Traditional MSW Path
Online Traditional Master of Social Work (MSW) Program
You do not need a Bachelor of Social Work to earn your MSW at the University of Saint Mary. USM’s Traditional Master of Social Work pathway is designed for students with a bachelor’s degree in any field who want to enter professional social work practice or make a career transition into social services, behavioral health, healthcare, advocacy, or related fields. Earn your MSW at a university with a mission and commitment supporting community, justice, and excellence.
The 60-credit online program combines foundational social work education, advanced practice coursework, supervised field experience, and your choice of specialization in Health & Mental Health Social Work or Forensic Social Work. Full-time students typically complete the Traditional MSW in two years, while a three-year part-time pathway is also available.
What Is a Traditional MSW Pathway?
A Traditional MSW is the standard graduate pathway for students who have not previously earned a Bachelor of Social Work from a CSWE-accredited program. It allows students from a wide range of undergraduate majors and professional backgrounds to build the foundational knowledge and skills required for social work before moving into advanced graduate practice.
At USM, Traditional Standing students complete 60 graduate credits. Students who already hold a BSW from a CSWE-accredited program may instead qualify for USM’s 30-credit Advanced Standing MSW.
Who Is the Traditional MSW Designed For?
USM’s Traditional Standing pathway may be a good fit for a variety of students, including:
- Career changers seeking a meaningful profession focused on service, advocacy, behavioral health, or community impact
- Psychology or sociology graduates who want professional social work training and a pathway toward licensure
- Healthcare professionals interested in supporting patients and families through behavioral health, care coordination, or medical social work
- Educators and school professionals interested in expanding their work with children, families, and communities
- Criminal justice professionals interested in forensic social work, corrections, victim advocacy, or justice-involved populations
- Human services and nonprofit professionals seeking graduate-level preparation and advancement
- Recent college graduates who have discovered an interest in social work after completing a different undergraduate major
Traditional MSW Curriculum
The 60-credit Traditional Standing curriculum is designed to take students from foundational social work education through advanced professional practice.
- Generalist Social Work Foundation
- Traditional students begin by developing broad knowledge and skills that support social work practice with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities.
- Advanced Practice and Specialization
- After completing foundational preparation, students move into advanced graduate-level coursework, research, specialization, field education, and capstone study.
Traditional Path Coursework
SW 601 — Orientation Seminar — 3 credits
SW 603 — Human Rights, Social, Economic, and Racial Justice (HR-SERJ) — 3 credits
SW 605 — Human Behavior in the Social Environment (HBSE) — 3 credits
SW 610 —Generalist Practice with Individuals — 3 credits
SW 612 — Generalist Practice with Groups and Families — 3 credits
SW 614 — Generalist Practice with Communities and Organizations — 3 credits
SW 618 — Social Welfare Policy & Services — 3 credits
SW 620 — Professionalism in Social Work — 3 credits
SW 630 — Spiritual Diversity in Social Work Practice — 3 credits
SW 730 — Methods of Research and Assessment — 3 credits
SW 950 — Capstone Project — 3 credits
SW 710 — Psychopathology for Clinical Social Work — 3 credits
SW 712 — Trauma Informed Care — 3 credits
SW 714 — Integrated Health Care Social Work Practice — 3 credits
SW 716 — Crisis Intervention-Disaster Response — 3 credits
SW 710 — Psychopathology for Clinical Social Work — 3 credits
SW 752 — Introduction to Forensic Social Work — 3 credits
SW 754 — Forensic Social Work Practice — 3 credits
SW 756 — Social Work and the Law — 3 credits
SW 700 — Foundation Practicum Seminar — 1 credit
SW 702 — Foundation Practicum Internship — (375 hours at agency) — 5 credits
SW 800 — Specialization Practicum Seminar — 1 credit
SW 802 — Specialization Practicum Internship (300 hours at agency) — 4 credits
SW 900 — Specialization Practicum Seminar — 1 credit
SW 902 — Specialization Practicum Internship (225 hours at agency) — 3 credits
Choose Your Traditional MSW Specialization
Health & Mental Health Social Work
The Health & Mental Health specialization prepares students for advanced practice in behavioral health, healthcare, and related clinical settings.
Specialized coursework includes topics such as:
- Psychopathology for clinical social work
- Trauma-informed care
- Integrated healthcare social work practice
- Crisis intervention and disaster response
This pathway may appeal to students interested in mental health agencies, hospitals, integrated care systems, substance-use services, crisis programs, and other health-focused social work environments.
Forensic Social Work
The Forensic Social Work specialization focuses on the intersection of social work, law, justice, and social services.
Specialized coursework includes:
- Psychopathology for clinical social work
- Introduction to forensic social work
- Forensic social work practice
- Social work and the law
This pathway can support students interested in areas such as criminal justice, corrections, child welfare, courts, advocacy, family violence, and services for justice-involved populations.
Traditional MSW Field Education
Field education is a central part of the Traditional MSW pathway. Traditional standing students complete supervised field education, giving them opportunities to build both generalist and advanced practice skills.
Foundation Field Experience
Early field education emphasizes generalist social work practice and provides experience working with diverse populations and community systems. Students begin developing core professional skills in assessment, communication, case management, ethics, and service delivery.
Advanced Field Experience
Later placements allow students to apply advanced knowledge and skills in settings aligned more closely with their professional interests and specialization.
USM’s traditional curriculum currently includes a 375-hour Foundation Practicum Internship followed by advanced specialization internships totaling an additional 525 hours.
