Simmons MSW Programs

The Simmons School of Social Work (SSW), a 119-year old institution, started as the Boston School for Social Workers in 1904. It created the first academically-linked social work program in the United States and set new standards for professional education in this field. The school’s century-long legacy continues as it leads social work education and prepares masters-level professionals to practice clinical work in our multicultural society.

Simmons MSW graduates have excellent career prospects ahead. The Bureau of Labor Statistics shows that social worker employment will grow 13 percent from 2019 to 2029. This is a big deal as it means that the growth surpasses many other career fields. Students perform well too – they achieve high scores on licensing exams and most find jobs within six months after graduation.

The school stands out with its unique approach to education. Students receive individual attention as faculty and advisors help them choose courses and select practicum placements that match their career goals. On top of that, it’s the only Social Work School in Massachusetts using Social Work Simulation Education. This best practice lets students practice treatments with trained actors in simulated situations before they step into real-life settings.

The SSW faculty members make this program special. These leaders in their fields serve as mentors and earn national recognition for their scholarship. Almost 90% of them actively work in their communities and bring their expertise to their students. Their research tackles pressing social issues, pushes for equity and justice, and advances social work teaching and practice.

Boston’s location gives students amazing advantages. The city buzzes with hospitals, non-profit organizations, and social service agencies that provide great internship, job, and networking opportunities. Students can choose from over 300 exciting internship sites and start hands-on work earlier than many other programs.

The program emphasizes clinical social work practice through a social justice perspective. Graduates learn to provide vital treatment in mental health, child welfare, and healthcare while staying committed to social justice principles. This mix of clinical excellence and social justice advocacy makes employers trust and seek Simmons graduates.

The SSW has adapted to society’s changing needs throughout its history. The school expanded its curriculum, created groundbreaking fieldwork opportunities, and promoted diversity and inclusion. From its early influence on medical and psychiatric social work to today’s digital learning and behavioral health research, Simmons leads in preparing compassionate, skilled professionals who create positive social change.

Programs offered

Simmons University has several Master of Social Work (MSW) program options that match different student needs and career goals. The MSW program helps students become skilled at clinical social work practice to work directly with individuals, families, and communities.

The traditional Simmons MSW program requires 65 credits with 48 credit hours of classroom courses and 17 credit hours of field education. Students can choose from these flexible tracks:

• Full-Time Track: Complete the degree in 23 months
• Accelerated Track: Finish in as few as 16 months
• Extended Track: Graduate at a steady pace in 32 months
• Extended-Plus Track: Balance other commitments and finish in 40 months

Students with a Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) from a CSWE-accredited program in the last seven years can apply for the Advanced Standing program. This accelerated option needs only 34 credits and takes just 9 months with the two-term option or 12 months with the three-term option.

Field experience is essential to the Simmons MSW curriculum. The Council on Social Work Education calls this the “signature pedagogy” of MSW education. Traditional MSW students complete over 1,000 hours of practical experience, while Advanced Standing students need 672 hours. Simmons MSW students get more hands-on experience than other programs in the Boston area.

Students gain both generalist and specialized practicum experience. Traditional MSW students start with the Simulated Practicum Experience (SPX) before working at community-based agencies. This approach lets students practice clinical skills in a supportive setting before meeting actual clients.

The program has specialized certificates in various practice areas. Campus students can earn certificates in Healthcare and Social Work, Public Policy, Trauma Practice, Military Clinical Social Work, or School Social Worker licensure. Online students can focus on Military Clinical Social Work, Mental Health Practice, or Trauma Practice.

The MSW curriculum offers advanced clinical specializations in four areas: Child and Family, Trauma and Interpersonal Violence, Mental Health and Addictions, and Health and Aging. These tracks prepare graduates to work in schools, hospitals, mental health centers, addiction treatment facilities, and agencies serving older adults.

The Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) fully accredits all Simmons MSW programs. This ensures graduates meet national standards for professional social work practice.

