The Master's Program (MSW) at Salisbury University is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education and offers students the opportunity to earn their degree in a student-centered, supportive atmosphere. The social work faculty is dedicated to excellence in teaching and maintaining a strong focus on student learning.

Mission and Goals of the MSW Program

The mission of the MSW program is to educate ethical, competent practitioners who can work with a high degree of autonomy and skill, along with active community engagement in the pursuit of social and economic justice. The goal of the MSW program is to prepare professional social workers for community-based direct practice with individuals, families, and groups, and engage in beginning level supervision in a variety of practice settings. The comprehensive course of study in the MSW program provides graduates the knowledge, skills, and values necessary for professional social work practice.

What is Community-Based Direct Practice?

Community-based direct practice is defined as advanced practice primarily with individuals, groups, and families in a community agency setting. Community-based direct practice is based on the systems and strengths perspectives, along with advanced theory. These foundations focus on preparing practitioners to enhance social functioning and interactions of individuals, families, and groups by involving them in accomplishing goals, developing resources, and preventing or alleviating distress.

Graduates will be prepared to work in a variety of settings in primary roles that include direct practitioners, consultants, and supervisors. Graduates will have the skills necessary for lifelong learning and adaptation to new practice contexts.

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Locations

To make the program more accessible, the Master's program is offered at three satellite program locations: Cecil College, Eastern Shore Higher Education Center at Chesapeake College, and the University System of Maryland at Hagerstown.