Intensive Applied Learning
Complete 360-hour Foundation Practicum, followed by a 600-hour Concentration Practicum at one of our 400+ partner organizations.
Part-time Master of Social Work
Flexible courses built to fit your schedule
Degree Options
Part-time Master of Social Work
At a Glance
Format: Hybrid (online, evening, and weekends)
Duration: Three years (9 semesters)
Best fit: Working professionals balancing a career while pursuing clinical social work training.
The part-time MSW option offers domestic students the opportunity to earn their graduate social work degree through a hybrid schedule of evening, weekend, and online courses. Students will join a close-knit cohort of other part-time learners pursuing their MSW with a focus in Interpersonal Social Work Practice on the Clinical Social Work Practice career pathway.
Part-time students benefit from the same intentionally-designed social work curriculum as full-time students, but delivered in multiple modalities over a longer time, allowing them to more seamlessly integrate graduate study and coursework into work and other commitments. Through practicum study, students gain hands-on experience in the community while receiving full tuition funding for required practicum credits as well as a monthly living stipend. Graduates will join a global network of alumni who are actively influencing policy, leading organizations, and advancing social justice worldwide.
WashU Brown School By the Numbers
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Part-time MSW Curriculum and Coursework
Grounded in research, driven by evidence, and enriched by practice, our MSW curriculum equips future social workers for impact. Part-time MSW students participate in three academic years of study across nine semesters, including fall, spring, and summer - typically taking 6 to 8 credits per semester. Students must complete a total of 60 credits including a mix of required foundation and concentration courses, advanced courses and electives, and practicum hours.
To offer courses at convenient times for working professionals, students enrolled part-time will have multiple options for completing their coursework. Courses may be delivered in person or remotely and may meet weekly or over the course of one weekend.
- In person: Students attend courses on campus. Although remote learning is available for certain classes, students should be prepared to attend in-person classes held on the Danforth Campus in St. Louis, MO.
- Remotely: Students attend courses live with classmates and the instructor via a remote platform such as Zoom or Canvas.
- Weekly: Students attend classes on a weekly basis, primarily in the evenings. Classes may be held in person or remotely.
- Weekend: Students attend in-person courses over the weekend, which may span Friday through Sunday
All curriculum and required credit hours are subject to change.
Part-time MSW students begin their study with 25 credits of foundation coursework, electives, and foundation practicum hours, all taken alongside the other members of their cohort.
Foundation Coursework
Research Methods with Statistical Applications – 3 credits
Human Behavior – 3 credits
Social Justice and Human Diversity – 3 credits
Social, Economic, and Political Environment – 3 credits
Social Welfare Policies and Services – 3 credits
Social Work Practice with Individuals, Families, and Groups – 3 credits
Social Work Practice with Organizations and Communities – 3 credits
Foundations of Field Workshop – 0 credits
Integrative Foundation Field Seminar – 1 credit
360 Hours of Foundation Practicum – 3 credits
MSW Concentration
Part-time MSW students will pursue the Clinical Social Work Practice career pathway within the Interpersonal Social Work Practice concentration. Working with guidance from their faculty and academic advisors, students use their 35 concentration, advanced, and elective credits to select specific courses that build intentional depth within their intended practice area.
This concentration is designed for students who want to work directly with individuals, families, and groups to support healing, resilience, and well-being. Students are drawn to relational practice and seek to understand how trauma, environment, and lived experience shape human behavior. The flexible curriculum builds advanced skills in assessment, diagnosis, and evidence-informed intervention across diverse populations and settings.
All students in this concentration participate in three required common core courses and a 600-hour concentration practicum for a total of 14 credits:
- Contexts and Challenges of Social Work (3 credits)
- Evidence-Based Interpersonal Practice (3 credits)
- Planning, Implementing, and Evaluating Programs (3 credits)
- Concentration Practicum (5 credits)
Part-time students will select their 21 credits of advanced and elective coursework from suggested courses within the Clinical Social Work Practice career pathway.
Clinical Social Work Practice
Prepares students for licensed clinical practice in diverse behavioral health settings with emphasis on assessment, diagnosis, planning, and delivery of evidence-based interventions with individuals and groups.
Career outcomes
LCSW/Therapist
Sexual Health Counselor
Substance Use Disorder Therapist
Geriatric Social Worker
Behavioral Health Clinician
Clinical Social Worker with Tribal Communities
Practicum Support Award
Every MSW student receives financial support for required practicum credits, including tuition coverage and a living stipend.
Practicum: Real-World Experience, Expertly Guided
Your practicum is the bridge between theory and practice, designed to build your leadership, clinical skills, and professional network.
Self-Directed Selection
You curate your path. With support from expert field advisors and our Foundations of Field course, you choose a site that matches your specific interests and goals.
Unrivaled Support
From local placements to global opportunities, our Office of Practicum Education provides the guidance you need to navigate the selection process and maximize your impact.
Integrated Research
Opportunities exist to fold research and evaluation projects into your placement, allowing you to use your site as a hub for advanced academic inquiry.
Three Advisors, One Dedicated Team
Our 3:1 advising model pairs every student with three distinct mentors to ensure complete support across academic, professional, and practical areas.
Academic Advisors
Navigate degree requirements and keep your timeline on track.
Faculty Advisors
Shape your course of study around your specific professional interests.
Practicum Faculty Advisors
Support your growth and assess your performance in the field.
