Social Work, M.S.W. in Kansas City
Saint Louis University’s Master of Social Work program in Kansas City offers the opportunity for students to earn an M.S.W. from a highly ranked and internationally known program without the challenges associated with relocation.
Program Highlights
- In SLU's hybrid model, approximately 60% of the program is taught online. The remaining courses are offered in a face-to-face format, including practicum planning and field seminar courses. In-person courses take place at Avila University, located in Kansas City, Missouri.
- SLU faculty integrate innovative classroom activities with community-based practice. An on-site fieldwork coordinator will assist students in securing meaningful, local fieldwork placements.
- Students can specialize in the clinical concentration or the community and organization concentration.
- Courses can be taken on a full-time or part-time basis, and students who already have their bachelor's degree in social work can accelerate their studies in the advanced standing program.
- Students without a bachelor's degree in social work enter the foundation program.
This M.S.W program prepares students in the Jesuit tradition to be advanced practitioners of social work, acting as agents of change to promote individual and societal well-being.
Both SLU and Avila were founded on the Catholic tradition of educating students who seek a higher purpose and a greater good. Our students learn and live social work and engage in service by committing to serve humankind with compassion.
For additional information, view the catalog entry for the SLU M.S.W. program:
Accreditation
The baccalaureate social work program at Saint Louis University has been continuously accredited since 1972. The Master of Social Work program at Saint Louis University has been continuously accredited since 1952.
Council on Social Work Education (CSWE)
1701 Duke Street, Suite 200
Alexandria, VA 22314-3457
Phone: 703-683-8080
- Graduates will be able to demonstrate ethical and professional behavior.
- Graduates will be able to advance human rights and social, racial, economic and environmental justice.
- Graduates will be able to engage anti-racism, diversity, equity and inclusion (ADEI) in practice.
- Graduates will be able to engage in practice-informed research and research-informed practice.
- Graduates will be able to engage in policy practice.
- Graduates will be able to engage with individuals, families, groups, organizations and communities.
- Graduates will be able to assess individuals, families, groups, organizations and communities.
- Graduates will be able to intervene with individuals, families, groups, organizations and communities.
- Graduates will be able to evaluate practice with individuals, families, groups, organizations and communities.
Students must earn a grade of B or better in all Generalist Foundation Courses. Students must earn a grade of C or higher in all other courses.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Generalist Foundation Courses | ||
| SWRK 5702 | Social Policy | 3 |
| SWRK 5725 | Human Behavior & the Social Environment | 3 |
| SWRK 5750 | Social Work Practice with Individuals, Families, & Groups | 3 |
| SWRK 5751 | Social Work Practice with Communities & Organizations | 3 |
| SWRK 5819 | Foundation Integrative Practice Seminar | 1 |
| SWRK 5841 | Master of Social Work Foundation Practicum | 2 |
| Hallmark Courses | ||
| SWRK 5700 | Values & Ethics in Social Work | 3 |
| SWRK 5707 | Policy Practice for Social Justice | 3 |
| Concentration | 27 | |
Select one of the following: | ||
| Total Credits | 48 | |
Clinical Concentration
Students must earn a grade of C or higher in all Clinical Concentration courses.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Advanced Practice Concentration Courses | ||
| SWRK 5708 | Research and Evaluation in Social Work Practice | 3 |
| SWRK 5733 | Advanced Clinical Practice with Individuals | 3 |
| SWRK 5736 | Advanced Clinical Practice with Families and Groups | 3 |
| SWRK 5762 | Diagnosis & Assessment in Clinical Practice | 3 |
| Concentration Practicum | ||
| SWRK 5820 | Integrative Practice Seminar | 1 |
| SWRK 5842 | Clinical Practicum I | 2 |
| SWRK 5843 | Clinical Practicum II | 3 |
| Concentration Electives | 9 | |
Select 9 credits * | ||
| Total Credits | 27 | |
- *
Up to 6 credits may be taken outside of Social Work (SWRK) courses.
Community and Organization Concentration
Students must earn a grade of C or higher in all Community and Organization Concentration courses.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Advanced Practice Concentration Courses | ||
| SWRK 5708 | Research and Evaluation in Social Work Practice | 3 |
| SWRK 5721 | Community Theory & Practice | 3 |
| SWRK 5785 | Organizational & Program Planning | 3 |
| Concentration Practicum | ||
| SWRK 5820 | Integrative Practice Seminar | 1 |
| SWRK 5832 | Community & Organization Practicum I | 2 |
| SWRK 5833 | Community & Organization Practicum II | 3 |
| Concentration Electives | 12 | |
Select 12 credits * | ||
| Total Credits | 27 | |
- *
Up to 6 credits may be taken outside of Social Work (SWRK) courses.
