Master of Social Work

Locations
Community & Resources
Student Organizations
Professional Advisory Board (PAB)
Support Social Work
Contact

About

The EWU MSW Program prepares graduates for professional practice in rural and urban settings and across areas of practice including child welfare, mental health, addictions, disabilities, housing, poverty, domestic and societal violence, criminal justice, veterans and military families, education, healthcare, palliative care and aging. Through a combination of core courses and specialized electives, each graduate builds a course of study to fit each career path.

During the foundation year in the generalist practice curriculum, students learn the values, knowledge, and skills common to all research-informed social work practice to engage, assess, intervene, and evaluate work with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities. Particular attention is given to equity, diversity, and advocacy for human rights and justice – social, environmental, and economic. A field practicum begins in the foundation year of the curriculum.

During the final year in the advanced generalist practice curriculum, students learn to apply the person and environment construct in the context of field practicum and advanced courses in clinical assessment and evidence-based treatments, research methods, organizational and policy analysis, program development, and administrative practices. Special attention is given to the development of leadership skills to work for the prevention of conditions that limit human rights, the elimination of poverty, and the enhancement of the quality of life for all persons. The program embraces social, economic, and environmental justice in all areas of practice.

For further information or questions, please email the Graduate Program Director at MSW@ewu.edu  Or you can phone Dr. Deb Svoboda at 509.359.6832.

MSW Application Information

Program Options

The EWU School of Social Work offers a full-time MSW Program in Cheney that can be completed in two years (six quarters, excluding summers). The core curriculum is typically offered during the day. First-year classes are held on campus in Cheney and second-year classes (including Advanced Standing) are held at the EWU Spokane campus. Core curriculum classes are held in four-hour blocks and most electives are held at the Spokane campus or online.

Practicum field experience takes place over five quarters and starts in the winter of the first year. In addition to attending classes and seminars, practicum is scheduled for 16-20 hours per week. Our practicum placement process is very structured, and placement is carried out by the Director of Field in partnership with the student. Placements are not arranged by students. The Field office works closely with the student and agency field placement to assure social work student learning goals are met.

Go to the MSW Program Application Schedule to confirm current application cycles and deadlines.

For more information about the program and curriculum, contact Dr. Deb Svoboda at MSW@ewu.edu or 509.359.6832. For information about the application process, please contact Chris Babcock, Student Services Coordinator at cbabcock@ewu.edu or 509.359.6485.

Course of Study

The EWU School of Social Work’s Spokane Part-Time Program offers an MSW degree that can be completed in three years. The program is designed for individuals whose work and family obligations would otherwise be a barrier to pursuing a Master of Social Work degree. The coursework is a combination of in-person and online instruction with the in-person content delivered three weekends per quarter. The Spokane Part-Time MSW Program holds classes at the EWU Spokane campus serving central Washington and northern Idaho. Practicum placements are selected from among agencies within the student’s own community.

Go to the MSW Program Application Schedule to confirm current application cycles and deadlines.

Questions? Please contact the program at SpokanePTMSW@ewu.edu  or 509.828.1406.

Course of Study

Eastern Washington University’s Everett Part-Time Hybrid MSW Program is located at Washington State University Everett. The program is designed for individuals whose work and family obligations would otherwise be a barrier to pursuing a Master of Social Work degree. EWU at Everett offers a hybrid format, which includes online coursework and in-person evening class sessions. In-person class sessions are held two evenings per week, every other week, over three years. Practicum placements are selected from among agencies within the student’s own community. This program serves students living in Everett, Seattle, Bellevue and the surrounding communities.

Go to the MSW Program Application Schedule to confirm current application cycles and deadlines.

For more information, contact Lynn Lewis at llewis14@ewu.edu or 425.405.1629.

Course of Study

The EWU School of Social Work offers a 90-credit Master of Social Work (MSW) degree in both full and part-time options. The two part-time programs in Everett and Spokane are not open for a new cohort of students every year, check the MSW Program Application Schedule for programs accepting applications.

The EWU School of Social Work also offers a 51-credit Advanced Standing MSW Program for students who have completed a BSW or BASW from a CSWE accredited program. Advanced Standing is offered in both full and part-time MSW Programs. Check the MSW Advanced Standing page for more information.

