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Online M.S.W. Advanced Standing

Winthrop Offers a Fast Track to Specialized Social Work Roles

Online with Practicum Experiences

2 Years

39 Credit Hours

$699 per Credit

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Take an Accelerated Path to Social Work Leadership and Licensure*

  • Apply By: 07/15/26
  • Start Class: 08/24/26

Leap forward in your social work career with Winthrop University’s Advanced Standing M.S.W. This online program builds on your undergraduate social work education by preparing you to affirm client strengths, embrace human diversity and advance social justice.

Our Advanced Standing M.S.W. includes online coursework and practicum experiences that emphasize specialized social work. A CSWE-accredited bachelor’s in social work is required to apply.**

Program Details

  • Earn your M.S.W. in two years while studying part time
  • Accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE)
  • Receive support for finding your practicum placement
  • No GRE/GMAT requirements
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Engage in a Streamlined Social Work Education

13 Courses

39 Credit Hours

Accredited by CSWE, Winthrop’s Advanced Standing M.S.W. is nationally recognized for quality instruction, career advising, student diversity and networking opportunities. The focus on empowerment practice provides a clear framework for applying appropriate assessments, interventions and evaluations when working with diverse populations.

Throughout the online program, you’ll learn from dedicated faculty and receive support for securing a placement for your practicum experience. When the hands-on component of this program begins, you’ll be prepared to engage in specialized practice that aligns with the nine CSWE course competencies.

Curriculum Details

Required Advanced Standing M.S.W. Courses

This course provides incoming advanced standing students a review of the social work foundation content related to human behavior in the social environment, social welfare policy, social work research, generalist social work practice and interpersonal helping skills.

Notes: This course may be repeated for additional credit.

Prerequisites: Social Work majors only, BSW undergraduate degree.

Building on the basis provided in SCWK 602 Social Welfare Policy, this course examines the dynamics of policy development and implementation. The course examines in detail the administrative, legislative, and judicial factors in policy making as well as the role of the social worker and impacts on major social work concerns. Both policy analysis and social work policy practice are covered.

Notes: Offered in Spring.

Prerequisite: Social Work majors only.

This course examines the concepts that together form a coherent framework for empowerment-based social work practice across systems (individuals and families, small groups, and communities and organizations) and with diverse, oppressed populations. Impacts of privilege and structural oppression in our own lives are examined to better understand effective use of self as a critical component of social work practice. Processes and outcomes of empowerment strategies are discussed, as are the simultaneous personal, collective, and structural bases of empowerment practice. Attention is given to the empowerment tradition in social work, as well as to the critical analysis of contemporary issues of assessment, prevention, intervention, and evaluation from an empowerment perspective. The course aim is to prepare students for entering the specialized year of study in social work empowerment practice.

This course focuses on advanced social work theories and methods that are consistent with empowerment-based practice with micro systems. The emphasis will be on evidence-based theories and methods that are relevant across contemporary practice settings and service delivery systems. The application of specialized social work practice skills will be addressed within a context of professional social work values and ethics, social justice, and affirmation of the human rights of diverse groups of people.

