Master's Program FAQ

The confirmation of your practicum will vary. Placements may be finalized in early spring or as late as mid-September for Specialized Year students. Generalist students are placed over the summer. It is not unusual for the process to extend into August and September.

Tasks at your placement will vary depending on your method and field of practice, type of agency, and population with whom you will be working. For information on possible assignments, education plans, as well as the learning objectives for various method specializations, please review our Social Work Practicum Manual.

Please reach out to the Office of Practicum Learning Associate Director who notified you of your placement and has been working with you to set it up. You also may contact the Office of Practicum Learning at [email protected].

Your practicum instructor is the agency employee responsible for overseeing your training at your practicum placement. They are there to support your learning in the field, to answer questions you may have about interactions with clients and agency employees, and to help you develop skills. At the end of the term, your practicum instructor evaluates your work at the agency and recommends a pass/fail grade to your Advisor.

Note: Your Advisor is the final arbiter of the grade you receive for practicum. Under some circumstances, they may choose to override the recommendation of the agency practicum instructor.

You will be assigned an advisor prior to the first week of class. You will be added to a Canvas site managed by your advisor, which will include your advisor’s name and contact information.

Note: If you have questions about who your Advisor is, your academic program/plans, class scheduling, or registration prior to orientation, please contact the Office of Advising by emailing [email protected] or making an appointment.

Over the academic year, you will attend required advising seminars with your cohort to support your professional social work practice development and to cultivate a supportive group of peers. Meeting dates will be posted on CourseWorks.

If you’re not able to reach your advisor, you should contact the Office of Advising via email: [email protected]

Typically, a dual-degree program reduces the requirements for doing two full-time programs by approximately one academic year because fewer credits are needed for each of the two degrees. If you are interested in pursuing a dual degree with another Columbia graduate school, you must apply separately to the school in question during your first year at CSSW. You will also need to discuss your academic plan for completing requirements at both schools with the Office of Advising ([email protected]). To update your student record once you have been accepted into the other school, please notify our Office of Student Affairs at [email protected].

Please visit our Dual Degree FAQ for more information about the dual-degree program or consult the Dual Degree Guide.

All students register for courses during their designated registration time via Student Services Online (SSOL), the University’s registration system. The Office of Student Affairs will email students a detailed how-to guide as well as reminders of the self-registration process prior to the registration periods. Please visit the Registration page for further information.

During the first two weeks of classes each term, space permitting, there is an add/drop period when you can switch certain courses via the online registration system Student Services Online (SSOL).

By the week before classes begin, all of your courses—including their requirements, syllabi, grading policies, and online readings—should be posted on CourseWorks. You can view course descriptions by semester in the CSSW Course List section on the Registration page.

The School will allow you to transfer a maximum of nine credits, of which no more than six can be for elective courses. You can receive credits for prior courses if they were taken at another CSWE-accredited school of social work within the past five years and you earned at least a B. You are required to submit a form listing those courses for review. For more details, please read the Student Handbook section on Transfer Credit Policies.

You are permitted to enroll in classes at other Columbia University schools to count either as elective credits (related and pre-approved graduate-level courses only) or as “extra” courses that are covered under the School’s flat-rate billing program, which allows you to register for a maximum of 19.5 credits per term in the Fall and Spring. For more details, please read the Student Handbook section on Cross-Registration.

Note: Students who cross-register at Teachers College (TC) will be charged the TC tuition rate per credit, which may be more than the CSSW rate.

The choice of the specialization determines the type of practicum placement for your specialized year, as well as the series of second-year courses. You can review the Academic Program Study Plan relevant to your program and intended specialization on the Office of Advising page (there are separate pages in each Study Plan for each specialization).

It is not possible to complete two areas of specializations or two fields of practice. You may choose any combination of one specialization and one field of practice. Your chosen field of practice is related to your second-year practicum. However, you may choose to take any field of practice course to fulfill the Field of Practice T69XX course requirement – the course you take does not have to match your declared practicum Field of Practice.

Please review the Academic Program Study Plan relevant to your program and intended specialization on the Office of Advising page. CSSW also utilizes a degree audit tool, Stellic, for you and your Advisor to organize your upcoming semesters and keep track of your degree progress. We suggest that you also get in the habit of checking your Degree Audit Report on Student Services Online (SSOL). Additionally, you are welcome to reach out to your Advisor to verify that you’re on track.

Note: The Office of Student Affairs monitors students’ enrollment and registration and, where possible, will alert you if any problems are identified, but it is your responsibility to complete your degree requirements. Dual-degree students should meet with representatives at both schools each term to ensure they are successfully completing their requirements at both schools.

