100% of recent Daemen Master of Social Work program job seekers secured employment at or before graduation over the last four years.
Strengthen your skills and knowledge of the field through community-based projects, engaging coursework and collaborating with faculty on specialized research.
Degrees - Two Formats
- On Campus (starts September)
- Online (Starts October take two classes at a time in 8 week sessions)
Daemen offers a full-time, two year, 60 credit-hour curriculum for those with varying undergraduate degrees; and a full-time, one year, 30-33 credit-hour advanced entry curriculum for well qualified individuals who completed a bachelor of social work degree. Both curriculums are offered on-campus and online to prepare students for success on the Association of Social Work Boards licensure examinations.
Daemen College's social work program is fully accredited by the Council on Social Work Education.
Program Benefits
- Graduate students working toward this degree are eligible for a 30 percent tuition discount.
- Foundation students secure the knowledge, value, skills, and cognitive and affective processes associated with generalist social work practice, including ethics, research, diversity, and policy.
- Specialized clinical students are trained in the use of culturally-responsive, evidence-based assessment, diagnosis, and intervention with children, youth, adults, and families.
- Students complete field education experiences under licensed social work professionals: 450 foundation; 500 advanced (clinical practice). International social work service and field placements are available.
- Licensure preparation is built into the curriculum to assist students in successfully passing the Association of Social Work Boards licensure examinations.
- Courses are taught in the afternoons and evenings to accommodate working students.
- Daemen’s Center for Interprofessional Learning and Simulation (CILS) provides students experiential learning opportunities to promote best practice and collaboration.
Diane Bessel Appointed To CSWE Board Of Accreditation
Diane R. Bessel, PhD, LMSW, CNM
Diane Bessel, department chair and associate professor, Social Work and Sociology Department, has been appointed to the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) Board of Accreditation for a three-year term, effective July 1, 2024. The work of the Board of Accreditation maintains and advocates for quality in social work education through its accreditation/candidacy process of more than 860 social work programs in the United States. In addition, the Board of Accreditation acts as the policy body for developing and interpreting accreditation standards and assuring that policies and procedures are fairly and consistently applied to all social work programs.
Founded in 1952, the CSWE is the national association representing social work education in the United States. Its members include more than 800 accredited baccalaureate and master’s degree social work programs and their affiliated social work educators, students, and staff, as well as practitioners and agencies dedicated to advancing quality social work education. Through its many initiatives, activities, and centers, CSWE supports quality social work education and provides opportunities for leadership and professional development so that social workers are empowered to play a central role in achieving the profession’s goals of social and economic justice. CSWE’s Board of Accreditation is recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation as the sole accrediting agency for social work education in the United States and its territories.
Regular Admission
All applications for the upcoming Fall semester will be reviewed after November 1st for any student with a completed bachelor's degree.
For a student who is still completing their bachelor's degree, you will need to submit your final fall grades for your application to be complete and reviewed.
Once your application is complete it will be reviewed and a decision will be sent to you after 7 business days. Please contact your admissions counselor at admissions@daemen.edu if you have questions.
- A baccalaureate degree from a regionally-accredited college or university.
- Submit ALL official transcripts from colleges and universities attended (regionally accredited colleges and universities only).
- Complete and submit a Daemen College graduate school application.
- Complete and submit a 3-4 page typed personal statement that focuses on the following points:
- Your experience in social work, including volunteer experience.
- The life experiences that impacted your interest in social work.
- Your personal qualities that will be useful in serving others as a social work professional.
- Your values that will be useful in serving others as a social worker.
- Your career goals and how social work education will help you achieve these goals.
- Provide three letters of reference: 2 from an academic source and 1 from a volunteer experience/internship/employer. No personal references accepted.
- Have an overall GPA of 2.7 or higher.
- Have completed courses in Human Biology and Statistics with a grade of “C” or better.
Advanced Standing
All applications for the upcoming Fall semester will be reviewed after November 1st for any student with a completed bachelor's degree.
For a student who is still completing their bachelor's degree, you will need to submit your final fall grades and your mid-year field experience evaluation for your application to be complete and reviewed.
Once your application is complete it will be reviewed and a decision will be sent to you after 7 business days. Please contact your admissions counselor at admissions@daemen.edu if you have questions.
- Earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work (BA, BS or BSW) within the last five years from a Council on Social Work Education (CSWE)-accredited program.
- Submit ALL official transcripts from colleges and universities attended (regionally accredited colleges and universities only).
- Complete and submit a Daemen College graduate school application.
- Complete and submit a 3-4 page typed personal statement that focuses on the following points:
- Your experience in social work, including volunteer experience.
- The life experiences that impacted your interest in social work.
- Your personal qualities that will be useful in serving others as a social work professional.
- Your values that will be useful in serving others as a social worker.
- Your career goals and how social work education will help you achieve these goals.
- Provide three letters of reference: 2 letters from academic sources (BSW/BASW Program Director encouraged) and 1 letter from a volunteer experience/internship/employer. No personal references accepted.
- Provide a copy of final field evaluations (Field Instruction I and II).
- Have an overall GPA of 3.0 and GPA of 3.2 or higher in major courses such as:
- Social Work Methods I/II
- Research Methods I
- Human Behavior in the Social Environment I/II
- Field Instruction I/II
- Have completed courses in Human Biology and Statistics with a grade of “C” or better.
Conditional Admission
Applicants not meeting one or more the minimal requirements for admission will be evaluated for conditional admissions to the Master of Social Work Program at Daemen College. Applicants who are admitted conditionally must enroll in at least 9 credit hours (full-time) during the first semester and must achieve a 3.0 overall GPA at the end of their first semester in the Master of Social Work Program at Daemen College.
* Daemen College’s MSW Program does not award credit for life experience
Students in the Two-Year MSW Program begin their professional training by developing generalist social work practice skills. Courses focus on practice with individuals, groups, organizations, and communities; human behavior and development; diversity; basic and applied research; social welfare policy; and ethics. Students must also complete a year-long, 450 hour generalist internship under the supervision of a licensed master (LMSW) or clinical (LCSW) social work professional.
Advanced year students focus on the development of clinical practice skills related to assessment, diagnosis, use of evidence-based practice, treatment, and practice evaluation with an emphasis on children and families. Students complete a year-long, 500 hour clinical internship under the supervision of a licensed clinical social work professional (LCSW).
Students select from a wide variety of electives that support their professional goals. A licensure preparation course is also built into the curriculum to assist students in successfully passing the Association of Social Work Board (ASWB) examinations.
An overview of the program curriculum is provided below:
GENERALIST YEAR (First Year of Two-Year Program)
| FALL | SPRING |
| SW 511 Foundations of Micro/Mezzo Practice | SW 512 Foundations of Macro Practice |
| SW 513 Social Work Research | SW 514 Applied Research and Data Analysis |
| SW 515 Oppression, Power and Change | SW 516 Social Welfare History, Policy, Services |
| SW 517 Human Behavior in Social Environment | SW 518 Organizational Behavior |
| SW 519 Integrative Field Seminar | SW 520 Integrative Field Seminar |
ADVANCED (CLINICAL) YEAR (Second Year of Two-Year Program; Advanced Standing Students Complete Advanced (Clinical) Year ONLY)
| FALL | SPRING |
| SW 612 Advanced Clinical Practice | SW 682 Clinical Practice with Children |
| SW 617 Psychopathology | SW XXX Child and Family Policy and Services |
| SW 652 Children and Families I | SW 653 Children and Families II |
| SW 619 Integrative Field Seminar | SW 620 Integrative Field Seminar |
| Elective Course | Elective Course |
| SW 580 Licensure Preparation |
Students will take two courses at a time in eight week segments fully online.
While the majority of the classwork will be done independently, there will be some live, one-on-one engagements where students and faculty meet together. This is especially important in social work practice courses where students will engage clinical skills and techniques. It is anticipated that students will have up to five hours of one-one-one class time each month, depending on the course and class size.
Students will attend classes on-line; engage in interactive coursework; and gain an in-depth understanding of social work theories, methodologies, and techniques. Along with their classes, students will gain practical experience by applying their skills under the direction of a licensed social work professional at field placement sites within their community.
Students will also complete a field placement (approximately 18-20 hours per week) under the supervision of a Licensed Master Social Worker or a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. Advanced year field placements focus on clinical interventions with children, youth, and/or families.
Scholarships may not be combined; students may only receive one scholarship.
Graduate Merit Scholarship
30% off the graduate per credit hour tuition rate will be awarded to students upon acceptance. No application or additional information is required to receive this scholarship. For more information about the current per credit hour graduate tuition go to our Tuition and Fees page.
Graduate Alumni Scholarship
Additional scholarships may be available for alumni, please contact your admissions counselor for more information.
Americorps Matching Scholarship
Awarded to accepted students who have completed an Americorps service commitment. Daemen College will match the 100 percent of the Segal Americorps Education Award OR provide a 30 percent tuition scholarship discount for Americorps alumni enrolling in our program.