Online Program Curriculum
To qualify for Advanced Standing, a student must have a BSW from a baccalaureate program accredited by the Council on Social Work Education. The 30-hour program may be completed in 9-12 consecutive months of accelerated (full-time) track study. Students in the advanced standing program will only complete courses in the advanced year curriculum.
To qualify for the Standard Program, a student must have a bachelor's degree in an area other than social work. The 58-hour program may be completed in four terms or 1.5 years of accelerated (full-time) track study combining a foundation year and an advanced year. Specialization coursework begins once the generalist curriculum is complete. Students may complete this program in 4, 6, 8, or 10 terms.
Program start: January, May, or September
MSW course descriptions, prerequisites, and minimum grades
Required Courses for All Students
| Foundation Year Curriculum (for students starting with the Standard Track) | Credits |
|---|---|
| SWO 5320 Human Diversity and Social Justice | 3 |
| SWO 5351 Human Behavior Theory: Person & Environment | 3 |
| SWO 5361 Social Work Practice with Individuals and Families | 3 |
| SWO 5491 Foundation Internship I | 4 |
| SWO 5362 Social Work Practice with Groups | 3 |
| SWO 5363 Social Work Practice with Communities and Organizations | 3 |
| SWO 5322 Social Policy for Social Work Practice | 3 |
| SWO 5381 Research for Social Work Practice | 3 |
| SWO 5492 Foundation Internship II | 4 |
| Total Foundation Year Requirements | 29 |
| Advanced Year Curriculum - Clinical or Community Specialization (both programs) | Credits |
|---|---|
| SWO 5338 Clinical Diagnosis in Social Work OR SWO 5335 Theoretical Frameworks for Community Social Work Practice | 3 |
| SWO 5370 Clinical Social Work Practice I OR SWO 5375 Community Social Work Practice I | 3 |
| SWO 5382 Clinical Evaluation for Practice Improvement OR SWO 5384 Program Evaluation for Practice Improvement | 3 |
| SWO 5494 Part I Advanced Internship | 4 |
| SWO 5380 Clinical Social work Practice II OR SWO 5378 Community Social Work Practice II | 3 |
| SWO 5490 Part II Advanced Internship | 4 |
| SWO 5395 Capstone Seminar | 3 |
| Special Population Courses (all students must choose two) — SWO 5323 Organization Leadership & Management — SWO 5376 Health Practice & Policy — SWO 5377 Social Work Practice & Advocacy with Children & Families | 6 |
| Total Advanced Year Requirements | 29* |
*Students entering the program with Advanced Standing are also required to take SWO 5123 Intro to Graduate Studies. The total requirements for the Advanced Standing program = 30 credit hours.
Find Sample Degree Plans Below
The Garland School has a number of online degree plan options. The 3- and 6-Term plans are presented as an introduction below. The full list of downloadable degree plan options is also available for review. Please speak with your admissions or student support advisor to discuss your degree plan. These degree plan guides are for your information and may be changed based on your needs and interests.
Online MSW Degree Plans: 3-Term
| Term | Course | Credits |
| Term 1 | SWO 5123 Intro to Graduate Studies | 1 |
| SWO 5338 Clinical Diagnosis in SW | 3 | |
| SWO 5370 Clinical SW Practice I | 3 | |
| Special Populations Course | 3 | |
| Term 2 | SWO 5380 Clinical SW Practice II | 3 |
| SWO 5494 Part I Advanced Internship | 4 | |
| Special Populations Course | 3 | |
| Term 3 | SWO 5382 Clinical Evaluation for Practice Improvement | 3 |
| SWO 5490 Part II Advanced Internship | 4 | |
| SWO 5395 Capstone | 4 | |
| Total credits | 30 |
| Term | Course | Credits |
| Term 1 | SWO 5123 Intro to Graduate Studies | 1 |
| SWO 5335 Theoretical Frameworks for Community SW Practice | 3 | |
| SWO 5375 Community SW Practice I | 3 | |
| Special Populations Course | 3 | |
| Term 2 | SWO 5378 Community SW Practice II | 3 |
| SWO 5384 Program Evaluation for Practice Improvement | 3 | |
