School of Social Work Academic Programs

The School of Social Work offers several academic programs in the public service sphere. We offer two undergraduate degrees and one undergraduate minor covering the topics of Social Work, Community Advocacy and Social Policy, and Social Welfare. We also offer an undergraduate certificate in Domestic Violence and Evidence-based Practice. Learn more about each of our undergraduate programs.

The School of Social Work offers several graduate programs with multiple concentrations and specializations that prepare students for professional practice with diverse populations in a wide variety of settings. Across all specializations, the curriculum is guided by the social work values that emphasize evidence-based practice, client strengths, social justice, and client empowerment. The primary curriculum goal of the Master of Social Work program is to educate advanced social work practitioners who demonstrate the knowledge, skills, values, and ethics of the profession and who are competent for specialized practice. We currently offer a Standard and Advanced Standing MSW and have a variety of course delivery options including in-person, online, and synchronous. All MSW programs are accredited by the Council on Social Work Education. Learn more about our graduate programs. 

We also offer several certificate programs and an excellent PhD program.

Undergraduate Degree Programs

The curriculum for this undergraduate program leads to a BSW. Juniors and seniors majoring in social work focus on social work courses in social policy and services, human behavior in the social environment, social work practice, research and field instruction in community agencies. In addition, majors take elective courses in related areas.

Locations:

  • Downtown

  • West

  • Tucson

Social Welfare (Minor)

The social welfare minor program prepares students for work in human service settings where a fundamental knowledge of human relations is required.

Locations:

  • Online

  • Downtown

  • West

Community Advocacy and Social Policy, BA

The BA program in community advocacy and social policy focuses on advocacy strategies through an in-depth exploration, analysis and comparison of social service systems and policies from an empowerment perspective.

Locations:

  • Online

  • Downtown

  • West

This certificate brings together social work internship experiences and AmeriCorps volunteering with classroom learning from practitioners and researchers to prepare undergraduate social work students to intervene effectively in cases of domestic violence. The students' internship settings will complement the experience with classroom learning about domestic violence, risk and safety assessment, and evidence-based practices.

Locations:

  • Downtown

Graduate Degree Programs

Master of Social Work - Standard Program Information

The Standard MSW is a degree program open to individuals with various backgrounds and experience levels. Applicants do not need a BSW degree in order to be eligible for admission. Standard MSW programs have an option to complete their degree in two, three, or four years. Each program is 60 credits and requires 960 hours of field practicum.

Downtown Phoenix Campus

  • Program starts in the fall

  • Concentrations:

    • Policy, Administration, and Community Practice (PAC)

    • Advanced Direct Practice (ADP)

      • ADP Specialization Options:

        • Children, youth, and families

        • Health/behavioral health

        • Health/behavioral health-medical

        • Public child welfare

Tucson Campus

  • Program starts in the fall

  • Concentrations:

    • Policy, Administration, and Community Practice (PAC)

    • Advanced Direct Practice (ADP)

      • ADP Specialization Options:

        • Children, youth, and families

        • Health/behavioral health

        • Health/behavioral health-medical

        • Public child welfare

MSW LIVE Online (2 year only)

  • Program starts in the fall

  • Concentration:

    • Advanced Direct Practice (ADP)

      • ADP Specialization Options:

        • Children, youth, and families

        • Health/behavioral health

        • Health/behavioral health-medical

        • Public child welfare

Online

  • Program starts in the fall and spring

  • Concentration:

    • Advanced Generalist (AG)

Master of Social Work - Advanced Standing Program Information

The Standard MSW is a degree program open to individuals with various backgrounds and experience levels. Applicants do not need a BSW degree in order to be eligible for admission. Standard MSW programs have an option to complete their degree in two, three, or four years. Each program is 60 credits and requires 960 hours of field practicum.