Apply Now

Our Mission

The MSW program, based in a regional, comprehensive public university, prepares advanced generalist practitioners to become effective leaders for socially just practice through the integration of skills, ethics, research, and theory, in advancing the well-being of individuals and society with the following goals:

  1. Preparing graduate students for advanced generalist practice integrating empowerment, eco­systems, and evidence-informed frameworks.
  2. Preparing graduate students for ethical and culturally informed practice with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities.
  3. Preparing graduate students to become effective leaders in promoting socially just systems.
  4. Providing programs to address local and regional social work education needs.

Financial Information

GRADUATE TUITION & FEES

  • MSW part-time program students pay differential tuition for their MSW program. Check the course of study for the tuition and fees for the Spokane and Everett Part-time MSW programs.
  • MSW full-time program students pay the regular graduate tuition for their MSW program.
  • For current costs, visit the Graduate Studies Tuition & Fees webpage.

SCHOLARSHIPS OPPORTUNITIES

EWU awards over $5.5 million in scholarships to nearly 1,500 students each school year. Fill out our comprehensive scholarship application before Feb. 1, to be eligible for scholarships during the following academic year. Graduate Service Appointment (GSA) and other waivers for out-of-state students may also be available.

Social Work Scholarships EWU Financial Aid

Curriculum & Requirements

Social Work, Master of Social Work (MSW)

The Master of Social Work (MSW) is a professional degree offered in the EWU School of Social Work (SSW) accredited social work program. The Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) sets the national standards for social work education included in the 2015 Educational Policy and Accreditation Standards. 

In the standard MSW Program (full-time or part-time), students are required to complete 90 credits of required and elective coursework. A portion of those credits include practicum experience in government agencies, non-profit/profit agencies, and community organizations. The required coursework is delivered fully in-person for the full-time program and in a hybrid format for the part-time programs (partial online and partial in-person). Locations and methods of coursework delivery are outlined in MSW Program Options in the catalog under Social Work-Graduate. 

The course of study is a prescriptive outline of courses for each program option to be completed by students. Successful completion of each quarter is required to move to the next quarter with limited exceptions due to the prerequisite status for social work core courses including practicum and practicum seminar. The core Generalist and Specialized courses listed below are only open to EWU enrolled graduate social work students. The EWU graduate courses have the 500- and 600-level course numbers. Undergraduate courses are not typically counted towards a graduate degree.  

Grade Requirements: must maintain a cumulative GPA ≥3.0.

Generalist Curriculum
SOWK 525RESEARCH METHODS FOR PROGRAM AND PRACTICE EVALUATION4
SOWK 530ORGANIZATIONAL AND COMMUNITY PRACTICE4
SOWK 531INTRODUCTION TO SOCIAL WELFARE AND POLICY4
SOWK 532FOUNDATIONS OF PROFESSIONAL SOCIAL WORK PRACTICE4
SOWK 533SOCIAL WORK ASSESSMENT AND PRACTICE WITH INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES4
SOWK 540HUMAN DEVELOPMENT IN CONTEMPORARY ENVIRONMENTS4
SOWK 541SOCIAL WORK PRACTICE IN A DIVERSE SOCIETY4
SOWK 550SOCIAL WORK WITH GROUPS4
SOWK 553SOCIAL WORK INTERVENTION AND EVALUATION WITH INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES4
SOWK 571FOUNDATION PRACTICUM/SEMINAR4
SOWK 580FIELD PREPARATION1
Specialized Curriculum
SOWK 526RESEARCH METHODS II4
SOWK 568PROSEMINARS IN SOCIAL WELFARE POLICIES AND PROGRAMS4
SOWK 602CLINICAL DIAGNOSIS AND EVIDENCE BASED TREATMENT4
SOWK 603LEADERSHIP AND MANAGEMENT IN HUMAN SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS4
SOWK 671ADVANCED PRACTICUM/SEMINAR17
Electives16
Total Credits90

Catalog Listing

Student Learning Outcomes

2015 Social Work Competencies (Council on Social Work Education)

  • Demonstrate Ethical and Professional Behavior
  • Engage Diversity and Difference in Practice
  • Advance Human Rights and Social, Economic, and Environmental Justice
  • Engage in Practice-Informed Research and Research-Informed Practice
  • Engage in Policy Practice
  • Engage with Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities
  • Assess Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities
  • Intervene with Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities
  • Evaluate Practice with Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities