Address social, political and systemic change through an intersectionality, power and privilege lens. Learn to empower communities and advocate for an equitable and socially just society.
Why Earn a Master's in Social Work?
Advocate for and support people of all backgrounds to combat social, economic, cultural and climate injustice. With a Master of Social Work from CSUN, you will be able to recognize and address systemic oppression from a variety of perspectives.
You will gain the knowledge and skills to connect clients with resources and respond to crisis situations. With your skills, you will have the ability to work in a variety of settings, including schools, human service agencies, hospitals and mental health clinics.
Why Study Social Work at CSUN?
Advanced Generalist Focus
CSUN's Department of Social Work will prepare you to be an agent of change equipped to promote well-being in underserved urban settings. We utilize a lens that espouses an intersectional, anti-racist, trauma-informed and. collaborative perspective. We celebrate a strengths-based inclusive identity, emphasized by the shared experiences of community, culture and location. You will have the opportunity to engage in micro, mezzo, and macro practice with cultural humility and accountability.
Accredited by CSWE
CSUN's Department of Social Work has received national accreditation from the Counsel on Social Work Education CSWE). Because we are a CSWE-accredited program, you will be able to qualify to take the licensure exam. Candidates can sit for the exam after successfully completing 3,000 supervised post-MSW hours.
Multiple Options
We offer a two-year and three-year program to help you become a social worker.
- Our two-year program is a full-time program. You will attend classes two days a week during the day for four semesters. Your internship will occur two days per week your first two semesters and three days per week in your second year of the program.
- Our three-year program is a part-time program. It meets two evenings a week for eight semesters, including two summers. Your internship will occur two days per week for two of the three years (usually the first and second year).
- We also offer a three-year program for employees of L.A. County's Department of Children and Family Services.
Experiential Learning
The signature pedagogy of graduate social work education is practicum experience. During your internship placements, you'll learn how to apply social work theory and practice your skills. Our program will place you in local agencies, and our faculty will supervise and advise you. The practicum experience will facilitate your becoming an advanced social work professional.
What You'll Learn
In the M.S.W. program, you'll learn from a combination of coursework and internship experiences. In your classes, you will learn about social work theory and human behavior. You will also learn how to advocate for and support individuals, families, organizations and urban communities. You will also spend time interning at social work agencies to gain valuable experience. Finally, you will complete a capstone project as a culmination of your degree.
In your foundation courses, you'll study:
- Human behavior and social environment
- Social work theory and practice
- Social work practice in multicultural contexts
- Psychosocial assessment and diagnostic formulation
- Social welfare policy and services
- Social work research methods
- Practicum education and placement
In your advanced concentration courses, you'll focus more on serving urban populations. Your classes will include:
- Advanced social work practice with urban families
- Family crisis, trauma and grief
- Advanced social work research methods
- Urban social policy and advocacy
- Advanced practicum and placement
You will also take one advanced elective on selected topics in social work.
As your culminating experience, you will complete a capstone project. You will present a research project based on your area of interest in social work.
Careers & Outcomes
CSUN's M.S.W. degree will prepare you for a variety of careers advocating for others.
Employers of recent alumni include:
- Los Angeles Unified School District
- U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
- Child and Family Guidance Center
- Ventura Youth Correctional Facility
- Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services
- Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health
Common career paths for graduates include:
- School social worker
- Medical social worker
- Mental health therapist
- Behavioral health counselor
- Residential counselor
- Addictions counselor
- Housing counselor
- Program coordinator
- Case manager
- Advocacy
- Public child welfare
- Community organizing
Looking for an Online Option?
The Department of Social Work has partnered with The Tseng College to offer fully online two- and three-year programs. Find out more about the Master of Social Work online program.
Admission Information
To be considered for admission to CSUN as a master’s student, you will need to:
- Meet university requirements.
- Meet department requirements for the Master of Social Work.
- Apply to both the university and the specific graduate program of interest.
Learn more about applying for a master's program at CSUN.