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New Mexico State University
School of Social Work
College of Health & Social Services

Requirements for the Master of Social Work in the NMSU School of Social Work

Research

All students must complete either a research project or a thesis.

  • Research project: This option will provide students with the opportunity to conduct research for a project that is related to their field placement and that will make a contribution to social work practice knowledge. Completion of a research project requires enrollment in MSW 561 and MSW 562.
  • Thesis: A thesis is a more extensive project and requires an approved proposal. Thesis students complete MSW 599, Graduate Thesis, in lieu of MSW 561, MSW 562.

Field Practicum

An integral part of a graduate social work program is completing the practicum experiences. For students enrolled in the Two Year Program, four semesters (12 credit hours) of practicum placements are required at two different sites. The student spends 950 hours in the field. For students enrolled in the Advanced Standing Program, two semesters (6 credit hours) of practicum placements are required. The student spends 500 hours in the field.

Students should be aware that practicum placements and social work or drug and alcohol licensure may be restricted to those who have not been convicted of any felonies and who successfully pass a background check. If you have a felony conviction or other legal issues, please disclose and talk to the Practicum Coordinator at the earliest possible time. This information will be utilized in a way to insure the best possible practicum placement.

The following are some examples of field placements for generalist and for Family-Centered practice students. All the 2nd year field placements are in agencies with a Family-Centered practice focus.

    Types: Schools, Health Services, Behavioral Health, Aging, Family and Child, Corrections, Foster Care, Children, Youth & Families Dept, Mental Health

    Locations: Albuquerque, El Paso, Truth or Consequences, Lordsburg, Anthony/Sunland Park, Ruidoso, Alamogordo, Roswell & Las Cruces

Placements are within a 75-mile radius of the New Mexico State University campus.

The Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) accredits the MSW Program at NMSU.


Requirements for Graduation

  1. A minimum of sixty (60) credit hours of designated graduate courses for the Two Year Program and thirty-six (36) credit hours of designated graduate courses for Advanced Standing
  2. A grade point average of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale in all course and field work
  3. Completion of a research project or a thesis
  4. Successful completion of the final comprehensive oral examination
PDF Version of MSW Handbook

School of Social Work,
P.O. Box 30001, MSC 3SW
New Mexico State University
Las Cruces, NM 88003-8001
Telephone: 575.646.3529
Facsimile: 575.646.4116
Contact Person: Maria Ortiz, Student Services Coordinator
E-mail: mariao@nmsu.edu

You may also download an Adobe Acrobat PDF version. To minimize difficulty in opening up this file, please have the most recent version of Adobe Acrobat Reader on your computer.