The Master of Social Work (MSW) program is an advanced generalist with an emphasis on working in rural and Indigenous communities. The program teaches students how to achieve a disciplined, compassionate presence to a caring, and ethical practice.

The goals of the MSW Program are to:
1.  Prepare students for professional social work practice responsive to the challenges and resources present in rural areas and indigenous communities.
2.  Present local, historical, and contemporary social issues within a global perspective.

The program prepares students for advanced generalist practice which emphasizes multi-system, multi-level approaches in which practitioners and clients work in collaboration to enhance the functioning and resilience within systems through building on existing strengths.  

Students develop a framework for practice guided by personal and professional values and ethics. Cultural humility, compassion, partnership, empowerment, non-expert relational paradigms, critical reflection, and social action for justice are the concepts that form the foundation for learning and developing social work practice at Cal Poly Humboldt. 

The MSW program at Cal Poly Humboldt is fully accredited by the Council on Social Work Education. The MSW program is offered as full-time, part-time, and online options.  To learn more about each option, read our MSW Program Options.

Students in the online program must live in the state of California while they are in the social work program.

For more information join an Information Session (held virtually) or contact us at socialwork@humboldt.edu. 

 JOIN AN INFO SESSION AND LEARN ABOUT OUR PROGRAMS