UNC School of Social Work offers a traditional full-time academic program through its 2-Year MSW Program. Students begin the program in August, complete two years of fall and spring semester course work, and graduate in May. Field experiences begin in the first semester of study and continue throughout the program.
Our School separates its MSW curriculum into two levels, the Generalist Curriculum and the Specialization Curriculum.
The Generalist Curriculum
(29 credit hours)
Students in the 2-Year MSW Program complete the Generalist Curriculum during their first year of study. Students do not specialize in Generalist Curriculum courses.
The Generalist Curriculum includes seven classroom courses, related to these areas:
- Social welfare policy and services
- Human behavior in the social environment
- Social research
- Social work practice
In addition, students complete several additional requirements as part of the Generalist Curriculum:
- Generalist Field Practicum
- Field seminar
- JumpSTART “Preparation for Practice” orientation program
The Specialization Curriculum
(32 credit hours)
During the second year of the 2-Year MSW Program, students build on the foundation that they acquired during the Generalist Curriculum. They choose a concentration — either Direct Practice (DP) or Community, Management, and Policy Practice (CMPP) — and build skills and knowledge in research methodology, policy, and evidence-informed practice.
As part of the Specialization Curriculum, students are required to complete 10.5 semester credit hours in elective courses. These may be selected from graduate-level courses offered by our School, by other schools or departments within UNC-Chapel Hill, or by other accredited institutions.