ACADEMIC PROGRAMS

The University at Albany's School of Social Welfare is a nationally ranked program that offers outstanding education for the social work profession -- one of the most in-demand career choices for the next two decades. The School's baccalaureate program, ranked one of the best in the United States based on faculty quality and productivity, is fully accredited by the Council on Social Work Education. SSW faculty and students have won many honors for their dedication to solving human problems.Social work is a career with meaning, action, diversity, satisfaction, and an abundance of options -- a rewarding profession devoted to helping people to function their best in their environment. Through social work, you can provide direct service or therapy to people, or work for change to improve social conditions.

Bachelors in Social Work (B.S.W)

The School's Bachelor Program, ranked one of the best in the United States based on faculty quality and productivity, is fully accredited by the Council on Social Work Education. SSW faculty and students have won many honors for their dedication to solving human problems.

Masters in Social Work (M.S.W)

The M.S.W. program is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education. The curriculum is a 60-credit two-year sequence, offering two areas of concentration. After two semesters of generalist preparation, students concentrate in Direct Practice or MACRO concentration. The curriculum is designed for students to gain a broad perspective in assessing social needs and to acquire the knowledge and skills for helping alleviate social problems and the problems of individuals, groups, and communities. Graduate social workers should be able to enhance the social functioning of individuals, groups, families, and communities and promote the development of equitable social policy. Graduates should be committed to excellence, to promotion of social justice, and to service for the vulnerable and oppressed.

Doctor of Philosophy in Social Welfare (Ph.D.)

The Ph.D. Program is primarily designed to prepare students for academic and research positions in social work and social welfare. The Master's of Social Work (M.S.W.) is still the basic credential for practitioners in social work. However, the doctoral program does provide opportunities for students to augment their knowledge of the theoretical and empirical foundations of practice and to increase their practice skills through internships in selected settings.

The Ph.D. program provides students the opportunity to pursue an individualized course of study in a substantive area of interest. Additionally, the program, by design, draws on the strengths of other departments and professional schools on the Albany campus. It promotes interdisciplinary study for doctoral students by encouraging them to take courses in other schools and departments, such as sociology, psychology, economics, public affairs, education, public health, and criminal justice. The School also offers a joint M.S.W./Ph.D. program which enables students to obtain both degrees in approximately one less semester than would be required if both degrees were pursued independently.

The program attracts a diverse group of students. Although the great majority have social work backgrounds, there are students from other professions such as psychology, education, and nursing. Some students come to our program with impressive records of professional accomplishment in practice and education in social work or related fields. Some are still completing their M.S.W. programs. Although most of our students are from New York and New England, we do have students from different parts of the country and from abroad. In recent years, about half of those applying to the program have been accepted.

Non-Degree Students

The School of Social Welfare offers the opportunity for non-degree study during the Fall, Spring, and Summer terms.  Each semester a special schedule of courses that are open to non-degree students is developed.  Seats are allocated in the order applications are received.  Non-degree students may take one or two courses in the School of Social Welfare each semester.  A maximum of 12 credits taken as a non-degree student may be applied towards the MSW degree.  Non-degree applicants from other countries should contact the Office of Graduate Admissions for application and regulations regarding non-degree study as an international student. 

Non-degree applications can be obtained from the following website: http://www.albany.edu/graduate/forms.shtml. Applications should be submitted to The Office of Graduate Admissions, University at Albany, 1400 Washington Ave., Albany, NY 12222, or you may submit applications online.  All courses require a bachelor's degree on file with Graduate Admissions.