COURSE CURRICULUM

The Master of Social Work program at California State University, Sacramento requires 60 to 62 units and is structured to combine foundational knowledge, specialized training, electives, and a culminating experience. The professional foundation component consists of 28 units and provides essential preparation in areas such as social work practice, research methods, human behavior theories, social welfare policy, and work with diverse populations. This phase also includes two semesters of field instruction, allowing students to gain supervised practical experience in real-world social service settings.Following the foundation year, students complete 19 units in a chosen specialization area: Behavioral Health, Children and Families, or Health and Aging. Each specialization includes advanced coursework in multi-level practice, policy, and two additional field instruction placements aligned with the selected focus area. This ensures that students develop in-depth expertise and hands-on skills relevant to their professional interests.In addition, students must complete 9 units of electives from a wide range of topics such as mental health practice, community organizing, child welfare, rehabilitation, and social work in healthcare settings. These electives allow students to further tailor their learning to specific career goals. The program concludes with a culminating experience of 4 to 6 units, where students choose between a research-focused or project-based option, enabling them to integrate and apply their academic and field learning.For students with a Bachelor of Social Work, an Advanced Standing option is available, requiring 32 to 34 units. This pathway focuses primarily on the specialization, electives, and culminating experience, allowing eligible students to complete the degree in a shorter timeframe. Overall, the curriculum emphasizes both theoretical understanding and extensive field-based training to prepare graduates for advanced professional social work practice.