Program Contact:  Xi Chen 203-582-6408    Stephanie Jacobson 203-582-8907

This direct-entry Accelerated Dual-Degree Bachelor’s to Master of Social Work (3+2) program is an excellent choice for students seeking a rewarding and successful career as a clinical social worker and mental health professional. Through this accelerated dual-degree program, students complete both their bachelor’s degree and their Master of Social Work degree in just 5 years. Incoming first-year students in the College of Arts and Sciences majoring in psychology, sociology, criminal justice and gerontology are eligible to be assessed for admittance to this program.

Quinnipiac University’s MSW program prepares social workers for specialized practice in health and mental health. The curriculum emphasizes interprofessional education to familiarize students with a team-based approach to health and mental health care. The MSW program equips students with clinical social work skills, including counseling, crisis intervention and trauma-informed treatments, as well as the ability to access social welfare and community resources. Students are prepared for social work licensure as part of MSW coursework. Graduates of this MSW program meet eligibility requirements for both the LMSW and the LCSW. 

Social work is the major provider of mental health care and one of the fastest-growing occupations in the United States. Graduates of this MSW program enter a broad range of high-demand fields. Hospitals, rehabilitation facilities, mental health clinics, schools, health departments, social welfare, criminal justice and community organizations rely on social workers to provide health and mental health care to a wide variety of clients. This includes treating persons with trauma, such as veterans with PTSD; people with chronic mental illnesses; and many others. Social workers are also a crucial link between clients and other professionals, ensuring that people receive critical mental health care, advocacy and access to resources.

Communicate with the program contacts listed above for further information on this Accelerated Dual-Degree Bachelor’s to Master of Social Work (3+2) program.

Accelerated Dual-Degree Bachelor’s/MSW (3+2) Curriculum Requirements

The most common majors for students who are anticipating graduate study in social work are Sociology, Criminal Justice, Gerontology and Psychology1; however this accelerated dual-degree program is open to students in any Arts and Sciences major. Students are advised that this accelerated degree will require overloads and summer coursework to complete the bachelor’s degree in three years. 

Students must work with their advisers to carefully plan their course of study to ensure completion of the BA or BS degree in three years. Students admitted to the program take 9 credits of graduate coursework in their third year. Suggested curriculum is as follows:

Plan of Study Grid
First Year
Fall SemesterCredits
EN 101 Introduction to Academic Reading and Writing 3
FYS 101 First-Year Seminar 3
UC Science with lab (Disciplinary Inquiry) 4
UC Humanities (Disciplinary Inquiry) 3
UC Fine Arts (Disciplinary Inquiry) 3
Course determined by major 3
Crime and Society
Introduction to Psychology
Introduction to Sociology
 Credits19
Spring Semester
EN 102 Academic Writing and Research 3
MA 206 Statistics for the Behavioral Sciences 3
UC Personal Inquiry course 2 3
UC Personal Inquiry course 3
Course determined by major 3-4
UC Personal Inquiry
Take one of the following (determined by major): 1
From College to Career
From College to Career
From College to Career
Course determined by major 3
Aging in Society
Race, Gender and Class: Social Inequalities
Introduction to Sociology
 Credits19-20
Summer Semester
UC Personal Inquiry course 3
Course determined by major 3
UC Personal Inquiry course
CAS Humanities
 Credits6
Second Year
Fall Semester
Course determined by major 3
UC Fine Arts (Disciplinary Inquiry)
UC Personal Inquiry course
Language 102 course 3
CAS Social Sciences 3
Course determined by major 3
Biomedical Basis and Experience of Human Aging
CAS Fine Arts
Course determined by major 3
Adult Development & Aging
CAS elective
Police and Policing
Elective in the major 3
 Credits18
Spring Semester
CAS elective 3
Course determined by major 3
CAS Humanities
CAS elective
Course determined by major 3
CAS Fine Arts
Open elective
Sociology of Race and Ethnicity
Course determined by major 3
Criminal Justice Research Methods
Research Methods
Research Methods
Elective in the major 3
Course determined by major 3
Elective in the major
Prisons and Jails
 Credits18
Summer Semester
Course determined by major 3
UC Personal Inquiry course
Open elective
Course determined by major 3
CAS elective
Open elective
 Credits6
Third Year
Fall Semester
Course determined by major 3
UC Capstone 4
Open Elective
Course determined by major 3
CAS elective
CJ elective
SO elective
Course determined by major 3
Internship in the Community
Internship in the Community
Internship in the Community
Elective in the major 3
SW 504 Social Welfare and Social Policy 3
SW 511 Human Behavior in the Social Environment I: Theories for Practice for Individuals and Families 3
 Credits18
Spring Semester
Open elective 3
Open elective 3
Course determined by major 4
CAS elective + one FLW course
Advanced Internship in the Community
Major elective + one FLW course
Course determined by major 3
Senior Seminar in Criminal Justice Policy
Senior Seminar 3
Senior Seminar 3
SW 512 Human Behavior in the Social Environment II: Theories for Groups, Organizations and Communities 3
 Credits16
 Total Credits120-121

Once admitted to the program, students must maintain an undergraduate GPA of 3.00 and complete 20 credits in liberal arts and a statistics course with a grade of C or higher. Additionally, students must achieve a grade of B or higher in their three graduate courses. A maximum of 9 credits may be used to fulfill both undergraduate and graduate requirements. Students earn their Master of Social Work upon satisfactory completion of all of the graduate curriculum requirements.

1

Psychology majors who are interested in the dual-degree program follow a different curriculum, and should consult with their adviser.

2

Courses are chosen in consultation with an adviser to meet the requirements for Personal Inquiry I and Personal Inquiry II.

3

Course counts as UC Capstone

4

Criminal Justice majors must complete UC Capstone.

Admission Requirements: College of Arts and Sciences

The requirements for admission into the undergraduate College of Arts and Sciences programs are the same as those for admission to Quinnipiac University.

Admission to the university is competitive, and applicants are expected to present a strong college prep program in high school. Prospective first-year students are strongly encouraged to file an application as early in the senior year as possible, and arrange to have first quarter grades sent from their high school counselor as soon as they are available.

For detailed admission requirements, including required documents, please visit the Admissions page of this catalog.

Please note: Students cannot be added to the Accelerated Dual-Degree Bachelor's to MSW (3+2) program after the add/drop period at Quinnipiac University.