University at Buffalo School of Social Work

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Located in Buffalo, New York, the University at Buffalo (UB) is one of the State University of New York systems flagship campuses. With 31,000 students studying in more than 125 degree programs, UB has top-ranked programs in English, education, law, and social work.

The university’s School of Social Work began as a subset of the sociology department and was established as its own center in 1934. UB now enrolls 500 students in full- and part-time programs. Since 2013, the school of social work has offered fully online graduate programs for social work students.

University at Buffalo School of Social Work

Ranked among the top 10% of graduate social work schools by U.S. News & World Report, University at Buffalo’s School of Social Work emphasizes core values of service, respect, collaboration, leadership, human rights and social justice, growth, professionalism, excellence, and responsibility. The curriculum focuses on trauma-informed human rights perspectives.

With a strong commitment to community-based research, the BU School of Social Work houses the Center for the Study and Prevention of School Violence and the UB/Amrita Social and Behavioral Sciences Research Institute.

University at Buffalo is regionally accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE). The University at Buffalo’s School of Social Work programs are accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE).

Online Social Work Programs

The UB School of Social Work offers an online master of social work (MSW) and an online doctor of social work (DSW) in social welfare. Both programs are designed for part-time study.

The online MSW comes with two options: A 60-credit traditional track for a student who enters the program without a bachelor’s degree in social work, and a 35-credit advanced standing track for the enrollee who already holds a bachelor’s degree in social work. The traditional track can be completed in three years, while the advanced standing track commonly takes 1.5 years. Application requirements are the same for on-campus and online programs.

Intended for social workers practicing directly in the field, the 39-credit online DSW program places a strong emphasis on the trauma-informed and human rights perspective. The UB DSW program is only available online. The DSW requires a mandatory in-person orientation before the program begins.

On-Campus Social Work Programs

In addition to its online programs, UBs school of social work offers on-campus MSW and Ph.D. programs, as well as dual-degree programs for MSW/Ph.D., BA/MSW, and options for combination MSW programs that include a juris doctor, an MBA, and a master in public health. These dual-degree options are only open to on-campus students. The Ph.D. in social welfare differs from the online DSW in that it takes a strong research focus, rather than a practice-based approach.

University at Buffalo Online Social Work Programs

Online Master of Social Work

Program Overview

Department: UB School of Social Work

Program Name: Master of Social Work

Delivery

Format: Online

Instruction Style: Synchronous and asynchronous

Program Requirements

Prerequisites: Traditional track students must hold a regionally-accredited bachelor’s degree with a minimum of 12 credits in the liberal arts, which must include six credits in social or behavioral science, and six credits in the arts and humanities. Each advanced standing student must have a bachelor’s in social work from a CSWE-accredited institution.

Credit Requirements: 60 credits for the traditional track, 35 credits for the advanced standing track.

Field Education Requirements: Two field placements – one comprising 420 hours and another of 480 hours. Each advanced standing student must complete one 480-hour placement.

Program Length

Program Options: Part-time only.

Program Length: Three years for traditional-track students; 1.5 years for advanced standing.

Program Start Dates: The traditional track begins in the fall semester, while the advanced standing track begins in spring.

Admission Requirements

Application Deadline: February 17th for fall; October 1 for spring.

GPA: A 3.0 minimum is preferred for traditional track and required for the advanced standing track.

Online Doctor of Social Work

Program Overview

Department: UB School of Social Work

Program Name: Doctor of Social Work in Social Welfare

Delivery

Format: Online

Instruction Style: Synchronous and asynchronous

Program Requirements

Prerequisites: Master’s degree in social work from a CSWE-accredited institution.

Credit Requirements: 39 credits

Field Education Requirements: The program is designed for students who are already employed in a social work setting and have access to clients during their studies.

Program Length

Program Options: Part-time only

Program Length: Three years

Program Start Dates: Fall only

Admission Requirements

Application Deadline: March 2nd

GPA: 3.0 undergraduate and graduate GPA preferred

Standardized Tests: GRE

Work Experience: Two years post-MSW experience working directly with clients.