The College of Social Work at the University of Kentucky offers an innovative and exciting MSW curriculum aimed to equip MSW graduates for the tasks and responsibilities encountered in professional social work practice. Our program is open to all undergraduate degrees and may be completed full time or part time, in either a hybrid or online format and is accredited by CSWE.
The MSW program is an Advanced Generalist program that prepares students for social work practice across the micro-macro continuum with diverse populations. Students are afforded the opportunity to gain practice and research experience in a variety of professional settings, including:
An Army MSW program is offered at Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio, Texas and is a selective admission process through the Department of Defense.
Our MSW graduates have the highest clinical licensing pass rates in Kentucky and routinely score above the national average, making our students uniquely poised to enter a competitive job market and make the most of forecasted growth within the social work profession. And in so doing, our students will positively impact the lives of individuals, groups, and communities.
Select from regular (two year) or advanced (one year) standing options. Students can also earn a MSW in hybrid or fully-online formats and attend classes at our program in Hazard.
CoSW is home to several unique research centers and labs, including the Training Resource Center, Interdisciplinary Research Center on Children and Families, Kentucky Kinship Resource Center, Self-Care Lab, Suicide Prevention and Exposure Lab, and Military Behavior Health Lab. Students can leverage these entities for unique learning and research opportunities.
Our MSW graduates have the highest clinical licensing pass rates in Kentucky, and are well above the national average. Our students receive career counseling, mentoring, and post-graduation mentorship to ensure a successful transition into social work practice.
MSW students have the option to earn specialized certificates in Clinical Social Work, Child Welfare, Military Behavioral Health, Rural Population Wellbeing, and Substance Use Disorder, to name a few.
KY Rank for Graduate licensing Pass Rates
Student Field Placement Options
Student who receive some type of aid
Understanding the Brain and Fear Responses in Traumatized Children provides an overview of brain development and how fight/flight/freeze fear responses may manifest in children who have experienced trauma. In addition,
Guiding Your Child Through Adolescence explores the physical and emotional changes that children undergo as they enter adolescence. Parents will discuss how parental roles change during this period of their
Keeping Families Strong provides foster parents insight on how to keep partnerships, families and friendships strong while providing care to out of home children. It will also provide strategies for
ASK-VIP Support Group for Foster/Adoptive Parents of Teens is specifically designed for foster/adoptive parents who are caring for teenagers or those considering fostering and/or adopting teenagers. This support group offers
Foster Parent Safe Zone Training March 28, 2023 10:00 AM-12:00 PM EST Via Zoom Carla Jordan, MS 2 credit hours Becoming a foster and/or adoptive parent can present its own
This group will focus on the day to day issues involving relative and fictive kin care and will be a place where each member can find support, resources, ideas, and
ASK-VIP LGBTQ+ Foster/Adoptive Parent Support Groups are specifically designed for foster/adoptive parents who identify as LGBTQ+ as well as foster/adoptive parents who are caring for children or teens who identify
Working with Birth Families to Achieve Permanency will equip foster parents many different ways to positively work with birth families toward the initial goal of reunification. The training also discusses
In honor of National Social Work Month, the University of Kentucky College of Social Work (CoSW) will host an appreciation event for any UK employee who has graduated from a
Understanding and Coping with Sensory Processing Challenges provides parents with tools to engage and work with children who display sensory processing challenges. Parents will learn what Sensory Processing Disorder is
This group will focus on the day to day issues involving relative and fictive kin care and will be shaped by the identified needs of group participants. Members of this
Child Development 0-5 explores the typical milestones, or skills, that children develop from birth through age 5. It offers resources that caregivers can utilize to determine if a developmental screening
Attachment & Bonding with your Foster & Adopted Child equips parents to enhance their relationship with foster/adopted children by teaching them the basics about bonding and attachment. This training also
Myths & Realities of Foster Care & Adoption enables parents to identify myths and realities related to foster care and adoption. After completing this training, participants will be able to:
Positive Adoption Language: Part 1 will discuss the power and impact of words and terminology related to adoption and foster care. This training will provide strategies to help parents reword
ASK-VIP Support Groups are expressly designed to meet the needs of foster and adoptive parents in an inclusive, safe, and compassionate environment. They are led by seasoned facilitators who have
Blended Families: Parenting Children When They Don’t Get Along assists caregivers with identifying issues that children may experience that are unique to blended families. It offers strategies to create a
