Program Information

Program Options

The Master of Social Work Program at Utah Valley University is committed to engaged student learning by combining innovative teaching, student-mentored scholarly work, and community collaboration to develop social work professionals who are proficient in advanced generalist practice. This mission derives from the university’s commitment to excellence and seeks to promote a healthy community within a global context through collaborative efforts that maximize human potential and promote social and economic justice through learner-centered teaching, research and scholarship, service and outreach. The MSW program is to provide transformative and collaborative learning that embraces the values of social justice and inclusion while promoting an enhanced quality of life for individuals and communities, particularly for communities of color.  

Tuition Costs and Financial Aid

Program Options

We currently only offer full-time Advanced Standing and Two Year programs. See below for details.

ADVANCED STANDING

Application Deadline: October 15th, 2019

For students with a Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) degree from an accredited program. No other combination of academic or professional experience may be substituted.

  • Application opens: August 15, 2019
  • Program begins May 2020
  • Program takes one calendar year to complete (Summer Term, Fall Semester, Spring Semester) - see UVU academic calendar for dates
  • Students complete bridge coursework during Summer (10.0 credits) and join second-year MSW students for Fall and Spring Semesters

TWO YEAR 

Application Deadline: October 15th, 2019

  • Application opens August 15, 2019
  • Program begins August 2020
  • Full-time hybrid program - 60.0 credits
    • Each class is held once a week on Fridays and has a significant online component (curriculum outline here)
    • Students complete a concurrent field practicum (internship) of 15-16 hours per week both years

Core Competencies of Social Work 

From Council on Social Work Education's 2015 Educational Policy and Accreditation 

  • Competency 1: Demonstrate Ethical and Professional Behavior
  • Competency 2: Engage Diversity and Difference in Practice
  • Competency 3: Advance Human Rights and Social, Economic, and Environmental Justice
  • Competency 4: Engage In Practice-informed Research and Research-informed Practice
  • Competency 5: Engage in Policy Practice
  • Competency 6: Engage with Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities
  • Competency 7: Assess Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities
  • Competency 8: Intervene with Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities
  • Competency 9: Evaluate Practice with Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities

Admission Requirements

  • Bachelor's degree with a minimum GPA of 3.0
    • A bachelor's degree related to social work is not required; significant professional and volunteer experience will be considered.
  • Completion of three prerequisite courses with a B- or higher by the end of the Spring semester following the application deadline. Equivalent courses may be taken outside of UVU. No other combination of academic or professional experience may be substituted. 
    • SW 1010 - Introduction to Social Work
    • BESC 3010 - Statistics for the Behavioral Sciences
    • BESC 3020 - Research Methods for the Behavioral Sciences 
  • The GRE is not required for admission
  • $45 application fee
  • Current Resume
  •  Two-part essay that includes autobiographical statement (2-3 pages) and critical analysis of a clinical or policy issue (2 pages). More details available here.
  • 3 professional references
  • University transcripts
  • See the bottom of this page for the application process

Social Work 

 

List Of Courses

Frequently Asked Questions

 

Program Goals

  • To prepare students to be social work professionals and competent advanced generalist practitioners with individuals, families, groups, communities, and societies.
  • To prepare students to assist in the promotion of social and economic justice within individual, family, political, cultural, and social context.
  • To enhance professional development within students through engaged teaching methods, clinically-based learning activities, and self-exploration.
  • To promote the profession of social work in the local community and identify how it is impacted within the global context.
  • To engage with communities of color in order to increase service provision and utilization of services for historically marginalized populations.
  • To prepare students to be effective practitioners by evaluating research and engaging in research-informed practice.

First Year Curriculum

  • Fall of First Year
    • SW 6000 - Social Work Practice I: Individuals (3.0 credits)
    • SW 6200 - Human Behavior and the Social Environment I (3.0 credits)
    • SW 6300 - Social Welfare Policy and Analysis (3.0 credits)
    • SW 6810 - Integrative Seminar I (1.0 credit)
    • SW 6910 - Foundation Field Practicum I (4.0 credits)
  • Spring of First Year
    • SW 6020 - Social Work Practice II: Groups (3.0 credits)
    • SW 6210 - Human Behavior and the Social Environment II (3.0 credits)
    • SW 6500 - Addictions (2.0 credits)
    • SW 6820 - Integrative Seminar II (1.0 credit)
    • SW 6920 - Foundation Field Practicum (4.0 credits)
    • Social Work Elective (2.0 credits)

Second Year Curriculum

  • Fall of Second Year
    • SW 6320 - Social Work with Latino, Pacific Islanders, and other Communities of Color (3.0 credits)
    • SW 6030 - Social Work Practice III: Advanced Practice with Individuals and Families (3.0 credits)
    • SW 6400 - Social Work Research Methods (3.0 credits)
    • SW 6830 - Integrative Seminar III (1.0 credits)
    • SW 6930 - Advanced Field Practicum I (4.0 credits)
    • Social Work Elective (2.0 credits)
  • Spring of Second Year
    • SW 6040 - Social Work Practice IV: Advanced Practice with Groups and Complex Cases (3.0 credits)
    • SW 6050 - Social Work Practice V: Advanced Practice with Organizations and Communities (3.0 credits)
    • SW 6950 - MSW Capstone (2.0 credits)
    • SW 6840 - Integrative Seminar IV (1.0 credit)
    • SW 6940 - Advanced Field Practicum II (4.0 credits)
    • Social Work Elective (2.0 credits)

Core Competencies of Social Work

 
  • Competency 1: Demonstrate Ethical and Professional Behavior
  • Competency 2: Engage Diversity and Difference in Practice
  • Competency 3: Advance Human Rights and Social, Economic, and Environmental Justice
  • Competency 4: Engage In Practice-informed Research and Research-informed Practice
  • Competency 5: Engage in Policy Practice
  • Competency 6: Engage with Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities
  • Competency 7: Assess Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities
  • Competency 8: Intervene with Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities
  • Competency 9: Evaluate Practice with Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities