The Master of Social Work (MSW) is a professional degree offered in the EWU School of Social Work (SSW) accredited social work program. The Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) sets the national standards for social work education included in the 2022 Educational Policy and Accreditation Standards. The MSW degree is the terminal degree required for eligibility to apply for social work licensing in the State of Washington as outlined by the WA State Department of Health.

The advanced standing MSW Programs (full-time and part-time) are specifically for individuals with an undergraduate degree in social work (a BASW or BSW), with a 3.0 GPA, from a CSWE accredited social work program, and earned within the past seven years. There are no exceptions to these criteria. For a review of the Admission Requirements for the advanced standing MSW Program, visit the Social Work-Graduate catalog page. 

The advanced standing MSW Program allows graduates of a CSWE accredited BASW or BSW undergraduate program to complete the MSW Program with 55 credits of required and elective coursework. A portion of those credits include practicum experience in government agencies, non-profit/profit agencies, and community organizations. The required coursework is delivered in-person with online hours for the full-time program and in a hybrid format for the part-time programs (partial online and partial in-person). Locations of classes are outlined in the Program Options section of the Social Work-Graduate catalog page. A required summer Advanced Standing Seminar SOWK 561  prepares students for the Specialized Curriculum. 

Visit the SSW MSW Application Information webpage for deadlines and start of term dates.

• Full-Time: A cohort of students for the advanced standing curriculum begins each summer with a seminar on generalist social work curriculum. The cohort joins the current cohort of full-time students each fall quarter. The advanced standing curriculum is completed with the summer seminar and 3 quarters (fall, winter, and spring). The full-time program is designed using in-person and online courses for core curriculum and serving a specific area of Washington State and the panhandle of Idaho. Review service area under Graduate Program description. 
• Part-Time: A cohort of students for the advanced standing curriculum begins with a summer seminar on the generalist social work curriculum and joins a current cohort. The Everett PT MSW Program accepts students for the advanced standing curriculum on odd numbered years. The Spokane PT MSW Program accepts students for the advanced standing curriculum on even numbered years. The advanced standing curriculum is completed with the summer seminar plus 6 quarters (winter, spring, summer, fall, winter, and spring). The two part-time programs are designed using a hybrid format to serve specific areas of Washington State and the panhandle of Idaho. Review service area under Graduate Program description.  

For questions related to the advanced standing MSW Program, contact the Graduate Program Director at MSW@ewu.edu and visit the Social Work-Graduate catalog page. 

The course of study is a prescriptive outline of courses for each program option to be completed by students. Successful completion of each quarter is required to move to the next quarter with limited exceptions due to the prerequisite status for social work core courses including practicum and practicum seminar. The 500 and 600 level Specialized courses listed below are only open to EWU enrolled graduate social work students. Only one 400 level course can be counted towards a graduate degree at EWU. A GPA of 3.0 or higher is required to maintain good standing in the program. 

Advanced Standing Preparation
SOWK 561	ADVANCED STANDING PREPARATION SEMINAR	5
Specialized Curriculum
SOWK 526	RESEARCH METHODS II	5
SOWK 553	INTEGRATED SOCIAL WORK PRACTICE II: FAMILIES AND GROUPS	5
SOWK 568	SOCIAL ACTION AND LEGISLATION	5
SOWK 602	CLINICAL DIAGNOSIS AND EVIDENCE INFORMED TREATMENT	5
SOWK 603	SOCIAL WORK LEADERSHIP AND ADMINISTRATION	5
SOWK 605	IMPACT PROJECT SEMINAR	4
Elective Courses		12
Advanced Practicum/Seminar		9
SOWK 671	SPECIALIZED PRACTICUM AND SEMINAR (must be repeated)
Total Credits		55

Plan of Study

Courses could be offered in different terms, checking with the academic department is paramount in keeping an individual plan current.

Full-Time Plan

First Year
Summer Quarter	Credits	Fall Quarter	Credits	Winter Quarter	Credits	Spring Quarter	Credits
SOWK 561	5	SOWK 553	5	SOWK 526	5	SOWK 603	5
		SOWK 602	5	SOWK 568	5	SOWK 605	4
		SOWK 671	3	SOWK 671	3	SOWK 671	3
		Social Work Elective	4	Social Work Elective	4	Social Work Elective	4
	5		17		17		16
Total Credits 55

Part-Time Plan

First Year
Summer Quarter	Credits	Fall Quarter	Credits	Winter Quarter	Credits	Spring Quarter	Credits
SOWK 561	5	No Required Courses		SOWK 553	5	SOWK 602	5
				SOWK 671	2	SOWK 671	2
				Social Work Elective	4
	5		0		11		7
Second Year
Summer Quarter	Credits	Fall Quarter	Credits	Winter Quarter	Credits	Spring Quarter	Credits
SOWK 526	5	SOWK 603	5	SOWK 568	5	SOWK 605	4
SOWK 671	1	SOWK 671	2	SOWK 671	1	SOWK 671	1
		Social Work Elective	4			Social Work Elective	4
	6		11		6		9
Total Credits 55

Students who successfully earn an MSW in the Advanced Standing program from EWU should be able to:​

• Demonstrate Ethical and Professional Behavior.
• Advance Human Rights and Social, Racial, Economic, and Environmental Justice.
• Engage Anti-Racism, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (ADEI) in Practice.
• Engage In Practice-informed Research and Research-informed Practice.
• Engage in Policy Practice.
• Engage with Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities.
• Assess Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities.
• Intervene with Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities.
• Evaluate Practice with Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities.

(Council on Social Work Education, 2022)