MSW Degree

The MSW program offers courses and field work that enable students to think critically about the social and economical challenges facing at-risk children, adults and the elderly. Students are equipped with the personal and technical skills to serve society’s neediest members but are grounded in the research necessary to solve some of their greatest problems.

The program is designed to prepare students for direct agency-based practice, management of nonprofit and public agencies, direct community practice and leadership positions in the social work profession. 

MSW Curriculum

Foundation Curriculum | Advanced Curriculum | Field Education |
MSW Courses, Schedules and Syllabi | MSW Manual | Master's Educational Plans of Study

Program Options

Full time: The full-time program is located in Chapel Hill. Full-time students complete 62 credit hours over two years. The first year of study includes 32 hours of required Foundation courses. The second year includes 30 credit hours taken in the student's chosen concentration. Curriculum chart

Students with BSW degrees: Students who have graduated from accredited BSW programs may apply for Advanced Standing. Those accepted into this program attain the MSW degree by taking a total of 40 hours in the School of Social Work at UNC-Chapel Hill over the course of one calendar year for full-time students, or 20 months for distance education students.

Distance Education MSW Programs

The School of Social Work offers a variety of ways to advance your education because we know that for many individuals and families, the typical  academic path is not always a good fit.

Our Traditional and Advanced Standing distance education programs, however, offer new possibilities. The programs target second-career students, employees in human services, parents returning to the workforce and those unable to engage in full-time study.

The School operates programs at the following sites across the state:

Mountain Area Distance Education Program (Blue Ridge Community College campus) | Triangle Distance Education Program (UNC-Chapel Hill campus) | Winston-Salem Distance Education Program (Forsyth County Department of Social Services) | Winston-Salem Distance Education Advanced Standing Program (Forsyth County Department of Social Services)