MSW Program Policies and Procedures

MSW Program students should familiarize themselves with the Graduate Catalog for a comprehensive list of University policies.

Students may complete the Master of Social Work (MSW) Program full time or part time. Full time students will take a total of 15 credits per semester. The Regular Program takes 2 years to complete full time and the Advanced Standing Program takes 1 year to complete full time. Part time students will take between 6 and 9 credits per semester. The Regular Program takes 4 years to complete part time and the Advanced Standing Program takes 2 years to complete part time. Students will be accepted into either the full time or part time option at admission. If you need to change your enrollment option, please contact the Office of Social Work Student Services at [email protected].

Students may complete the Master of Social Work (MSW) Program in either the fully online or the mixed traditional course delivery option. In the fully online course delivery option, students take all courses online and are guaranteed a spot in online sections of all required courses. Field placements are done in person, but can be done in the student’s local community. In the mixed traditional course delivery option, students may take courses on campus, online, and/or in the hybrid format. While we guarantee that there will be a spot for students in a section of all required courses, we cannot guarantee that students will always get into their first choice of section. Field placements are done in person, but can be done in the student’s local community. Students will be accepted into either the fully online or mixed traditional course delivery option at admission. If you need to change your course delivery option, please contact the Office of Social Work Student Services at [email protected].

To learn more about on campus, online, and hybrid course options, please visit our Course Delivery Information page.

Students can switch sections and add/drop courses without approval up to the 100% add/drop date in any given semester (see the academic calendar for exact dates: http://msudenver.edu/events/academic/). After this deadline, students must submit a request to the Office of Social Work Student Services, Finance and Administration via the Registration Adjustment Request Form. This form is to be used by students as the first step in requesting a registration adjustment, which includes:

• Adding a course after the start of the semester (late add request)
• Requesting a section switch mid-semester
• Requesting a section switch for a linked course

This request should include the current section the student is registered for (for section switches), the section they would like to switch to or be added to (for section switch and late add requests), and the reason they are requesting this switch after the deadline. The Office of Social Work Student Services, Finance and Administration will reach out to the student via email when a decision has been made or if additional information is needed.

Note: Submitting a request does not guarantee approval and the request will only be reviewed if there are extenuating circumstances. A decision will be made on a case by case basis and if there is space in the new/requested section.

At the time of admission to the Master of Social Work program, the student will receive an admissions decisoin that indicates program criteria including: full-time or part-time status, online or mixed delivery, and start semester. Students may not change any program criteria without the formal, written approval of a social work advisor. Any change in program criteria could delay graduation or require the student to reapply to the MSW program. Readmission is not guaranteed.

To make a change to your academic plan (change of enrollment status, and/or change of delivery method), please fill out the Change of Academic Plan form. If you have any questions about the process, please email [email protected].

Students who have not been in attendance for three consecutive semesters, including summer, must reapply to the University. Students requesting readmission must be in good academic standing and must submit their application for readmission to the master’s program in which they have been enrolled.

MSW Program students who are eligible for readmission should contact the Graduate Advising Services Coordinator at [email protected] for assistance in getting readmitted.

Students who readmit into the MSW Program will be held to the policies and curriculum of the later term in which they officially restart the MSW Program.  An approved readmit application is valid for one academic year from the readmit semester.

Students who are not in good academic standing are not eligible for the readmit application process and must fully apply to the MSW Program.

No credit is given for learning gained through life experience or previous work experience and no life experience or previous work experience credit may be used toward the MSW degree.

The Master of Social Work Program does not provide an option to test out of any Social Work coursework at the graduate or undergraduate level.

Students must complete the master’s degree within six calendar years from the term they initially enroll. Students should check the program website and/or specific program section of the catalog to determine specific degree requirements.

Time Limit Waiver Request: MSW students who experience unexpected, life-changing events may request a waiver of this policy in writing to the Department of Social Work. Approval will be determined on a case-by-case basis and will be reviewed by the Chair, MSW Program Director, Director of Social Work Student Services and the student’s faculty advisor.  Requests must be submitted in writing to the Office of Social Work Student Services at [email protected]

MSU Denver Graduate Program Policies:

• Transfer credit must be graduate academic credit representing a grade of A or B awarded by a regionally accredited U.S. college or university or by a non-U.S. institution of higher education that is approved for transfer purposes by the International Admissions Office. Continuing education units (CEU) and other nonacademic credits are ineligible as transfer credit.
• Culminating activity courses, courses where the grade is based only on attendance, and courses representing experiential learning, regardless of the level (undergraduate or graduate), are ineligible as transfer credit.
• Credit applied to meet the requirements of a previously earned degree of any type at another institution is ineligible for use as transfer credit
• Application of transfer credit must be approved by the graduate program.

