Master of Social Work Degree Programs in Colorado

Students seeking to pursue a graduate degree in social work have several options to choose from for accredited social work degree programs in Colorado. Social work is a field that seems custom-made for individuals with a passion for helping others and who seek a wide variety of opportunities within their professional field. For residents of Colorado, employment levels for social workers are among some of the highest in the nation, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (bls.gov). An advanced degree in this field could lead to careers in any number of clinical or community organizations that help people solve complex social and personal problems.

Colorado State University

College of Health and Human Services

The College of Health and Human Services at Colorado State University is one of the largest colleges on the university campus, housing eight academic units that share a common goal of preparing students for people-oriented professions. The School of Social Work housed within this college provides one option for accredited social work degree programs available in Colorado, with both undergraduate and graduate programs in this field. In this instance, the programs are designed with the particular needs of both urban and rural areas of Colorado in mind, as well as the opportunities available nationwide and globally.

Master of Social Work

This particular degree program prepares students for advanced generalist practice, providing for the greatest level of variety in career choices within the field of social work and building on the generalist degree offered at the undergraduate level. Students can choose a full-time, two year program, a three-year program that provides for part-time scheduling for the first two years and a full-time third year that includes field placement, or an accelerated one-year, three semester program offered to those students with Bachelor of Social Work degree from an institution accredited by the Council on Social Work Education. Graduates are trained in advanced research and problem-solving techniques, and take into account the impact, influence, and potential resources of any given context where social work practice occurs. Curriculum covers practicing within small and large client interactions, social welfare policies, families and groups, individuals and communities, and management or administrative work.

Accreditations

• Higher Learning Commission (and the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools)
• Council on Social Work Education (CSWE)

Contact

Colorado State University
College of Health and Human Sciences
School of Social Work
Fort Collins, CO 80523
Grad School: 970-491-6817
Grad School e-mail: gschool@colostate.edu
http://www.ssw.chhs.colostate.edu/

Metropolitan University of Denver

Department of Social Work

The Department of Social Work housed with the College of Professional Studies at the Metropolitan University of Denver prides itself on offering some of the more affordable alternatives for fully accredited social work degree programs in the state of Colorado. Students within this department can seek an undergraduate major or minor in social work, or a graduate degree that is both research heavy and grounded in both theory and practical experience. Emphasis is on service to individuals, families, groups, communities and organizations with a multicultural and global perspective.

Master of Social (MSW)

This Master of Social Work degree offered here can be completed full-time or part time, with the choice of status determined when the student seeks admission. Residents of Colorado may also take courses online, either through a fully online experience or as part of a hybrid program. In addition, this degree is offered as a regular, 60-credit hour, program to students with an accredited undergraduate degree in a field other than social work, or as an advanced, 30-credit hour, program available to students with a Bachelor of Social Work degree obtained through a program accredited by the Council on Social Work Education. Finally, students may choose one of two concentrations, in individuals and families or in macro practice (leadership and management). Students within either concentration can choose to further specialize through curriculum choices, such as following the child welfare, adult, or older adult tracks within the individuals and families concentration, or choosing to seek careers as community leaders, grant writers, or agency directors, to name just a few choices within the macro program concentration.

Accreditations

• Higher Learning Commission (and the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools)
• Council on Social Work Education (CSWE)

Contact

Metropolitan State University of Denver
Department of Social Work
PO Box 173362 CB 70
Denver, CO 80217-3362
303-556-3474
https://msudenver.edu/socialwork/

University of Denver

Graduate School of Social Work

Among the accredited social work degree programs offered in Colorado, the graduate degree described below is ranked in the top seven percent of accredited MSW degree programs in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. Students can seek this particular degree through study at the main campus in Denver, where the program involves a choice of eight concentrations and/or two certificate options, or through a program specialized for a particular region with the Four Corners program based in Durango or the Western Colorado program based in Glenwood Springs. Students can also choose to earn this degree through online coursework from anywhere in the U.S.

Master of Social Work (MSW)

Like other degrees of this nature available in Colorado, this program also offers a two-year option for students with a bachelor degree in a discipline other than social work, and an advanced standing option for students who have earned a Bachelor of Social Work, or BSW. Regular program students will begin in the fall semester and take foundational courses for the first year and concentration courses during the second year. Advanced standing students begin in July and enter concentration courses in the fall semester, completing the entire degree program within one year. Concentrations available are in the areas of aging services and policy, child welfare, risk and healthy development of children and youth, family systems, health and wellness, mental health, organizational leadership and policy practice, and sustainable development and global practice. Certificate programs can offer a chance to further specialize within the concentration chosen and are available in the areas of animal-assisted social work and social work specifically with Latinos/as.

Accreditations

  • Council on Social Work Education (CSWE)

Contact

Graduate School of Social Work
University of Denver
2148 South High Street
Denver, CO 80208-7100
303-871-2886
gssw-admission@du.edu
http://www.du.edu/socialwork/programs/index.html

With such a wide variety of career options open to graduates with advanced degrees in social work, this could be a lucrative and personally rewarding field of work to enter. And with several options for accredited social work degrees in Colorado, students can customize their degree program and experience to their particular interests, making this a very viable career choice for service-oriented individuals.

Related Resource: Top 10 Best Online Social Work Degree Programs