Continuation Standards
Students must maintain a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.00 in all graduate/professional courses.
Roadmaps are recommended semester-by-semester plans of study for programs and assume full-time enrollment unless otherwise noted.
Courses and milestones designated as critical (marked with !) must be completed in the semester listed to ensure a timely graduation. Transfer credit may change the roadmap.
This roadmap should not be used in the place of regular academic advising appointments. All students are encouraged to meet with their advisor/mentor each semester. Requirements, course availability and sequencing are subject to change.
Clinical Concentration (Full-Time)
| Year One | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | |
| SWRK 5725 | Human Behavior & the Social Environment | 3 |
| SWRK 5750 | Social Work Practice with Individuals, Families, & Groups | 3 |
| Credits | 6 | |
| Spring | ||
| SWRK 5702 | Social Policy | 3 |
| SWRK 5751 | Social Work Practice with Communities & Organizations | 3 |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Credits | 9 | |
| Summer | ||
| SWRK 5707 | Policy Practice for Social Justice | 3 |
| SWRK 5819 | Foundation Integrative Practice Seminar | 1 |
| SWRK 5841 | Master of Social Work Foundation Practicum 1 | 2 |
| Credits | 6 | |
| Year Two | ||
| Fall | ||
| SWRK 5736 | Advanced Clinical Practice with Families and Groups | 3 |
| SWRK 5708 | Research and Evaluation in Social Work Practice | 3 |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Credits | 9 | |
| Spring | ||
| SWRK 5733 | Advanced Clinical Practice with Individuals 3 | 3 |
| SWRK 5762 | Diagnosis & Assessment in Clinical Practice 4 | 3 |
| SWRK 5820 | Integrative Practice Seminar | 1 |
| SWRK 5842 | Clinical Practicum I 2 | 2 |
| Credits | 9 | |
| Summer | ||
| SWRK 5700 | Values & Ethics in Social Work | 3 |
| SWRK 5843 | Clinical Practicum II | 3 |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Credits | 9 | |
| Total Credits | 48 | |
- 1
Must be taken concurrently with SWRK 5819 Foundation Integrative Practice Seminar (1 cr) .
- 2
Must take concurrently with SWRK 5820 Integrative Practice Seminar (1 cr).
- 3
SWRK 5733 Advanced Clinical Practice with Individuals (3 cr) must be taken either concurrently or after SWRK 5842 Clinical Practicum I (2 cr).
- 4
This course is necessary for a LCSW.
Clinical Concentration (Part-Time)
| Year One | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | |
| SWRK 5725 | Human Behavior & the Social Environment | 3 |
| SWRK 5750 | Social Work Practice with Individuals, Families, & Groups | 3 |
| Credits | 6 | |
| Spring | ||
| SWRK 5702 | Social Policy | 3 |
| SWRK 5751 | Social Work Practice with Communities & Organizations | 3 |
| Credits | 6 | |
| Summer | ||
| SWRK 5707 | Policy Practice for Social Justice | 3 |
| SWRK 5841 | Master of Social Work Foundation Practicum 1 | 2 |
| SWRK 5819 | Foundation Integrative Practice Seminar | 1 |
| Credits | 6 | |
| Year Two | ||
| Fall | ||
| SWRK 5736 | Advanced Clinical Practice with Families and Groups | 3 |
| SWRK 5708 | Research and Evaluation in Social Work Practice | 3 |
| Credits | 6 | |
| Spring | ||
| SWRK 5762 | Diagnosis & Assessment in Clinical Practice 5 | 3 |
| Elective 2 | 3 | |
| Credits | 6 | |
| Summer | ||
| SWRK 5700 | Values & Ethics in Social Work | 3 |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Credits | 6 | |
| Year Three | ||
| Fall | ||
| SWRK 5733 | Advanced Clinical Practice with Individuals 4 | 3 |
| SWRK 5820 | Integrative Practice Seminar | 1 |
| SWRK 5842 | Clinical Practicum I 3 | 2 |
| Credits | 6 | |
| Spring | ||
| SWRK 5843 | Clinical Practicum II | 3 |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Credits | 6 | |
| Total Credits | 48 | |
- 1
Must take concurrently with SWRK 5819 Foundation Integrative Practice Seminar (1 cr).
- 2
Students can begin taking electives when they begin Concentration Core Courses and can add a three-credit elective to any semester beginning in Semester five.
- 3
Must take concurrently with SWRK 5820 Integrative Practice Seminar (1 cr).
- 4
SWRK 5733 Advanced Clinical Practice with Individuals (3 cr) must be taken either concurrently or after SWRK 5842 Clinical Practicum I (2 cr).
- 5
This course is necessary for LCSW.
Community and Organization Concentration (Full-Time)
| Year One | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | |
| SWRK 5725 | Human Behavior & the Social Environment | 3 |
| SWRK 5750 | Social Work Practice with Individuals, Families, & Groups | 3 |
| Credits | 6 | |
| Spring | ||
| SWRK 5702 | Social Policy | 3 |
| SWRK 5751 | Social Work Practice with Communities & Organizations | 3 |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Credits | 9 | |
| Summer | ||
| SWRK 5707 | Policy Practice for Social Justice | 3 |
| SWRK 5819 | Foundation Integrative Practice Seminar | 1 |
| SWRK 5841 | Master of Social Work Foundation Practicum 1 | 2 |
| Credits | 6 | |
| Year Two | ||
| Fall | ||
| SWRK 5708 | Research and Evaluation in Social Work Practice | 3 |
| SWRK 5785 | Organizational & Program Planning | 3 |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Credits | 9 | |
| Spring | ||
| SWRK 5721 | Community Theory & Practice | 3 |
| SWRK 5820 | Integrative Practice Seminar | 1 |
| SWRK 5832 | Community & Organization Practicum I 2 | 2 |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Credits | 9 | |
| Summer | ||
| SWRK 5700 | Values & Ethics in Social Work | 3 |
| SWRK 5833 | Community & Organization Practicum II | 3 |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Credits | 9 | |
| Total Credits | 48 | |
- 1
Must be taken concurrently with SWRK 5819 Foundation Integrative Practice Seminar (1 cr).
- 2
Must be taken concurrently with SWRK 5820 Integrative Practice Seminar (1 cr).
Community and Organization Concentration (Part-Time)
| Year One | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | |
| SWRK 5725 | Human Behavior & the Social Environment | 3 |
| SWRK 5750 | Social Work Practice with Individuals, Families, & Groups | 3 |
| Credits | 6 | |
| Spring | ||
| SWRK 5702 | Social Policy | 3 |
| SWRK 5751 | Social Work Practice with Communities & Organizations | 3 |
| Credits | 6 | |
| Summer | ||
| SWRK 5707 | Policy Practice for Social Justice | 3 |
| SWRK 5819 | Foundation Integrative Practice Seminar | 1 |
| SWRK 5841 | Master of Social Work Foundation Practicum 1 | 2 |
| Credits | 6 | |
| Year Two | ||
| Fall | ||
| SWRK 5785 | Organizational & Program Planning | 3 |
| Elective 3 | 3 | |
| Credits | 6 | |
| Spring | ||
| SWRK 5721 | Community Theory & Practice | 3 |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Credits | 6 | |
| Summer | ||
| SWRK 5700 | Values & Ethics in Social Work | 3 |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Credits | 6 | |
| Year Three | ||
| Fall | ||
| SWRK 5708 | Research and Evaluation in Social Work Practice | 3 |
| SWRK 5820 | Integrative Practice Seminar | 1 |
| SWRK 5832 | Community & Organization Practicum I 2 | 2 |
| Credits | 6 | |
| Spring | ||
| SWRK 5833 | Community & Organization Practicum II | 3 |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Credits | 6 | |
| Total Credits | 48 | |
- 1
Must take concurrently with SWRK 5819 Foundation Integrative Practice Seminar (1 cr).
- 2
Must take concurrently with SWRK 5820 Integrative Practice Seminar (1 cr).
- 3
Students can begin taking electives when they begin Concentration Core Courses and can add a three-credit elective to any semester beginning in Semester Three.
For admission questions, contact:
School of Social Work Graduate Admissions Office
socialwork@slu.edu
314-977-2752
For program questions contact:
Kristi Richter, M.S.W., LCSW, CDFT
Director of Master of Social Work Program
Assistant clinical professor of Social Work
kristi.richter@slu.edu
314-977-2738
Debra Olson-Morrison, Ph.D.
SLU M.S.W. in Kansas City site coordinator
Assistant professor of Social Work at Avila University
debra.olsonmorrison@slu.edu
810-501-3647