The mission of the MSW program at The National Catholic School of Social Service (NCSSS) at The Catholic University of America is to prepare specialized social work practitioners who promote individual and societal well-being as agents of change, using a person-in-environment approach through a curriculum that meets the evolving demands of practice. Rooted in Catholic Social Teaching and social work values, we emphasize the importance of human relationships. We are committed to educating students of diverse faiths and cultures, who will be effective and competent promoters of human rights, as well as social, environmental, and economic justice locally and globally. Students will learn to identify and challenge the underlying structures and mechanisms of oppression and marginalization in order to create change. NCSSS equips students with the skills to practice with integrity and cultural humility. Students in the program integrate theory, practice, and research, through the understanding that scientific inquiry informs our work with all client systems.
The MSW curriculum is comprised of generalist (30 credits) and specialized practice knowledge (30 credits). Its concentrations educate two types of specialized practice social work practitioners:
- Clinical: social workers who will be effective direct service practitioners.
- Community Administration Policy Practice: social workers whose indirect practice reflects a depth and breadth of knowledge and skill for advanced policy analysis, community administration, and policy practice.
MSW students may complete the 60-credit MSW program within a minimum of two years (full-time) and a maximum of five years (part-time). During the graduate program, students complete 12 credits of field internships (two internships).
The 2025 - 2026 NCSSS MSW Student Handbook can be found here.
Advising Forms for MSW Students.
- On-campus, Generalist Practice Curriculum
- Online, Generalist Practice Curriculum
- On-campus, Advanced Practice Curriculum - Clinical Specialization
- On-campus, Advanced Practice Curriculum - CAPP Specialization
- Online, Advanced Practice Curriculum - Clinical Specialization
- Brightspace Resources//cardinalstation.
catholic.edu/, https://www.youtube.com/ playlist?list= PLxHabmZzFY6k04NnOD0XJqWwJWces CN12. - Cardinal Card: https://cardinalcard.
catholic.edu/ - Parking permit: https://
transportation.catholic.edu/ parking/student.html. - Textbooks: Ecampus https://catholic.
ecampus.com/. If you have questions about ordering your textbooks, please email bookstore@ecampus.com. - Syllabus Manager: https://ncsss.
catholic.edu/academics/ courses/index.html.
-
Clinical
With a long history of preparing highly qualified clinical social work practitioners, our Clinical Concentration focuses on strengths-based practice in a variety of clinical settings and prepares students for licensed independent practice.
Learn More -
Community, Administration and Policy Practice
The Community, Administration and Policy Practice (CAPP) Concentration prepares social work students to contribute to domestic and international initiatives designed to bring about a more equitable and just world through structural change at organizational, community, and societal levels.
Learn More