This course will focus on leadership and supervision in practice settings. Models of leadership and supervision will be addressed with a focus on those models that are consistent with principles of empowerment-based practice. The nature of power in leadership and supervision will be discussed, including roles, tasks, and techniques for facilitating effective organizational practices and outcomes. Also included will be topics such as navigating organizational culture, position development, objective setting, delegation, service delivery, evaluating staff performance and incorporating cultural competency in leadership and supervisory roles. Course content will also address leadership and supervision relative to social work values and the NASW Code of Ethics.
After successfully attaining the competencies from the generalist courses (including field), students should be able to begin to apply knowledge and skills taught in the specialized empowerment practice courses required by the Council on Social Work Education. Students will be placed in an agency setting that provides students with an opportunity to engage in specialized empowerment practice. This is the second of three practicum courses. This course requires students to work a minimum of 240 hours in a social work practice setting under the supervision of an M.S.W. trained social work practitioner. By the end of this course, students should be able to demonstrate beginning specialized practice competence.
After successfully attaining the competencies from the generalist courses (including field), students should be able to begin to apply knowledge and skills taught in the specialized empowerment practice courses required by the Council on Social Work Education. Students will be placed in an agency setting that provides students with an opportunity to engage in specialized empowerment practice. This is the second of three practicum courses. This course requires students to work a minimum of 240 hours in a social work practice setting under the supervision of an M.S.W. trained social work practitioner. By the end of this course, students should be able to demonstrate beginning specialized practice competence.
This course will focus on psychopathology and social work practice. Major mental illnesses across the life cycle will be explored, along with their impact across client populations and systems. Social work assessment and intervention approaches for social work practice with people who have mental illness will be addressed. The course will emphasize an empowerment-based perspective that affirms client strengths and coping capacities within a context of professional social work values and ethics, social justice, and affirmation of the human rights of diverse groups of people relative to race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, age, ability, and socioeconomic class.
This course focuses on advanced social work knowledge and skills that are consistent with empowerment-based practice in communities and organizations. The course will emphasize contemporary theories and methods that are relevant in social work practice with larger systems. The application of specialized social work practice with communities and organizations will be addressed within a context of professional social work values and ethics and universal human rights.
After successfully attaining the competencies from the generalist courses (including field) and the empowerment practice concentration, students should be able to apply knowledge and skills taught in the specialized empowerment practice courses required by the Council on Social Work Education. Students will be placed in an agency setting that provides students with an opportunity to engage in specialized empowerment practice. SCWK 632 continues the development of specialized practice skills accomplished in SCWK 622. This course requires students to work a minimum of 240 hours in a social work practice setting under the supervision of an M.S.W.-trained social work practitioner. By the end of this course, students should be able to demonstrate specialized practice competence of the following course objectives in an independent manner that illustrates their ability to enter the practice field as an M.S.W. practitioner.
After successfully attaining the competencies from the generalist courses (including field) and the empowerment practice concentration, students should be able to apply knowledge and skills taught in the specialized empowerment practice courses required by the Council on Social Work Education. Students will be placed in an agency setting that provides students with an opportunity to engage in specialized empowerment practice. SCWK 632 continues the development of specialized practice skills accomplished in SCWK 622. This course requires students to work a minimum of 240 hours in a social work practice setting under the supervision of an M.S.W.-trained social work practitioner. By the end of this course, students should be able to demonstrate specialized practice competence of the following course objectives in an independent manner that illustrates their ability to enter the practice field as an M.S.W. practitioner.

This course is designed to provide MSW students with an advanced understanding of social work research with a focus on program evaluation. Critical thinking skills will be augmented in order to determine selection, development, and employment of knowledge and skills applicable to effective evaluation. Students will apply advanced social work research concepts and theory, with special attention to the importance of empowerment in program evaluation. This course seeks to use advanced research processes in ways that will be of practical and beneficial use to the students, clients, and social work agencies.

Notes: Offered in Spring.

Prerequisites: Social Work majors only.

This specialized social work practice course serves as the capstone seminar experience in the M.S.W. curriculum. Its purpose is for students to refine and explicate their knowledge of specialized social work practice theories and methodologies relative to the Social Work Program concentration in empowerment practice. A primary focus of the seminar will be on students developing a comprehensive written paper examining policy to practice considerations and an accompanying professional presentation of selected theories and practice methods that comprise their philosophical orientation to specialized social work practice that is grounded in the NASW Code of Ethics.

Is Our Advanced Standing M.S.W. Right for You?

We designed our Advanced Standing program for motivated social workers ready to accelerate their advancement in this field. To apply, you’ll need a bachelor’s in social work earned through a CSWE-accredited program.**

While our online, part-time program offers flexibility, the curriculum is rigorous and requires dedication to complete the coursework and practicum experiences. But the results justify the effort, as you can pursue licensure* and specialized practice after acquiring your M.S.W. degree.

