Master of Social Work (MSW) Programs in Wyoming

The Division of Social Work in the College of Health Sciences at the University of Wyoming currently offers the only Master of Social Work (MSW) degree program in the state of Wyoming. The University of Wyoming program uses a hybrid format in which students have the option to attend face-to-face classes at the university’s Laramie campus or to view broadcasted lectures through streaming video. The program does require students to attend weekend classes, which are referred to as intensive weekends, that are held several times per semester on campus.

The University of Wyoming’s program, which is fully accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE), has an advanced generalist curriculum that prepares students for work in clinical and macro practice social work with a focus on frontier and rural communities. In addition to a two-year, full-length enrollment track for traditional standing students, the University of Wyoming’s MSW program has an advanced standing track for qualified students who hold a Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) degree from a CSWE-accredited undergraduate program. The advanced standing track can be completed in one year.

Additional information on the University of Wyoming’s MSW program and on out-of-state schools that offer MSW programs that accept applicants from Wyoming is provided in the sections below:

• Traditional MSW Programs in Wyoming
• Advanced Standing MSW Programs in Wyoming
• Additional MSW Program Options for Residents of Wyoming

Traditional MSW Programs in Wyoming

Traditional MSW programs are full-length master’s programs that are designed for students who hold a bachelor’s degree and which prepare those students to work in clinical and/or macro practice social work. These programs do not require applicants to hold a bachelor’s degree in social work and offer a curriculum that includes foundational and specialization training, as well as a minimum of 900 hours of field education, a signature pedagogy of social work education that involves site-based learning at professional social work and human services agencies and organizations. Students who enroll full-time in a traditional MSW program can generally complete their degree in two years; students who opt for part-time enrollment or who enroll in a program that is only offered part-time can expect to graduate in three to four years, depending on the structure of the program.

The University of Wyoming offers a traditional MSW program through its Division of Social Work and its College of Health Sciences. The program has an advanced generalist curriculum, which means that students receive training and instruction in both clinical and macro practice social work. The focus of the MSW program is on clinical and macro practice social work in rural communities and among frontier populations. The program is offered in a full-time format that takes two years to complete.

Courses in the program are offered in a hybrid format that includes weeknight lectures and campus-based intensive weekend sessions. Students who live near the campus can attend the weeknight classes in-person, while those who do not live in the Laramie area can attend these classes virtually via live streaming and thus are only required to be on campus for the weekend intensives (which take place approximately once per month). All students enrolled in the program’s traditional track must complete a minimum of 900 hours of site-based field education prior to graduating.

Advanced Standing MSW Programs in Wyoming

Advanced standing MSW programs are designed for students who hold a BSW degree from a CSWE-accredited undergraduate program. These programs allow BSW graduates to skip the foundational coursework and field education requirements that comprise the first year of a traditional MSW program. Students who are eligible for an advanced standing track can thus complete their MSW degree in one year of full-time enrollment or two to three years of part-time enrollment.

It is important to note that most advanced standing program tracks have additional admission requirements and do not automatically accept all applicants who hold a BSW degree. For example, many programs require advanced standing applicants to have earned their BSW degree within the past five to seven years, and it is also common for programs to require a cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher on a four-point scale. Applicants who do not gain advance standing admission can still earn their MSW degree by enrolling in a traditional program.

The University of Wyoming’s MSW program has an advanced standing track for qualified applicants who hold a BSW degree from a CSWE-accredited undergraduate program, a cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.25 or higher, and a grade of B or better (3.0 or higher) in all undergraduate social work courses. Students who qualify for the advanced standing track begin the program with two courses that are taken during the summer term prior to the program’s specialization year, which is comprised of two semesters of advanced generalist coursework and 500 hours of field education. Thus, the advanced standing track, which requires a full-time commitment, takes one year to complete.

The University of Wyoming’s MSW program utilizes a hybrid delivery method in which courses are offered via a mix of online and campus-based classes. Specifically, the program holds evening classes during the week that students can attend in person or access via a live stream, as well campus-based intensive weekend sessions several times per semester (approximately once per month) that are mandatory for all students.

Additional MSW Program Options for Residents of Wyoming

Students who would like to research additional options for MSW programs may want to explore programs offered by colleges and universities in neighboring states, such as those offered by schools in Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nebraska, South Dakota, and Utah. For students who are able to relocate outside of the Wyoming region, there are MSW programs offered by schools throughout the United States that may prepare students in Wyoming for clinical licensure in the state. In addition, advances in distance-based instructional methods and learning technologies have made it possible for a growing number of CSWE-accredited MSW programs to be offered online. These programs provide students with greater access to graduate programs and do not require students to relocate to be near a college or university that offers an MSW program.

Online programs may offer all of their didactic instruction online or require a limited number of campus visits and allow students to complete their in-person field education hours at sites near their place of residence. Wyoming residents who are interested in pursuing an MSW degree can find online programs with specializations in clinical social work, macro practice social work, , military social work, and other focus areas, as well as programs that have traditional and advanced standing tracks, and programs that have flexible enrollment policies. To explore the various online MSW program options that are available to students who reside in Wyoming, visit our Online MSW Programs page.

All Master of Social Work Programs in Wyoming

T Traditional programs, Advanced Standing programs, Campus programs, Hybrid programs (campus and online instruction), Hybrid-Online programs (3 to ~6 campus visits per year), Online programs (fully online to 2 campus visits per year)