About
Learn more about the MSW program at Seattle University.
Mission
The mission of the Seattle University Master of Social Work (SU MSW) program is to educate students for social justice-focused and community-based advanced clinical social work practice. The program seeks to advance equity in access to excellent clinical social work practice for historically marginalized populations by preparing competent and effective practitioners who restore, maintain, and enhance human and community well-being with unwavering attention to social and economic justice. The program is committed to respectful engagement and collaboration with community partners in its scholarship, teaching, and service.
Vision
The SU MSW program adopted as its program values eight core values of the social work profession delineated in the CSWE Educational Policy 1.0: service; social justice; the dignity and worth of the person; the importance of human relationships; integrity; competence; human rights; scientific inquiry.
Goals
The goals of the SU MSW program are to prepare social work students to:
- Affirm the purpose, ethics, and values of social work profession in their professional use of self.
- Respect human diversity; critically consider the impact of intersectionality on human development and functioning, and clinical relationship from a person-in-environment framework and a global perspective.
- Promote well-being and empowerment of individuals, families, and groups through competent and effective advanced clinical social work practice.
- Understand manifestations and mechanisms of oppression and collaborate with communities to advocate for policies and practices that advance human rights and social, economic, and environmental justice.
- Apply critical reflection, respect for diverse paradigms of knowledge, and critical thinking to engage in practice-informed research and research-informed practice.
- Develop the capacity for empowering leadership roles in community-based clinical social work practice as advanced practitioners, supervisors, consultants, and administrators.
CSWE Benchmarks
Seattle University’s MSW Program successfully achieved benchmarks for all CSWE competencies. Learn more.
Social Justice Statement
Learn more about our commitment to social justice in our curriculum.
Practicum
During each year of the Seattle University MSW program, students are matched and placed at approved social service agencies under the supervision of trained MSW Practicum Instructors. In addition, they participate in an integrative seminar with members of their cohort. The MSW program offers placements in more than 65 community sites. All students confer with the Field Director prior to placement.
The MSW program offers field placements in diverse settings such as: mental health counseling, children, youth, and family programs, hospitals/medical, addictions, school- based counseling, child welfare, gerontology, state and local justice systems, and many community-based programs that focus on immigrant/refugee mental and social health, LGBTQ services, domestic and gender-based violence, housing insecurity and trauma.
Practicum Hours
- The 2-Year MSW program offers 1,000 hours of practicum
- Year 1: 400 hours (8 hours per day, 2 days per week)
- Year 2: 600 hours (8 hours per day, 3 days per week)
- The Advanced Standing program offers 600 hours of practicum
- 8 hours per day, 3 days per week
Find answers to common questions about your Field Practicum and Practicum Sites.
Get in Touch
If you have any questions about the program or application, we’re here to help!
Ashley Miller
Senior Admissions Counselor