Bachelor's to Master of Social Work Accelerated Program

Saint Louis University’s accelerated pathway to the Master of Social Work (M.S.W.) allows you to begin working toward your graduate degree during your undergraduate studies—open to students from any major.

During your senior year, you can take approved graduate-level courses that count toward both your bachelor’s and master’s degrees, replacing general electives and helping you get a meaningful head start.

This pathway is especially well-suited for students in psychology and related majors who want to pursue careers working directly with individuals, families and groups in clinical or helping roles. If you are drawn to careers in counseling or therapy, behavioral health, community-based work, justice systems or policy, the M.S.W. offers a versatile and in-demand degree that prepares you for a wide range of applied professional roles. The program also prepares you to pursue professional licensure in social work, which is required for many clinical and advanced practice positions.

You may find this pathway a strong fit if you are looking to move beyond theory into practice, pivot from a prehealth or medical track while still helping others, or pursue work that creates real change for individuals, families and communities, particularly those who are vulnerable or underserved. Social work uniquely prepares you to address both individual needs and the broader systems that shape people’s lives.

By starting graduate coursework early, you can complete both degrees in less time and at a lower cost than pursuing them separately, while positioning yourself for strong employment opportunities and meaningful, impact-driven work after graduation.

Begin your journey at SLU — where compassion meets action. 

For additional information, see the catalog entries for the following programs:

SLU Bachelor's Programs

Master of Social Work

Admission Requirements

SLU undergraduate students will apply for the accelerated program no later than March 1 of their third/junior year, and must have room in their schedule senior year to take MSW coursework. Students will select the admit term of the first semester they plan to enter SLU's M.SW. program and indicate they are applying as part of an approved accelerated program.

Students must hold a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0.

• Students must hold a minimum GPA of 2.5 in their undergraduate major, or meet the higher GPA requirement specified by their major, whichever is greater.
• Students may have no more than four remaining major courses to complete in their senior year to ensure they can balance undergraduate and graduate coursework and stay on track for timely graduation.

Program Requirements

During their senior year, students may complete up to 15 credit hours of graduate social work courses in place of University electives*. Students begin with foundational coursework in human behavior, social work practice methods, and social policy, and evaluation. Students may take the following courses in either fall and/or spring depending on the number of University electives they have available:

*

Accelerated graduate courses do not meet undergraduate Core course requirements and cannot substituted for Core course requirements. 

**

If room is available for a fifth graduate course, students may choose from SWRK 5706 or SWRK 5708.

Any of these courses not taken during their senior year will be taken during their MSW program. 

During the fall semester of their senior year, accelerated program students will participate in MSW program new student orientation.

Non-Course Requirements

• Fall semester junior year: attend an accelerated M.S.W. in social work program information session.
• Fall semester senior year: participate in M.S.W. program new student orientation.

For program questions, contact:

Rebecca Schultz
Assistant director of recruitment and programming
rebecca.schultz@slu.edu
314-977-2752