Downtown Phoenix Campus

  • Concentrations:

    • Policy, Administration, and Community Practice (PAC)

    • Advanced Direct Practice

      • ADP Specialization Options:

        • Children, youth, and families

        • Health/behavioral health

        • Public child welfare

Tucson Campus

  • Concentration:

    • Advanced Direct Practice (ADP)

      • ADP Specialization Options:

        • Children, youth, and families

        • Health/behavioral health

        • Health/behavioral health-medical

        • Public child welfare

West

  • Concentration:

    • Advanced Generalist (AG)

Yuma

  • Concentration:

    • Advanced Generalist (AG)

Graduate Certificates

Assessment of Integrative Health Modalities (IHI) Graduate Certificate

The certificate in Mindfulness and Integrative Health (IHI) aims to enhance students' knowledge of integrative health practices. IHI was designed to provide students with extensive knowledge of integrative health practices through directed health professionals and ASU faculty drawn from across disciplines, research opportunities and skills that support a student in developing a mindfulness practice.

Criminal Sentencing & Sentencing Advocacy Online Graduate Certificate

The certificate program in criminal sentencing and sentencing advocacy assumes that in order for any professional to function effectively they must have a fundamental knowledge of the respective roles sentencing professionals play during various phases of the criminal justice process.

Domestic Violence and Evidence-Based Practice Graduate Certificate

This certificate brings together social work internship experiences and AmeriCorps volunteering with classroom learning from practitioners and researchers to prepare graduate social work students to intervene effectively in cases of domestic violence. The students' internship settings will complement the experience with classroom learning about domestic violence, assessments, safety-planning, and evidence-based practices.

Foundational Graduate Certificate in Gerontology Graduate Certificate

The Arizona State University (ASU) School of Social Work and the University of Arizona (UA) Center on Aging offer a joint nine-credit Foundational Graduate Certificate in Gerontology. The certificate is designed to enhance the knowledge and competence of graduate students and professionals who want to work more effectively with, and on behalf of, older adults in a variety of roles and contexts of practice. Courses are available entirely via the Internet. Disciplines include, but are not limited to, social work, nursing, medicine, physical therapy, occupational therapy, law, public health, counseling, pharmacy, public administration, audiology, and recreation therapy.

Latino Cultural Competency in Social Work Graduate Certificate

The goal of the graduate certificate in Latino cultural competency in social work is to enhance a social work professional's capacity for engaging in culturally grounded practice with Latino clients and their families. The program provides social work students the opportunity to learn the critical, cross-cultural factors that influence a worker's competency in forming professional helping relationships with Latinos; understand the social and cultural context and theoretical principles of social work practice with Latinos; and learn the social service delivery issues involved in providing services for bilingual and limited- or non-English speaking Latino populations.

Trauma and Bereavement Graduate Certificate

The School of Social Work graduate certificate program in trauma and bereavement provides students with enhanced knowledge about grief responses and the effects of trauma. Students have opportunities to research an often under-explored topic while helping transform the sociopolitical management of grief, traumatic losses and end-of-life issues in contemporary society.

Social Work, PhD

Nurture and build your curiosity and creativity in pursuit of your intellectual passions. This program provides you with small class size core courses that you can select from throughout ASU for an individualized, interdisciplinary curriculum.

Supplementary to the coursework, this doctoral program offers students opportunities to be actively involved in both research and teaching. Students benefit from the close mentorship of the committed faculty and regular partnerships with many internal research centers and offices. Students also receive valuable opportunities to develop a teaching portfolio, positioning them to succeed in academic careers.

  • Program Location:

    • Downtown

Admissions and Recruitment Questions

Watts College Recruitment Team

The Watts College Recruitment Team is here to provide admissions guidance and support to prospective students. Students can schedule an appointment directly with an admissions recruiter a number of ways:

For the MSW online program admissions questions, please contact:

BA CASP Online Program Enrollment Advisors

For BA CASP online program admissions questions, please contact:

MSW Online Program Enrollment Advisors

For the MSW online program admissions questions, please contact: