UWF Online Master of Social Work: Advanced Standing or Traditional

The University of West Florida (UWF) College of Education and Professional Studies Department of Social Work offers an online Master of Social Work (MSW) with Advanced Standing and Traditional tracks. The MSW program prepares students for advanced clinical social work practice through the study of medical and behavioral healthcare concepts and hands-on clinical practice experiences in various settings.

Topics covered in the Traditional track foundation MSW courses include social service policy, human diversity, social work research, communication, interviewing skills, case documentation, data collection, data organization and analysis, social justice, and human behavior in social environments, communities, and organizations.

Concentration courses taken by both Traditional and Advanced Standing students cover advanced social work research and the ethical issues involved in conducting research with vulnerable populations, clinical practice with Individuals, families, and groups, psychopathology for social work, and advanced field instruction.

A capstone experience in clinical-community social work practice is also included, requiring students to present a case from their field experiences through a written and oral presentation. This course helps students refine their intervention skills, integrate their learning, and demonstrate their ability to organize and choose appropriate treatment strategies for their clients. Graduates are eligible to take master’s level social work licensure exams.

The Advanced Standing track is designed for applicants with a Bachelor’s in Social Work (BSW) degree from a CSWE-accredited program. It comprises 30 credits and can be completed in 20 months. The Traditional track is designed for applicants with a non-social work bachelor’s degree. It comprises 60 credits and can be completed in 40 months.

Field instruction and clinical practice experiences are required in various settings, such as individuals, families, and groups. These allow students to gain practical experience in social work, examine their experiences, refine their intervention skills, and integrate their knowledge and skills with actual experiences. The MSW program begins in the fall, spring, and summer, and courses last 16 weeks each.

Asynchronous online courses are delivered through Canvas, and students should plan to log in several times per week to manage readings, assignments, discussion boards, and assessments. Course components include recorded lectures, online discussion boards, chats, and online student groups.

UWF student services include academic advising, the UWF Writing Lab, tutoring and learning resources, library access, career development, community engagement resources, counseling and psychological services, military student services, and student accessibility resources. Faculty also keep online office hours and welcome meetings with students.

Foundation MSW courses taken only by Traditional track students include Human Behavior in the Social Environment; Human Behavior in Communities and Organizations; Analysis of Social Service Policy; Generalist Practice I; MSW Research Foundations; Foundation Year Field Instruction and Integrative Seminar; MSW Human Diversity and Social Justice; and History, Philosophy, and Theory of Social Work Practice. Traditional track students also take six credits of clinical practice electives.

The concentration curriculum taken by both tracks includes Evaluation of Social Work Practice; Advanced Year Field Instruction and Integrative Seminar I-II; Clinical Practice with Individuals; Clinical Practice with Families; Clinical Practice with Groups; Psychopathology for Social Work; Capstone in Advanced Clinical Practice.

The University of West Florida is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACSCOC). The MSW program is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE). It meets the requirements for licensure as a clinical social worker in Florida. Interested individuals outside of Florida must verify their state’s requirements for licensing with their state licensure board.