Generalist specialization prepares students to enter nearly any human services career upon graduation. Advanced generalist practitioners are able to competently engage in independent and culturally responsive application of advanced social work knowledge, theories, skills, values, and ethics into the planned change process at all levels of practice. The skill level of advanced generalist practitioners is seen in the ability of graduates to engage effectively in interdisciplinary collaboration for advocacy, policy, practice, and advancing social justice efforts. Advanced generalist practice includes the complexity of the problem and context of service provision, enhanced technical abilities, and more sophisticated direct and indirect skills.
Career Opportunities & Outlook with an MSW
Utah's population growth has expanded the need for social workers across multiple practice areas. Nationally, employment for social workers is projected to grow 11% from 2018 to 2028, much faster than the average for all occupations. In southern Utah, the projected annual increase in employment for these fields is 5%—the highest in the state.
- Clinical and Direct Practice
- Child and Family Services
- School Social Work
- Gerontology and Aging
- Palliative Care and Hospice
- Healthcare and Medical Social Work
- Substance Abuse and Addictions
- Forensic Social Work
- Victim Advocate
- Policy Advocacy
- Community Organizing
- Legislative Analyst
- Social Work Researcher
MSW Practicum Education
Students will complete their MSW with over 900 hours of supervised practice experience in the field, preparing them to enter the field upon graduation with a strong basis in both theory and applied skill.
Student Opportunities
- Social Work Society
- Phi Alpha Honor Society for Social Work
- Social Work Programs Advisory Board
Regional Expertise
SUU offers the first on-the-ground MSW program in the Southwest Utah region, serving the unique needs of students and agencies in this rural setting. The MSW program at SUU uses a cohort model with small class sizes and faculty who have varied and extensive experience working in the profession.
Handbooks & Manuals
Admitted students are expected to review the handbook and manuals in full.
Courses in the Master of Social Work
Generalist Year (year 1)
- SW 6000 - Social Work Practice I: Generalist Practice with Individuals
- SW 6010 - Human Behavior in the Social Environment (3 credits)
- SW 6020 - Ethical Practice and Decision Making (3 credits)
- SW6100 - Social Work Practice II: Generalist Practice with Families and Groups (3 credits)
- SW6110 - Research for Social Work Practice (3 credits)
- SW6120 - Diversity and Social Justice (3 credits)
- SW6200 - Social Work Practice III: Generalist Practice with Organizations and Communities (3 credits)
- SW 6510 - Generalist Practicum I (6 credits)
- SW6520 - Generalist Practicum II (6 credits)
- SW6210 - Social Welfare Policy
Specialist Year (year 2 and Advanced Standing)
- SW 6400 - Advanced Standing: Bridge to Practice (Advanced Standing students only, 3 credits)
- SW 6300 - Social Work Practice IV: Advanced Practice with Individuals and Families (3 credits)
- SW 6500 - DSM Evaluation and Psychopathology (3 credits)
- SW 6530 - Advanced Practicum I (6 credits)
- SW 6540 - Advanced Practicum II (6 credits)
- SW 6900 - Capstone Portfolio (1 credit)
Elective courses:
- SW 6600 - Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (3 credits)
- SW 6610 - Mindfulness-Based Interventions (3 credits)
- SW 6620 - Telehealth and Mental Health Care in Rural Social Work (3 credits)
- SW 6630 - Skills for Trauma-Informed Practice (3 credits)
- SW 6640 - Foundations of Adventure Therapy (3 credits)
CSWE Accreditation
Southern Utah University’s MSW program is in pre-candidacy for accreditation by the Council on Social Work Education’s (CSWE) Board of Accreditation (BOA). Accreditation of a social work program by the BOA indicates that it at least meets or exceeds standards of program quality evaluated through a rigorous peer-review process. An accredited program has been seen to have sufficient resources to meet its mission and goals, and then BOA has verified that the program is in compliance with all accreditation standards and policies.
Accreditation applies to all program options, including locations and delivery methods. Accreditation provides reasonable assurance about the quality of the program and the competence of students upon graduation from the program.
Review our program’s accreditation status in CSWE’s Directory of Accredited Programs. Find more information at the CSWE website.
Program Outcome Reports
All Council on Social Work Education accredited programs measure and report student learning outcomes. Students are assessed on their mastery of the competencies that comprise the accreditation standards of the CSWE. These competencies are dimensions of social work practice that all social workers are expected to master during their professional training. A measurement benchmark is set by the social work programs for each competency. An assessment score at or above that benchmark is considered by the program to represent mastery of that particular competency.
Report to come after year 1 is complete.