May 03, 2025

2025-2026 Binghamton University Academic Guide

Social Work, MSW

Location(s): University Downtown Center

Social work is built upon a strong foundation of social justice advocacy, activism, and a commitment to the worth and dignity of all. The mission of the Binghamton University Master of Social Work program is to contribute proudly to the profession as leaders in our work for equity, justice and inclusion. We do this by educating and empowering advanced generalist social work practitioners to promote social, economic, and environmental justice and support for individuals, families, groups, organizations and communities.

Binghamton University MSW students:

Will become reflective, autonomous critical thinkers and practitioners;
Understand, appraise, and apply social science knowledge grounded in a variety of research paradigms;
Appreciate the complexity of the social world, and understand how context shapes the lives of clients at the micro, mezzo, and macro levels;
Learn about social inequality and oppression from a variety of perspectives in order to promote client wellbeing and social justice in practice;
Integrate research into practice while respecting the wisdom, culture, and perspectives of clients; and,
Develop social work practice and intervention skills informed by ecological systems, developmental strengths, empowerment, trauma recovery, cognitive, behavioral, and relational theories and perspectives

This program may be completed on either a full or part-time basis. The full-time program may be completed in two traditional academic years (four semesters) either online or in-person. The exclusively online part-time program may be completed in three and a half academic years and requires taking summer semesters.

Program Admission

Successful performance in graduate social work education requires maturity, emotional stability, sensitivity and responsiveness in relationships, capacity for self-awareness, a concern for the needs of others, ability in abstract reasoning, conceptual and critical thinking, and strong communication skills. These attributes are crucial to practice ethically and competently. These are the attributes that will be assessed in the admissions process. Applicants should also evidence a genuine interest in working with diverse clients and communities and a readiness to assume professional responsibilities.

Requirements are:

A bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university of recognized standing;
A cumulative undergraduate grade-point average of at least a B (3.0 on a 4.0 scale);
A personal statement;
Two letters of recommendation;
CV or Resume showing paid or volunteer human service experience; and,
Signed Social Work Contract.

Applicants will also be required to participate in group or individual interviews.

Program Requirements

Course Requirements

Students pursuing the MSW must complete 64 credits of graduate level coursework. This coursework is divided into two levels: The generalist practice (32 credits) and advanced generalist practice (32 credits). The generalist practice courses are typically completed in the first year of study, and the advanced generalist practice courses in the second. Students are required to follow the listed sequences below. Under no circumstances are students able to take advanced generalist year coursework without satisfying the entirety of the foundational generalist practice prerequisite coursework. The MSW coursework includes the following:

MSW Curriculum for Full-Time Students

Generalist Practice Curriculum (32 credits)

Year 1

Fall semester

Spring semester

Advanced Generalist Practice Curriculum (32 credits)

Year 2

Fall semester

Spring semester

MSW Curriculum for Part-Time Students

Generalist Practice Curriculum (32 credits)

Year 1

Fall semester

Spring semester

Summer Semester

Year 2

Fall semester

Spring semester

Advanced Generalist Practice Curriculum (32 credits)

Summer Semester

SW XXX. Elective
SW 523 - Adv Soc Wrk Prac With Groups

Year 3

Fall semester

Spring semester

SW XXX. Elective
SW 525 - Advanced SW Prac W/Communities

Summer Semester

Year 4

Fall semester

Advanced Standing MSW Program

Binghamton offers an advanced standing option for graduates of an undergraduate social work program accredited by CSWE. The BSW degree must have been received within five years of beginning the MSW program. Exceptions to this five-year limit may be made by the Admissions Committee on a case-by-case basis for those applicants who have worked consistently in the field of social work since obtaining their BSW degree. Advanced standing students will be given credit for up to 29 hours of coursework, if they can demonstrate that they received comparable educational content in BSW courses for which they received a grade of “B” or better. The courses for which students may apply for advanced standing credit are:

Human Behavior in the Social Environment I
Foundations of Scientific Inquiry
Social Work Generalist Practice I, II, III
Research Methods in Social Work
Social Welfare Policy and Programs
Diversity and Oppression
Field Instruction I, II

Students requesting advanced standing status need to submit class syllabi for the courses which they believe provided them with similar content to that found in the above listed courses to their assigned MSW program advisor. The MSW Director and the student’s advisor will then review the syllabi for comparability to Binghamton University MSW courses and make a decision as to how many hours of advanced standing credit will be granted. All non-Binghamton BSW advanced standing students participate in the Advanced Standing Seminar the summer prior to their beginning the program.

All offers of advanced standing admission are contingent upon a B or better in all BSW social work courses from the student’s undergraduate institution. Students are required to provide their final semester’s grades to their MSW program advisor in order to receive a final offer of advanced standing admission and to process credit waivers.

For students who graduated from Binghamton Unviersity’s BSW program, and applied for advanced standing MSW admission, they do not have to take SW 575, and can count SW 506 as their Spring term elective, allowing the program to waive 32 credits toward their MSW.

Field Practicum Requirement

Field instruction is a pivotal and integral part of the MSW curriculum. In the field, students acquire practice experience, developing competence in the skills that will help them attain their personal and professional goals within a framework of social work values and ethics.

Field instruction is offered in two levels that correspond with the curriculum of the Brick and Mortar and Exclusively Online MSW Programs. The first is in the generalist year, in which students learn to recognize and utilize multiple methods of strength-based interventions that can be implemented within a variety of systems that intersect with the client. They learn about the role of social workers and incorporate professional social work values and ethics within their field placement.

