Graduate: Master of Social Work

Master of Social Work Degree Requirements

Our MSW degree program is an advanced generalist program with an emphasis on interdisciplinary collaboration. You will have the option to take electives within specializations that will lead you to gain knowledge within a specific practice area. Depending on the specialization you select, you may be assigned a field educational experience within the corresponding practice area. You can select from a variety of specializations, including:

• School Social Worker: School social work is one of the fastest-growing areas of social work practice. Please reach out to the MSW or school counseling program director to discuss options.
• Criminology: Forensic social work and the areas of crime, justice and reform offer an exciting option for MSW students at Merrimack. You have the option to take your elective courses in the criminology and criminal justice program and complete one of your two required field education placements (at least 450-clock hours) in a criminal justice setting.
• Substance Use Disorders: Opioid and other illicit substance use and addiction continue to be a growing concern in our country. If you’re interested in working in the vital area of substance use and abuse disorders, you have the option to take electives related to mental health, public health and substance use. You will also complete one of your two required field education placements (at least 450-clock hours) in a setting that works towards eliminating and/or treating addictions.
• Community Engagement: Macro social work is one of the most rewarding areas of social work practice. If you’re interested in working in the nonprofit sector, you have the option to take your elective courses in the community engagement program and complete one of your two required field education placements (at least 450-clock hours) in a non-profit or community-based agency.
• Spirituality: Spirituality and faith are often a resource for people who are struggling with a variety of socio-emotional challenges. In collaboration with the Religious & Theological Studies department, MSW students who are interested in pursuing a specialization in spirituality will be able to take courses in the Spiritual Direction graduate certificate program. Students should consult with both their MSW advisor and the Spiritual Direction certificate advisor.

What You’ll Learn in Merrimack’s Social Work Graduate Program

Through Merrimack’s Master of Social Work, you will learn both in the classroom and in real-world settings. CSWE requires MSW students to spend at least 900 hours in the field. Merrimack’s MSW program staff will assist students in securing a field educational experience that will provide outstanding real-world, social justice-based work.

In addition, our social work program provides you with full preparation for taking the initial social work license exam. You will learn how to:

• Conduct clinical assessment and plan interventions using the latest treatment modalities
• Work with diverse clients of all racial, ethnic and cultural backgrounds
• Help children and families navigate schools and other social institutions

Career Opportunities: Master of Social Work Jobs

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects above-average growth in the social work job market, with positions expected to increase by 13 percent over the next decade. As a master of social work professional, you will be joining an exciting field where some of the fastest-growing areas include working with children and families in schools, hospitals, community agencies, non-profit organizations and state agencies.

Social workers are employed in a wide variety of institutions. The primary mission of social work is to enhance human well-being and help meet the basic human needs of all people, especially those who are vulnerable, oppressed, or living in poverty. Social workers promote social justice and change with and on behalf of clients. Most social service agencies (nonprofit, state, and federal) seek master’s level social workers in order to provide the level of service and care required and to bill insurance companies for services provided.

Upon completing the master’s degree in social work, students are license-eligible. At the master’s degree level, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts has two different social work licensing levels – Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW) and Licensed Certified Social Worker (LCSW). All of the licensing requirements and exams are managed by the Massachusetts Board of Registration of Social Workers. Learn more here.

Entry Requirements for the Master of Social Work

The MSW degree program welcomes interested students with bachelor’s degrees in all fields. You do not need to have a BSW or BA in a social science or liberal arts discipline to earn an MSW.

You must fill out the graduate school application, write an essay about your desire to be a social worker, write a personal statement and submit two letters of recommendation. You should have a minimum overall GPA of 3.0. There is no fee to apply, and there is no GRE requirement. However, we encourage you to submit test scores if you feel they will support or enhance your academic background.

In accordance with CSWE policy, the MSW program at Merrimack College does not grant social work course credit for life experience or previous work experience.

Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) Accreditation

Merrimack College has achieved Candidacy for Accreditation by the Council on Social Work Education’s Commission on Accreditation.

Candidacy for a baccalaureate or master’s social work program by the Council on Social Work Education’s Commission on Accreditation indicates that it has made progress toward meeting criteria for the assessment of program quality evaluated through a peer review process. A program that has attained Candidacy has demonstrated a commitment to meeting the compliance standards set by the Educational Policy and Accreditation Standards, but has not yet demonstrated full compliance. Merrimack’s next commissioner visit will be in the spring of 2023 and the program will be reviewed again at the October 2023 COA meeting.

Students who enter programs that attain Candidacy in or before the academic year in which they begin their program of study will be retroactively recognized as having graduated from a CSWE-accredited program once the program attains Initial Accreditation. Candidacy is typically a three-year process and attaining Candidacy does not guarantee that a program will eventually attain Initial Accreditation. Candidacy applies to all program sites and program delivery methods of an accredited program. Accreditation provides reasonable assurance about the quality of the program and the competence of students graduating from the program.