Master of Social Work
About the Program
The Master of Social Work (MSW) program at the UNLV School of Social Work prepares students for professional practice in urban settings with a focus on diversity, empowerment, and social justice. Students can specialize in one of two concentrations:
- Direct Practice: Advanced practice with individuals, families, and groups.
- Management and Community Practice: Leadership roles in policy advocacy and management of human service organizations.
Available Program Tracks
- Capstone Track
- Thesis Track
- Advanced Standing Capstone Track
- Advanced Standing Thesis Track
Field Practicum
The field practicum is a vital part of your professional development in both the Bachelor of Social Work and Master of Social Work programs. It aligns with the program mission, foundational curriculum, and advanced concentrations in Direct Practice and Management and Community Practice.
Career Opportunities
With a master’s degree in social work, students will advance their skills in specialized direct practice such as therapy and clinical interventions, or management and community practice (e.g., policy advocacy, organizational leadership).
Application Process
Follow these steps to apply for the UNLV Master of Social Work (MSW) program.
- Review our program admission requirements.
- Familiarize yourself with the graduate program application deadlines and prepare accordingly.
- Visit the Graduate Applications page to initiate the application process.
If accepted into the program, you will be notified of the orientation dates for both the MSW program and the Graduate College.
Application Review and Decision Process
Our admissions team will review your application materials. If documents are missing, we’ll contact you directly to submit them to the Graduate Admissions office. From there:
- Accepted applicants will receive an acceptance letter and a personalized “Plan of Study” outlining your course schedule.
- Conditional applicants will receive a conditional acceptance letter with any additional requirements.
- Declined applicants will receive a notification from the Graduate College.
Note: All application documents and communications are securely managed in the School of Social Work’s Google Drive.
Contact
If you are interested in applying for the MSW Program, please join us for an MSW Applicant Information Session. You may call the office at 702-895-3311, or contact the MSW Admissions Coordinator, Ivet Aldaba, at ivet.aldaba@unlv.edu for more information.