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Graduate Social Work Degree Program

The Grace Abbott School of Social Work offers a fully accredited Master of Social Work (MSW) degree program with one area of specialized practice: advanced generalist. The advanced generalist curriculum is well-rounded and prepares students for effective practice with individuals, families, groups, organizations and communities. Required courses balance clinical, community, and policy practice content, while electives offer students opportunities to advance their knowledge and skills in particular areas of interest. Our MSW degree is recognized for licensure for independent social work practice in the United States.

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Specialized Practice

Advanced generalist students demonstrate advanced practice skills in mental health therapy on the individual and group levels, diagnosis of mental health disorders, community practice, policy, research and program evaluation, and supervisory and leadership skills in social service settings. Students recognize the value of multidisciplinary work to meet client needs, engage in policy practice, and evaluate and enhance agency programs.

The advanced generalist program promotes critical thinking and conscientious application of advanced social work knowledge, skills, values, and ethics. The advanced generalist program calls for enhanced skills in critical thinking that allow for the analysis of complex problems and application of empirically supported interventions through anti-racist and anti-oppressive lenses. Master’s level social workers are employed in public and private agencies, including medical settings, schools, residential treatment centers, court and correctional agencies, and community planning and development agencies.

Foundation vs. Advanced Standing

Students may enter the Master of Social Work (MSW) program at either the foundation level (63 credit hours), or the advanced standing level (39 credit hours). The foundation level is designed for students whose undergraduate degree is not in social work, while the advanced standing level is for students who have completed a BSSW degree within 10 years or have previously completed the MSW foundation level courses.

Program Format

Our MSW program is flexible! Classes are offered in-person, remotely, and totally online so that students can structure their schedule however they prefer.

Dual Degree Options

The dual degree programs offer interdisciplinary preparation in two fields, requiring fewer credit hours than it would take to obtain each degree independently.

  • For students seeking a dual degree focused on agency and program planning, policy, administration and evaluation, we offer a Master of Public Administration and Master of Social Work (MPA/MSW).
  • For those with an interest in criminal justice, we offer a Master of Social Work and Master of Science in Criminology and Criminal Justice dual degree (MSW/MSCRCJ).
  • The Master of Social Work and Master of Public Health (MSW/MPH) dual degree program is a collaborative effort between the Grace Abbott School of Social Work and the University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Public Health.

Certificates

The Managing Juvenile and Adult Population (MJAP) certificate is for students that desire to work with juveniles and adults who are in contact with the criminal justice system as victims, offender, or family members, and can be added to any graduate degree.

How to Apply

Anyone applying to the MSW program should submit their application approximately one year in advance of the program start date. Admission requirements for the MSW program can be found here: criteria for admission. For more information about the application and admission process, contact our admissions chair, Ciara Warden. (cwarden@unomaha.edu)

MSW application window is open annually from October 15 - January 15.