Potential practicum settings include:
- Mental and behavioral health agencies
- Hospitals and healthcare organizations
- Schools
- Community agencies
- Child welfare organizations
- Criminal justice and corrections settings
- Advocacy programs
- Other approved social service organizations
USM assists students with field placement. Placements are arranged in students’ local communities whenever possible, and employment-based internships may be considered when they meet program criteria. The USM MSW program currently has 55 practicum partnerships across 15 states and is still adding partners.
Traditional MSW Admissions Requirements
A Bachelor of Social Work is not required. Applicants to the Traditional Standing MSW must hold a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution.
General admissions requirements include:
- Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution
- Minimum undergraduate GPA of 2.75, with conditional consideration available in some circumstances
- Official college transcripts
- Completed graduate application
- Current résumé
- No GRE required
Applicants should review current admissions requirements and deadlines before applying.
View complete MSW admissions requirements
How Much Does the Traditional MSW Cost?
For cohorts beginning in Fall 2026, University of Saint Mary MSW tuition is $625 a credit hour. Additional fees apply, and future tuition changes may occur. Scholarships and financial aid may be available to qualified students.
USM also uses free Open Educational Resources for approximately 98% of MSW textbooks, reducing the cost of required course materials.
Explore MSW tuition, scholarships, and financial aid
CSWE Accreditation and Social Work Licensure
The University of Saint Mary Master of Social Work program is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE).
Traditional and Advanced Standing students earn the same Master of Social Work degree. The difference between the pathways is the amount of coursework and field education required based on a student’s prior academic preparation.
Graduates may pursue social work licensure pathways such as LMSW, LSW, and LCSW, depending on the requirements of the state in which they plan to practice. Clinical licensure such as the LCSW generally requires additional supervised post-graduate experience and successful completion of applicable licensing examinations.
Because licensure requirements vary by jurisdiction, students should review the rules of the licensing authority where they intend to practice.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Traditional MSW
Can You Earn an MSW Without a BSW?
Yes. You do not need an undergraduate social work degree to enter USM’s Traditional MSW pathway. A bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution is sufficient for consideration, provided you meet the program’s other admissions requirements.
What undergraduate degree do I need for a Traditional MSW?
Your bachelor’s degree may be in any field, provided it was earned from an accredited institution and you meet the program’s other admissions requirements. This makes the Traditional MSW a potential pathway for students coming from majors such as:
-
- Psychology
- Sociology
- Criminal justice
- Education
- Human services
- Healthcare
- Public health
- Political science
- Business or nonprofit leadership
- Other liberal arts, sciences, or professional fields
Your undergraduate major does not have to determine your professional future. The Traditional MSW curriculum is intentionally structured to give non-BSW students the social work foundation they need before moving into specialized graduate practice.
Can I earn the Traditional MSW online?
Yes. USM delivers MSW coursework online through a combination of synchronous and asynchronous learning. Students also complete required supervised field education in approved professional settings.
How many credits is the Traditional MSW?
The Traditional MSW requires 60 graduate credits.
How long does the Traditional MSW take?
Full-time students typically complete the Traditional MSW in approximately two years. A three-year part-time pathway is also available.
Does USM help students find field placements?
Yes. USM assists students in identifying appropriate practicum placements in their local communities whenever possible.
Can I work while earning my MSW?
Many students continue working while completing the program. USM offers online coursework and full- and part-time pathways, although students should plan carefully for the time required for both coursework and in-person field education.
Can the Traditional MSW lead to LCSW licensure?
Yes. Traditional Standing graduates earn the same CSWE-accredited MSW as Advanced Standing graduates and may pursue clinical licensure. Additional supervised post-graduate experience, examinations, and other requirements vary by state.
What is the difference between Traditional Standing and Advanced Standing?
Traditional Standing is a 60-credit pathway for students with a bachelor’s degree in any field. Advanced Standing is a 30-credit pathway for qualified students who already hold a BSW from a CSWE-accredited program.
Do Traditional and Advanced Standing students earn the same degree?
Yes. Students in both pathways earn a Master of Social Work from the University of Saint Mary.
Is the GRE required?
No. The GRE is not required for admission to USM’s MSW program.
Ready to Enter the Social Work Profession?
You don’t need an undergraduate social work degree to begin. USM’s online Traditional MSW provides students from a wide range of academic and professional backgrounds with the foundational and advanced education needed to prepare for professional social work practice.
With flexible online learning, 900 hours of field education, local practicum-placement support, two specialization options, and a mission grounded in service and justice, USM can help you make the transition into social work.
Already have a BSW from a CSWE-accredited program? Explore the 30-credit Advanced Standing MSW.
Want to compare both pathways? Explore the complete University of Saint Mary Online MSW program.
Have Questions? Contact Us.
Cynthia Sharp
USM Online
cynthia.sharp@stmary.edu
913-758-6187
USM | Online
Apply Now
Request Info
Download a Brochure
The University of Saint Mary participates in the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements.
Additional info on MSW degrees and careers
- What Can You Do with an MSW
- What is an Advanced Standing MSW
- How Does MSW Field Placement Work
- How to Become a Clinical Social Worker
- See more articles >>
Have Questions? Contact Us.
Cynthia Sharp
USM Online
cynthia.sharp@stmary.edu
913-758-6187
USM | Online
Apply Now
Request Info
Download a Brochure
The University of Saint Mary participates in the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements.
Additional info on MSW degrees and careers
- What Can You Do with an MSW
- What is an Advanced Standing MSW
- How Does MSW Field Placement Work
- How to Become a Clinical Social Worker
- See more articles >>