Departmental Transfer Process:

• Students admitted to the Advanced Standing Program will receive a block of 30 graduate credits once they have confirmed their acceptance to the MSW Program and the program has verified affirmative Council on Social Work Education accreditation status at the time the student graduated with their BSW degree.
  • MSW students who received their BSW degree more than six years prior to the start term may be accepted on a case-by-case basis to the Advanced Standing Program and be eligible to receive the block of 30 graduate credits. This status is typically reserved for those that can document substantial and on-going professional experience in the field of social work.
• All graduate transfer credit requests, with the exception of the block of 30 credits automatically transferred for BSW graduates, must be reviewed by the Office of Social Work Student Services and the MSW Program Director.
  • Requests for review may be facilitated by emailing the request to [email protected]. A syllabus and transcript will be required for each course you want reviewed.
  • A course must have been completed no longer than six years prior to the admission term to be eligible for transfer. If a course is between six and ten years old at the admission term, the student can petition for the course to be eligible for transfer as part of the transfer course review process. This is typically reserved for those who can document substantial and on-going professional experience related to the course topic. Courses completed more than ten years prior to the admission term are not eligible.
  • To be eligible to be reviewed for transfer for any MSW Program core requirement, courses must be from a CSWE-accredited Master of Social Work Program.
  • To be eligible to be reviewed for transfer for any MSW Program elective requirement, courses must be from a graduate program at a regionally accredited college or university.
  • Per University policy, students may transfer in a maximum of 20 semester credits in the MSW Regular Program. This is 1/3 of the required 60 credits to complete the MSW degree via the Regular Program.
  • Per University policy, students may transfer in a maximum of 12 semester credits in the MSW Advanced Standing Program (beyond the block of 30 graduate credits granted to Advanced Standing students). This is 1/3 of the required 36 credits Advanced Standing students complete at MSU Denver after admission.
  • No undergraduate courses will be accepted as substitutions for graduate coursework.
  • The MSW Program does not guarantee the transfer of graduate-level courses from other schools.

Electronic communication (i.e., email and personal portal announcements) is a rapid, efficient and cost-effective form of communication. Consequently, reliance on electronic communication is expanding among students, faculty, staff and administration at MSU Denver. Because of this increasing reliance and acceptance of electronic communication, forms of electronic communication have become in fact the means of official communication to students, faculty and staff within MSU Denver. This policy acknowledges this fact and formally makes electronic communication an official means of communication for the University.

Students may enroll in no more than 15 graduate-level credits per semester for fall and spring semesters without department approval.

No course may count toward both the master’s degree and the bachelor’s degree.

Only students who are formally accepted into the MSW program with degree-seeking or non-degree-seeking status may register for any graduate level social work course.

The University residency requirement for master’s programs is the total number of semester hours required for the program minus 9.

MSW students must maintain a GPA of 3.0 in any academic term. Any student falling below a 3.0 in any given term will be placed on academic probation and be required to develop a plan for raising the GPA above 3.0. Students who fail to raise their GPA over 3.0 after 15 credits will be dismissed from the program.

No grade lower than a “B-” counts toward degree completion. Students who complete a course with a letter grade of “C+” or below will be given one additional opportunity to retake the course as long as all GPA requirements can be met. Students may have a maximum of two withdrawals per course (notation of AW or W) with a maximum of three attempts per course. Students must be aware that the sequential coursework policy will often require students to take time off to repeat the course work.

Please note: A notation of Withdrawal (W) or Administrative Withdrawal (AW) is considered an attempt.

All MSW coursework, including electives, must be completed and passed in the required sequential order as listed in the Advising Snapshots/Plan of Completion and student must maintain continuous enrollment. Students who fall out of sequence are no longer in good academic standing and must seek advising immediately with the Office of Social Work Student Services to continue in the program. A plan of completion will be determined in advising and the revised plan could delay graduation by a year or more. Students who fall out of sequence and do not seek advising for a new plan of completion will receive an automatic performance review.

Departmental Note:  MSW students should NOT withdraw from a course without first contacting the Office of Social Work Student Services at [email protected].  Withdrawal from a course is likely to affect a student’s academic standing, course sequencing and degree plan.

Students should be aware that any kind of withdrawal can have a negative impact on some types of financial aid and scholarships. For further information, please visit the Graduate Students financial aid website.