Creative Parenting: New Ways to Focus on Your Child is designed to help parents recognize the value of seeking to understand the meaning behind a child’s behavior. It explores the
Understanding a Case Through the Child Welfare System will provide foster and adoptive parents knowledge on how a case progresses through the child welfare system. Each case may include removal,
Fostering & Adopting At-Risk Children explores categories of at-risk behaviors among children and adolescents that may lead to negative consequences, like poor health, injury or death. It assists foster/adoptive parents
First Steps: Kentucky’s Early Intervention System explores the services provided by this program. Participants learn how to refer children ages zero to three who have developmental delays, or medical conditions
This group will focus on the day to day issues involving relative and fictive kin care and will be a place where each member can find support, resources, ideas, and
ASK-VIP LGBTQ+ Foster/Adoptive Parent Support Groups are specifically designed for foster/adoptive parents who identify as LGBTQ+ as well as foster/adoptive parents who are caring for children or teens who identify
Twenty Things Adopted Kids Wish Their Adoptive Parents Knew will equip foster and adoptive parents to understand the thoughts and feelings children who are adopted may experience. It offers strategies
Helping Foster & Adopted Children Transition to a New School will assist foster/adoptive parents in preparing to enroll a child in a new school. It will also provide practical tips
Preventing Child Abuse: Types, Signs & Symptoms will inform parents of the definition of child abuse and ways it can be prevented. It provides descriptions and statistics of different types
This group is an opportunity for kinship caregivers to come together to find support, community, and resources in the care of relative and fictive children. This group will focus on
Keeping Families Strong provides foster parents insight on how to keep partnerships, families and friendships strong while providing care to out of home children. It will also provide strategies for
Fostering & Adopting Sibling Groups explores the benefits of placing siblings together as well as potential barriers and challenges. The impact of on attachment and bonding among siblings who have
A Guide to Coping with Allegations explores the prevalence of false allegations of abuse and neglect amongst foster homes and reasons such allegations may arise. Strategies for preventing false allegations
Understanding the Brain and Fear Responses in Traumatized Children provides an overview of brain development and how fight/flight/freeze fear responses may manifest in children who have experienced trauma. In addition,
This group will focus on the day to day issues involving relative and fictive kin care and will be shaped by the identified needs of group participants. Members of this
Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) come in many forms, from physical and mental abuse to neglect and household dysfunction. This training examines data from the ACE study, how early adversity as
Openly Talking with Children About Adoption equips adoptive parents with the skills necessary to talk honestly and positively with children about their adoption experiences. Participants will explore how to begin
ASK-VIP Support Groups are expressly designed to meet the needs of foster and adoptive parents in an inclusive, safe, and compassionate environment. They are led by seasoned facilitators who have
2023 UNITE RESEARCH SHOWCASE On Tuesday, April 18, 2023, UNITE will host the 2023 UNITE Research Showcase - centered around elevating and promoting the importance of racial equity research at
Caring for a relative’s child or a friend’s child comes with a lot of changes and challenges. From finding new routines to figuring out everyone’s likes and dislikes, bringing another
Healthy Boundaries: Strategies for Answering Tough Questions helps foster and adoptive parents understand the importance of setting boundaries in their lives. It explains the different types of boundaries (Physical and
Helping Foster & Adopted Children Transition to a New School will assist foster/adoptive parents in preparing to enroll a child in a new school. It will also provide practical tips
Monthly Staff Meeting for Centers & Labs Training Resource Center Staff. The meeting is held the 3rd Wednesday of Each Month at the Training Resource Center. This is an in-person
ARC Meetings & IEPs: The Basics will help foster and adoptive parents understand the process of an ARC Meeting and gain a better perspective of what an IEP will look
ASK-VIP Support Group for Foster/Adoptive Parents Caring for Deaf/Hard of Hearing Children provides a welcoming, safe environment for foster and adoptive parents to share resources, concerns, ask questions, and connect
A Child’s Education: Rights & Responsibilities will inform parents of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). The training informs foster and adoptive parents of the processes used to determine
What to Ask When Called About a Placement will help foster and adoptive parents gather information before accepting a placement of a new child. During the training, participants will discuss
Healing After a Foster Child Leaves Your Home will equip foster parents understand, cope with and heal from the unique pain of a foster child leaving their home. It offers
Services & Support for Foster & Adoptive Families will inform parents about resources available to individuals with intellectual disabilities through the Michelle P. Waiver Program, which allows eligible individuals to
This group will focus on the day to day issues involving relative and fictive kin care and will be a place where each member can find support, resources, ideas, and