Sacred Heart University MSW

The Most Rev. Walter W. Curtis, second bishop of the Diocese of Bridgeport, founded Sacred Heart University in 1963. The university started with fewer than 200 students and now serves over 9,000 full-time and part-time undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral students. Sacred Heart has grown to become the second-largest Catholic university in New England and ranks among the fastest-growing private doctoral institutions nationwide.

Sacred Heart University’s academic structure consists of five colleges and four schools. The School of Social Work operates alongside the College of Arts & Sciences, Jack Welch College of Business & Technology, College of Health Professions, Davis & Henley College of Nursing, Isabelle Farrington College of Education & Human Development, School of Communication, Media & the Arts, School of Computer Science & Engineering, and School of Performing Arts.

Three core elements form the foundation of Sacred Heart’s MSW program: social work principles, Catholic intellectual tradition, and hands-on learning. The program’s curriculum prepares students for both generalist and specialized social work practice. Students gain knowledge, skills, values, and practical experience needed to work with social problems and client systems of all types.

The School of Social Work’s degree programs include:

• Bachelor of Arts in Social Work (BSW)
• Master of Social Work (MSW)
• D. in Social Work
• Bachelor’s-Master of Social Work Dual Degree Program

Sacred Heart’s MSW program follows ethical principles that match both social work values and the university’s Catholic foundation. These principles emphasize service, human dignity, social and economic justice, and support for vulnerable and diverse populations. The curriculum meets the Council on Social Work Education’s (CSWE) accreditation standards, which promote academic excellence through scientific research, social responsibility, service, and justice.

The campus has grown by a lot over time and now has more than 300 acres. This includes the 18-hole Great River Golf Course and SHU’s West Campus, which was once General Electric’s global headquarters. These expansions show the university’s dedication to giving students modern facilities and resources for their educational development.

Sacred Heart University now offers more than 200 undergraduate, graduate, doctoral, and certificate programs. These programs run at both the main campus in Fairfield, CT, and the satellite campus in Dingle, Ireland. The Princeton Review’s 2026 guidebook, The Best 391 Colleges, recognizes Sacred Heart as one of the nation’s best universities.

Programs offered

Sacred Heart University’s Master of Social Work (MSW) program gives you two specialized paths to reach your career goals. You can pick Direct Clinical Practice if you want to work in counseling and therapy, or Direct Community Practice if you’re interested in administration and policy advocacy. These paths will prepare you for leadership roles and teach you anti-racist practice principles.

The standard MSW is a 60-credit program with start dates in fall, spring, or summer. You can finish in two years as a full-time student or just over three years part-time. The Advanced Standing MSW works best if you earned your BSW from a CSWE-accredited school in the last six years. This 30-credit fast-track option takes about 12-20 months to complete.

Field experience plays a big role in the program. Traditional students need to complete 1,100 hours across two placements, while Advanced Standing students need 550 hours. The program runs completely online with no campus visits, which works great for busy professionals.

The program’s coursework has essential subjects like Human Diversity and Social Justice, Social Welfare Policy, Human Behavior in the Social Environment, Methods of Social Work Research, and specialized practice courses. You can also choose from electives about Substance Abuse, Loss and Life Transition, Aging and Gerontology, Spirituality, and Children & Families.

Sacred Heart also offers these dual degree options:

• Accelerated 3+2 Bachelor’s-Master – Get your Health Science bachelor’s and MSW in five years
• Accelerated 4+1 Bachelor’s-Master – Complete both BSW and MSW degrees in five years
• 4+2 Bachelor’s-Master – Finish your bachelor’s in four years plus two years for MSW

The job market looks promising with 7% growth expected from 2023 to 2033. You can transfer up to 15 credit hours to help save time and money.

Before graduating, you’ll need to complete a capstone project that combines your generalist and specialized coursework. This final project shows you’re ready to make a real difference in people’s lives and communities as a skilled social work professional.

About the online program

Sacred Heart University’s online MSW provides the same high-quality education as its campus program but offers more flexibility to working professionals. Students can complete coursework on their own schedule while meeting deadlines because all courses are asynchronous, unlike other programs that require scheduled attendance.

Students use Blackboard as their main platform to access materials, turn in assignments, take tests, view grades, read syllabi, and interact with classmates. This online space creates a supportive learning community where professors and peers become essential to your educational trip as you develop intellectually, physically, and spiritually.

Of course, academic excellence remains paramount in the online program. Each graduate course typically needs 12-15 hours of work per week. Field education is essential to the curriculum with two key parts:

• The Generalist Practicum (SW 578) helps develop core competencies when working with individuals, families, groups, communities, and organizations
• The Specialized Practicum (SW 680) enhances advanced skills that line up with your career goals

These hands-on experiences need 14-21 hours weekly during two semesters for each placement. Traditional track students must complete 1,000 hours across two field placements, while Advanced Standing students need 500 hours in one placement.

Sacred Heart has built a strong network of agency partnerships for field practicums in both urban and suburban settings. Students can work in schools, hospitals, mental health clinics, juvenile justice programs, substance abuse centers, adoption agencies, child protective services, domestic violence organizations, and numerous other locations.

Students must complete a capstone project that shows their social work competencies matching the School’s mission and professional ethical principles. The curriculum covers essential topics like social welfare policy, human identity formation, institutionalized racism and sexism, and social policy analysis.

Social justice forms the foundation of the online MSW program. This detailed approach enables you to break down oppressive systems and protect human dignity in every community. The hands-on curriculum lets you apply classroom content directly to real or simulated situations, preparing you to make an impact right after graduation.

Accreditation

Sacred Heart University’s MSW program’s quality shines through its accreditation. The program holds accreditation from the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE). This prestigious recognition came in February 2019. The community received this milestone announcement on March 22, 2019.

CSWE is the only accrediting agency for social work education that the Council for Higher Education Accreditation recognizes in the United States and its territories. This accreditation sets the gold standard for MSW degree programs and ensures students get the highest quality curriculum.

The path to full accreditation took three rigorous years. The program first got its license from Connecticut State Office of Higher Education in October 2015. The program then hit several key milestones:

• Pre-candidacy status (achieved May 2016): Preliminary planning phase
• Candidacy status (achieved February 2017): Approval to begin the program and accept students
• Full Accreditation (achieved February 2019): All accreditation requirements satisfied

Sacred Heart completed full program development during this evaluation process. The university conducted self-studies with faculty and students, hosted yearly CSWE representative visits, and went through detailed reviews by CSWE’s Council on Accreditation.

The accreditation process carefully examined how the curriculum lined up with CSWE’s standards. CSWE calls field education “the signature pedagogy” of instruction, so it got special attention. The department used these standards to create a program that trains skilled social workers.

This accreditation brings direct value to current and future students. You’ll get an education at Sacred Heart University that prepares you for real-life professional practice. The curriculum meets accreditation standards that promote academic excellence through scientific research, social responsibility, service, and justice.

Students who enrolled during the candidacy year get a key benefit – their degree counts as coming from a CSWE-accredited social work program. This status confirms your degree’s quality and recognition in the field.

Sacred Heart University’s MSW program’s CSWE accreditation adds to the university’s New England Commission of Higher Education accreditation. This proves the university’s steadfast dedication to educational excellence in all its programs.

Admission Requirements

Sacred Heart University’s MSW program accepts new students for fall entry based on specific criteria for each track. The MSW program’s priority deadlines are May 15 for full-time students and June 15 for part-time students. August 1 serves as the final application deadline for everyone.

