The program leading to a Master’s Degree in Social Work (M.S.W.) builds on a liberal arts foundation and is designed to prepare social workers for leadership roles in developing and providing services to individuals, families, groups, communities, and organizations.

The M.S.W. Program is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE). Classes are online and in videoconferencing format for distance students.

M.S.W. graduates from CSWE accredited programs are eligible for advanced practice state licensure; consult your M.S.W. advisor about your state.

Information about the M.S.W. application process can be found under the Graduate Division Admissions section of this catalog. The School can be contacted at msw@wnmu.edu.

Social Work does not give credit for life experience. Additionally, a comprehensive exam is not required for students enrolled in the Master of Social Work program.

M.S.W. Programs

The M.S.W. is offered through the following options:

Non-Advanced Standing M.S.W. Program

Applicants for admission to the Non-Advanced Standing program must have:

1. Full application to WNMU M.S.W. program, including contact (e-mail) information for three references.

Two-Year M.S.W. Program

The two-year M.S.W. Program is designed for students who have chosen to pursue a graduate social work degree and are prepared to matriculate on a full-time basis. Participants in the Two-Year Program are enrolled in four classes per semester and in field placement. This track will allow the student to complete the program in two calendar years.

Applicants for admission to the Two Year M.S.W. Program must have:

1. A bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university; and
2. An undergraduate record demonstrating academic achievement.

Three-year M.S.W. Program

The three-year M.S.W. Program is designed for students who have chosen the profession but are not prepared to matriculate on a two-year basis. Participants in the three-year program must meet the same admission requirements as those for full-time students. Students admitted to this program are assisted by educational advisors who help them develop individualized plans of study.

The standard three-year M.S.W. Program includes six semesters and two summers for courses. Social Work does not guarantee that current employment can be used as a field placement, but it may be available on a case-by-case basis.

Students already employed by a social service organization for more than one year who wish to fulfill their Field practicum requirements in the same setting may be allowed to do so if:   

1. Practicum is done within a different organizational unit than the one in which the student is currently employed.
2. The Field Instructor is someone other than the student’s direct line supervisor and the focus of the placement will be educational in nature.

Students employed by a social service organization for less than one year who wish to fulfill their Field practicum requirements in the same setting be allowed to do so if: 

1. Current tasks and duties align with the Core Social Work Competencies adopted by CSWE, 2022 Educational Policy and Accreditation Standards 
2. The agency identifies 15 hours per week towards the required learning of a field practicum in professional education. 

* Please note that if the student is a director, board member, administrator, owner or manager, they may NOT complete a work site placement at their place of employment. Also note that if a student has a relative employed at an agency who is a director, board member, administrator, owner or manager, they may NOT complete their practicum with that agency unless prior approval has been granted by the MSW or BSW field director. 

Application Dates

Applications to the M.S.W. Programs at Western New Mexico University are accepted on a rolling basis.

Graduate Social Work students must earn a grade of “B” or better in any core graduate Social Work course. Graduate Social Work students receiving a grade of “C” or below in any core graduate Social Work course will be required to repeat the course.

M.S.W. Program Transfer Credit Policy: A total of 1/3 of the hours needed to complete an M.S.W. degree may be transfer credits from another CSWE accredited M.S.W. program. For the 39 credit hour advanced standing M.S.W. that would mean a possible total of 13 hours. For the non-advanced standing M.S.W. program of 60 credit hours that would mean 20 could be transfer credits. All transferred courses must reflect a grade of “B” (3.0) or higher from the granting institution.

The following courses must be taken at WNMU: SWK 681  and SWK 682 .

For students seeking licensure in New Mexico, SWK 501 - Cultural Competency in Social Work Practice  must be taken at WNMU or student must acknowledge in writing that they will be required to meet the requirements of the licensing board in terms of cultural competence. 

All transfer hours must be approved by program faculty and the department chair with regard to content and requested hours. In accordance with accreditation guidelines from the Council on Social Work Education, the School of Social Work does not give academic credit for life experiences, including field internships.

Any student who fails to earn a passing grade in social work core courses may be placed on performance probation in the social work program. The student is advised to re-take the course as soon as it is offered. If the student fails to earn a passing grade for the same course on the second attempt, they may be dismissed from the program.

For social work electives, a student who fails to earn a passing grade may be placed on performance probation in the social work program. The student may choose to re-take that course, however, if a second non-passing grade is earned, the student may be dismissed from the program. Students may choose to take a different elective, however the grade from the first elective will remain on the student’s transcript.

In either case, the student will be removed from performance probation once they have completed the core course, elective, or an alternative elective with a passing grade.

Pursuant to this policy, students in the B.S.W. or M.S.W. program may only repeat a maximum of three unique social work courses (Ex. SWK 501 , SWK 640 , SWK 511 ) throughout the duration of their program. Any course may only be repeated once.  A student who earns a non-passing grade in a fourth course, whether it is a core course or elective, in the same semester or a subsequent one, may be dismissed from the program.