Master of Social Work - Child Welfare in Denver United States | University of Denver

The Graduate School of Social Work (GSSW) integrates its social justice mission and community needs into all teaching and research activities. With intentionally small class sizes, you'll forge meaningful research partnerships with faculty mentors. Personalized career guidance and support services will help you achieve your professional goals, while diverse student groups and events—including the Shades of Brown Alliance for BIPOC students and allies, and the Catalyst Series for Social Justice—offer numerous ways to engage beyond academics.

Our Denver Campus Advanced-Standing MSW Program is designed for holders of CSWE-accredited BSW degrees. (Students without a social work bachelor's should consider our standard Denver Campus MSW Program.) Full-time students complete coursework on weekdays, while part-time students have evening and weekend options. Field placements typically require weekday availability, though current employment may qualify for internship credit in some cases.

The Child Welfare specialization within our MSW program equips graduates to serve children, youth, and families throughout the child welfare system's continuum of care—from initial contact to case closure—in both public and private agencies.

This specialization employs a multisystemic framework, emphasizing culturally sensitive, evidence-informed practices with vulnerable populations. Students learn to critically examine social work's historical role in systemic oppression while developing expertise in trauma-informed care. The curriculum explores how poverty, substance abuse, and institutional biases disproportionately affect marginalized families within child welfare systems.