The Withdrawal (W) notation is assigned when a student officially withdraws from a course via the Student Hub after the drop deadline (census date) and before the withdrawal deadline posted in the Academic Calendar. Deadlines differ proportionally for courses offered during part of a semester, including late-start and weekend courses. Students should refer to the Student Detail Schedule via the Student Hub to review drop and withdrawal deadlines for individual courses. When a student withdraws from a course, no academic credit is awarded. The course remains on the student’s academic record with a “W” notation and counts toward the student’s attempted hours. The course is not calculated in the student’s GPA or quality points. After the withdrawal deadline, students may not withdraw from a course and will be assigned the grade earned based on the course syllabus.

For your drop/refund or Withdrawal dates logon to your STUDENT HUB account and look at your Student Detail Schedule.

The Administrative Withdrawal (AW) notation is assigned when a student, or representative, requests to be withdrawn from a course due to unforeseen or extenuating circumstances beyond the student’s control. When the “AW” notation is assigned, no academic credit is awarded. The course remains on the student’s academic record with an “AW” notation and counts toward the student’s attempted hours. The course is not calculated in the student’s GPA or quality points.

Students may request an administrative withdrawal from the Office of the Registrar after the drop deadline (census date) posted in the Academic Calendar. Deadlines differ for courses offered during part of a semester, including late-start and weekend courses. Students should refer to the Student Detail Schedule via the Student Hub to review drop deadlines for individual courses.

Although requests are evaluated on a case-by-case basis, examples include the death of an immediate family member, serious illness or medical emergency, or other life-altering event. The student must provide supporting documentation to substantiate the request.

A student who is concerned about the completion of a course may request a grade of Incomplete. It is up to the student to FIRST review the University incomplete policy (see below), seek advice about what an incomplete could mean for their academic plan from their academic advisor (email [email protected]), and request approval from the instructor prior to the end of the semester. If the faculty grants the incomplete, students and faculty must negotiate what work needs to be done and by what due date and complete the University Incomplete Agreement Form. Due dates for work could have implications for a student’s enrollment the next semester, so please be sure to confirm the due dates make sense with the student’s academic advisor. Incompletes are not automatic; it is at the discretion of the faculty member whether to grant an incomplete in all circumstances.

If the faculty grants the incomplete, they will follow the three-stage Incomplete Agreement webform:

1. Faculty initiation of form
2. Student confirmation of form
3. Department chair approval of form

Faculty, go here for form: Incomplete Agreement (you must login with your MSU Denver credentials)

Departmental Note: Any outstanding incomplete at the start of the following semester will initiate an automatic performance review and could result in an altered academic plan. MSW students are not allowed to have more than one outstanding “incomplete” at one time. This status will initiate an automatic performance review and the student will not be in good academic standing. Refer to the Sequential Coursework Policy and consult with Office of Social Work Student Services advisors ([email protected]) to see how this may impact you. Faculty must realize they will follow up on the student progress and deadlines agreed upon until the grade is resolved from an “I” to the grade earned after the student does or does not complete the work.

University Policy:

The Incomplete notation indicates that a student is achieving satisfactory progress in a course but is unable to complete all class assignments due to extenuating circumstances, such as documented illness, military leave, disability, internships that fall outside traditional semester timeframes, or circumstances beyond their control. The Incomplete notation is composed of an “I” (noted on the student’s transcript) and the student’s default grade (A, A-, B+, B, etc.), which is the grade the student has earned at the time course grades are first entered for the course. Incomplete work must be completed within the subsequent long semester (fall or spring) or earlier, at the discretion of the faculty member. In the event of extended extenuating circumstances, the completion date for incomplete work may be extended for an additional long semester, at the discretion of the faculty member. If the incomplete work is not completed, the “I” notation will convert to the default grade submitted by the faculty member.

An Incomplete notation may be assigned only if the student meets all these minimum requirements:

• The student has participated in an academically-related activity after the 60% mark of the course’s part of term. Academically-related activity involves active participation by a student in an instructional activity related to the student’s course of study as defined by the last date of attendance.
• The student has completed more than 50% of coursework and/or course contact hours, as determined by the faculty member or department chair if the faculty member is not available.

Determination of eligibility does not guarantee that an incomplete will be granted. Students who meet the qualifications may request an incomplete from the faculty member who is teaching the course. The decision to grant an incomplete is up to the faculty member or at the department chair’s discretion, if the faculty member is not available.

The decision to grant an incomplete as an accommodation based on a student’s disability shall be made by the faculty member or the department chair, if the faculty member is not available, in consultation with the Director of the Access Center.