About the online program

SocialWork@Simmons delivers clinical MSW education through an innovative digital learning platform. The online program maintains the same high standards and faculty as its campus counterpart while giving students nationwide more flexibility.

Students and faculty connect face-to-face during weekly interactive classes in real time. Each class typically includes 20 or fewer students to encourage meaningful discussions and shared learning. Students can access course content, HD streaming videos, and interactive learning tools anytime.

The online MSW program adapts to different schedules with multiple timeline options:

• Advanced Standing (for BSW holders): Complete 34 credits in as few as 9 months (two terms) or 12 months (three terms)
• Accelerated: Complete 65 credits in 16 months (four terms)
• Full-Time: Complete 65 credits in 23 months (six terms)
• Extended: Complete 65 credits in 32 months (eight terms)
• Extended Plus: Complete 65 credits in 40 months (ten terms)

Practical education stands at the heart of the online experience. Traditional MSW students gain over 1,000 hours of hands-on experience in community settings. They start with the Simulated Practicum Experience (SPX) for one term before moving to community-based placements. Advanced Standing students complete 672 hours of practicum education. Simmons’ dedicated placement team helps find suitable internship sites near students’ communities.

The program builds community beyond virtual classrooms. Students connect during weekly “free blocks” without scheduled classes and through video conferencing for individual or group meetings. WeWork coworking spaces become available to some students through Global Access membership.

Students receive support throughout their journey. Dedicated admission counselors, academic advisers, and practicum placement specialists guide students from application to graduation. This personal attention helps students master program requirements despite the distance learning format.

The curriculum emphasizes social justice values and multicultural viewpoints to prepare graduates for direct practice in a variety of clinical settings. Students can specialize in mental health practice, trauma practice, or clinical work with military personnel and their families after completing foundation courses.

Multiple start dates and rolling admissions let students begin within three months of applying. This flexibility combined with strong clinical focus makes Simmons online MSW a great choice for aspiring social workers nationwide.

Accreditation

Quality assurance through proper accreditation will give a social work degree that employers and licensing boards recognize nationwide. The Simmons MSW program has full accreditation from the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE), the only accrediting body for social work education programs in the United States. This credential covers both campus and online delivery options. Students who graduate from Simmons MSW receive education that meets the highest professional standards, whatever format they choose.

The accreditation lines up with the 2022 Educational Policy and Accreditation Standards. This keeps the curriculum current with evolving professional practices. Simmons University has also managed to keep accreditation from the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE), which adds another layer of institutional quality assurance.

CSWE accreditation brings several clear advantages to your professional growth. You need to graduate from a CSWE-accredited program to take social work licensure examinations in most states. Many employers look for candidates with degrees from accredited programs, which makes this credential crucial for career growth. The accreditation shows your education meets quality standards that prepare you for real-life practice.

CSWE’s accreditation process uses a thorough peer-review system that balances standard outcomes with program flexibility. This accreditation proves that Simmons MSW graduates can “critically think, problem solve, and promote justice, equity, inclusion, and diversity”. The credential validates the program’s steadfast dedication to educating professionals who uphold social work’s core values of “justice, dignity and worth of a person, human relations, integrity, and competence”.

Students who want to work in school social work should know that the Simmons School of Social Work has approval from the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. This lets them endorse graduates of the School Social Worker/School Adjustment Counselor program for original state licensure. This extra credential opens up more professional opportunities in educational settings.

CSWE’s recognition by the Council on Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) further proves the high standards throughout your Simmons MSW education. This ended up setting your degree apart from unaccredited alternatives that employers or licensing boards might not recognize.

Admission Requirements

Students who want to join the Simmons MSW program must meet specific criteria that show they’re ready for graduate-level social work education. A bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with at least a 3.0 GPA is essential. Students must also have relevant work or volunteer experience in human services.

