Program Pathways
The CSUMB MSW program follows a cohort model and accepts applications for students to begin the program solely in the fall semesters.
Expand the pathway to review the courses taken and the order they are taken.
The following list of courses and the semester in which the courses must be completed will guide enrollment to attain a Master of Social Work degree. Courses are required to be taken in the sequence listed. Any variance from the Individual Learning Plan must be formally requested in writing and approved by the student’s Advisor and Department Chair. It is understood that any variance from the outlined ILP will create a minimum of a one-year delay in graduation.
Individual Learning Plan (ILP)
First Year, Fall Semester
- SW 501 - Diversity & Social Justice
- SW 510 - Foundations of Social Work
- SW 520 - Generalist Practice: Individuals and Families
- SW 540 - Cross-Cultural Human Behavior in the Social Environment
- SW 596 - Field Practicum I
First Year, Spring Semester
- SW 530 - Generalist Practice: Groups
- SW 531 - Generalist Practice III: Community and Organizational Practice
- SW 550 - Social Work Research
- SW 570 - Social Policy and Analysis
- SW 598 - Field Practicum II
Summer (Optional): Depending on faculty availability
- SW Elective
Second Year, Fall Semester
- SW Elective
- SW 600 - Applied Social Work Research Project I
- SW 620 - Advanced Generalist Practice: Engagement and Assessment
- SW Elective
- SW 696 - Advanced Field Practicum I
Winter (Optional): Depending on faculty availability
- SW Elective
Second Year, Spring Semester
- SW Elective
- SW 670 - Social Policy & Advocacy
- SW 630 - Advanced Generalist Practice: Intervention and Evaluation
- SW Elective
- SW 698 - Advanced Field Practicum II
MSW Electives
Students must complete a minimum of four electives. Of those four electives; two, or up to three of the four electives can be Foundation electives. At least one, or up to two of the four electives need to be an Advanced Practice elective. Foundation electives are numbered in the 500s while Advanced Practice electives are numbered in the 600s. A list of electives can be found below. A total of 60 units are needed to graduate.
Complete two, or up to three of the following Foundation elective courses:
- SW 561 - Leadership & Administration
- SW 562 - Social Work with Latino Families
- SW 563 - Social Work Conflict Resolution
- SW 564 - Trauma-Informed Practice
- SW 565 - School Social Work
- SW 566 - Crafting a Grant Proposal
- SW 567 - Forensic Social Work
Complete one, or up to two of the following Advanced Practice elective courses:
- SW 610 - Social Work Practice in Behavioral Health
- SW 611 - Social Work with Children, Youth, & Families
- SW 612 - Gerontological Social Work
- SW 621 - DSM Analysis & Application
- SW 660 - Substance Abuse Intervention
- SW 663 - Crisis Intervention
- SW 664 - Advanced Models of Clinical Practice
- SW 666 - Integrated Health Care
- SW 669 - Veterans & Military Families
The following list of courses and the semester in which the courses must be completed will guide enrollment to attain a Master of Social Work degree. Courses are required to be taken in the sequence listed. Any variance from the Individual Learning Plan must be formally requested in writing and approved by the student’s Advisor and Department Chair. It is understood that any variance from the outlined ILP will create a minimum of one-year delay in graduation.
Individual Learning Plan (ILP)
First Year, Fall Semester
- SW 501 - Diversity & Social Justice
- SW 510 - Foundations of Social Work
- SW 540 - Cross-Cultural Human Behavior in the Social Environment
First Year, Spring Semester
- SW 531 - Generalist Practice III: Community and Organizational Practice
- SW 550 - Social Work Research
- SW 570 - Social Policy and Analysis
- SW Elective - If not taken during summer or winter.
Summer (Optional): Depending on faculty availability
- SW Elective
Second Year, Fall Semester
- SW 520 - Social Work Generalist Practice: Individuals and Families
- SW Elective
- SW 596 - Field Practicum I (Monthly)
Winter (Optional): Depending on faculty availability
- SW Elective
Second Year, Spring Semester
- SW 530 - Social Work Generalist Practice: Groups
- SW 598 - Field Practicum II (Monthly)
- SW 670 - Social Policy & Advocacy
- SW Elective - If not taken during summer or winter.
Summer (Optional): Depending on faculty availability
- SW Elective
Third Year, Fall Semester
- SW 600 - Applied Social Work Research Project
- SW 696 - Advanced Field Practicum II (Monthly)
- SW 620 - Advanced Generalist Practice: Engagement and Assessment
Winter (Optional): Depending on faculty availability
- SW Elective
Third Year, Spring Semester
- SW Elective - If not taken during summer or winter.
