Berkeley Social Welfare’s graduate professional curriculum in social work, leading to the Master of Social Welfare (MSW) degree, is derived from the mission and goals of the MSW Program established by the faculty.
The Berkeley MSW Program prepares students for generalist practice and specialized practice in the profession of social work. Our mission promotes the development of multi-level practitioners who are focused on (a) service to diverse individuals and communities across the social ecology, (b) social justice and social change to dismantle oppressive systems that hinder the wellbeing of individuals and communities, and (c) evidence-informed practice to produce measurable and replicable improvements in the outcomes of individuals and communities. To achieve our mission we implement competency-based learning goals within a multi-level practice organizing framework, utilizing best practices for professional education and the evaluation of student learning and performance.
MSW degree requirements include academic milestones administered by both the Social Welfare MSW Program, and the Berkeley Graduate Division, which is the administering unit for all campus graduate degree programs, in partnership with the student’s home academic department (School of Social Welfare for most Social Welfare master’s students). All policies and procedures dealing with graduate student progress are monitored by the Graduate Division Degrees Office. For more information please see the Graduate Division's Guide to Graduate Policy > Degrees.
Disclaimer: The School of Social Welfare reserves the right to (1) add or delete courses; (2) change instructor, time, day or location of courses; (3) cancel any course for insufficient registration or academic/administrative decision without notice; (4) unregister students from courses for which they have mis-enrolled or have not received permission to enroll; or (5) move students into a different section of a multi-section course. Students will be notified of any changes.