| SWO 5494 Part I Advanced Internship | 4 | |
| Term 3 | Special Populations Course | 3 |
| SWO 5490 Part II Advanced Internship | 4 | |
| SWO 5395 Capstone | 3 | |
| Total credits | 30 |
| Term | Course | Credits |
| Term 1 | SWO 5123 Intro to Graduate Studies | 1 |
| Special Populations Course | 3 | |
| Special Populations Course | 3 | |
| Term 2 | SWO 5335 Theoretical Frameworks for Community SW Practice | 3 |
| SWO 5375 Community SW Practice I | 3 | |
| SWO 5494 Part I Advanced Internship | 4 | |
| Term 3 | SWO 5378 Community SW Practice II | 3 |
| SWO 5384 Program Evaluation for Practice Improvement | 3 | |
| SWO 5490 Part II Advanced Internship | 4 | |
| SWO 5395 Capstone | 3 | |
| Total credits | 30 |
Online MSW Degree Plans: 6-Term
| Foundation Courses | ||
| Term | Course | Credits |
| SWO 5320 Human Diversity & Social Justice | 3 | |
| SWO 5351 Human Behavior Theory: Person & Environment | 3 | |
| SWO 5361 SW Practice w/ Individuals & Families | 3 | |
| Includes mandatory 3-hr synchronous orientation | ||
| Term 2 | SWO 5362 SW Practice w/ Groups | 3 |
| SWO 5322 Social Policy for SW Practice | 3 | |
| SWO 5491 Foundation Internship I | 4 | |
| Term 3 | SWO 5363 SW Practice w/ Communities & Organizations | 3 |
| SWO 5381 Research for SW Practice | 3 | |
| SWO 5492 Foundation Internship II | 4 | |
| Total credits | 29 | |
| Advanced Courses | ||
| Term 4 | SWO 5338 Clinical Diagnosis in SW | 3 |
| SWO 5370 Clinical SW Practice I | 3 | |
| SWO 5494 Part I Advanced Internship | 4 | |
| Term 5 | SWO 5380 Clinical SW Practice II | 3 |
| Special Populations Course | 3 | |
| SWO 5490 Part II Advanced Internship | 4 | |
| Term 6 | Special Populations Course | 3 |
| SWO 5382 Clinical Evaluation for Practice Improvement | 3 | |
| SWO 5395 Capstone | 3 | |
| Total credits | 29 |
| Foundation Courses | ||
| Term | Course | Credits |
| SWO 5320 Human Diversity & Social Justice | 3 | |
| SWO 5351 Human Behavior Theory: Person & Environment | 3 | |
| SWO 5361 SW Practice w/ Individuals & Families | 3 | |
| Includes mandatory 3-hr synchronous orientation | ||
| Term 2 | SWO 5362 SW Practice w/ Groups | 3 |
| SWO 5322 Social Policy for SW Practice | 3 | |
| SWO 5491 Foundation Internship I | 4 | |
| Term 3 | SWO 5363 SW Practice w/ Communities & Organizations | 3 |
| SWO 5381 Research for SW Practice | 3 | |
| SWO 5492 Foundation Internship II | 4 | |
| Total credits | 29 | |
| Advanced Courses | ||
| Term 4 | SWO 5335 Theoretical Frameworks for Community SW Practice | 3 |
| SWO 5375 Community SW Practice I | 3 | |
| Special Populations Course | 3 | |
| Term 5 | SWO 5378 Community SW Practice II | 3 |
| SWO 5384 Program Evaluation for Practice Improvement | 3 | |
| SWO 5494 Part I Advanced Internship | 4 | |
| Term 6 | Special Populations Course | 3 |
| SWO 5490 Part II Advanced Internship | 4 | |
| SWO 5395 Capstone | 3 | |
| Total credits | 29 |
| Foundation Courses | ||
| Term | Course | Credits |
| SWO 5320 Human Diversity & Social Justice | 3 | |
| SWO 5351 Human Behavior Theory: Person & Environment | 3 | |
| SWO 5361 SW Practice w/ Individuals & Families | 3 | |
| Includes mandatory 3-hr synchronous orientation | ||
| Term 2 | SWO 5362 SW Practice w/ Groups | 3 |
| SWO 5322 Social Policy for SW Practice | 3 | |
| SWO 5491 Foundation Internship I | 4 | |
| Term 3 | SWO 5363 SW Practice w/ Communities & Organizations | 3 |
| SWO 5381 Research for SW Practice | 3 | |
| SWO 5492 Foundation Internship II | 4 | |
| Total credits | 29 | |
| Advanced Courses | ||
| Term 4 | Special Populations Course | 3 |
| Special Populations Course | 3 | |
| Term 5 | SWO 5335 Theoretical Frameworks for Community SW Practice | 3 |
| SWO 5375 Community SW Practice I | 3 | |
| SWO 5494 Part I Advanced Internship | 4 | |
| Term 6 | SWO 5378 Community SW Practice II | 3 |
| SWO 5384 Program Evaluation for Practice Improvement | 3 | |
| SWO 5490 Part II Advanced Internship | 4 | |
| SWO 5395 Capstone | 3 | |
| Total credits | 29 |