Master of Social Work

About

The EWU MSW program prepares graduates for professional practice in rural and urban settings and across areas of practice including child welfare, mental health, addictions, disabilities, housing, poverty, domestic and societal violence, criminal justice, veterans and military families, education, healthcare, palliative care and aging. Through a combination of core courses and specialized electives, each graduate builds a course of study to fit each career path.

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

During the final year in 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 justice in all areas of practice.

For further information or questions, please contact our program director, Timothy Hilton, at thilton@ewu.edu or 509.359.6832.

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Our Mission

The School is dedicated to promoting leadership in engaging individuals, families, and communities; policy-making; research; and, education for social work professionals. The School prepares its graduates to be ethical and effective change agents at the intersection of families, cultures, communities, and organizations. We are especially committed to educating first-generation college students and those from underserved communities. Graduates will practice with mindfulness about historical oppression and hopefulness in fostering a more socially just world.

Group of social work graduates wearing

Program Options

Eastern Washington University’s Cheney/Spokane Program offers a full-time MSW degree that can be completed in two years (six quarters, excluding summers). The core curriculum is typically offered during the day. First-year classes are held on campus in Cheney and second-year classes (including Advanced Standing) are held at the Eastern Washington University Spokane campus. Core curriculum classes are held in four-hour blocks and electives are held at the Spokane campus or online.

Practicum is five quarters and starts in the winter of the first year. In addition to attending classes and seminars, student complete 16-20 hours per week. Our practicum placement process is very structured and students do not seek their own placement. We work closely with the student and agency to assure learning goals are met.

We are no longer accepting applications for the 2019 school year. Applications for the 2020-2022 Full-Time Cheney/Spokane MSW Program will be available fall 2019. Applications for the Advanced Standing Program will be open in fall 2019.

For more information, contact Tim Hilton at thilton@ewu.edu or 509.359.6832. For information about applying, please contact Susan Thompson at sthompson@ewu.edu or 509.359.6485.

AdmissionsCourse of Study

Eastern Washington University’s Spokane Hybrid Program offers an MSW degree that can be completed in three years. 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. The Eastern Washington MSW Hybrid program holds classes at the Eastern Washington University Spokane campus serving Washington students who live east of Ellensburg and those from Northern Idaho. Practicum placements are selected from among agencies within the student’s own community.

Applications for the full three-year Eastern Washington Part-time Hybrid Program that will run from 2022-2025 will open in fall 2021. Applications for the Advanced Standing Program will be open in fall 2019.

For more information, contact Stacey Chay at schay@ewu.edu or 509.828.1406.

AdmissionsCourse of Study

Eastern Washington University’s Everett Part-Time Hybrid MSW Program is located at Washington State University Everett. 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, over three years. 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.

Applications for the 2020-23 Everett Part-time Hybrid MSW program will be available fall 2019.

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

AdmissionsCourse of Study

Eastern Washington University’s Vancouver Program offers an MSW degree in three years, with classes that meet two evenings per week, every other week. The program is designed for individuals whose work and family obligations would otherwise be a barrier to pursuing a Master of Social Work degree. Core courses are taught in the hybrid format, which includes online coursework and in-person meetings. Classes are held at Clark College in the heart of Vancouver, Washington, serving students in Vancouver, Portland and the surrounding communities. Practicum placements are selected from among agencies within the student’s own community.

For further information please contact Jodi Kerbs at 360.992.2082 or jkerbs@ewu.edu or Patti Kirsch Daggett at 360.992.2081 or pdaggett@clark.edu.

AdmissionsCourse of Study

The School of Social Work offers several Master of Social Work (MSW) Program options to meet the needs of students. The School also offers both full-time and part-time Advanced Standing Options for students who have completed a BSW or BASW from an accredited program.

Admission Criteria

Applicants must have the following:

  1.  Successful completion of a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university.
  2. A calculated grade-point average of 3.0 in the last 90 graded quarter credits or 60 graded semester credits.
    Note: Upon the recommendation of the Graduate Program Director, Graduate Studies may admit a limited number of students, with a GPA under 3.0, based upon considerations which include performance in relevant graduate courses and faculty evaluations.
  3. Completion of 3 credit hours of an introductory statistics course covering descriptive and inferential statistics and basic hypothesis testing with a minimum grade of 2.0.
    1. Students who have not completed such a course must complete an approved statistics course during the foundation portion of the program. The course must be completed before beginning SOWK 526.
  4. The GRE is not required.
  5. Previous Life or Work Experience cannot be substituted for course credit.

Curriculum & Requirements

Social Work, Master of Social Work (MSW)

Students are required to complete 90 credits of required and elective coursework (51 credits in the Advanced Standing Program).

Prior to earning 45 credits (during fall quarter for Advanced Standing Program), students will develop a contract program in consultation with faculty, outlining the program of courses to be completed for the degree. This contract will be based on the student’s career goals, standards of the profession and the objectives of the School. Development and approval of the contract program will be accomplished in conjunction with advancement to degree candidacy.

Students will present a final comprehensive research project in their final quarter.

Grade Requirements: must maintain a cumulative GPA ≥3.0.

Foundation Curriculum
SOWK 525RESEARCH METHODS FOR PROGRAM AND PRACTICE EVALUATION4
SOWK 530ORGANIZATIONAL AND COMMUNITY PRACTICE4
SOWK 531INTRODUCTION TO SOCIAL WELFARE AND POLICY4
SOWK 532FOUNDATIONS OF PROFESSIONAL SOCIAL WORK PRACTICE4
SOWK 533SOCIAL WORK ASSESSMENT AND PRACTICE WITH INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES4
SOWK 540HUMAN DEVELOPMENT IN CONTEMPORARY ENVIRONMENTS4
SOWK 541SOCIAL WORK PRACTICE IN A DIVERSE SOCIETY4
SOWK 550SOCIAL WORK WITH GROUPS4
SOWK 553SOCIAL WORK INTERVENTION AND EVALUATION WITH INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES4
SOWK 571FOUNDATION PRACTICUM/SEMINAR (must be taken for 4)4
SOWK 580FIELD PREPARATION1
Advanced Curriculum in Advanced Generalist Practice
SOWK 526RESEARCH METHODS II4
SOWK 568PROSEMINARS IN SOCIAL WELFARE POLICIES AND PROGRAMS4
SOWK 581INTEGRATIVE SEMINAR I1
SOWK 582INTEGRATIVE SEMINAR II1
SOWK 583INTEGRATIVE SEMINAR III1
SOWK 584INTEGRATIVE SEMINAR IV1
SOWK 602CLINICAL DIAGNOSIS AND EVIDENCE BASED TREATMENT4
SOWK 603LEADERSHIP AND MANAGEMENT IN HUMAN SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS4
SOWK 671ADVANCED PRACTICUM/SEMINAR (must be repeated 4, 4, 5)13
Electives16
Total Credits90

Catalog Listing

Student Learning Outcomes

2008 CSWE Core Competencies

  • Identify as a professional social worker and conduct oneself accordingly.
  • Apply social work ethical principles to guide professional practice.
  • Apply critical thinking to inform and communicate professional judgments.
  • Engage diversity and difference in practice.
  • Advance human rights and social and economic justice.
  • Engage in research-informed practice and practice-informed research.
  • Apply knowledge of human behavior and the social environment.
  • Engage in policy practice to advance social and economic well-being and to deliver effective social work services.
  • Respond to contexts that shape practice.
  • Engage, assess, intervene, and evaluate with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities.