Master of Social Work

The Master of Social Work Program at Heritage University is designed for professionals who wish to expand their education and career as social workers. Located within the homelands of the Yakama Nation and serving a large Latinx population, the program is developed with responsiveness to the communities served in the Eastern Washington region as a central focus, the program offers both a Traditional two-year track and an Advanced Standing one-year track guided by our mission. Advanced Standing is available to students who have graduated from a CSWE-accredited baccalaureate social work program who also meet admissions criteria.  

Courses are taught by faculty with a wide range of social work practice experience and are offered in a hybrid format with in-person class meetings on Saturdays. Practicum placements, the signature pedagogy of social work education, are located in organizations and schools with strong partnerships with the HU Social Work Program. The practicum helps connect the theory learned in classes to practice experience in the field.  A total of 900 hours is required for the Traditional program and 500 hours is required for Advanced Standing students. Students also have the option of taking elective classes that will prepare them for practice as School Social Workers under the Washington State ESA certification and/or to earn Washington State Certification in Substance Use Disorder Treatment. 

The mission of the online Master of Social Work program at Heritage University is to prepare students for Generalist and Specialized Practice and equip them with practice skills to work with individuals, families, groups, schools, organizations, and communities. Emphasis is placed on anti-racism, diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging utilizing scientific inquiry and promotion of socially responsible policy through culturally responsive, strengths-based social work practice. The program prepares practitioners who serve rural, diverse, and underrepresented communities to address structural and institutional inequities to facilitate and promote the wellbeing and quality of life for all people.

The HU Social Work program utilizes the nine competencies outlined by the CSWE as the learning outcomes for the MSW program to ensure alignment with professional standards. Each competency is operationalized with behaviors that describe observable components. Accredited social work programs are required to measure these competencies and behaviors.

Below are the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) 2022 Educational Policy and Accreditation Standards (EPAS) Competencies. 

1. Demonstrate Ethical and Professional Behavior
2. Advance in Human Rights and Social, Racial, Economic, and Environmental Justice 
3. Engage Anti-Racism, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (ADEI) in Practice
4. Engage in Practice-Informed Research and Research-Informed Practice
5. Engage in Policy Practice
6. Engage with Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities
7. Assess Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities
8. Intervene with Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities
9. Evaluate Practice with Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities