MSW Programs

No

The full-time program is two years (4 semesters) and the part-time program is eight consecutive semesters. 

The full-time program meets two full days (8-5) each week and the part-time program meets three evenings each week.

Yes. We will have a Full Time (3 semesters) and Part Time (5 semesters) Advanced Standing MSW Online Program in authorized states starting Summer 2017.  Please click here for a list of authorized states. Practice classes will be synchronistic with student and professors on-line from 6:30-8:45 EST Tuesday evenings for the first semester and Tuesday and Thursdays for the remaining semesters.    

Yes. You must have received a BSW degree from an accredited program in the last five years to qualify. In addition, you
must have received a "B" or better in your undergraduate Social Work courses. Advanced Standing status allows you to waive
eight courses if you meet these qualifications.

There is a $30 fee to apply to the USF Graduate School. There is not a departmental fee to apply to the School of Social
Work.

We currently offer the full-time program on the Tampa campus only.

The part-time students begin their internship in the third semester. The full-time students begin theirs in the second
semester. Your internship runs congruently with your classes.

Our accrediting body, the Council on Social Work Education, requires you to complete a total of 900 hours in a field
placement.

No. However, you will be interviewed by a field placement coordinator about your areas of interests and geographical
choices. We have affiliation agreements with over 300 agencies/organizations in seven counties. We encourage our students to
visit the websites of our partners to help guide our search for the best placement. The field placement coordinator at the
School of Social Work will arrange for you to interview in an agency of your expressed interest whenever possible

The MSW degree teaches students the skills to do clinical work with individuals, groups, couples, families, organizations, and
communities. Our graduates work with people in need in many settings including schools, hospitals, clinics, government
agencies, social service agencies, residential facilities, corrections, and many more.

The field of social work views and intervenes with people across many systems including biological, psychological, spiritual,
familial, neighborhood, and community. The social work perspective of human behavior is broader than other fields and far
more comprehensive. The MSW degree is considered one of the fastest growing careers in the U.S.

It is preferred, but not required that all applicants to the Master's Degree program in Social Work have completed one year of post undergraduate work in a social service agency (in a service capacity) or its equivalent as determined by the MSW Graduate Admissions Committee. Experiences that might be considered as equivalent to one year's work include supervised field practicum hours, extensive volunteer experience, or other professional work experiences.

Liberal arts pre-requisites: To graduate from the MSW Program students must have taken courses with a liberal arts perspective. Liberal Arts perspective is defined as 12 credits which include three credits of biology with human content and a minimum of three credits of social and behavioral sciences. The remaining credits may be completed through additional social and/or behavioral sciences, humanities and fine arts classes. (One statistics course may also be used in completing this requirement.) Liberal Arts requirements may be waived only by the MSW chair in consultation with the Director.

Please note these are not required prior to admission, but rather by the end of the first year of the MSW program.  If you have questions about this please contact our Senior Academic Advisor, Amy Weisz (aweisz@usf.edu or 813-974-7292).