Please visit the Licensing page for more details. The list of CSSW courses and their applicability to the NY LCSW course requirement are linked under the Licensing Questions section.

If you are interested in completing the clinical licensing coursework requirements for New York State prior to graduating, it is possible to do so, even if you have not chosen to specialize in Advanced Clinical Practice. This is particularly easy for an Integrated Practice and Programming (IPP) student, who can simply ensure that all nine credits of electives are approved clinical electives. Leadership, Management, and Entrepreneurship for Social Justice (LME) and Policy Practice students, on the other hand, will need to take more than the 60 credits required to complete their degree requirements.

Note: For clinical licensing requirements for states other than New York, please visit the Licensing page for more details.

Yes. The School offers one summer session, which begins the week after commencement in May and generally ends the last week of July. If your first term of enrollment is in January, then you should automatically plan to take summer classes. As a first step, please consult with your Advisor to confirm whether the summer classes you have in mind will be offered and you are eligible to sign up.

Note: You must enroll for at least six credits in order to be eligible for federal loans.

All degree requirements must be completed within four years of matriculation at the School.

There is no difference in the graduation requirements for the 16-Month and Two-Year Programs. The difference between the two programs lies in the time it takes to complete these requirements. As a 16-Month Student, you begin your program in January, continue with practicum and coursework throughout the summer, and then complete your second-year requirements in the subsequent Fall and Spring terms.

Your summer term will be essentially the same as the second term for a Two-Year Program student who began in the Fall. As in the Spring term, you will be in classes on Wednesday and Thursdays, and in practicum on Mondays, Tuesdays and Fridays. Summer term begins at the end of May and continues for 10 weeks, through the end of July.

Note: There are a limited number of electives offered in the summer in which you may enroll, assuming that they fit your overall program plan.

The Part-time to Full-time Program is the ideal pathway for those who would like to combine part-time with full-time study. It allows you to complete the course and practicum instruction requirements for your MSW program in three or four years. In the first year, you take a reduced course load and have no practicum. In your Generalist year, you continue to take a reduced course load while adding the practicum component, and in your Specialized Year you will be enrolled full-time, including your practicum component. Students who opt for this program appreciate having the flexibility to balance personal responsibilities while easing into full-time graduate studies.

Notes:

• Once you begin practicum, you must plan to be at your placement site three days per week (21 hours). Weekend or evening-only placements are not available.
   
• For each term of registration, you must register for a minimum of one course or three credits, and must complete a maximum of six courses (18 credits) before you will be able to start your practicum.
   
• Part-time to Full-time Program students are generally able to take all pre-practicum year courses in the evening; however, most Generalist and Specialized courses are only offered during the day or early afternoon.
   
• The Part-time to Full-time Program and the Two-Year Program are the same in terms of degree requirements. The unique feature of our Part-time to Full-time Program is that you are able to extend the time it takes you to complete your degree requirements as you are permitted to take a reduced course load during your first year. In your second and third years, when you are in practicum and registered for concurrent required practice courses, you will be enrolled at the School full-time. The biggest practical difference between the Part-time to Full-time and Two-Year programs is how students are billed for tuition. As a Part-time to Full-time Program student, you will be billed per credit each term until you complete your degree requirements. Two-Year Program students, by contrast, are charged a flat-rate tuition.
   
• You cannot complete this program completely part-time. This program allows you to begin your studies at CSSW with a reduced course load. Once you begin your practicum requirements, you will be registered as a full-time student. Full-time status means you are registered for at least 10.5 credits, which usually equates to Social Work Practicum and two classes (the required concurrent practice courses). In order to qualify for scholarships and/or work-study funding, you must be enrolled full-time.

The Part-time Program is the ideal pathway for those who would like to pursue part-time study, while still allowing you to complete the course and practicum instruction requirements for your MSW program in three or four years. In the first year, you take a reduced course load and have no practicum work. In your final two years, you continue to take a reduced course load while adding the practicum instruction component. Some students also elect to utilize a fourth academic year to complete 3 to 6 credits of final coursework. A significant difference between the Part-time program and the Part-time to Full-time program is that the Part-time program allows a reduced practicum schedule spread out over 3 terms (Fall, Spring, and Summer) each academic year. Students who opt for this program appreciate having the flexibility to balance personal  responsibilities while easing into graduate studies.

Notes:

• Once you begin practicum, you must plan to be at your placement site 2 days per week (14 hours) for Fall, Spring, and Summer terms. Weekend or evening-only placements are not available.
   
