MSW Advanced Standing

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About

The Advanced Standing MSW Program is designed for students who have earned a BSW or BASW from a CSWE accredited undergraduate social work program no more than seven years ago. The Advanced Standing MSW Program is available in both the full-time and part-time formats.

During the foundation year in the generalist practice curriculum, students learn the values, knowledge, and skills common to all research-informed social work practices to engage, assess, intervene, and evaluate work with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities. Particular attention is given to equity, diversity, and advocacy for human rights and justice – social, environmental, and economic. A field practicum begins in the foundation year of the curriculum.

During the final year in the advanced generalist practice curriculum, students learn to apply the person and environment construct in the context of field practicum and advanced courses in clinical assessment and evidence-based treatments, research methods, organizational and policy analysis, program development, and administrative practices. Special attention is given to the development of leadership skills to work for the prevention of conditions that limit human rights, the elimination of poverty, and the enhancement of the quality of life for all persons. The program embraces social, economic, and environmental justice in all areas of practice.

For further information or questions, please email the graduate program director, Dr. Deb Svoboda at msw@ewu.edu or call 509.359.6832.

MSW Application Information

Program Options

Eastern Washington University’s full-time MSW program offers a full-time advanced standing MSW program that can be completed in three quarters, with a summer seminar. Advanced standing classes are held at the Cheney campus. Core curriculum classes are held in four-hour blocks, and most of the electives are held online.

Practicum is three quarters and starts in the fall quarter. In addition to attending classes and seminars, students complete 20 hours per week of practicum. Our practicum placement process is very structured, and students do not seek their own placement. We work closely with the student and agency to ensure learning goals are met.

For more information about the program and curriculum, contact the Graduate Program Director at MSW@ewu.edu or 509.359.6832. For information about the application process, please contact Chris Babcock, Student Services Coordinator, at cbabcock@ewu.edu or 509.359.6485.

Plan of Study

Eastern Washington University’s Spokane program offers an Advanced Standing MSW degree that can be completed in six quarters, with a summer seminar. The program is designed for individuals whose work and family obligations would otherwise be a barrier to pursuing a Master of Social Work degree. The coursework is a combination of in-person and online instruction with the in-person content delivered three weekends per quarter. Practicum placements are selected from among agencies within the student’s own community. The EWU MSW part-time program holds classes at the Eastern Washington University Spokane campus, serving Washington students who live east of Ellensburg and those from Northern Idaho.

Questions? Please contact the program at SpokanePTMSW@ewu.edu or 509.828.1406.

Plan of Study

Everett MSW Part-Time Program is located at Washington State University Everett that can be completed in six quarters, with a summer seminar. The program is designed for individuals whose work and family obligations would otherwise be a barrier to pursuing a Master of Social Work degree. EWU at Everett offers a hybrid format, which includes online coursework and in-person evening class sessions. In-person class sessions are held two evenings per week, every other week. Practicum placements are selected from among agencies within the student’s own community. This program serves students living in Everett, Seattle, Bellevue and the surrounding communities.

For more information about applying, contact Nancy Fagan at nfagan@ewu.edu or 425.405.1625.

Plan of Study

The EWU School of Social Work offers a 51-credit Master of Social Work (MSW) degree in an advanced standing program. The Cheney full-time MSW Program accepts applications into the advanced standing program each year, The two part-time programs in Everett and Spokane do not accept applications for advanced standing students every year. Check the MSW Program Application Schedule for the programs accepting applications and the deadlines.

Apply Now

Financial Information

GRADUATE TUITION & FEES

  • MSW part-time program students pay differential tuition for their MSW program. Check the course of study for the tuition and fees for the Spokane and Everett Part-time MSW programs.
  • MSW full-time program students pay the regular graduate tuition for their MSW program.
  • For current costs, visit the Graduate Studies Tuition & Fees webpage.

SCHOLARSHIPS OPPORTUNITIES

EWU awards over $5.5 million in scholarships to nearly 1,500 students each school year. Fill out our comprehensive scholarship application before Feb. 1, to be eligible for scholarships during the following academic year. Graduate Service Appointment (GSA) and other waivers for out-of-state students may also be available.

Social Work Scholarships EWU Financial Aid

Information Sessions

Join our MSW Graduate Program Director via Zoom to learn about the MSW Program and the 2026-27 Application Cycle. We encourage all potential applicants to attend before applying.

Can’t attend?
Contact the Graduate Program Director at msw@ewu.edu to schedule an appointment.

Register Now

Thanks for your interest! Information sessions to begin in September 2026, watch for dates here. For MSW program information, contact MSW@ewu.edu

Advanced Standing Application Requirements

To be eligible to apply for the advanced standing MSW Program, applicants must meet all the following criteria without exception. Applicants may be asked to participate in an interview. Applicants must: 

  1. Have earned a bachelor’s degree in social work from a Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) or a Canadian Association for Social Work Education (CASWE) – fully accredited social work program. If an applicant has an equivalent undergraduate degree from another country, a review of the degree will be needed prior to application. Review information is available on the CSWE website.
  2. Have a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 or higher from a social work undergraduate degree; there are no exceptions to the 3.0 minimum GPA. 

Applied Learning Opportunities

  • Classroom-Based Applied Learning/Simulation: Practice decision-making through simulations, case studies, role playing, and other hands-on activities in the classroom.
  • Community-Based Projects: Team up with local organizations on projects that allow you to solve problems and make a difference.
  • Practicums: Build your skills in structured field placements—like classrooms, clinics, or community agencies—that are required for professional certification.
  • Research: Collaborate with professors on research projects where you ask questions, solve problems, and present what you discover.
  • Volunteerism: Give back to your community while gaining experience, building connections, and seeing how you can apply your classroom knowledge to make an impact.
A counselor leading a support group

What You'll Learn

The following information comes from the official EWU catalog, which outlines all degree requirements and serves as the guide to earning a degree. Courses are designed to provide a well-rounded and versatile degree, covering a wide range of subject areas.

