Social Work Master’s program at SUNY at Albany

Prepare to Join a Profession Leading the Way to Social Change.

Pursue a meaningful career on the front lines of social change in human services and government agencies, and with nonprofit community groups.

Our graduates are change agents who assess and address needs of individuals, families and groups, and lead social and human services organizations.

The School of Social Welfare offers you opportunities to specialize in social work practice with the aging, and in evidence-based interventions for people with mental illness.

In the MSW program you first complete a generalist curriculum that provides foundation knowledge and skills for social work practice with diverse populations across a range of settings. Then you choose a practice method concentration.

The clinical concentration focuses on social work practice interventions with individuals, families and groups. The macro concentration focuses on community organizing, policy advocacy and non-profit organization management. Along with your classes, you complete internships at agencies with missions to address social and economic problems.

Most students complete the 60-credit Master of Social Work through two full years of graduate coursework and field instruction.

A small portion of students enroll part-time and remain employed while they finish the program. As a part-time student, you take one class each summer and two classes each fall and spring over the course of four years. During your second and fourth years, you devote two full work days per week to fieldwork.

With our non-degree option you can explore the field of social work by taking some classes prior to committing to the MSW program.

If you are seeking to get a head start on coursework, demonstrate your capability to do graduate-level work, or obtain a better understanding of what will be required as a student in the program, non-degree study is an excellent option.

Earning your Master of Social Work prepares you for a career with meaning, diversity, and an abundance of options. Social workers are employed in human services agencies, community organizations, government agencies, research centers, faith-based agencies, and corporations. Settings include mental and behavioral health and health care, child welfare, the justice system, schools, less shelters and many .

With a master concentration in clinical social work, you'll be ready to work directly with client populations.

The School of Social Work at UAlbany prepares MSW students to pass professional licensing exams after earning their degree and become licensed master social workers in New York and other states.

Once they gain the necessary amount of qualified casework experience, many alumni also go on to become licensed clinical social workers who provide direct services to individuals and families.

Human Behavior and Social Environment I and II.

Micro Practice in Social Work I and II.

Macro Practice in Social Work I and II.

Field instruction through supervised internships is a vital part of the MSW program at UAlbany. Hundreds of social and human service agencies and community organizations in and around the Capital Region partner with us to provide these field placement internships.

At UAlbany, you complete two field placement experiences where learning, training and service occur simultaneously. You become familiar with the management of social service agencies and gain first-hand experience helping individuals, families, groups, and communities.

During your first placement you participate in a broad range of social work activities allowing you to develop a foundation understanding of the context of social work practice and relational skills. Your second placement provides you with professional experience related to your area of concentration (macro or clinical practice).

Most students complete each 500-hour internship by working two days a week over the course of two semesters.

The concentration in macro social work focuses on methods of change through community organizing, policy advocacy, and non-profit organization management and leadership.

Courses and fieldwork in this area give you practical knowledge of fiscal planning, human resource management, information systems, program oversight, grant writing, legislative lobbying, and related topics.

As a macro-focused social worker, you mobilize people and resources for change at the community level, and manage and direct human services organizations for effective delivery of programs consistent with social work values.

Courses and field experience in the clinical social work concentration emphasize developing competencies in engagement, assessment, intervention and evaluation directly with individuals, families and small groups. With attention to the interface between individuals and their environment, you will learn how and why interventions are helpful.

As a clinical social worker, you work directly with people across all stages of life to restore, maintain and promote social functioning.

Social Work is approved for licensure or certification in New York State and the institution has not made a determination regarding the educational requirements for any other state.

If you have an excellent academic record and financial need, you may be eligible for employment as a graduate assistant (GA). You can indicate your interest in being considered for a GA position on the application to the MSW program. GAs work 10 hours a week at the School during the academic year.

Competitive scholarships are awarded to a diverse range of graduate social work students each year. These scholarships help defray the cost of books and other supplies.

Prepare for Social Work Practice with a Focus in Aging.

The Internships in Aging Project (IAP) is a collaborative partnership between the School of Social Welfare at UAlbany and a consortium of local agencies. The partnership provides MSW students the opportunity to specialize in macro or clinical practice with aging populations.

This competitive second-year opportunity includes a paid internship, an integrative seminar experience and courses in gerontology-focused policies, programs and treatment methods.

IAP is available to both students in the MSW Advanced Standing Program and part-time students. Advanced Standing students should apply to IAP when you apply for admission. Part-time students should apply during their second year.

Prepare for Social Work Practice with a Focus in Mental Health.

The joint MSW PhD program allows qualified students to earn the MSW and PhD degrees with 87 credits instead of the 96 required to earn the degrees separately. Students who complete the program can potentially gain licensure as an LMSW or LCSW and provide direct service as well as pursue careers in academia or research.

The combined program is designed for students with excellent academic preparation, leadership potential, and a strong interest in conducting research on issues relevant for social work practice or social welfare policy.

Social work is a regulated profession, which means you need to obtain a state license to practice.

As a CSWE-accredited program, the UAlbany Master of Social Work fulfills the education requirement for the master social worker license in New York. Review all LMSW requirements for New York State.

To become a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW) in New York, you must first obtain your LMSW, gain three years of experience in specific areas of practice, and take a clinical social work exam before applying for clinical licensure.

Acquiring a Social Work License in Other States.

Social work licensing criteria vary by state and do not automatically transfer between states. While LMSW education and exam qualifications are similar across the country, supervised experience requirements vary.

Find social work license requirements in different states.

After you obtain your license to practice social work in New York, you need to renew your registration every three years. Before you can renew, you must complete 36 hours of approved continuing education units (CEUs).

The School of Social Welfare offers a variety of continuing education programs and workshops for your professional development and to help keep your knowledge and social work license registration up to date.

I love the diversity of the program.

Learning objectives that UAlbany students are expected to attain through their course of study within their academic program.

Demonstrating knowledge and proficiency in human behavior and clinical practice skills to work with a range of clients.

Work collaboratively with other disciplines in order to benefit clients.

Recommenders should be able to speak to any one or of the following areas regarding the applicant : Potential for professional social work practice Experience in human service (work or volunteer) Academic ability.

Do not write three separate responses. Overall, we are looking for you to show that you understand the social work profession, are committed to its mission, and are ready for graduate-level field education and coursework.

The experience of graduate social work education includes constant self-awareness and personal growth. Describe a situation in which your values, attitudes, and beliefs were challenged.

Readiness for Coursework and Field Education Identify your areas of strength and areas for improvement relevant to managing multiple responsibilities, receiving constructive feedback, and maintaining personal and professional boundaries. Discuss your plans for simultaneously managing the rigorous demands of graduate education and fieldwork.

Social Work requires an internship, field experience, study abroad component, or clinical experience requirement.

Personal statement The personal statement should address three areas: (1) educational background and professional experience (2) substantive areas of interest for research, evaluation, and or teaching and (3) professional goals, including how a doctorate in social welfare supports achievement of these goals. This statement should be no than 4 double-spaced typed pages with 1 inch margins and a font of 12.

Note: If you are interested in receiving funding, please complete the Graduate Assistantship Fellowship Application, found in your application portal.

Non -degree students can take a maximum of 2 courses per semester in the School of Social Welfare. Unlike our matriculated program, applicants may apply to begin courses during the Fall, Spring or Summer.

A maximum of 12 credits of graduate coursework taken as a non-matriculated student will automatically count toward the MSW degree if the credits fulfill MSW requirements at the time you matriculate and the courses were taken within 3 years of matriculation.