The application process requires several components:

• Completed online application with a $45 non-refundable fee
• Detailed résumé showcasing relevant employment, volunteer work, education, and professional training
• Personal statement (3-5 pages) addressing your motivation, preparation, and readiness for social work education
• Official college transcripts from all post-secondary institutions attended
• Three letters of professional or academic recommendation

Students from other countries need to meet extra requirements. Those who don’t speak English as their first language must submit TOEFL scores (minimum 600 on paper test/105 internet-based), IELTS Academic scores (minimum 7.0). The program might accept Duolingo scores on a case-by-case basis.

The Advanced Standing program welcomes recent BSW graduates who earned their degree from a CSWE-accredited institution in the last seven years. These candidates need a minimum grade of B in all BSW courses, an overall GPA of 3.0 or higher, and an average GPA of 3.3 or higher in social work courses.

Students applying to Advanced Standing must provide two recommendation letters (one from their BSW internship supervisor), write an extra essay about their BSW internship learning, and include their most recent BSW practicum evaluation. Practicum Education faculty often invites these candidates for interviews.

The on-campus and online MSW programs share similar admission standards. This ensures every admitted student meets the program’s high standards. Make sure you prepare all components carefully before submitting your application to strengthen your chances of admission.

Tuition

A Simmons MSW degree makes good financial sense, as graduates usually earn higher starting salaries. The traditional MSW program (65 credits) will cost $1,185 per credit during the 2025-2026 academic year. This brings the total program cost to $77,025. Students who qualify for Advanced Standing (34 credits) will need to invest $40,290.

Students need to plan for several other fees. Each field placement comes with a $75 practicum education fee and a $75 student fee per term. Online MSW students should also factor in a $215 Tevera Access Fee.

You’ll pay the same tuition whether you choose on-campus or online classes. The costs go up a bit each academic year, and future students should expect these modest increases. While everyone pays the same per-credit rate, your final cost depends on your chosen timeline and Advanced Standing eligibility.

Financial aid can help manage these expenses. Social work graduate students have access to many scholarship opportunities. The Verne LaMarr Lyons Memorial MSW Scholarship ($5,500) supports candidates who want to work in African-American communities. Students dedicated to working with American Indian/Alaska Native or Hispanic/Latino populations can apply for the Consuelo W. Gosnell Memorial MSW Scholarship ($4,000).

Some scholarships provide substantial funding. The Ron Brown Scholar Fund offers $40,000, and Truman Scholarships can provide up to $30,000. Students who advocate for peace and social justice might receive up to $10,000 from the Davis-Putter Scholarship Fund.

Simmons has created strategic collaborations like the City Year Partnership award. This program offers eligible City Year applicants 25%-50% off their total tuition. Students can reduce their tuition by up to 70% when they combine this partnership with other scholarships.

The higher earning potential of Simmons MSW graduates helps balance out the original costs throughout their careers.

Additional Information

Simmons MSW students receive complete support services that enhance their educational experience beyond regular coursework. The Student Support and Alumni Networks office helps with academic advising, registration, program planning, and course sequencing. This support becomes particularly helpful when students need to balance their studies with life changes such as marriage, maternity, or relocation.

Career development opportunities are a great way to get professional growth at Simmons. The School of Social Work regularly hosts Career Connections Workshops, Recruitment Fairs, and LCSW Licensing Prep Sessions. Students can access the social work job board with local opportunities even after graduation.

Students can expand their knowledge base through professional development programs at Simmons. Social workers can earn Category I Continuing Education credits. These programs align with the school’s mission to provide exceptional post-graduate preparation that focuses on intellectual exploration and skill-building. Participants must attend the entire workshop and complete sign-in procedures to earn credits.

Simmons has built a reliable alumni network over the past century. This network gives the ability to help vulnerable members of society and advance social justice. Students connect with this community through university resources like the Writing Center, Accessibility Services, Counseling Center, and Health Center.