• In order to maintain 6-credits per term, most Part-time students will plan to also take a 3-credit course in the Summer term, in addition to practicum.
   
• Part-time students generally are able to take all pre-practicum year courses in the evening; however, many Generalist and Specialized courses are only offered during the day or early afternoon.
   
• The Part-time Program and the Two-Year Program are the same in terms of degree requirements. The unique feature of our Part-time Program is that you are able to extend the time it takes you to complete your degree requirements as you are permitted to take a reduced course-load during your first year and you will complete reduced practicum hours over the course of two additional (Summer) terms. Another practical difference between the Part-time and Two-Year programs is how students are billed for tuition. As a Part-time student, you will be billed per credit each term until you complete your degree requirements. Two-Year Program students, by contrast, are charged a flat-rate tuition. Additionally, Part-time students typically never experience a full-time academic load; therefore they may be unable to qualify for scholarships and/or work-study funding.

A maximum of 30 credits, earned while an MSW degree candidate, may be granted toward the Master of Science in Social Work degree at Columbia. In order to earn the 60 credits required for the M.S. degree, at least 30 credits must be completed at CSSW (regardless of the number of transfer credits eligible for transfer). These credits include 9 credits in practicum and 21 credits in social work classroom courses. (When evaluating transfer credits, the School is looking for equivalent coursework to T660A-B/C Human Behavior and the Social Environment I & II, T6501 Social Work Research, T6801 Social Welfare Policy, T7100 Foundations of Social Work Practice: Decolonizing Social Work, T7102 Direct Practice with Individuals, Families, and Groups, T7103 Advocacy in Social Work Practice: Decolonizing Mezzo- and Macro-Practice in Social Work, T6010 Generalist Social Work Practicum [two terms and worth no more than 6 credits], and an elective.)

Transfer students are not permitted to pursue Dual Degrees.

Please review the Academic Program Study Plan relevant to your program and intended specialization on the Office of Advising page. CSSW also utilizes a degree audit tool, Stellic, for you and your advisor to organize your upcoming semesters and keep track of your degree progress. If it is determined that a student is required to take more than 30 credits, the student should meet with an Associate Director in the Office of Advising to discuss an adjusted plan of study.

Advanced Standing students receive up to 27 transfer credits, which enables them to matriculate as Specialized Year students and earn their degrees in one year (three terms). They complete a minimum of 33 credits at Columbia (21 through coursework and 12 through practicum learning). As an Advanced Standing student, you will begin your studies with a required intensive six-week program that begins in mid-July. During that session you will take T0006 Child Abuse Reporting Education, T6012 Advanced Standing Practicum Seminar, T6505 Intro to Statistics (can be waived through previous coursework or exam), and T7105 Advance Integrative Seminar. The purpose of these courses is to extend and deepen the direct practice knowledge and skills to which you were introduced in your BSW program, and to begin reflectively analyzing, from an anti-oppressive framework, how you will practice through the lens of the social work specialization you have chosen--Advanced Clinical Practice; Integrated Practice and Programming; Leadership, Management, and Entrepreneurship for Social Justice; or Policy Practice.

When Fall term arrives, you will move on to the Specialized Year sequence of practice courses and complete your coursework and practicum learning requirements in just two semesters, usually taking three or four classes per term. Your practicum placement will be for two terms (Fall and Spring), and you will spend three days a week at the agency. Before your placement is made, you will work with the Office of Practicum Learning to choose a practicum site that supports your chosen area of specialization and field of practice.

Notes: 

• When evaluating transfer credits, the School is looking for equivalent coursework to T660A-B/C Human Behavior and the Social Environment I & II, T6501 Social Work Research, T6801 Social Welfare Policy, T7100 Foundations of Social Work Practice: Decolonizing Social Work Practice, T7103 Advocacy in Social Work Practice: Decolonizing Mezzo- and Macro-Practice in Social Work, T6010 Generalist Social Work Practicum [two terms worth no more than 6 credits], and an elective. Taking more courses may be required if a student does not receive 27 transfer credits from their undergraduate coursework or if they decide to complete a minor.
   
• BSW graduates from Canadian institutions will not receive credit for T6801 Social Welfare Policy. They can only transfer a maximum of 24 credits because of not having taken an equivalent course and must register for T6801 in the fall.
   
• To be eligible for the program, Advanced Standing students must have earned a B or better in all of their undergraduate social work classes.
   
• Advanced Standing students are not permitted to pursue dual degrees.
   
• Advanced Standing students may choose to complete a minor if they are willing to register for additional credits beyond the required minimum of 33.
   
