Master of Social Work

Earn your Master of Social Work at San Francisco State University. Join an innovative program designed for international students. Apply today!

Program Description The Master of Social Work (MSW) curriculum prepares its graduates for advanced practice through mastery of the core competencies supplemented by knowledge and behaviors specific to advanced social work practice and advanced social work competencies. Only a full-time program is offered. The program requires four academic semesters or two years of full-time study to complete. Competency-based social work education is an outcome performance approach to the curriculum and includes measurable behaviors for each competency that are comprised of knowledge, values, skills, and affective and cognitive processes. This program learning outcomes are to teach students to demonstrate the integration and application of social work competencies in practice with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities. The nine core competencies for the MSW program, developed by the accrediting body the Council on Social Work Education (EPAS, 2015), are as follows: Demonstrate ethical and professional behavior. Engage diversity and difference in practice. Advance human rights and social, economic, and environmental justice. Engage in practice-informed research and research-informed practice. Engage in policy practice. Engage with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities. Assess with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities. Intervene with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities. Evaluate with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities.