Online Master of Social Work – Advanced Standing Track
The Fast-Track Option for BSW Graduates
Online Coursework
9 Months
30 Credit Hours
$559 Per Credit
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Accelerate Your Path to Licensure
- Apply By: 06/15/26
- Start Class: 06/22/26
Earn your MSW faster with the Eastern Oregon University online Master of Social Work – Advanced Standing track program. If you hold a Bachelor of Social Work from a CSWE-accredited program, you can qualify for this streamlined option, which requires only 30 credit hours.
A trauma-informed curriculum prepares you to serve rural and diverse communities while applying anti-oppressive and anti-racist approaches in practice. Study mental disorders, program evaluation, leadership and social change while tailoring your path with electives aligned to your interests. Plus, you will gain real-world experience through 500 hours of fieldwork. This program is designed to help you meet the requirements for the first level of MSW licensure in Oregon and most states.*
Program Details
- Advanced generalist curriculum
- Gain skills required for social work in rural areas
- Prepare for first level MSW licensure
Streamlined MSW: Fewer Credits, Flexible Fieldwork
10 Courses
30 Credit Hours
This advanced track includes 10 three-credit courses, including eight core courses and two electives for a total of 30 credit hours that can be completed in as few as nine months.
In your practicum, you will apply what you learn through 500 hours of fieldwork, with placements that may be paid and, in some cases, completed at your current workplace. You can also tailor your experience with electives on topics such as addictions, human trafficking, interpersonal violence, healthcare and more.
Curriculum DetailsRequired MSW Advanced Standing Online Courses
This course provides an ecological systems, strengths-based approach to advanced generalist practice with individuals, and families. Students integrate and apply social work ethics, theoretical perspectives, research, knowledge of human behavior, and diversity and difference to diverse client systems using cultural humility and an understanding of intersectionality. Trauma informed practice is addressed and integrated into practice scenarios.
This course is designed to deepen students’ understanding and skills in working with groups, organizations, and communities. Building upon foundational knowledge and practice, this course emphasizes the integration of theoretical frameworks with practical approaches for effective intervention and leadership in various social settings. Students will explore advanced concepts and methodologies relevant to group dynamics, organizational behavior, and community development. Course topics include advanced group facilitation techniques, strategic organizational change, community needs assessment, and collaborative problem-solving.
This course examines the most common mental disorders and evidenced based treatment interventions in advanced social work practice. Students apply the Diagnostic Statistical Manual (DSM) to diagnose and treat mental health disorders with diverse client systems across the lifespan. The course also focuses on applying strengths-based approaches to working with diverse and marginalized clients and highlights evaluation of practice.
This course explores the principles and practices of trauma-informed care and provides students with an understanding of trauma’s impact on individuals, families, and communities. Course content includes theoretical frameworks, evidence-based practices, and practical strategies for implementing trauma-informed approaches across various social work practice settings and levels of practice. Prerequisite: Admission to MSW Program or permission of the MSW Program Director is required to register.
In this course, students will acquire essential skills for critically evaluating the effectiveness and impact of social work programs. The course offers a comprehensive overview of evaluation methodologies and commonly used tools in social service settings. Key topics include designing evaluation plans, conducting needs assessments, applying single case designs, navigating evaluation ethics, and implementing anti-racist and anti-oppressive research practices. Students will also learn how to leverage evaluation results to advocate for meaningful program improvements. Admission to the MSW Program is required to register.
This course offers a foundational exploration of leadership theory and skills essential for advanced generalist practice. Students will have the opportunity to engage in self-discovery and refine their leadership abilities, equipping them to drive social change across diverse practice settings. Additionally, the course delves into the role of leadership in advancing social justice, advocating for marginalized communities, and implementing transformative policies and practices.
This course is the first of two advanced practicum courses in which students apply advanced generalist social work knowledge and skills in an approved supervised placement setting. Students in this course must complete a minimum of 250 hours in their placement, participate in a weekly field seminar, and successfully complete all course requirements to pass the course and to be able to enroll in SOWK 622 Advanced Practicum II. Admission to MSW Program is required to register.
This course is the second of two advanced practicum courses in which students apply advanced generalist social work knowledge and skills in an approved supervised placement setting. Students in this course must complete a minimum of 250 hours in their placement, participate in a weekly field seminar, and successfully complete all course requirements to pass the course. Prerequisites: Passing grade in SOWK 621 and co-enrollment or completed SOWK 602.
SOWK 700: Overview of Addictions – 2 credits
This course provides an overview of etiology and epidemiology of problematic substance use and addictions in the United States. The course focuses on understanding and evaluating various models and theories of addiction and substance misuse while also identifying risk and resilience factors in diverse client systems. The economic, social, and political context of substance abuse in America is discussed, as well as issues in service delivery and the physical, behavioral, psychological, and social impact of addiction on individual and family systems.
SOWK 701: Substance Use Disorder Intervention – 2 credits
This course takes an interdisciplinary approach to assessment and intervention strategies for clients with substance use disorders. Students examine past and current research and outcome data and apply diagnostic criteria to case scenarios. Treatment modalities and intervention strategies are discussed in relation to diverse client systems, with a focus on tailoring interventions at various stages of misuse, change, and recovery.
SOWK 703: End of Life Topics – 2 credits
This course provides students with the opportunity to examine and reflect upon attitudes, ethics, and theoretical perspectives related to end-of-life issues. Topics include loss and grief across the lifespan, coping, professional interventions, caregiving, ethical issues, hospice and palliative care, and advance planning. Admission to the MSW Program or permission of the MSW Program Director is required.
SOWK 704: Interpersonal Violence – 2 credits
This course provides an in-depth exploration of interpersonal violence through social work theory, practice, and policy. Students critically examine intersections of power, inequality, and trauma related to intimate partner violence, child abuse, elder abuse, and sexual violence. The course also explores impacts on individuals, families, and communities, with attention to diversity and social justice implications. Admission to the MSW Program or permission of the MSW Program Director is required.
SOWK 705: Child and Family Welfare – 2 credits
This course explores principles, practices, and policies central to child and family welfare. Topics include child abuse and neglect, family preservation, trauma‑informed care, tribal child welfare, and interventions for at‑risk populations. Emphasis is placed on culturally responsive service delivery and advocacy. Admission to the MSW Program or permission of the MSW Program Director is required.
SOWK 706: Social Work with Older Adults – 2 credits
This course examines advanced generalist practice with older adults, including aging processes, assessment tools, elder abuse, and end‑of‑life care. Students develop skills for effective intervention in community agencies, long‑term care facilities, and home‑based services. Admission to the MSW Program or permission of the MSW Program Director is required.
SOWK 708: Human Trafficking – 2 credits
This course provides a comprehensive examination of global and domestic human trafficking from a social work practice perspective. Students explore causes, impacts, and the roles of social workers and helping professionals in prevention, intervention, and advocacy. Admission to the MSW Program or permission of the MSW Program Director is required.
SOWK 710: Social Work Special Topics – 2 credits
This course offers advanced study of a current or emerging issue in generalist social work practice. The course may be repeated for credit when different topics are covered. Prerequisite: Admission to the MSW Program or permission of the MSW Program Director.
SOWK 711: Rural Social Work – 2 credits
This course provides an overview of generalist social work practice in rural settings, addressing unique challenges and opportunities faced by rural populations. Topics include rural poverty, community resilience, development strategies, and ethical considerations specific to rural practice. Admission to the MSW Program or permission of the MSW Program Director is required.
SOWK 712: Social Work and Healthcare – 2 credits
This course examines the role of social work in healthcare settings, focusing on the integration of medical and social services. Topics include health and mental health assessment, social determinants of health, documentation, ethical and legal considerations, interdisciplinary collaboration, advocacy, and case management. Admission to the MSW Program or permission of the MSW Program Director is required.
BSW Graduates: A Faster Path to Licensure
If you have earned a Bachelor of Social Work from a CSWE-accredited program, you can qualify for this advanced track, which requires less than half the credit hours of the traditional program.
Designed for professionals committed to serving and empowering others, especially vulnerable populations, this program helps you meet the educational and field experience requirements for the first level of MSW licensure in Oregon and most states.*
Start Your Application Today
Application Deadline 06/15/26 Summer 2026
Start Date 06/22/26 Summer 2026
Getting started with Eastern Oregon University is straightforward. Set up your EOU Online account, submit your application online, then check your email for status updates. If questions come up along the way, our support teams are here to help you.
| Online Application Form | Apply Now |
| Application Fee | $50 |
|---|---|
| Degree and Minimum GPA | Bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution with a 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale |
| Transcripts | Official transcripts from any institutions where a bachelor’s degree and/or graduate credit was earned |
| Official GMAT/GRE Score | Not required |
| Additional Requirements | Advanced standing requires midterm and final field evaluations. Midterm is accepted if currently in a program, but the final must be received by one month before classes start. |
Frequently Asked Questions
Explore our FAQ page to find answers to questions you may have about the online programs.
EOU’s MSW Advanced Standing Track, is designed for students who already hold a Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) degree from a CSWE-accredited program. Rather than completing the full 62-credit MSW, Advanced Standing students need only 30 credit hours, significantly shortening the time and cost to earn their graduate degree.
Because the Advanced Standing Track requires only 30 credit hours (compared to 62 for the standard MSW), qualified BSW graduates can complete the program in a substantially shorter timeframe. EOU’s online, asynchronous format also gives students flexibility to balance coursework with professional and personal commitments.
This program is designed for you to meet the educational and experience requirements for the first level of MSW licensure in Oregon and most states.
While EOU’s MSW program is not currently accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE), we have received pre-candidacy status.
We have submitted our Candidacy Eligibility Application and Benchmark I documents, and have received notice from the CSWE Board of Accreditation (BOA) that the EOU MSW program has been granted pre-candidacy status. Pre-candidacy for a baccalaureate or master’s social work program by the CSWE BOA indicates that an application has been submitted to be reviewed for candidacy, and received approval of its Benchmark 1 from CSWE accreditation staff to move forward for a candidacy review within 1-year. A program that has attained pre-candidacy status has not yet been reviewed by the BOA nor verified to be compliant with the EPAS.
Students who are admitted to pre-candidate programs in the fall (or later) of the academic year in which the program is granted candidacy status will be retroactively recognized as graduates from a CSWE-BOA accredited program as long as the program attains initial accreditation. EOU’s MSW program should receive Candidacy status in June of 2026, however, it is not guaranteed. Candidacy is typically a 3-year process, and attaining pre-candidacy does not guarantee that a program will eventually attain candidacy and initial accreditation.
EOU’s Master of Social Work degree does not meet the educational requirements for licensure in Florida, New Hampshire, and New York.
For the 2025-2026 academic year, EOU’s MSW program will not be admitting students from the following states that require full accreditation to be able to take the first level licensure exam: Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Missouri, Nebraska, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. The program will update the states from which we will accept student admissions as the program progresses through accreditation.
For more information, please contact our admissions team or visit our page here.
All Regular Standing students from all states other than Florida, New Hampshire, and New York may apply to the program.
- Part-time Advanced Standing students from all states other than Florida, New Hampshire, and New York may apply to the program.
- Full-time Advanced Standing students from Florida, New Hampshire, and New York or the states listed below may not apply to the program.
States that require full accreditation to be able to take in order to sit for the first-level level licensure exam: include: Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Missouri, Nebraska, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.
MSW graduates are prepared for a broad range of roles, including medical social worker, mental health clinician, substance abuse counselor, child welfare specialist, geriatric social worker, program manager, and public policy analyst. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects the social work field will grow 7% and add more than 54,000 new jobs through 2033.
Disclaimer
*All Regular Standing students from all states other than Florida, New Hampshire, and New York may apply to the program. Part-time Advanced Standing students from all states other than Florida, New Hampshire, and New York may apply to the program. Full-time Advanced Standing students from Florida, New Hampshire, and New York or the states listed below may not apply to the program.
States that require full accreditation to be able to take in order to sit for the first-level level licensure exam: include: Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Missouri, Nebraska, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.
Our program will update the states from which we will accept student admissions as the program progresses through accreditation. Our MSW program does not accept international students at this time. For more information, please contact us.