- SW 630 - Advanced Generalist Practice: Intervention and Evaluation
- SW 698 - Advanced Field Practicum II
MSW Electives
Students must complete a minimum of four electives. Of those four electives; two, or up to three of the four electives can be Foundation electives. At least one, or up to two of the four electives need to be an Advanced Practice elective. Foundation electives are numbered in the 500s while Advanced Practice electives are numbered in the 600s. A list of electives can be found below. A total of 60 units are needed to graduate.
Complete two, or up to three of the following Foundation elective courses:
- SW 561 - Leadership & Administration
- SW 562 - Social Work with Latino Families
- SW 563 - Social Work Conflict Resolution
- SW 564 - Trauma-Informed Practice
- SW 565 - School Social Work
- SW 566 - Crafting a Grant Proposal
Complete one, or up to two of the following Advanced Practice elective courses:
- SW 610 - Social Work Practice in Behavioral Health
- SW 611 - Social Work with Children, Youth, & Families
- SW 612 - Gerontological Social Work
- SW 621 - DSM Analysis & Application
- SW 660 - Substance Abuse Intervention
- SW 662 - Family Therapy
- SW 663 - Crisis Intervention
- SW 664 - Advanced Models of Clinical Practice
- SW 666 - Integrated Health Care
- SW 669 - Veterans & Military Families
The following list of courses and the semester in which the courses must be completed will guide enrollment to attain a Master of Social Work degree. Courses are required to be taken in the sequence listed. Any variance from the Individual Learning Plan must be formally requested in writing and approved by the student’s Advisor and Department Chair. It is understood that any variance from the outlined ILP will create a minimum of a one-year delay in graduation.
Individual Learning Plan (ILP)
First Year, Fall Semester
- SW 501 - Diversity & Social Justice
- SW 510 - Foundations of Social Work
- SW 540 - Cross-Cultural Human Behavior in the Social Environment
First Year, Spring Semester
- SW 531 - Generalist Practice III: Community and Organizational Practice
- SW 550 - Social Work Research
- SW 570 - Social Policy and Analysis
- SW Elective - If not taken during summer or winter.
Summer (Optional): Depending on faculty availability
- SW Elective
Second Year, Fall Semester
- SW 520 - Social Work Generalist Practice: Individuals & Families
- SW 564 - Trauma-Informed Practice
- SW 596 - Field Practicum I (Monthly)
Winter (Optional): Depending on faculty availability
- SW Elective
Second Year, Spring Semester
- SW 530 - Social Work Generalist Practice: Groups
- SW 598 - Field Practicum II
- SW 670 - Social Policy & Advocacy
- SW 611 - Social Work with Children, Youth, & Families
Summer (Optional): Depending on faculty availability
- SW Elective
Third Year, Fall Semester
- SW 600 - Applied Social Work Research Project I
- SW 696 - Advanced Field Practicum I
- SW 620 - Advanced Generalist Practice: Engagement & Assessment
Winter (Optional): Depending on faculty availability
- SW Elective
Third Year, Spring Semester
- SW Elective
- SW 630 - Advanced Generalist Practice: Intervention & Evaluation
- SW 698 - Advanced Field Practicum II
MSW Electives
Students must complete a minimum of four electives. Of those four electives; two, or up to three of the four electives can be Foundation electives. At least one, or up to two of the four electives need to be an Advanced Practice elective. Foundation electives are numbered in the 500s while Advanced Practice electives are numbered in the 600s. A list of electives can be found below. A total of 60 units are needed to graduate.
Electives cannot be taken in the first semester. Five hundred-level electives can be taken by any student after the first semester, six hundred level are advanced courses and may have pre-requisites that can be referenced in the Master of Social Work catalog. Bear in mind, that not all electives are taught every year, and new courses may be added. It is important to plan your class schedule carefully. Some electives are taught in the winter or summer inter-sessions.
Enrolling or planning to enroll in an elective that is not listed below must be approved by the student’s advisor and the Title IV-E Coordinator.
Title IV-E scholarship recipients are required to complete the following electives:
- SW 564 - Trauma Informed Practice (fall of the second year)
- SW 611 - Social Work with Children, Youth, and Families (spring of the second year)
Title IV-E student may choose their other elective courses from the following list. Any of these will assist in preparing for a career in child welfare. Electives can be chosen that best suit the interest and schedule availability.
- SW 562 - Social Work with Latino Families
- SW 566 - Crafting a Grant Proposal
- SW 567 - Forensic Social Work
- SW 597 - Special Topics – First Five Infant Family Mental Health
- SW 660 - Substance Abuse Intervention
- SW 663 - Crisis Intervention
Title IV-E students interested in moving into supervision or management might consider the following.
- SW 561 Leadership and Administration
- SW 566 Crafting a Grant Proposal
The following list of courses and the semester in which the courses must be completed will guide enrollment to attain a Master of Social Work degree, as well as the Pupil Personnel Services Credential and Child Welfare & Attendance Authorization. Courses are required to be taken in the sequence listed. Any variance from the Individual Learning Plan must be formally requested in writing and approved by the student’s Advisor and Department Chair. It is understood that any variance from the outlined ILP will create a minimum of a one-year delay in graduation.
