Online Master of Social Work – Advanced Standing
Promote Well-Being with a Focus on Recovery
Prep for NY State Licensure
100% Online Coursework
Reduced Program Length
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- Duration 12-16 Months*
- Cost per Credit $775
- Credit Hours 30
Promote Recovery to Help the Communities That Need It Most
Utica’s online Master of Social Work – Advanced Standing program is designed for learners with a BSW to move through the master’s program faster. You will focus on the core tenants of social work with an emphasis on the recovery of individuals and communities from trauma or addiction. We embrace principles such as individualizing client-driven pathways to recovery and engaging peer support networks to build hope for those in need.
Prepare for Fulfilling Social Work Careers
Graduating with an MSW will set you up to pursue a variety of careers, including work in mental health fields, nursing homes, community outreach organizations, addiction programs, and more. Upon graduation, you will stand out as a professional job candidate, and you will be on your way to improving the well-being of individuals, families and communities.
Explore Careers
Practical Training in Social Work Principles
Our class sizes are small, so you will have the attention you deserve from our talented instructors. The Master of Social Work online courses are designed to give you up-to-date training in a recovery-focused program.
Course Highlights:
- SWK 605 Motivational Interviewing
- SWK 606 Cognitive Behavioral Therapies
- SWK 613 Mental Health Policy
- SWK 617 Addiction and Recovery
CSWE Accreditation Candidate
Utica University’s MSW in clinical social work has been granted candidacy status for accreditation by the Council on Social Work Education’s Commission on Accreditation.
Candidacy status affirms the program meets the initial criteria set by the CSWE to move forward with the accreditation process. This allows all students in the program to date to be recognized as graduating from an accredited program once the program achieves full accreditation, expected by 2024.
Candidacy by the Council on Social Work Education’s Commission on Accreditation applies to all locations and delivery methods of an accredited program. Accreditation provides reasonable assurance about the quality of the program and the competence of students graduating from the program.
For more information about social work accreditation, contact CSWE.
Program Duration Details*
The MSW – Advanced Standing program can be completed in either one year or 16 months, depending on a student’s goals and outside commitments. The 16-month program is recommended for those who will balance other commitments outside of their coursework and fieldwork requirements.
To complete the program in one year, students will need to complete all 500 fieldwork hours during their second and third semesters and take two courses per term during their third semester. To discuss the duration that will work best for you, please submit your information to talk with a member of our team.
What You’ll Learn
During your MSW program at Utica, you’ll learn about various social work subjects, including clinical social work practice, motivational interviewing, cognitive behavioral therapy, mental health policy, clinical case evaluation, and more. Upon graduation, you’ll be prepared to improve the quality of life in communities with a recovery-focused skill set.
- Demonstrate ethical and professional behavior
- Learn about diversity and difference in practice
- Advance human rights and social, economic, and environmental justice
- Study informed research and policy practice
- Engage with, evaluate, assess, and intervene with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities
Admission Requirements
To apply to Utica’s online Master of Social Work – Advanced Standing, you’ll need:
- Bachelor of Social Work degree from a regionally accredited four-year college or university, earned within the last six years**
- Cumulative undergraduate GPA of at least 2.75 on a 4.0 scale
- Official transcripts for all previously attended undergraduate and graduate institutions
- Resume
- CV
- Essays
- 2 letters of recommendation
**Exceptions may be made to the six-year requirement, dependent on relevant work experience. For example, exceptions may be made for students who have substantial experience working in a social work setting that includes MSW staff and professional learning experiences since earning their BSW.
Learn MoreTuition Details
Tuition for the online MSW – Advanced Standing program is $775 per credit hour. The 30-credit-hour program has a total estimated tuition cost of $23,250. Utica University is committed to offering affordable, competitive tuition. Speak to an enrollment counselor to discover the multiple ways to finance your degree.
Learn MoreFaculty
Faculty in the online MSW program are experienced educators and practitioners in professional social work and recovery services and are focused on student success. You’ll receive one-on-one support to build your academic foundations, practice clinical skills, and explore social work careers.
Joseph Hunter, Ph.D.
Professor of Practice, Master of Social Work Program
Dr. Joseph Hunter’s education includes a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Le Moyne College, and a Master’s degree and Ph.D. in Social Work from SUNY Albany. He was the recipient of a SAMHSA Dissertation Grant completing a statewide study on adolescent substance use disorder best and promising practices. Dr. Hunter has served in the capacity of Suicide Prevention Coordinator at the Stratton VA Medical Center in Albany, NY, for 15 years, where he completed post-doctoral training as a VA/Hartford Geriatric Social Work Scholar, and he was awarded “Gold Status Fellow” in 2017 as a winner of VA’s interdisciplinary national “Shark Tank” competition for a community suicide prevention innovation.
Dr. Joseph Hunter has also been a part-time Adjunct Assistant Professor at the University of Southern California (USC) School of Social Work, teaching online courses in their Master of Social Work (MSW) program (2013-2022).Dr. Hunter has also provided a variety of live online and in-person continuing education courses for licensed social workers in New York State for the National Association of Social Workers (NASW). Dr. Hunter joined Utica University in August of 2022 as full-time Professor of Practice and assumed the role of the Director of the Center of Excellence for Suicide Prevention.
Honors and Distinctions
- SAMHSA Dissertation Award Recipient
- Hartford Geriatric Social Work Scholar
- VA Innovation Shark Tank Winner and Gold Status Fellow
- VA National Community Partnership Award
Selected Publications
- Hunter, J. (2020). Understanding and Preventing the Dynamics of Suicide: An Introduction to the Self Preservation Theory of Human Behavior. The International Journal of Emergency Mental Health and Human Resilience, Vol. 22 (2), 21-31.
- Hunter, J. (2010). Effective Community Based Chemical Dependency Treatment for Adolescents: Matching program services with individual difference variables. ProQuest Dissertation. Publication #3404353.
Leigh Ann Hewes, MSW, LICSW
Director of Field Education, Master of Social Work Program
Leigh Ann Hewes has been a licensed social worker since 1995, first at the Bachelor’s level for three years then at the Master’s/Clinical level for the past 24 years. She has practiced in the areas of mental health, medical social work (including hospital, hospice, home health, public health and dialysis), and case management. In addition to these direct practice settings, Mrs. Hewes has taught Social Work at both the bachelor’s and master’s level at two universities. Mrs. Hewes has a passion for teaching both the fundamentals and intricacies of Social Work practice, and she believes that field experience is the absolute best way to learn how to become an ethical and competent Social Worker.
Honors and Distinctions:
- Masters in Social Work, University of Alabama, 1998
- Bachelors of Science in Social Work, UAB, 1995
Paige Brown
Field Coordinator, Master of Social Work Program
Paige Brown has worked in the academic setting for 6+ years and became a part of Utica’s MSW Program team in October 2022. Paige is passionate about helping students achieve their goals as a social worker through comprehensive field experience
Honors and Distinctions
- B.A. in Special & General Education
Frequently Asked Questions
Get answers to frequently asked questions about the online MSW degree, including admission requirements, curriculum, and tuition. You can also request more information or get in touch with an enrollment counselor at 1-866-295-3106.
The online MSW – Advanced Standing is built to incorporate the busy lives of working professionals and is offered in a part-time format. Review the curriculum here.
The first step toward applying for the MSW – Advanced Standing degree online is to begin your online application. Then, you’ll need to gather official transcripts, a CV, a résumé, a personal statement, and two letters of recommendation. You can review all admission requirements here.
Yes, the MSW – Advanced Standing degree online accepts transfer credits for courses taken at a regionally accredited college that are equivalent to those taught at Utica University and for which you’ve received a grade of “C” or better. You can transfer up to six credit hours toward the MSW – Advanced Standing. Note that we require official transcripts from all colleges you’ve attended, as well as a transcript showing the degree awarded. You can review all admission requirements here.
You’ll complete 10 courses to earn the MSW – Advanced Standing. Two additional courses may be required depending on the coursework included in your BSW program. You can learn more about specific coursework on our courses page.
There are 500 hours of fieldwork required in the MSW – Advanced Standing. Review the curriculum here.
The MSW – Advanced Standing program will prepare you for licensing* in New York state.
*Students are responsible for verifying the licensure requirements in the state in which they plan to practice.