If an incomplete is granted, the student and faculty member must fill out and sign an Incomplete Agreement Form to clarify what outstanding work the student should complete within the designated timeframe. Departments may have additional standards and/or criteria. Students should consult with their faculty member and department to determine additional requirements.

Graduating seniors may not graduate with an “I” on their MSU Denver academic record if:

• The course in which the “I” was assigned is required for graduation, or
• The default grade assigned for that course would result in an overall GPA less than 2.00.

The primary focus of the Department of Social Work at Metropolitan State University of Denver is the successful education and development of our students. As professional and accredited educational programs it is critical that we all adhere to the standards, ethics, and values of the Social Work profession. We also recognize that there are times in each person’s life when meeting academic and professional standards may be difficult. The Student Support and Performance Process is designed to support students in being successful while maintaining programmatic and professional standards. For further description about our professional and academic standards please see our Standards of Ethical and Professional Behavior (See Appendix 1), NASW Code of Ethics, CSWE, BSSW Student Handbook, MSW Student Handbook, and the Field Student Support Process (see Appendix 2). Students who have applied to the MSW or BSSW Program have affirmed that they will adhere to the Standards of Ethical and Professional Behavior as part of the applications process, although we proactively engage in the Student Support and Performance Process with all potential and current social work students. Depending on the circumstances, a referral to higher or alternative processes of support is possible at any point in the process. Results of the Student Performance Review may include modifications to the student’s plan of study and/or dismissal from the program. For concerns specifically related to performance in a field agency, students will follow the parallel Field Student Support Process, which can be found in the Field Manual.

The Department of Social Work is committed to anti-racist and anti-oppressive practice. The Student Support and Performance Process can be used to provide support for navigating issues related to diversity, equity, belonging, and/or inclusion, such as microaggressions or dynamics of structural oppression. An intersectional framework to understanding identity and power dynamics will be applied throughout this process, with special sensitivity if/when those involved identify as Black, Indigenous, or People of Color (BIPOC) and/or other marginalized identities. Further detail is included subsequently in this document about how we seek to engage in anti-racist and anti-oppressive practice throughout this process.

This process is intended to proactively address issues that may create obstacles to student success during any part of their academic program. Students, faculty, and staff are always entitled to utilize University policy and procedure to address their concerns. However, this process is offered to allow for students and faculty to address concerns in a way that supports a quick resolution and options for a minimally invasive approach. As the process continues or involves additional people, it may require additional time for resolution. This process is designed to provide opportunities for early, timely, and direct resolution of conflicts, congruent with our department mission and professional standards. This policy does not prevent students or Department members from pursing alternative University supports or processes as needed; at times University policies may supersede the processes detailed here. This process is intended to work collaboratively with other University support systems and processes, not to replace existing other University policies and practices. (More information about these alternative processes are included following the discussion of the support process.)

Download the Department of Social Work Student Support and Performance Process

The Metropolitan State University of Denver Student Code of Conduct applies to all MSU Denver students, regardless of level.

The Department of Social Work at the Metropolitan State University of Denver is mandated by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) to foster and evaluate professional behavioral development for all students in the social work program. The Department of Social Work also bears a responsibility to the community at large to produce fully trained professional social workers who consciously exhibit the competencies, values, and skills of the profession of social work. The values of the profession are codified in the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) Code of Ethics and the Council on Social Work Education has ten core educational competencies that social workers must master. Given this context, the Social work Department has identified behaviors for the social work student to exhibit in the classroom, the online classroom, field placement, in the Social Work office, through email/phone conversations, and any other interaction in a professional/academic setting. This document does not include the complete NASW Code of Ethics or the CSWE Educational Policies, however it highlights particular ethics and competencies to serve as a framework of professional and ethical behaviors to abide by while a social work student at MSU Denver. Other aspects of the NASW Code of Ethics or the CSWE Educational Policies are evaluated academically throughout the program’s curriculum. Please read the Standards of Professional and Ethical Behavior.

As students, faculty, staff and administrators of Metropolitan State University of Denver, it is our responsibility to uphold and maintain an academic environment that furthers scholarly inquiry, creative activity and the application of knowledge. We will not tolerate academic dishonesty.  We will demonstrate honesty and integrity in all activities related to our learning and scholarship. We will not plagiarize, fabricate information or data, cheat on tests or exams, steal academic material, or submit work to more than one class without full disclosure.

For further information see the information regarding Academic Integrity in the graduate catalog and on the Dean of Student’s website.

