Program Overview
- Program Duration
- 3 Years (8 Semesters)
- Format
- Hybrid
- Accreditation
- CHEA, CSWE, COA
- Curriculum
- Generalist & Specialized
Important Application Deadlines
-
SEP 3
September 3, 2026
Applications Open
Oakland
-
MAY 30
May 30, 2027
Fall 2027 Priority Application
Oakland
-
JUL 4
July 4, 2027
Fall 2027 Standard Application
Oakland
Key Points of Contact
-
Ben Barr
Department Chair - Medical Social Work Oakland
What is SMU's Master of Social Work Program?
SMU's three-year hybrid MSW program combines academic study with professional preparation for healthcare-focused social work. Students gain:
- Practicum experience in healthcare and community settings that connects classroom learning with professional practice.
- An understanding of how social factors affect health, with preparation to advocate for patients and communities.
- Preparation for professional licensure and careers in healthcare, behavioral health, and medical social work.
Why Choose the Samuel Merritt University MSW Program?
Samuel Merritt University's MSW is built around the role social workers play in healthcare. Students learn how to address the social and behavioral factors that affect health while preparing to work alongside other healthcare professionals. Practicum experiences provide opportunities to apply that learning in healthcare and community settings, helping students develop the judgment needed for professional social work practice.
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Admission
What you'll need to apply.
Admission to the Master of Social Work program is based on academic preparation and readiness for graduate study in social work.
- Baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited institution
- Minimum recommended cumulative GPA of 2.5 for the last 60 semester units. All coursework (including repeated classes) will be averaged.
- Three letters of reference. The first should be from a person who has known you in an academic or professional setting. The others may be from academic, professional, or clinical sources.
- All letters are to be submitted as part of the application through SocialWorkCAS
- Interview (as requested by SMU)
- Personal statement (five questions posted on SocialWork CAS).
- Applicants are encouraged to attend Q&A sessions, book appointments with admission counselors, and meet with the Chair of the Social Work Program prior to your submission.
Financial Aid
Many Master of Social Work students use scholarships, loans, employer assistance, and financial aid to support their graduate education.
To apply for financial aid at SMU, start by submitting your FAFSA. Samuel Merritt University works closely with students throughout the financial aid process—from completing the FAFSA to understanding scholarship opportunities and building a financial plan that supports their educational goals.
Scholarships for MSW students include:
- Some university scholarships of $3,000 to $5,000 are available. Approximately 5 to 10 awards will be made each year. Awards are made on a rolling basis so early applications are encouraged for students interested in scholarships. Complete applications on the SocialWorkCAS website are required before scholarships can be awarded.
- The state of California offers behavioral health scholarships to increase the number of appropriately trained behavioral health professionals providing direct patient care in California. Scholarships of $20,000 per year are available for a post-graduation service obligation. Students must be enrolled in an MSW program to apply. Early admission applications are encouraged for students who plan to apply for HCAI scholarships.
In addition to tuition and fees, financial aid can also cover:
- Books and supplies
- Room and board
- Transportation
- Personal expenses
- Other fees as determined by program/college
Your financial aid package at Samuel Merritt University is personalized to you. We develop your financial aid package using guidelines set by the Department of Education and the estimated costs of each program. Once you receive your financial aid package, check the budget against your actual living expenses, and we can make necessary adjustments to meet your needs.
Detailed information about financial aid, budgeting, total cost, and application processes is available using the button below.
Cost
For the current expected cost of the Master of Social Work program, please
download the Full 2026-2027 Tuition Guide. Samuel Merritt University strives to support the future of
healthcare through financial aid and scholarship opportunities. Learn more about the support available for you:
Prerequisites
Preferred, but not required:
Statistics: An introductory statistics/quantitative research method course offered by a community college or university is recommended, but not required.
Interviews
Students may be selected by SMU for an interview based upon the content of the application they submit to SocialWorkCAS. Not all candidates who meet minimum qualifications will require an interview.
Students who need disability accommodations may request them by emailing the Disability Resource Center at drc@samuelmerritt.edu. Please provide as much notice as possible. More information about the Disability Resource Center is available here.
Accreditation
Samuel Merritt University Master of Social Work Program Receives CSWE Accreditation July 6th, 2026
Samuel Merritt University is pleased to announce that its Master of Social Work (MSW) program has been granted Accreditation for a period of eight years by the Council on Social Work Education's (CSWE) Board of Accreditation (BOA).
