A Master of Social Work (M.S.W.) degree offers many professional and personal rewards. With an advanced degree, you’ll enjoy enhanced career flexibility and the ability to make a difference nationally by shaping policies to promote social justice and human rights. Students in the clinical specialization* will also hold the degree required to become eligible to pursue licensure and become a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW).
Finding the right M.S.W. program and degree format is a top priority for anyone considering an advanced social work degree. Virginia Commonwealth University’s M.S.W. Program online option offers an advanced standing option, an excellent choice for students with a sufficient social work foundation. This article explores the requirements and advantages of the advanced standing format to help you determine whether it is the right fit for you.
Upgrade Your Social Work Credentials With an M.S.W.
Choose Between Clinical and Macro Social Work Specializations*
Exploring the VCU M.S.W. Advanced Standing Option
VCU’s M.S.W. advanced standing online option is designed for professionals who have earned a Bachelor of Social Work (B.S.W) degree within the past five years from a CSWE accredited institution and want to earn their master’s degree in one year (as opposed to the regular standing option, which can take two to four years to complete, depending on the student’s pace of study).
To allow for program completion in one year, the advanced standing is available on a full-time calendar only. Advanced standing students can choose one of two concentrations (specializations)*:
- Clinical social work practice*: This specialization focuses on critical evidence-based interventions, including how to solve problems, resolve emotional and interpersonal conflicts, develop and use social networks and resources, and maintain achieved capacities and strengths.
- Social work administration, planning and policy practice*: This concentration prepares graduates to become leaders skilled in formulating, implementing, analyzing and evaluating policies, plans and programs in complex and ever-changing local, state, national and international environments.
In addition to courses in their chosen specialization*, advanced standing students complete 12 credits of generalist study (three classes and a field placement), totaling 42 hours for the degree compared with 60 for the regular standing option..
Considerations Before Applying to the One-Year M.S.W. Option
VCU’s one-year M.S.W. advanced standing program is rigorous and requires commitment and discipline. Ask yourself these questions to determine whether this is the best study format for you:
- Do I have the necessary academic background? To qualify for the M.S.W. online advanced standing option, you must have earned a B.S.W. degree within the past five years from a CSWE accredited institution. A 3.0 GPA is required.
- Am I ready for the demands of an accelerated program? The M.S.W. advanced standing program is fast-paced, and students must dedicate significant time to their studies to succeed. On average, an advanced standing student can expect to spend about 36 hours a week on coursework and between 14 and 22 additional hours on field placement activities.
- Can I balance the program’s demands with my other obligations? VCU offers various forms of support to its online students, but ultimately, students are responsible for managing their time and meeting course deadlines. Before you enroll, ensure you have an action plan to balance your coursework and personal commitments.
What To Expect When You Learn Online at VCU
VCU offers a comprehensive online learning environment for all students regardless of whether they enroll in advanced standing or one of the other program options. As a VCU online student, you will attend three live online class sessions per course per semester. Intimate class settings (25 students per class on average) allow you to connect and collaborate with peers and faculty during discussions and group breakout assignments.
As an online student, you will also have access to VCU’s range of student support services, including student success advisors, virtual office hours, student support coaches and writing advisors. You’ll also have an opportunity to gain real-world experience –– VCU M.S.W. online students complete on-site field placements in their local communities.
Find the M.S.W. Format That Fits Your Goals at VCU
If you are a social worker with a B.S.W. degree, the VCU M.S.W. online advanced standing program can help you earn your graduate degree and reach your career goals faster. As a VCU M.S.W. online student, you will benefit from small class sizes, robust student support, an innovative curriculum and diverse field experiences, all in a school ranked by U.S. News and World Report as one of the nation’s top social work programs.
Contact an enrollment advisor to learn more about the M.S.W. online program and the advanced standing format. Alternatively, you can start your application today if you’re ready to take the next step.
Turn Passion Into Practice With an Advanced Social Work Degree
Develop the Tools To Impact Your Community
*Please Note: The School of Social Work offers two concentrations in social work practice, (a) clinical and (b) administration, planning, and policy practice. According to the National Association of Social Workers (NASW), “Clinical social work is a specialty practice area of social work which focuses on the assessment, diagnosis, treatment and prevention of mental illness, emotional, and other behavioral disturbances. Individual, group, and family therapy are common treatment modalities. Social workers who provide these services are required to be licensed or certified at the clinical level in their state of practice.” The Master of Social Work degree with a concentration in administration planning, and policy practice is a macro practice degree program that was not developed with the intention to meet the educational requirements for licensure as a clinical social worker in Virginia or any other U.S. state or territory. If an applicant wants to engage in clinical social work practice and receive a clinical license, they should apply to the MSW program’s clinical concentration.