Metropolitan State University of Denver prohibits sexual misconduct in any form, including sexual assault or sexual abuse, sexual harassment, and other forms of nonconsensual sexual conduct, including stalking and electronic harassment. Forms of intimate partner violence, including dating violence and domestic violence, are also prohibited under this policy.  Students, faculty, staff and visitors, should be able to live, study, and work in an environment free from sexual misconduct. It is the policy of MSU Denver that sexual misconduct in any form will not be excused or tolerated. Retaliation in any form for reporting such sexual misconduct or for cooperating in a sexual misconduct investigation is strictly prohibited and will be addressed as a separate violation of the Student Code of Conduct. This policy is promulgated under Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 (Title IX), 20 U.S.C. §§ 1681 et seq., and its implementing regulations, 34 C.F.R. Part 106; Title IV of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (42 U.S.C. § 2000c).

For further information, refer to the Student Code of Conduct page.

University Policy: Students are expected to attend all sessions of courses for which they are registered. Each instructor determines when a student’s absences have reached a point at which they jeopardize success in a course. When absences become excessive, the student may receive a failing grade for the course. If students anticipate a prolonged absence, they should contact their instructors. The full University policy on class attendance, including policies related to class attendance on religious holidays can be found in the Graduate Catalog.

Department Policy: Attendance is expected in all classes. Failure to attend class reflects poor professional conduct and compromises knowledge acquisition. Students who miss class may seek assistance from their peers regarding missed material. Students are encouraged to review the syllabus for the instructor’s additional policies on missed classes. A student missing more than two classes must contact the instructor and it is the discretion of the instructor as to what the consequence of absences will be. No student may miss 25% or more of any course. Attendance is defined by the instructor. It is the students’ responsibility to know and follow instructors’ attendance requirements. Students who miss 25% or more will receive a grade of “F” in the course. Students receiving an “F” must contact the Office of Social Work Student Services ([email protected]) for a modified degree plan in advance of the start of the succeeding semester.

Students at MSU Denver who, because of their sincerely held religious beliefs, are unable to attend classes, take examinations, participate in graded activities or submit graded assignments on particular days shall without penalty be excused from such classes and be given a meaningful opportunity to make up such examinations and graded activities or assignments provided that advance written notice that the student will be absent for religious reasons is given to the faculty members during the first two weeks of the semester.

For further information, see the Class Attendance policies section in the Graduate Catalog.

The Metropolitan State University of Denver is committed to making reasonable accommodations to assist individuals with disabilities in reaching their academic potential. If you have a disability which may impact your performance, attendance, or grades in this class and are requesting accommodations, then you must first register with the Access Center, located in the Plaza Building, Suite 122, 303-556-8387.

The Access Center is the designated department responsible for coordinating accommodations and services for students with disabilities. Accommodations will not be granted prior to your faculty member’s receipt of your faculty notification letter from the Access Center. Please note that accommodations are never provided retroactively (i.e., prior to the receipt of your faculty notification letter.) Once your faculty has received your official Access Center faculty accommodation letter, they are happy to meet with you to discuss your accommodations. All discussions will remain confidential. Further information is available by visiting the Access Center website.

Students who have a concern about a course instructor or grade should contact the instructor to discuss and seek resolution regarding their concerns.

If a student needs further advice on the issue, they may discuss with their advisor or the program director. The advisor and program director do NOT have supervisory authority, so such a meeting would be to advise the student on steps and processes in place for problem-solving. In alignment with university policy, the student may take such matters directly to the chair, and should be aware the chair will probably (unless dealing with severe situations) ask what steps the student has taken before bringing the concern to their office.

Students are advised to review the university policy regarding appeals and concerns on the Dean of Students Office website.

If the concern regards unlawful discrimination, the student is advised to read and follow EO processes found on the Office of Equal Opportunities website.

Students are responsible to:

1. Turn in the correct paper for the assignment due. If a student turns in a paper intended for another class, it will be graded based on the assignment due. If that student discovers his/her mistake, contacts the instructor and emails the correct paper to the Instructor, it will be graded as a late paper.
2. Turn in a paper in a file format that opens in Word. The instructor will notify the student and give the student a limited amount of time to resubmit the paper. It will be graded as a late paper.
3. Turn in assignments by the due date and submitted in the proscribed method. If a paper is late, it will be graded as a late paper. Each week a paper is late a 10% deduction will be given.
4. Discuss exceptions to the above with the instructor. On rare occasions where students know their paper will be late due a personal crisis, the instructor may modify the above policy.

All written communication in the classroom environment (online and on campus) will be in American Psychological Association (APA) style and it is the responsibility of the student to become familiar with APA style requirements.  Students are advised to purchase a copy of the most current edition of the APA Publication Manual and become familiar with the style. Instructors are not responsible for teaching the requirements.