Social Work Dual Degree
Merrimack College offers a direct entry accelerated pathway that allows students to satisfy requirements for a Bachelor of Arts in Human Development and Human Services and a Master of Social Work in five years.
Get Your B.A. and M.S.W. in Only 5 Years
Once enrolled, your faculty advisor will assist and support you in your transition between undergraduate and graduate coursework and the progression towards completion of your Master of Social Work.
How Does the Program Work?
- Complete three years of prerequisite courses (general education requirements, prerequisite and foundational program knowledge) by the spring semester of your third year.
- Advance directly into the Master of Social Work program where you’ll get a head start on graduate coursework and hands-on experience.
Study in a collaborative cohort model with other students taking similar classes and working together to finish your degree.
- Graduate ready to meet initial social work license requirements.
What You’ll Learn
Merrimack’s social work graduate program creates and provides you with transformative learning experiences in and out of the classroom that positively impact children, youth, families and the greater society.
You will have the option to take electives within specializations that help hone your skills within a specific practice area. Depending on the specialization you select, you may be assigned a field experience within the corresponding practice area. You can select from a variety of specializations, including:
- Community Engagement
- Criminal Justice
- Spirituality
- Substance Abuse
Hands-on Learning
You will engage in 900 hours of hands-on practical experience in a local school, community agency, nonprofit, health or mental health center, or another relevant social service-type agency or institution.
Career Options
Upon completion of the Master of Social Work program, you will be eligible and prepared to take the initial exam to become a Licensed Certified Social Worker (LCSW).
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. Future employers include companies such as the MA Department of Children & Families, Lahey Hospital and Boys & Girls Club of America.
How to Apply
When you are ready to apply to Merrimack, you can simply choose “Social Work 5-year masters” on the Common Application or Merrimack Application, following the application deadline options mapped out on the Freshman Application Process webpage.
Courses You’ll Take
Human Development and Human Services Major Curriculum
Human Development and Human Services Major Requirements
General Education Requirements
In addition to the major requirements below, you will also need to complete Merrimack’s general education requirements.
To see more details about the major, please visit catalog.merrimack.edu.
Master of Social Work Curriculum
M.S. Social Work Requirements
General Education Requirements
To see more details about the master’s degree, please visit catalog.merrimack.edu.
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 the 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.
