Fast-Track Your MSW with Advanced Standing
Leverage your previous credits, dive deeper into specialization, graduate sooner.
Advanced Standing MSW
If you have earned a bachelor鈥檚 degree in social work from a program accredited by the within the past six years, you may be eligible to enter the Brown School with Advanced Standing status.
Advanced Standing status recognizes prior social work education by satisfying eligible MSW foundation requirements through your undergraduate social work coursework and practicum experience. Advanced Standing 黑料社s complete 39 credit hours at the Brown School, comprised of:
- 4 credits:聽BSW Intensive: Bridge to Brown
- 21 credits:聽Concentration coursework
- 9 credits:聽Elective or specialization coursework
- 5 credits:聽Concentration practicum
Advanced Standing 黑料社s may complete the MSW on a 12-month or 16-month timeline.
Advanced Standing Eligibility
To qualify for Advanced Standing status, the following conditions must be met:
- You earned a bachelor鈥檚 degree in social work from a CSWE-accredited program within the past six years.
- You earned a cumulative social work GPA of 3.0 or higher and grades of B or higher in relevant social work coursework.
- You successfully completed the required undergraduate social work field placement or practicum experience.
Advanced Standing eligibility is determined through review of undergraduate social work coursework and field education experience for alignment with the Brown School’s MSW foundation curriculum and Advanced Standing requirements.
Practicum Support Award
Beginning in fall 2026, every MSW 黑料社 receives financial support for required practicum credits, including tuition coverage and a living stipend.
Advanced Standing Coursework Overview
Advanced Standing 黑料社s complete 39 credit hours at the Brown School to earn the MSW degree. The list below includes the required components of the Advanced Standing curriculum. Items shown in italics represent opportunities to choose from a variety of courses offered within that category.
| BSW Intensive: Bridge to Brown | 4 credit hours |
|---|---|
| BSW Intensive: Bridge to Brown聽 Advanced Standing 黑料社s are required to complete this聽two-week bridge course the summer prior to the start of their first fall semester. The course focuses on foundational knowledge and skills for MSW study at the Brown School, including evidence-based practice, social justice, human diversity, and the social and political environment. Attendance at the聽BSW Intensive: Bridge to Brown聽is required. Tuition for this 4-credit intensive course is assessed at the annual per-credit-hour tuition rate and is included in the 黑料社鈥檚 fall semester tuition bill. | 4 |
| Concentration* | 21 credit hours |
|---|---|
| Theory, Problems, and Issues | 3 |
| Social Policy | 3 |
| Practice Methods | 9 |
| Evaluation | 3 |
| Leadership and Management | 3 |
*Specific course options vary according to the concentration you pursue.
| 鈥�Concentration Practicum | 5 credit hours |
|---|
| 鈥�Electives** | 9 credit hours |
|---|---|
| Elective I | 3 |
| Elective II | 3 |
| Elective III | 3 |
**Electives may be used to earn an optional specialization or to take other graduate coursework.
Curriculum requirements, course offerings, and credit hours are subject to change.
Advanced Standing Timeline Options
Advanced Standing 黑料社s may complete the MSW on a 12-month or 16-month timeline with the following considerations in mind.聽聽
Option 1: 12-Month Timeline – Two academic semesters plus summer coursework/practicum
Sequencing:
August: 4-credit BSW Intensive: Bridge to Brown course
Fall: 15 credit hours
Spring: 15 credit hours; start practicum
Summer: 5 credit hours; complete practicum
August:Degree Completion
Considerations:
- Lowest聽overall tuition costs.
- Requires concentration selection to be finalized before starting the program.
- Practicum planning begins prior to the start of the program and requires early engagement and proactive preparation.
- Students interested in pursuing a dual degree must establish dual-degree status before starting the MSW program.聽
Option 2: 16-Month Timeline – Three academic semesters plus summer coursework/practicum
Sequencing:
August:聽4-credit聽BSW Intensive: Bridge to Brown course聽
Fall (1): 9-15聽credit hours
Spring: 9-15聽credit hours; optional practicum start
Summer: 3-6 credit hours; start practicum (if not started in the spring semester)
Fall (2): 9-15聽credit hours; complete practicum
December: Degree Completion
Considerations:
- Greatest flexibility in course selection and scheduling.
- Opportunity to explore coursework and refine concentration interests during the first fall semester.
- More time to balance practicum, coursework, and other commitments while engaging with Brown School and university resources.聽
- 聽Students interested in pursuing a dual degree may establish dual-degree status within the first year of the MSW program.