Master of Social Work - Children and Youth in Risks and Healthy Development in Denver United States | University of Denver

The Graduate School of Social Work (GSSW) integrates its social justice mission and community priorities into all teaching and research activities. With intentionally small class sizes, students forge meaningful academic partnerships with faculty mentors. Personalized career guidance and support services assist in achieving professional goals, while diverse groups and initiatives—including the Shades of Brown Alliance for BIPOC individuals and allies, and the Catalyst Series for Social Justice—create networking opportunities beyond academics.

Earning an MSW with a Children & Youth specialization equips graduates to serve clients from infancy through young adulthood across various settings: mental health facilities, family service organizations, community programs, educational institutions, youth initiatives, rehabilitation centers, and juvenile justice systems.

Through a resilience-focused approach, students master developmental theories and intervention strategies for assessment, prevention, and clinical treatment of young populations. The curriculum prioritizes culturally aware, equity-centered practices that consider individuals within their environmental contexts.

Our Denver Campus MSW Program accepts applicants with undergraduate degrees in any non-social work discipline. (BSW holders should consider our Advanced-Standing program.) Full-time students complete daytime coursework, while part-time students access evening classes. Field placements typically require weekday hours, though current human services employment may fulfill internship requirements.

Full-time students can graduate in less than two years through primarily weekday, on-campus courses (with limited Saturday/online options). Most field placements operate during standard business hours. Applicants may begin studies in winter or fall quarters—winter starts feature lighter quarterly loads but summer coursework, while fall starts involve heavier quarterly loads with summer breaks.