Social Work, Advanced Standing Program, Master of Social Work (MSW)

The Master of Social Work (MSW) is a professional degree offered in the EWU School of Social Work (SSW) accredited social work program. The Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) sets the national standards for social work education included in the 2022 Educational Policy and Accreditation Standards. The MSW degree is the terminal degree required for eligibility to apply for social work licensing in the State of Washington as outlined by the WA State Department of Health.

The advanced standing MSW Programs (full-time and part-time) are specifically for individuals with an undergraduate degree in social work (a BASW or BSW), with a 3.0 GPA, from a CSWE accredited social work program, and earned within the past seven years. There are no exceptions to these criteria. For a review of the Admission Requirements for the advanced standing MSW Program, visit the Social Work-Graduate catalog page. 

The advanced standing MSW Program allows graduates of a CSWE accredited BASW or BSW undergraduate program to complete the MSW Program with 55 credits of required and elective coursework. A portion of those credits include practicum experience in government agencies, non-profit/profit agencies, and community organizations. The required coursework is delivered in-person with online hours for the full-time program and in a hybrid format for the part-time programs (partial online and partial in-person). Locations of classes are outlined in the Program Options section of the Social Work-Graduate catalog page. A required summer Advanced Standing Seminar SOWK 561  prepares students for the Specialized Curriculum. 

Visit the SSW MSW Application Information webpage for deadlines and start of term dates.

  • Full-Time: A cohort of students for the advanced standing curriculum begins each summer with a seminar on generalist social work curriculum. The cohort joins the current cohort of full-time students each fall quarter. The advanced standing curriculum is completed with the summer seminar and 3 quarters (fall, winter, and spring). The full-time program is designed using in-person and online courses for core curriculum and serving a specific area of Washington State and the panhandle of Idaho. Review service area under Graduate Program description. 
  • Part-Time: A cohort of students for the advanced standing curriculum begins with a summer seminar on the generalist social work curriculum and joins a current cohort. The Everett PT MSW Program accepts students for the advanced standing curriculum on odd numbered years. The Spokane PT MSW Program accepts students for the advanced standing curriculum on even numbered years. The advanced standing curriculum is completed with the summer seminar plus 6 quarters (winter, spring, summer, fall, winter, and spring). The two part-time programs are designed using a hybrid format to serve specific areas of Washington State and the panhandle of Idaho. Review service area under Graduate Program description.  

For questions related to the advanced standing MSW Program, contact the Graduate Program Director at MSW@ewu.edu and visit the Social Work-Graduate catalog page. 

The course of study is a prescriptive outline of courses for each program option to be completed by students. Successful completion of each quarter is required to move to the next quarter with limited exceptions due to the prerequisite status for social work core courses including practicum and practicum seminar. The 500 and 600 level Specialized courses listed below are only open to EWU enrolled graduate social work students. Only one 400 level course can be counted towards a graduate degree at EWU. A GPA of 3.0 or higher is required to maintain good standing in the program. 

Advanced Standing Preparation
SOWK 561ADVANCED STANDING PREPARATION SEMINAR5
Specialized Curriculum
SOWK 526RESEARCH METHODS II5
SOWK 553INTEGRATED SOCIAL WORK PRACTICE II: FAMILIES AND GROUPS5
SOWK 568SOCIAL ACTION AND LEGISLATION5
SOWK 602CLINICAL DIAGNOSIS AND EVIDENCE INFORMED TREATMENT5
SOWK 603SOCIAL WORK LEADERSHIP AND ADMINISTRATION5
SOWK 605IMPACT PROJECT SEMINAR4
Elective Courses 12
Advanced Practicum/Seminar 9
SPECIALIZED PRACTICUM AND SEMINAR (must be repeated)
Total Credits55

Courses could be offered in different terms, checking with the academic department is paramount in keeping an individual plan current.

Full-Time Plan

First Year
Summer QuarterCreditsFall QuarterCreditsWinter QuarterCreditsSpring QuarterCredits
SOWK 5615SOWK 5535SOWK 5265SOWK 6035
 SOWK 6025SOWK 5685SOWK 6054
 SOWK 6713SOWK 6713SOWK 6713
 Social Work Elective4Social Work Elective4Social Work Elective4
 5 17 17 16
Total Credits 55

Part-Time Plan

First Year
Summer QuarterCreditsFall QuarterCreditsWinter QuarterCreditsSpring QuarterCredits
SOWK 5615No Required CoursesSOWK 5535SOWK 6025
  SOWK 6712SOWK 6712
  Social Work Elective4 
 5 0 11 7
Second Year
Summer QuarterCreditsFall QuarterCreditsWinter QuarterCreditsSpring QuarterCredits
SOWK 5265SOWK 6035SOWK 5685SOWK 6054
SOWK 6711SOWK 6712SOWK 6711SOWK 6711
 Social Work Elective4 Social Work Elective4
 6 11 6 9
Total Credits 55

Student Learning Outcomes

Student learning outcomes are established by our accrediting body, the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE).

2022 Social Work Competencies (Council on Social Work Education)

Our Mission

The EWU MSW program educates advanced generalist practitioners who lead with an anti-oppressive perspective to empower marginalized communities. The MSW program prepares social work leaders grounded in ethics, social work values, scientific inquiry, an intersectional lens, and local to global perspectives to promote human rights and social, racial, economic, and environmental justice.

Students at the Social Work graduation ceremony