The mission of the UAA Master of Social Work (MSW) is to develop a community of MSW professionals located across rural and urban Alaska who are dedicated to advancing human rights, engaging in anti-racist and anti-oppressive social work practice, while pursuing justice, equity, and inclusion for all. MSW students engage in a collaborative online learning environment and practicum to develop advanced generalist social work values, knowledge, and skills in direct practice, leadership, critical inquiry, and policy advocacy to address the health and social welfare needs in Alaska, the Circumpolar North, and beyond.
The MSW is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE). The program is reviewed by CSWE for reaffirmation on a regular basis.
The MSW is structured to allow students to participate in part-time or full-time graduate studies plans requiring from one to four years of study. The MSW is an advanced generalist program, and the curriculum has two components: the generalist curriculum and the advanced generalist curriculum. MSW students complete social work practicum placements in the generalist curriculum and in the advanced generalist curriculum.
The generalist curriculum is completed in the first year of the full-time program and the first two years of the part-time program. Students with a Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) who are admitted with advanced standing are waived from the courses in the generalist curriculum, with the exception of SWK A624.
The advanced generalist curriculum is completed in the second year of the full-time program and the second two years of the part-time program. The advanced generalist curriculum is the curriculum completed by students with a BSW who are admitted with advanced standing. All students must successfully complete all courses in the advanced generalist curriculum.
The MSW does not grant social work course credit for life experience or previous work experience.
Licensure and/or Certification
Graduates completing the Master of Social Work are eligible to sit for the Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW) examination within the state of Alaska immediately after graduation.
This program is designed to meet the educational requirements for professional licensure or certification in the State of Alaska. However, the program might not meet the educational requirements for professional licensure or certification in other states. Please see UAA’s Licensure and Certification website for more information.
Admission Requirements
- Complete the Admission Requirements for Graduate Degrees.
- The application deadline is January 15. Applications are accepted and reviewed once a year.
- Applications must be submitted online. Paper applications will not be accepted.
- The MSW reserves the right to request additional materials and/or interviews pertaining to program admission. Admission to the MSW is based on the professional judgment of the MSW admissions committee. Only applicants eligible to be licensed as a social worker in the state of Alaska will be admitted to the MSW. Please contact the School of Social Work for further information.
Additional Criteria for Admission to the Full MSW:
- Two prerequisite courses (completed with a minimum grade of C or a Pass for Pass/Fail). Prerequisites may be in progress at the time of application, but they must be completed by the program's start date. Prerequisite courses can be completed through a 3-credit academic course from an institutionally accredited college or university or through an approved continuing education certificate course. Prerequisite courses may also be met through the successful completion of national exams recognized by UAA, such as Advanced Placement (AP), College-Level Examination Program (CLEP), DSST, UExcel, or International Baccalaureate (IB), for which the student meets the minimum score set by the UAA faculty and published in the catalog. There is no time limit on prerequisite credit.
- Human biology - This should be a human biology course or a biology course with human biology content (basic anatomy and human biological systems). UAA courses that satisfy this requirement include: BIOL A100, BIOL A102, BIOL A111 and BIOL A111L, or BIOL A112 and BIOL A112L.
- Statistics - This should be an introductory or elementary statistics course. Most courses with "statistics" in the title will be approved. UAA courses that satisfy this requirement include: ECON A227, PSY A260, SOC A462, STAT A200, or STAT A253.
Additional Criteria for Admission to the MSW with Advanced Standing:
Applicants who do not meet the criteria for advanced standing may apply to the full MSW.
- Bachelor of Social Work from a baccalaureate social work program accredited by the Council on Social Work Education, recognized through its International Social Work Degree Recognition and Evaluation Services, or covered under a memorandum of understanding with international social work accreditors. If the BSW degree was completed more than five years ago, then the applicant must demonstrate employment in health and social services.
- Minimum grade of B or equivalent in each practicum placement course.