Field Instruction I and II are completed in the generalist year. Students must successfully pass Field Instruction I to move forward in the program. Sequential completion with a passing grade for each level of Field Instruction must occur before moving to the next level. If a student does not successfully complete Field Instruction II, they will be required to repeat Field Instruction I if they remain or return to the program. If a student does not successfully complete Field Instruction IV, they will be required to repeat Field Instruction III. In the Generalist year, students spend 510 hours in the field and earn 8 academic credits for field. Students spend 16 hours per week for 34 weeks, spanning 2 semesters, at an organization within their region. Students with extenuating circumstances may request to complete their placement under the extended field option. Students complete the 510 hours in 44 weeks at their assigned agency.

In the advanced generalist year of the curriculum, students become more deeply involved in the application of skills and specific interventions within the field site. Field Instruction III and IV are completed in the advanced generalist year of the program. Field Instructions III and IV generally take place in a different agency than Field Instruction I and II. Students again spend 510 hours in their second field placement, 16 hours over 34 weeks (two semesters), completing a total of 1,020 hours of field education over four semesters.

Students complete two different placements while in the MSW Program and field education coursework occurs over two consecutive semesters. When a student accepts a field placement, they are committing to completing two consecutive semesters at that field placement. As per the Obstacles and Concerns in Field Placement Policy in the field placement manual, students should not terminate their field placement at any time, for any reason. If/when a student identifies a potential disruption to their field placement, they must contact their instructor of record as soon as possible to determine possible options. Consult the relevant MSW Program Field Manual for additional policies and procedures that govern student internship experiences.

A student receiving a failing grade in the Brick and Mortar or Exclusively Online MSW Program results in being severed from the Program.

Advancement Policy

The faculty and staff of the Binghamton University Department of Social Work are responsible for creating an educational environment that fosters student growth, academic success and professional development. When students apply to the program, they sign an academic contract agreeing to advance their professional development and to have it assessed by social work faculty and staff throughout their time in the program. The Social Work Department Advancement Policy supports this responsibility by addressing criteria including academic, professional and ethical conduct (e.g., being respectful; displaying integrity and honesty; addressing concerns in a clear and constructive manner; and responding to evaluation and criticism with appropriate self-reflection and modification of behavior) to ensure that graduates of the program have the necessary professional conduct to effectively serve clients. When there are concerns about a student’s academic/professional conduct, the Social Work Department may institute the Advancement Policy as a way to address such behavior.

The nature of the social work profession demands that practitioners use sound professional judgment and exercise professional and ethical conduct in all aspects of their work. When there is evidence of unprofessional behavior, the Social Work Department has the right and responsibility to terminate the enrollment of the student. Alternatively, any student who, at any time in the program is determined by the Social Work Department faculty and administration to have engaged in unprofessional behavior may be required to participate in the Social Work Advancement Process to assess and support their professional readiness for social work practice. Students will not be approved for graduation if they have unexecuted/unresolved concern(s) in relation to the Advancement Policy on file.

For more information about the Advancement Policy and Process, please see the current MSW Student Handbook.

Capstone Project

The capstone project will offer students the opportunity to integrate and apply learning in order to demonstrate mastery of social work knowledge, skills, practice behaviors, ethics and values necessary for evidence-based advanced generalist practice. The capstone project is required coursework for SW 520: Evaluation of Social Work Practice.

Additional Information About the Program

Changing Between Program Options and Tracks

MSW students who wish to change program options and tracks (e.g., brick and mortar to exclusively online; part-time to full-time) should make their request known to their advisor at least one semester prior to the intended transition. Students may also need to follow specific policies and procedures outlined within the current MSW Student Handbook. Decisions on whether to approve such requests are determined on a first-come, first-serve basis and whether there is space available in the desired cohort. Students may only change program modality one time (e.g., move from brick and mortar to exclusively online or vice versa).

Transfer Credit

Graduate courses successfully completed at another institution’s CSWE-accredited MSW program may be accepted for credit toward the MSW degree, in lieu of any of the required courses, provided such courses covered content similar to that taught in Binghamton University’s required courses. A minimum grade of B is required for transfer credit. Graduate courses for which transfer credit is sought must have been taken within the last five years in order to be considered. A maximum of 29 credits can be counted as waived requirements toward the MSW degree.

Students requesting the transfer of credit need to submit class syllabi for the courses which they believe provided them with content similar to that found in the Binghamton University MSW curriculum. The MSW Program Director, in conjunction with the Director of Admissions & Student Services, will review the syllabi for comparability to Binghamton University MSW courses and make a decision as to how many credits can be transferred. The Director of Admissions and Student Services will then facilitate the waiver of courses for which a transfer of credit has been approved.

Academic credit is not given for life experience or previous work experience, as per the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) accreditation requirements.

Withdrawal

It is the policy of the Social Work Department that students who are considering withdrawing from the program meet their advisor to discuss the challenges they are facing and explore options that may help support their continuing in the program.

If a student wishes to withdraw from the program, they should take the following steps:

If the decision is made to withdraw, the student must provide, in writing, to their advisor their wish to withdraw, a brief description of the reason(s) they are withdrawing, an effective date of withdrawal, and they must complete the Graduate Student Withdrawal Form (to be withdrawn from their current coursework, if applicable).

The student must inform all faculty and staff from whom they are currently receiving instruction (i.e., for the courses in which the student is currently enrolled).

For more additional information on the MSW program, refer to the Department of Social Work website. To apply to the Social Work MSW program, please visit the University Admissions website.