Consistent with CSWE accreditation policy, Initial Accreditation applies retroactively to all students who entered the program during its candidacy period. As a result, graduates who completed the Samuel Merritt University MSW program while it held CSWE Candidacy status are considered graduates of a CSWE-accredited social work program.
Curriculum
The Master of Social Work curriculum is informed by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) 2022 Educational Policy and Accreditation Standards. Our courses are designed to provide students with the knowledge, skills, and abilities to achieve our previously defined MSW mission, goals, and objectives.
Introductory and Generalist courses are taken in the first year and parts of the second year of study. These courses build the foundation for advanced specialization in integrated health/medical social work in parts of the second year and the third and final year of the program.
A Typical Course Schedule
The SMU MSW program offers one area of specialized practice in integrated health, behavioral health, and medical social work. The focus of our program is to graduate social work professionals who are prepared for service in integrated health care (IHC) and a variety of healthcare settings.
Classes are designed to complete the part-time program in three years.
The Generalist Practice curriculum is completed in the first two years of the program and is organized around six areas: (1) Human Behavior in the Social Environment (SW601 and SW602); (2) Social Welfare Policy (SW620); (3) Introductory Research (SW6615); (4) Diversity/Race Gender & Inequality in Health (SW622); (5) Generalist Practice (SW611 and SW612); and (6) Field Seminar and Internship (SW630a and b, SW631a and b).
Our specialized practice curriculum is completed in the advanced years of the program. The specialized practice is designed to address advanced competencies in integrated health, behavioral health, and medical social work that are aligned with the nine social work competencies as defined by CSWE.
More About This Program
Program Learning Outcomes
Our program also has 9 Program Learning Outcomes (PLOs) that are aligned with the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE):
- Demonstrate ethical and professional behavior, including self-awareness, self-regulation, self-care, and appropriate use of technology in complex and continually evolving practice situations.
- Engage in practices to advance human rights and promote social, racial, economic, and environmental justice
- Engage in anti-oppressive, anti-racist, diversity, equity, and inclusion in practice and demonstrate understanding that human experiences, such as access to resources and opportunities, are influenced by intersectionality of identities.
- Engage in practice-informed research and research-informed practice using culturally responsive and justice-oriented research strategies to critically evaluate evidence that will advance social work practice.
- Engage in policy practice with an understanding of the social determinants of health to enhance social and economic justice and reduce health disparities.
- Engage with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities in healthcare and other settings utilizing the principles of reflective listening, cultural humility and ongoing self-reflection.
- Assess individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities in healthcare and other settings and utilize practice methods that evidence respect, humility, and an understanding of how diverse and different life experiences interact on micro, mezzo and macro levels.
- Intervene with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities in healthcare and other settings with evidence-informed and culturally responsive interventions in collaboration with interprofessional partners.
- Evaluate practice with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities through use of culturally responsive processes and outcome data.
Practicums and Clinical Placements
Internships, also known as practicums, are an integral part of social work education. The Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) requires that all MSW students complete at least 900 hours of practicum placements as part of their MSW education. MSW students complete both academic courses and practicum experiences with associated seminars. MSW students will complete at least 450 hours of a foundation practicum and another 450 hours of an advanced practicum. These two community-based experiences must be different placements to provide a breadth of applied social work learning. SMU has developed three tracks that students can pursue to complete their practicum hours. Option A completes the placement over two traditional semesters (30 weeks) per year. Option B allows students to complete 40-hour-per-week block placements in the 12-week summer semesters. Option C allows students to extend their placement hours over three academic semesters (42 weeks).
The three internship options are designed to support students by providing more flexible options than most social work programs. This also reflects the school’s commitment to help students reach our program learning outcome of self-care as we support our students through the challenges many returning students have in juggling school, work, and family responsibilities.
How Do I Find a Placement?
Before your second year begins, you will have an opportunity to review and interview with several potential sites. The Practicum Education Department will support you in finding a placement that meets the CSWE requirements and as much as possible supports your individualized schedules.
What Types of Field Sites Will Be Available?
This is a program focused on health social work. Our practicum sites will provide training in medical social work, behavioral health social work, aging and social work, and health services and social work. Your site might be based in a hospital, a clinic setting, or a community-based setting. SMU is developing agreements with sites in the East Bay area such as La Clinica. Students who receive health stipends may be expected to complete internships in community-based health, mental health, or hospital settings. Employment-based internships will need to conform to one of the three internship options (30 weeks, 12 weeks, or 42 weeks). Employment-based options will be developed on an individual basis and in partnership with students' employers.
Accreditation Reports
Watch here for accreditation reports on program outcomes to be published in the fall of 2026.
