Master of Social Work

Social work is a profession in which practitioners work directly with individuals, families, and groups, helping people cope, change, and solve problems in all facets of their daily lives. Social workers also work with community stakeholders, organizations, neighborhoods and communities, and in activities such as community organization and development, policy and legislative advocacy.

They are employed in a wide variety of agencies, positions, and areas of service, such as mental health, aging services, domestic violence, child welfare, school social work, healthcare services, geriatric social work, and substance abuse treatment and prevention. In addition, social workers may advance to positions of management of social service agencies or establish their own private practice. The uniqueness of social work as a profession includes the emphasis on the person-in-environment, identification with the most marginalized and oppressed of society, and commitment to core values of social work-social and economic justice, respect for the worth of others, cultural diversity, and the principle of self-determination for individuals, families, and groups. At both the BSW and MSW level social workers may be licensed for social work practice within their state.

The BSW degree also allows students to apply for Advanced Standing in the MSW Program.

The Master of Social Work {MSW) Program at UNLV prepares students for professional social work careers in the areas of direct practice with individuals, families, and groups, and in management and community practice. The mission of the MSW program is to educate students to work with populations in urban settings, utilizing generalist, problem-solving, empowerment, and social justice approaches. Special attention is given to the mastery of multiple practice issues, attendant upon the present plural and diverse populations in American society. Students may elect Direct Practice or Management and Community Practice as their area of concentration. The Direct Practice concentration prepares students for advanced social work practice with individuals, families, and groups. The Management and Community Practice concentration prepares students for advanced practice in policy advocacy and management of human service organizations and agencies at the local, state and national levels.

The Greenspun College of Urban Affairs prepares undergraduate and graduate students to lead, collaborate, and innovate through research, a cutting-edge curriculum, and public-private partnerships. The college is committed to creating contemporary solutions for resilient communities; therefore, our academic programs focus on civic engagement.

Our schools and departments emphasize the following: sound public policymaking, creating strong support structures to address behavioral and mental health needs, ensuring cities are safe and prepared for emergency situations, and creating an informed citizenry through effective communication, journalism, and digital storytelling.