| Completion time | Three to four years |
| Total credits | 60 |
| Total practicum education hours | 900 hours |
| Starts per year | Two each year, fall and spring terms |
| Prerequisites | Two years (full-time) or four years (part-time) of work in social services |
Applicants qualify for the One-Year Residency for Working Professionals (Reduced Residency) pathway if they are currently working in direct practice work in a social services agency and have either
- two or more years of full-time experience or
- four or more years of part-time experience
The One-Year Residency for Working Professionals pathway was created to give employees of social service agencies and other nonprofit organizations the opportunity to advance their careers by earning an MSSW over a period of several (usually three) years. Students in this pathway strengthen their abilities by connecting their practical skills to a theoretical framework.
This pathway is split into two segments:
- Pre-residency phase, where the focus is on foundational courses that expand on the student’s work experience
- Residency year, where students take more specialized coursework in addition to completing their practicum work requirements
Before they start their residency year, students choose a method specialization and a field of practice. They can select options that align with their current job or choose a new direction to build cross-disciplinary skills.
One-Year Residency for Working Professionals students may choose to complete their practicum placement at their current place of employment, pending approval by their agency and the CSSW Practicum Education Department. Some students, however, choose to leave their agency for a new placement arranged by CSSW. If your agency is approved as your practicum placement site, you will be required to move under a different supervisor and complete different tasks.
Coursework Estimates
As a One-Year Residency for Working Professionals pathway student, you will take two courses per term in your first year. You should expect to spend four to six hours per week in synchronous classes. This is in addition to time spent on homework and other assignments.
During your second year, you can continue taking two courses per term, or start taking your electives for a total of three courses per term.
Once you reach your final year, you are considered a full-time student as you add a practicum placement to your schedule.
Most students in this pathway earn 28 hours per week in practicum. For those approved to complete their practicum placement at their job, 14 hours of their paid work is counted toward practicum and then 14 hours of new assignments must be completed. Visit our Practicum Placements page and our Practicum Education Manual for more information.