- Two prerequisite courses - one in human biology and one in statistics (completed with a minimum grade of C or a Pass for Pass/Fail). Prerequisites may be in progress at the time of application, but they must be completed by the program's start date. Prerequisite courses can be completed through a 3-credit academic course from an institutionally accredited college or university or through an approved continuing education certificate course. Prerequisite courses may also be met through the successful completion of national exams recognized by UAA, such as Advanced Placement (AP), College-Level Examination Program (CLEP), DSST, UExcel, or International Baccalaureate (IB), for which the student meets the minimum score set by the UAA faculty and published in the catalog. There is no time limit on prerequisite credit.
- Human biology - This should be a human biology course or a biology course with human biology content (basic anatomy and human biological systems). UAA courses that satisfy this requirement include: BIOL A100, BIOL A102, BIOL A111 and BIOL A111L, or BIOL A112 and BIOL A112L.
- Statistics - This should be an introductory or elementary statistics course. Most courses with "statistics" in the title will be approved. UAA courses that satisfy this requirement include: ECON A227, PSY A260, SOC A462, STAT A200, or STAT A253.
Academic Requirements
To maintain satisfactory progress toward the degree, a student in the MSW is expected to achieve a minimum GPA of 3.00 on a 4.00 scale with no individual course grade lower than a C, and to adhere to the Code of Ethics of the National Association of Social Workers. Students must earn a minimum grade of B in the field practicum courses that they complete, which may include: SWK A639, SWK A695A, SWK A695B, SWK A695C, SWK A695D.
Candidacy for a Master of Social Work
- Refer to Advancement to Candidacy criteria.
- Successfully complete MSW comprehensive examination, which is completed in SWK A635.
Graduation Requirements
- Complete the General University Requirements for Graduate Degrees.
- Complete the following major requirements:
Generalist Curriculum: Complete or waive the following required courses1:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| SWK A607 | Social Welfare Policy and Services | 3 |
| SWK A624 | Foundation Research Methods | 3 |
| SWK A630 | Practice with Individuals | 3 |
| SWK A631 | Introduction to Social Work Practice | 3 |
| SWK A632 | Practice with Families and Groups | 3 |
| SWK A636 | Practice with Organizations and Communities | 3 |
| SWK A642 | Human Behavior in the Social Environment | 3 |
| SWK A643 | Engaging Diversity through Justice and Anti-Oppressive Social Work Practice | 3 |
| SWK A695A | Generalist Practicum I | 3 |
| SWK A695B | Generalist Practicum II | 3 |
| Total | 30 | |
- 1
Advanced standing students are waived from taking all Generalist Curriculum courses.
Advanced Generalist Curriculum: All MSW students are required to complete the courses in the advanced generalist curriculum.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| SWK A608 | Advanced Policy Practice | 3 |
| SWK/HS A628 | Program Evaluation | 3 |
| SWK A629 | Advanced Practice with Individuals | 3 |
| SWK A633 | Advanced Practice with Families and Groups | 3 |
| SWK A635A | Transformational Leadership Capstone Development | 2 |
| SWK A635B | Transformational Leadership Capstone Implementation | 2 |
| SWK A637 | Transformational Leadership with Communities and Organizations | 3 |
| SWK A695C | Advanced Generalist Practicum I | 3 |
| SWK A695D | Advanced Generalist Practicum II | 3 |
| Two 600-level social work-related electives with advisor approval | 6 | |
| Total | 31 | |
A minimum of 31 credits and a maximum of 61 credits is required for the degree.
Program Student Learning Outcomes
The Master of Social Work program prepares advanced generalist social workers who:
- Demonstrate ethical and professional behavior in advanced generalist practice.
- Advance human rights and social, racial, economic, and environmental justice in advanced generalist practice.
- Engage anti-racism, diversity, equity, and inclusion (ADEI) in practice in advanced generalist practice.
- Engage in practice-informed research and research-informed practice in advanced generalist practice.
- Engage in policy practice in advanced generalist practice.
- Engage with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities in advanced generalist practice.
- Assess individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities in advanced generalist practice.
- Intervene with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities in advanced generalist practice.
- Evaluate practice with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities in advanced generalist practice.
- Integrate the context of Alaska in advanced generalist practice.