University of Georgia

The Master of Social Work program prepares graduate students for advanced social work practice. The MSW program requirements include generalist and specialist coursework and practicum internship experiences. Classes operate on a Cohort model. Students are not allowed to transfer between programs or campuses.

The requirements may be completed in the two-year full-time offering, the three- or four-year extended-time offerings, or the one-year Advanced Standing option. The Athens Campus program students choose between Micro, Macro, or Integrated Specializations. The Gwinnett and Online MSW Program options offer the Micro Specialization only. There are additional opportunities for dual degrees as well as embedded certificates.

The MSW degree meets all educational requirements leading to licensing as a social worker in Georgia.

Additional information and disclosures regarding state licensure for professional practice in social work can be found at the UGA Licensure Disclosure Portal.

Full-Time Two-Years
Advanced Standing – Micro Specialization (Athens)
Advanced Standing – Macro Specialization (Athens)
Advanced Standing – Integrated / Combined Specialization (Athens)
Extended-Time Three-Years (Online)
Extended-Time Three-Years (Gwinnett)
Extended-Time Four-Year (Gwinnett)
Extended-Time Four-Year Practicum Block Placement (Gwinnett)

Practicum Education: A major portion of graduate social work education involves practicum education. As the signature pedagogy, practicum education is the heart of social work education. Practicum experiences that blend classroom learning with real world experiences help maximize student growth and competency development.

Practicum education constitutes 16 credits of the 60 credits required to earn the MSW in the full program and 10 of the 40 credits in the advanced standing program. These are included on the Curriculum/Programs of Study as SOWK 7115, SOWK 7125 and SOWK 7225. Our program requires 312 clock hours at a human services organization for generalist practicum (3 credits each of two semesters) and 600 clock hours at an agency for specialization practicum (5 credits each of two semesters).

MSW students enter their generalist practicum placement in the fall semester and spend two semesters in the same organization. The second practicum experience builds on the generalist practicum and provides for the acquisition of in-depth knowledge and skills in social work roles in a specialization area consistent with the student’s selected track of micro, macro, or integrated practice.

For more information about Practicum Education, visit the MSW Practicum Education website.

For more information about MSW Curriculum, see the MSW Program Handbook.

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