Individual Learning Plan (ILP)
First Year, Fall Semester
- SW 501 - Diversity & Social Justice
- SW 510 - Foundations of Social Work
- SW 520 - Generalist Practice: Individuals and Families
- SW 540 - Cross-Cultural Human Behavior in the Social Environment
- SW 596 - Field Practicum I
First Year, Spring Semester
- SW 530 - Generalist Practice: Groups
- SW 531 - Generalist Practice III: Community and Organizational Practice
- SW 550 - Social Work Research
- SW 570 - Social Policy and Analysis
- SW 598 - Field Practicum II
Summer (Optional): Depending on faculty availability
- SW Elective
Second Year, Fall Semester
- SW 565 - School Social Work
- SW 600 - Applied Social Work Research Project
- SW 620 - Advanced Generalist Practice: Engagement and Assessment
- SW 564 - Trauma-Informed Practice
- SW 696 - Advanced Field Practicum II
Winter (Optional): Depending on faculty availability
- SW Elective
Second Year, Spring Semester
- MAE 645 - Educational Policy Advocacy (optional if earning CWA credential)
- SW 670 - Social Policy & Advocacy
- SW 630 - Advanced Generalist Practice: Intervention and Evaluation
- SW 611 - Social Work with Children, Youth, & Families
- SW 698 - Advanced Field Practicum II
MSW Electives
Students working towards earning a Pupil Personnel Services Credential in School Social Work and Child Welfare & Attendance Authorization are required to complete the four electives listed below.
Foundation elective courses:
- SW 564 - Trauma-Informed Practice
- SW 565 - School Social Work
Advanced Practice elective courses:
- SW 611: Social Work with Children, Youth & Families
- MAE 645: Educational Policy & Advocacy
The following list of courses and the semester in which the courses must be completed will guide enrollment to attain a Master of Social Work degree as well as the Pupil Personnel Services Credential and Child Welfare & Attendance Authorization. Courses are required to be taken in the sequence listed. Any variance from the Individual Learning Plan must be formally requested in writing and approved by the student’s Advisor and Department Chair. It is understood that any variance from the outlined ILP will create a minimum of one-year delay in graduation.
Individual Learning Plan (ILP)
First Year, Fall Semester
- SW 501 - Diversity & Social Justice
- SW 510 - Foundations of Social Work
- SW 540 - Cross-Cultural Human Behavior in the Social Environment
First Year, Spring Semester
- SW 531 - Generalist Practice III: Community and Organizational Practice
- SW 550 - Social Work Research
- SW 570 - Social Policy and Analysis
Summer (Optional): Depending on faculty availability
- SW Elective
Second Year, Fall Semester
- SW 520 - Generalist Practice: Individuals and Familie
- SW 564 - Trauma-Informed Practice
- SW 596 - Field Practicum I
Winter (Optional): Depending on faculty availability
- SW Elective
Second Year, Spring Semester
- SW 530 - Generalist Practice: Groups
- SW 598 - Field Practicum II
- SW 670 - Social Policy & Advocacy
- SW 611 - Social Work with Children, Youth, & Families
Summer (Optional): Depending on faculty availability
- SW Elective
Third Year, Fall Semester
- SW 600 - Applied Social Work Research Project
- SW 696 - Advanced Field Practicum I
- SW 620 - Advanced Generalist Practice: Engagement and Assessment
- SW 565 - School Social Work
Winter (Optional): Depending on faculty availability
- SW Elective
Third Year, Spring Semester
- MAE 645 - Educational Policy & Advocacy
- SW 630 - Advanced Generalist Practice: Intervention and Evaluation
- SW 698 - Advanced Field Practicum II
- SW 611 - Social Work with Children, Youth, & Families
MSW Electives
Students working towards earning a Pupil Personnel Services Credential in School Social Work and Child Welfare & Attendance Authorization are required to complete the four electives listed below.
Foundation elective courses:
- SW 564 - Trauma-Informed Practice
- SW 565 - School Social Work
Advanced Practice elective courses:
- SW 611: Social Work with Children, Youth & Families
- MAE 645: Educational Policy & Advocacy
- Bachelor of Social Work from a CSWE-accredited program within five years of undergraduate graduation
- 3.5 GPA and A- or higher for all the SW courses
- A minimum of five years of work experience in a human service field
- Three additional letters of recommendation from a BSW professor, a BSW field/internship supervisor, and a work-related supervisor
The Hybrid pathway is carefully crafted to provide students with a balanced mix of in-person and virtual classes, catering to diverse learning preferences and lifestyles. This format allows students to balance their education with personal and professional responsibilities while gaining the knowledge, values, and skills needed to be competent social workers. Eligible applicants will have a GPA of 2.75 or higher with three to five years of paid human service work experience.