Those new to the field of social work can prepare for a rewarding career with our Generalist Track. This is an ideal option for students who do not have an undergraduate degree in social work from a program accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE).

Students on this track will explore the practice of contemporary social work, including social work practices, ethics, communication, and other key skills. It combines online coursework and in-person practicum work. Practicum involves interacting directly with individuals, groups, and communities in an agency in your local area under the direction of an approved local field supervisor. This allows students to gain hands-on experience while also learning flexible, resilient strategies in the work world.

This track is ideal for those that have an undergraduate degree in social work from a program accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE). This option makes it possible for students to explore advanced topics and earn their master’s degree with fewer required credits.

Students on this track will examine topics in contemporary social work, including factors influencing the family, engaging with clients with complex needs, and assisting marginalized populations. It also covers core clinical skills in forensic social work and advanced leadership skills. The learning experience combines online coursework and in-person practicum work. In Advanced practicum, students work directly, and often independently, with clients and client groups in a local agency or facility, under the supervision of a qualified professional.

The Master of Social Work, Generalist track program can be completed in 60 credit hours. It requires the foundation courses to be completed prior to enrolling in the advanced courses. The program capstone will be the last course in the degree program completed.

Foundation Courses

• MSW-5000 - Introduction to Social Work
• MSW-5001 - Human Behavior and the Social Environment
• MSW-5002 - Professional Practice with Individuals and Families
• MSW-6003 - Professional Practice with Organizations and Communities
• MSW-6004 - Social Work in Behavioral Health
• MSW-6005 - Ethics and Diversity in Social Work
• MSW-6006 - Leadership in Social Work Practice
• MSW-6007 - Research Methods in Social Work
• MSW-6008 - Social Work in Interdisciplinary Settings
• MSW-6009 - Generalist Practicum l
• MSW-6010 - Generalist Practicum II

Advanced Courses

• MSW-6101 - Advanced Social Work with Children and Families
• MSW-6102 - Advanced Social Work Practice with Marginalized Populations
• MSW-6103 - Advanced Social Work in Medical Practice
• MSW-6104 - Advanced Social Work Practice in Mental Health
• MSW-6105 - Forensic Clinical Social Work Practice
• MSW-6106 - Advanced Leadership Skills for Clinical Practice
• MSW-6901 - Advanced Practicum I
• MSW-6902 - Advanced Practicum II
• MSW-6903 - Capstone

With a Master of Social Work degree, you can join or advance in the growing field of social work. Between 2020 and 2030, the social work field is expected to grow 12%, and the national median salary for social workers is around $51,760.*

Here are just a few career opportunities**:

• Mental health social worker and addictions social worker
• Aging and eldercare and hospice social worker
• Healthcare or medical rehabilitation social worker
• Social and community agency administrator and policy specialist
• Human services and administrator
• Drug court, probation, victims' assistance, or correctional treatment specialist
• Employee assistance programs

And many more, in public and private facilities of all different sizes!

*Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, the internet, at https://www.bls.gov/ooh/community-and-social-service/social-workers.html (viewed March 3, 2022). Cited projections may not reflect local and short-term economic or job conditions and do not guarantee actual job growth.

**Positions may require additional experience, training, and other factors beyond successfully completing this degree program. Many roles may also require state licensure, and it is the responsibility of the student to ensure that all licensure requirements are met.

Admission to an NCU master’s program requires a conferred bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited academic institution or an international institution that is determined to be equivalent through an approved evaluation service. Admission into MSW — Advanced Generalist requires a Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) degree from a CSWE-accredited program.

Admissions

Admission to an NCU master’s program requires a conferred bachelor’s degree from a nationally or regionally accredited academic institution or an international institution that is determined to be equivalent through an approved evaluation service.

Admission into MSW — Advanced Generalist track requires a Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) or Bachelor of Science in Social Work (BSSW) degree from a CSWE-accredited program within the past five years (with some approved exceptions)

The MSW program will allow for transfer of up to six credit hours for the Advanced Generalist track and 12 credits for the Generalist track. Transfer credits for the Generalist track must be completed at a regionally accredited institution and must be awarded a “B”/3.0 or higher grade. For the Advanced Generalist track, students may apply for transfer of up to six credit hours of graduate credit hours from a CSWE-accredited MSW program (grades must be “B” or higher) under the following guidelines.

1. Coursework which would be over five years old at the completion of the degree program (as defined by the student’s plan of study) may not be used
2. Acceptance of transfer credits will depend upon how they fit within the MSW requirements and the student’s overall plan of study
3. Only applicants from CSWE-accredited graduate social work programs will be considered for admission as transfer students for the Advanced Generalist track

Additional State requirements may need to be met for Basis for Admissions into a program:

• Basis for Admissions - Washington State Students*

*Northcentral University is authorized by the Washington Student Achievement Council and meets the requirements and minimum educational standards established for degree­granting institutions under the Degree-Granting Institutions Act.

This authorization is subject to periodic review and authorizes the University to offer field placement components for specific degree programs.

The Council may be contacted for a list of currently authorized programs.

Authorization by the Council does not carry with it an endorsement by the Council of the institution or its programs.

Any person desiring information about the requirements of the act or the applicability of those requirements to the institution may contact the Council at P.O. Box 43430, Olympia, WA 98504-3430 or by email at degreeauthorization@wsac.wa.gov.

The transferability of credits earned at the University is at the discretion of the receiving college, university, or other educational institution.

Students considering transferring to any institution should not assume that credits earned in any program of study at the University will be accepted by the receiving institution.

Similarly, the ability of a degree, certificate, diploma, or other academic credential earned at the University to satisfy an admission requirement of another institution is at the discretion of the receiving institution.

Accreditation does not guarantee credentials or credits earned at the University will be accepted by or transferred to another institution.

To minimize the risk of having to repeat coursework, students should contact the receiving institution in advance for evaluation and determination of transferability of credits and acceptability of degrees, diplomas, or certificates earned.

The Master of Social Work (MSW) program provides support to students in securing quality internship placements that include, but are not limited to, the field education director and full-time faculty to help guide students through this process, speak with potential placement sites that have been identified as a possible fit for the student, a national database of potential placements sites, and training materials to help students present in a professional and appropriate manner.

The MSW program cannot require potential placement site to hire students, thus it is the responsibility of the student to present their self in a professional manner and secure a placements site and supervisor.

We encourage students to contact the Field Education Director for any additional individualized support they may need in this process.

To speak with an enrollment advisor, call (866) 776-0331 or email admissions@ncu.edu.