DEGREES
Advanced Generalist Practice
Wherever you are in your life and career, we have options for you to pursue your graduate degree. We offer two unique degree program tracks including our Advanced Standing Program & Traditional 60-Credit Hour Program to meet our students’ diverse educational backgrounds and to help students balance their responsibilities.
The MSW Program curriculum emphasizes Advanced Generalist Practice ensuring our graduates can concurrently address complex situations within and across multiple levels and systems. This strength-based orientation incorporates core social work knowledge, skills, values and ethics preparing students to adequately assess and intervene at all levels of practice.
Within our curriculum, students can complete elective courses in the following cluster areas:
- Child Welfare
- Clinical Behavioral Health
- Policy & Advocacy
1 Year: Advanced Standing Program
Program starts summer semester
Mandatory In-Person Orientation in May (All Main Campus and Distance Learning students)
Application deadline:
Nov. 1 (priority deadline)*, Feb. 1 (deadline)
A full-time Advanced-Standing Program for students who hold a bachelor of social work (BSW) from a university accredited by the Council on Social Work Education
2 Years: 60-Credit-Hour Program**
Program starts fall semester (See note)
Mandatory In-Person Orientation in July (All Main Campus and Distance Learning students)
Application deadline:
Dec. 1 (priority deadline)*, Apr. 1 (deadline)
A full-time 60-credit-hour program for students who hold a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution and who do not meet the Advanced Standing criteria
*Applications must be submitted by the priority deadline to be eligible to apply for SSW scholarships.
Online
The University of Alabama School of Social Work offers individuals the opportunity to acquire a Master’s Degree from anywhere in the country. Earn your MSW from a highly-ranked university without having to move. And our top-notch Experiential Learning team will work with you to identify and arrange your practicum within 100 miles of your location.
Top 25 Affordable Online Master’s in Social Work
#1 Social Work School in Alabama
Top 25 Online Master’s Degree in Social Work
College Choice
Why Choose Our Online MSW Program?17th Best Public Graduate School in the U.S. U.S. News & World Report
Earn More Than One Degree
Our top-ranked MSW degree can be combined with either a Master of Public Health (MPH) from The University of Alabama at Birmingham or a Juris Doctorate (JD) from The University of Alabama School of Law.
Taking advantage of our coordinated degree programs will allow you to earn two graduate degrees in two fields in less time than it would take to complete them sequentially.
To enroll in one of our coordinated-degree programs, students must apply to each school separately and be admitted to both programs.*Applications must be submitted by the priority deadline to be eligible to apply for SSW scholarships.
MSW/JD
The MSW/JD is coordinated between The University of Alabama School of Social Work and The University of Alabama School of Law.
The degree provides students with the knowledge of legal and social work strategies that can improve the lives of individuals and groups by understanding forensic social work, the justice system, domestic violence, child protection, human rights, and more.
MSW/MPH
The MSW/MPH is coordinated between The University of Alabama School of Social Work and the Department of Health Care Organization and Policy (HCOP) at The University of Alabama-Birmingham School of Public Health.
The degree prepares social workers for interdisciplinary practice in public health programs concerned with the promotion and improvement of the health of diverse populations, including women, children, and families.
CURRICULUM
InfoImportant Note
For those starting the MSW program in August 2025, the following curriculum will constitute your plan of study.
Year One
| Fall Semester | Credit Hours |
|---|---|
| SW 576- Diversity, Oppression, & Anti-Racism | 3 |
| SW 503- Human Behavior & Social Environment | 3 |
| SW 504- Social Work Practice with Groups (Skills Labs for Distance Students) | 3 |
| SW 505- Social Work Practice with Individuals & Families (Skills Labs for Distance Students) | 3 |
| SW 592- Practicum Education (Foundation Year) | 2 |
| SW 538- Practicum Seminar (Foundation Year) | 1 |
| Total Hours | 15 |
| Spring Semester | Credit Hours |
|---|---|
| SW 502- Foundations of Social Welfare Policy | 3 |
| SW 543- Social Work Practice with Communities & Organizations (Skills Lab for Distance Students) | 3 |
| SW 571- Social Work Research | 3 |
| SW 593- Practicum Education (Foundation Year) | 3 |
| SW 539- Practicum Seminar (Foundation Year) | 2 |
| Total Hours | 15 |
Year Two
| Fall Semester | Credit Hours |
|---|---|
| SW 584- Social Work Leadership and Management | 3 |
| SW 530- Advanced Generalist Practice II: Psychopathology & Assessment (Skills Labs for Distance Students) | 3 |
| SW 531- Advanced Generalist Practice III: Mental Health Across the Lifespan (Skills Labs for Distance Students) | 3 |
| SW 597- Practicum Education (Advanced Generalist Year) | 2 |
| SW 574- Practicum Seminar (Advanced Generalist Year) | 1 |
| Elective | 3 |
| Total Hours | 15 |
| Spring Semester | Credit Hours |
|---|---|
| SW 580- Advanced Policy Analysis | 3 |
| SW 598- Practicum Education (Advanced Generalist Year) | 5 |
| SW 575- Practicum Seminar (Advanced Generalist Year) | 1 |
| Elective | 3 |
| Elective | 3 |
| Total Hours | 15 |
This curriculum will be reflected in the 2026-2027 Graduate Catalog, which is the Catalog under which you will graduate from the 2-year program.