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MSW Program

Department of Social Work
Social Work Program (MSW)

Welcome

Welcome to the Master of Social Work (MSW) program at the College of Staten Island, CUNY.  Social work is a respected helping profession that seeks to alleviate human suffering, improve the quality of life for the most vulnerable in society, and ensure equal access to resources. 

The College of Staten Island MSW program has a specialization in social work practice with people with disabilities (intellectual, physical, sensory, psychiatric, chronic health and other impairments). We take a critical disabilities perspective which is grounded in social constructionism. The MSW program has been approved by the New York State Education Department as meeting the educational requirements needed to sit for the Licensed Master of Social Work exam and licensure in New York State, upon graduation. In addition, the 12 credits of clinical content needed to pursue clinical licensure are included in our disability studies: clinical practice sequence. This means that, upon completion of appropriate clinical supervision (approximately 3 years after graduation) a graduate would be eligible to sit for the Licensed Clinical Social Work exam and licensure in New York without needing to take additional credit-bearing courses.

License requirements vary from state to state. To demonstrate and maintain the highest degree of excellence, and to assist students who move to states where clinical license requirements include graduation from a program that is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE), we pursued and were granted full accreditation by CSWE.

Social work is a challenging and rewarding profession with endless opportunities to help others, solve problems, and change the world.  If you, too, believe in making a difference, we invite you to join us in the MSW program.

Paul Archibald, DrPH, LCSW-C (MD), LCSW (NY), MAC, C-CATODSW
Director, MSW Program
Department of Social Work

Mission & Goals

MSW Mission

Consistent with the mission of the College and the values of the profession of social work, the Master of Social Work program at the College of Staten Island, The City University of New York is committed to excellence in teaching, service, and the creation and dissemination of knowledge. The MSW program educates social workers at an advanced level from a critical disabilities perspective to employ transformative social work practices with people with disabilities. Acknowledging our global interconnectedness, we strive to understand and address the experiences of diverse people and societies; foster human and community well-being; and create a world that is socially and economically just and equitable.

MSW Goals

  • Graduates will have the knowledge, skills and values for advanced, urban, transformative social work practice with people with disabilities on Staten Island, the region and beyond.
  • Graduates will be competent, culturally sensitive advanced professional practitioners who engage with people to meet basic survival needs for food, clothing, shelter, and livelihood.
  • Graduates will be able to apply advanced social work knowledge, skills and values to informed action with individuals, families, groups, organizations, communities, and the greater society.
  • Graduates will have the advanced knowledge, skills, and values to work toward a just and equitable society.
  • Graduates will be motivated and prepared for advanced social work practice with an understanding of the importance of continued self-reflection and professional development throughout their social work career.