Master of Science in Social Work (M.S.S.W.)

The M.S.S.W. program offers a comprehensive and vigorous curriculum that prepares students to address pressing individual, family, community, and societal needs through use of cutting-edge knowledge and skills. The program combines state-of the art coursework with in-depth internship experiences.

Students complete either a clinical concentration or a macro concentration in order to focus their education to meet their professional goals.

The Evidenced-Based Interpersonal Practice concentration provides advanced training in therapeutic interventions and group work. It allows students to further tailor their education through a comprehensive offering of elective courses. EBIP graduates work in schools, hospitals, private practices, psychiatric clinics, prisons, non-profit agencies, community mental health centers, etc.

The Management Leadership and Community Practice concentration equips students with management, social-economic development, and policy analysis skills that enable them to lead non-profit agencies, work for the state or federal government, and engage with communities to help address pressing needs.

The M.S.S.W. program of study is flexible and allows students to choose a program of study that best fits with the reality of their busy lives. The full-time program enables students to complete their studies in two years. The part-time extended study program allows students to take classes during the evenings and complete the degree in three to four years. Our advance standing program, which is for students who already have a B.S.W. or B.S.S.W. degree, can be completed in one year as a full-time student or in one-and-a-half to two years as a part-time student.

The College of Social Work has two campuses, one in Knoxville and one in Nashville. Both campuses offer the same curriculum, concentrations, and programs of study. Students can choose to complete the M.S.S.W. program at either campus.

The Distance Education M.S.S.W. Program offers even further flexibility for those who are unable to come to campus for class, due to their geographic location or schedule. Distance students have the same choice of concentrations and programs of study as regular face-to-face students, but complete their coursework online.

The College of Social Work M.S.S.W program is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education.