Why Should You Get a Master of Social Work?
Grounded in the values and ethical principles of social work, the master of social work (MSW) at Pacific University’s Claire Argow Social Work Program provides students with the tools they need to become culturally competent professional social workers.
Students focus on a generalist curriculum with coursework in health, wellness, Latino families and culture, and racism, oppression and power in social work practice. This broad curriculum, coupled with fieldwork placements throughout the program, provide students opportunities to explore the breadth of the social work field as they advance their careers.
The majority of students’ fieldwork experiences take place in Oregon. Students build skills and community connections throughout the greater Portland area, as well as through rural and urban experiences statewide.
Each year, students also have the opportunity to participate in travel courses that expand their knowledge and experience of international social work opportunities. Travel courses alternate annually between New Zealand and Uganda.
The MSW program at Pacific is open to students who have completed a four-year undergraduate degree from an accredited university, in any course of study. An advanced standing pathway is available for those who earned a bachelor of social work degree in their undergraduate studies.
What Can You Do with a MSW Degree?
Pacific graduates with a MSW degree go on to explore several different career paths in social work.
After you’ve earned your MSW degree at Pacific, you can apply for a licensed master of social work (LMSW) in Oregon by passing the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) exam and paying the state licensing fee. A LMSW allows you to explore employment in a wide variety of settings including schools, hospice, substance abuse treatment centers, domestic violence agencies, hospitals, criminal justice settings, services for children and families, homeless shelters, nonprofit organizations, advocacy organizations, services for military veterans, organizations serving older adults, and mental health. In fact, throughout the nation, more social workers deliver mental health services than any other profession.
The most advanced level of social work practice is the licensed clinical social worker (LCSW). A LCSW enables you to practice independently and open your own social work practice. In addition to a MSW degree and passing the ASWB exam, LCSW requirements in Oregon include:
- 3,500 hours post MSW experience (2,000 of those hours are with a direct client)
- 100 hours of supervision (with at least 50 being on an individual basis)
- Minimum of 24 months of supervised experience
- Payment of the state licensure fee
Flexible Pathways to Your Professional Career
The MSW program at Pacific University offers flexibility for students to advance their career while continuing to work.
The full program is 64 credits and is offered in person on our Forest Grove Campus. Students can choose a full-time pathway that includes two years of study or can take course on a part-time basis while continuing to work.
A CSWE-accredited advanced standing track also is available to students who completed a bachelor of social work (BSW) from Pacific or another CSWE-accredited program in the last five years. The advanced standing pathway starts with a one-credit “tune up” course, followed by 32 credits. Full-time students complete the advanced standing track in just one year, while students also can choose a part-time schedule and continue working.
The advanced standing track also is available online for students in Oregon and Southwest Washington. The online program currently is only available for local students, due to the need to complete in-person practicum placements.
MSW Scholarship and Assistantship Opportunities
Through a two-year $1.8 million grant from the Oregon Health Authority, Pacific University provides tuition assistance and stipends to MSW and PsyD students to help increase capacity and diversity in the state’s mental health workforce. The grant is part of $80 million allocated to the OHA by the Oregon legislature as part of the Behavioral Health Workforce Initiative, and Pacific is one of eight higher education institutions to receive a grant and one of just three private universities to receive a share of the total of $10.1 million awarded by the OHA for tuition assistance.
Social Work & Healthcare
Social workers work in a wide variety of settings, including healthcare. With Pacific’s expertise in healthcare professions, MSW students are the unique opportunity to prepare to work in medical fields. Pacific’s College of Health Professions offers an interprofessional certificate that MSW students can add to their degree for free!
Social Work & Veterans
The Veterans Affairs (VA) is the largest employer of social workers in the U.S. VA social workers rely on the same skills and motivations that all effective social workers exhibit but must also understand the unique challenges facing their clients as veterans, including military service-specific factors such as deployment, relocation, combat and reintegration post-deployment. As a result, a MSW degree is a good choice for many veterans transitioning out of the military. Pacific University is proud of its commitment to the Yellow Ribbon program, which covers tuition costs for veterans when G.I. Bill benefits are insufficient. Pacific provides full tuition and fees funding to all eligible veterans and eligible dependents who are admitted and enrolled at Pacific under the Department of Veterans Affairs program. The program applies to graduate as well as undergraduate programs.
U.S. News & World Report has recognized Pacific’s support for student veterans; Pacific was the only private university in Oregon on the publication’s list of best colleges for veterans. Pacific University was also named one of the West’s most supportive schools for military veterans by MilitarySupportiveColleges.com, a coalition of web publishers that provides guidance to veterans seeking college information.
Social Work Field Work
Field education is at the heart of the Master of Social Work program at Pacific University. From September to May of their first year, MSW students participate in a two-semester field experience practicum consisting of 14-16 hours per week, totaling 420 hours. During their second year, students participate in another two-semester practicum consisting of 18-20 hours per week, totaling 500 hours. Over the entire course of the MSW program, students participate in a total of 920 practicum hours. In addition to the time dedicated to practicum placements, students attend a weekly seminar class. Seminar is an interactive setting where students integrate classroom knowledge with practice and critically analyze and reflect on their practicum experiences and professional development.
Save Your Seat
The Pacific University Master of Social Work Program participates in Pacific’s Guaranteed Grad School Admission Program. Students may apply for the MSW Program as soon as they commit to Pacific as undergraduates or transfer students, or during their junior year.
MSW Program Admissions
2043 College Way
Forest Grove, OR 97116
The Pacific University Master of Social Work program is part of the Claire Argow Social Work Program. Pacific's MSW and BSW programs are both accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE). Our listing in CSWE's directory is available online. The MSW degree is one prerequisite designed to meet the educational requirements for applying for licensure in all 50 states to practice as a licensed social worker. Assessment results are available here. Student learning outcomes and additional curriculum information is available in the academic catalog.