Start Your Application Today

Application Deadline 07/15/26

Start Date 08/24/26

Winthrop offers a supportive admissions process to students interested in the Advanced Standing M.S.W. program. Each student must meet the following requirements to ensure they’re prepared to succeed when the rigorous coursework begins. Remember that our enrollment specialists are here to help—request information to discuss any questions you may have.

Online Application FormApply Now
Application FeeOne-time fee of $50, paid online
Degree and Minimum GPABachelor’s degree in social work from a CSWE-accredited institution with a 3.0 GPA overall required
TranscriptsOfficial transcript(s) from all institutions attended, even if the classes were transferred or if the applicant withdrew from the school 
Transfer CreditsUp to nine transfer credits
Additional Requirements
  • Three professional recommendations: Personal/character references from family members, friends and clergy are not appropriate. If you graduated within the last five years, one reference should be an academic reference. You may also use an employer or someone who has supervised your volunteer work. You will be asked to provide the names and e-mail addresses of three individuals who can complete a recommendation form on your behalf.
  • Current, professional resume that demonstrates paid and volunteer experience in the helping profession.
  • A professional narrative statement (3-5 pages) addressing the following:
    • Your reasons for pursuing the M.S.W. degree and your commitment to the profession
    • Your career goals upon completing the degree
    • How a specialization in empowerment practice will help you reach your professional goals
Prior to beginning your statement, please read the NASW Code of Ethics and our statement on Empowerment Practice; this statement must be developed solely by the applicant with no outside assistance and reflect sound, professional judgement

Note: Applicants who do not meet a stated admission requirement for Winthrop University’s online M.S.W. program are highly encouraged to complete an addendum to their professional narrative statement to address the requirement they do not meet, why and steps they plan to take to be a successful graduate student if admitted.

International Students

International students must have a course-by-course evaluation of their international coursework conducted by an independent evaluation service and have the official report sent directly to us. Accepted services include World Education Services, Educational Credential Evaluators and the American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions. Students must also demonstrate English language proficiency with one of the following:

  • A TOEFL score of at least 550 on the paper-based test or at least 79 on the internet-based test
  • An IELTS score of at least 6.0
  • Successful completion of level 112 of the Intensive English for Academic Purposes Program from an English Language School (ELS) center

For a full list of international admission requirements, visit the Admissions page.

Admission Details

Frequently Asked Questions

Explore our frequently asked questions for in-depth answers. If you don’t find what you’re looking for, reach out to us.

The Advanced Standing program is a 39-credit hour program designed for students who already possess a bachelor’s degree in social work from a CSWE-accredited program. The Traditional M.S.W. program is a 60-credit hour degree designed for students with no previous social work background or education. Both programs prepare graduates with the skills for competent practice and employability as a specialized social worker.

Visit the admissions overview page to learn more about the admissions requirements. Requirements will vary in the cases of international students and other situations. Applicants that do not meet a stated admission requirement to the Winthrop University Online M.S.W. program are highly encouraged to complete an addendum to their professional narrative statement in which they directly address the requirement they do not meet, why, and steps they plan to take to be a successful graduate student if admitted.

The program is offered part-time to accommodate busy working adults and lifestyles. If you follow the recommended plan of study, the Traditional, 60-credit hour online M.S.W. program can be completed in three years, while the 39-credit hour Advanced Standing program can be completed in two years. Visit our admissions page for a detailed list of requirements.

Not all students may qualify for the Advanced Standing program.

You can contact an enrollment specialist toll-free at 833-257-1704 with questions or request more information today.

Yes the PK12 Employee Tuition Discount is for SC and NC individuals working in the PK12 sector. These individuals may be eligible to receive a 30% tuition discount rate with full-time enrollment.

The online M.S.W. program costs $699 per credit hour.

Visit our FAQ page

Disclaimers

*Winthrop University has determined that the M.S.W. program curriculum meets the educational requirements for licensure or certification in South Carolina. State licensure requirements, including specific coursework and supervision expectations, vary from state to state. Please verify the licensure requirements in your state before you apply. 

**An undergraduate degree in social work from a CSWE-accredited program makes you eligible to apply for the Advanced Standing program option but does not guarantee acceptance.