Bachelor's-Master of Social Work

Get a head start on your career by accelerating your undergraduate-to-graduate education with a dual degree in social work

Sacred Heart’s dual degree program offers incoming first-year students a direct path to the MSW graduate program, which prepares students to become agents for positive change in the world.

The curriculum combines a liberal arts foundation with social work coursework and field experiences. Social work education at SHU is guided by ethical principles of service, respect for human dignity, social and economic justice, and the needs of vulnerable and diverse populations, led by expert faculty.

Dual degree students are guaranteed admission to the Master of Social Work program provided they continue, as undergraduate students, to meet program-specific criteria to progress into graduate program enrollment.

Why choose a dual degree at Sacred Heart?

Find support

As undergraduates, students have an academic adviser, as well as other faculty and counseling resources to help them stay on track and progress toward their graduate degree. Industry-specific events and student clubs are also available for undergraduate students to become more deeply involved in their graduate field.

Save money

Students who participate in dual degree programs may save on tuition costs from a separate graduate program.

Less stress

When you take advantage of the dual degree program, your spot in graduate school is already reserved. There are no last-minute applications for grad school during the final months of your senior year.

Choose from two dual degree options.

4+1 Bachelor’s – Master of Social Work

The 4+1 Bachelor’s – MSW option is available to students pursuing an undergraduate major in Social Work (BSW). In the 4+1 option, students complete four years of undergraduate coursework and one year of graduate coursework, earning both a bachelor’s degree (BSW) and the Master of Social Work (MSW) degree within five years.

Accelerated 3+2 Bachelor’s – Master of Social Work

The 3+2 Bachelor’s – MSW option is available to students pursuing an undergraduate major in Health Science. Students pursuing the MSW 3+2 Dual Degree Program earn a Bachelor of Science in Health Science degree in three years, followed by two years of graduate study to earn the Master of Social Work degree.

What are career opportunities in social work?

Sacred Heart's MSW graduates find work in social services, elder care, child welfare, health care, community advocacy and development, human rights initiatives and political campaigns. They will develop the skills necessary to engage, assess, intervene and evaluate practice in work with individuals, families, groups, communities, organizations and government systems.

More Information

For additional information for prospective first-year students, contact:

Undergraduate Admissions
203-371-7880
enroll@sacredheart.edu

For additional information for current dual degree students, contact:

Graduate Admissions
203-365-7619
gradstudies@sacredheart.edu