Because of its urban setting in the heart of the San Fernando Valley in Los Angeles County, CSUN offers an approach to graduate-level social work education that concentrates on urban family practice. This focus offers students opportunities to learn and develop strategies for working in any urban environment at any level – from individual/family to group/community to societal/policy. CSUN's MSW degree prepares students for careers as administrators, community advocates, counselors, policy makers, researchers, supervisors and service workers in a wide variety of settings, including community and government organizations, healthcare centers and schools.

This relatively new program – the fifth class graduated in 2011– aims to enhance the sensitivity of students to issues of social and economic justice while providing opportunities for critical review of social policies. Because the program features a substantial field-education component, students are exposed to practice with vulnerable and at-risk populations, an experience that stimulates student interest in social advocacy and enhances their appreciation of the planned-change process. The curriculum also emphasizes the development of creative and critical thinking to enable graduates to initiate, adapt and evaluate policies and interventions appropriate to specific client groups.

Designed for working professionals in collaboration with the Department of Social Work in CSUN's College of Social and Behavioral Sciences, this MSW program is offered both online (as a two-year, full-time program) and (as a part-time, three-year program) at three off-campus locations: College of the Canyons in Santa Clarita, the Los Angeles County Department of Public Social Services in the City of Industry (for LADPSS employees only), and the Ventura County Human Services Agency in Ventura.

All courses are taught by distinguished CSUN faculty who are also experts in the field of social work, and the program is fully accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE). CSUN academic programs are accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC).

Your state may have its own specific licensure requirements for social work practitioners. Please check with your state's licensing department for more information.