Students pursuing the Traditional MSW track must submit:

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution
• Official transcripts from all previously attended institutions
• Minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA (students with 2.7+ might qualify)
• Completed online application with $75 non-refundable fee
• Two letters of recommendation written within the last 2 years
• Professional resume
• Personal statement explaining your choice of SHU’s MSW program
• Admission essay covering six specific topics

The admission essay needs your response to questions about social work interest, dedication to social justice, how you line up with SHU’s mission, self-reflection capabilities, graduate study preparedness, and technology skills. Each response should not exceed 200 words.

Advanced Standing applicants need these additional documents:

• Bachelor’s degree in Social Work from a CSWE-accredited institution earned in the past six years
• Minimum 3.0 overall GPA and 3.0 social work GPA with B or higher in each course
• Field evaluation forms from all BSW field placements

Students must maintain a minimum 3.0 GPA with B or better in all courses and good program standing before starting field placements. Field placement planning documents need completion within set timelines.

International students face additional requirements. They must prove English language proficiency through TOEFL (minimum 550 paper-based/80 iBT), IELTS (6.5+), or Duolingo (110+) scores. They also need certified financial statements and passport copies. F-1 visa holders cannot join online programs.

The MSW program adheres to CSWE accreditation standards and doesn’t award academic credit for life or work experience. Students can transfer up to 15 credits from previous graduate study with university approval.

Graduate Admissions welcomes your questions about application requirements or eligibility at 877-791-7181. You can also find more details on the program website.

Tuition

Sacred Heart University’s MSW program comes with specific costs and several financial aid options you should know about. The tuition costs $840 per credit hour for both traditional and Advanced Standing MSW programs. Students in the standard 60-credit program pay $50,400 in total tuition, while Advanced Standing students completing 30 credits pay $25,200.

MSW students need to account for some additional fees each semester. A mandatory $215 fee covers graduate student ($60), library ($40), and registration ($115) charges. The social work program has specific fees:

• SW Program Fee: $350 per course for specific practicum courses (SW 578, SW 580, SW 678, SW 680)
• SW One-time Assessment Fee: $215 for online students (course SW 600)
• SW Accreditation Assessment fee: $215 for on-ground students (course SW 600)
• SW Accreditation Assessment fee: $100 (course SW 601)

Students should also plan for other expenses. Sacred Heart estimates about $9,023 per semester for living costs, books, transportation, and personal needs.

The School of Social Work provides substantial financial aid to help with these costs. The Health Horizons CT grant program stands out by offering up to $10,000 in tuition support to qualified MSW students. CT CARES (Connecticut Creates Advances to Recruiting and Retaining Education and Employment for Social Workers) gives eligible Connecticut students financial aid plus personalized professional development, licensure prep, and connections to potential employers.

You can also get financial help through:

• Federal student loans and grants via FAFSA (school code: 001403)
• Military benefits including Post-9/11 and Montgomery GI bill support
• Education partnership discounts through employers
• Various external scholarships

Sacred Heart’s payment options include enrollment plans that cost $65 per semester and a Guaranteed Payment Plan for $80 per semester. You can use the university website’s tuition calculator to estimate your total program costs and possible financial aid.

Additional Information

Sacred Heart University MSW graduates have excellent career prospects. After graduation, you’ll be part of a community where 98% of graduates find jobs. SHU graduates earn a median salary of $61,000, with an average of $63,705.

Leading companies actively seek SHU graduates for roles at prestigious organizations such as:

• Yale New Haven Health
• Deloitte
• KPMG LLP
• Massachusetts General Hospital
• Northwestern Mutual

The social work field continues to expand steadily. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics expects 53,800 new jobs between 2022 and 2032—a 7% growth rate that exceeds most other occupations.

SHU provides strong student support services. The Center for Career & Professional Development helps with resumes, job searches and interview preparation. A dedicated support team guides you from your first application until graduation day.

SHU graduates often advance their education further. The numbers tell the story: 75.2% earn master’s degrees, 17.5% complete doctorates, while others pursue additional credentials. Social work careers span clinical work, community practice, administration and policy development across various populations.

Sacred Heart’s integrated approach helps students discover their calling in this influential profession.