• Students in the Advanced Standing Program may not be employed by their practicum education agency.

The One-Year Residency for Working Professionals program was created to give employees of social service agencies and other nonprofit organizations the opportunity to move their careers to the next level by earning an MSW over a period of several (usually three) years. As a One-Year Residency for Working Professionals student, you will find that you will be able to continue working at your agency for the first two years of your degree, while completing foundational coursework that connects your work experience with social work theory. For more information, please review the One-Year Residency for Working Professionals (Reduced Residency) Guide.

Notes:

• Students should select this program when they apply to CSSW, as the application and admission process is specific to this program.
   
• The One-Year Residency for Working Professionals Program is structured into two periods: the pre-residency period (usually two years of part-time enrollment while continuing to work full-time at a social services organization), and the residency period (a year of full-time enrollment).
   
• In addition to the General Requirements, the One-Year Residency for Working Professionals Program requires:
  • Full-time employment in a human services organization for at least two years or half-time for at least four years, prior to application.
  • Employment during the pre-residency phase of the program at a human services organization in which the student is providing direct practice services. Students who are employed at a human services organization during the pre-residency phase but not providing direct practice services will be responsible for establishing a mechanism that would allow them to meet the direct practice requirements of the program (e.g., by volunteering).
  • Choice of a specialization compatible with current work responsibilities.
     
• Students in this program fulfill the same 60-credit degree requirement as other students enrolled in the School, and earn their Master of Science in Social Work degree through a combination of part-time and full-time study during a period of no fewer than four terms and no longer than four years. In consultation with the Office of Advising, One-Year Residency for Working Professionals students develop an academic plan that meets the program requirements.
   
• While the School does offer select classes in the evening, it is not possible to complete all program requirements by only taking evening classes. One-Year Residency for Working Professionals Program students are generally able to take all pre-practicum year courses in the evening; however, most Generalist and Specialized courses are only offered during the day or early afternoon.
   
• Only students enrolled in the One-Year Residency for Working Professionals Program may qualify to use their place of employment as their practicum placement site. However, this is not guaranteed; all One-Year Residency for Working Professionals sites must meet the Office of Practicum Learning criteria as outlined in the One-Year Residency for Working Professionals Guide.
   
• While you are not allowed to use your current position to complete your practicum placement requirement, your agency may serve as your specialized year placement site as long as it meets our placement criteria (outlined in our Social Work Practicum Manual). If your agency is approved as your practicum placement site, you will be required to move under a different supervisor and complete different tasks as outlined by your education coordinator and our Office of Practicum Learning. During your second year, a representative from the Office of Practicum Learning will visit your T6011 class to discuss the placement process in detail. You will be required to submit specific paperwork and meet one-on-one with field representatives to discuss your placement needs for your final year of study.
   
• Leaving the agency or organization at which you were employed at the time of acceptance may have an impact on your One-Year Residency for Working Professionals status. As soon as this change of employment occurs, immediately notify the Office of Advising ([email protected]) to discuss how it could affect your overall program plan.

There are two programs for international students. One program mirrors the 2-Year program while the 5-Term International Program is designed for international students who are pursuing higher degrees in social work but are unfamiliar with the U.S. social welfare system. Taking place over five consecutive semesters, the 5-term program offers international students an opportunity to get up to speed on the special features of U.S. social services, and to improve and enhance their English skills, before beginning practicum. As a student, you’ll receive an introduction to social work practice in the United States—including the organizational structures and operation of American social service agencies—and learn about a variety of social welfare issues in this country.

Notes: 

• Both the School of Social Work and the wider Columbia University community offer resources for international students. At the School, international students have their own student groups, or caucuses. At Columbia, there is an International Students & Scholars Office (ISSO), which offers many helpful services including pre-admission counseling, immigration-related document services (such as the I-20), social and cultural activities, and a program for the spouses of students. In addition, all of Columbia’s international students have a complimentary Affiliate Membership in the International House (“I-House”), on 500 Riverside Drive.
   
• International students are not eligible for financial aid. Loan options are available, but you must have a co-borrower who is a U.S. citizen or permanent resident. For more information, please visit the University’s Student Financial Services website.

To maintain your student visa, you must be enrolled as a full-time student. At the School of Social Work, this means a minimum of 10.5 credits. Additional information about student visas can be found on the International Students & Scholars Office (ISSO) website.

If you are on an F-1 or J-1 visa, you may work part-time (up to 20 hours a week) and only on campus. Otherwise, you will need a work permit. Before accepting any employment, be sure to consult with an officer at Columbia’s International Students and Scholars Office (ISSO).