Overview

The Social Work programme at the University at Buffalo is a highly ranked course designed to prepare students for transformational change within diverse delivery systems. This curriculum integrates human rights perspectives with trauma-informed practice to address structural inequities and promote global social justice.

Learners can choose between the Traditional track for those with any undergraduate background or the Advanced Standing option for qualified applicants. The University at Buffalo provides a supportive environment where students can personalise their advanced coursework to focus on specific populations or social issues.

The school is recognised as one of the premier health sciences institutions, offering access to extensive research centres and community resources.

Why Social Work at University at Buffalo?

The University at Buffalo is home to a top-tier school that emphasises the protection of human rights and the necessity of addressing power imbalances. The programme is distinguished by its commitment to social justice and its integration within a major research university environment.

Students have access to unique curricular enhancements, such as the Hartford Partnership Program for Aging Education and the Joining Forces-UB initiative for veteran support. These distinctive features ensure that graduates are well-equipped to handle complex challenges in modern social service environments.

Tuition Fee Breakdown

International fee: USD 12015 per semester
National fee: USD 12015 per semester
Local fee: USD 6540 per semester

Visit the Fees and Funding section for a breakdown in your local currency.

Syllabus

The curriculum is structured to provide a foundation in social welfare followed by advanced specialised training. Modules may include:

Social Work Practicum Education
Clinical Coursework
Trauma-Informed and Human Rights Perspectives
Excellence in Aging
Serious Illness Care
Veteran and Military Family Focus
Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Counselling

Traditional MSW students complete a foundation practicum followed by an advanced year practicum to meet the required 900 total hours. The Advanced Standing route allows for an accelerated path for those who already hold a relevant undergraduate degree in the field.

Careers with Social Work

Graduates of the Social Work programme at the University at Buffalo are prepared for diverse roles in schools, hospitals, and clinical agencies. Many alumni pursue careers in community organisations, local government, and specialised research centres across the healthcare sector.

The programme provides the necessary academic requirements for those seeking to become a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW). Graduates often find employment in mental health services, addiction recovery, and international social work organisations, making a tangible impact on society.

Programme Structure

Courses include:

Social Welfare History and Policy

Theories of Human Behavior and Development

Scientific Methods in Social Work

Interventions

Field Instruction

Diversity and Oppression

Key information

Duration

Full-time
- 24 months
Part-time
- 36 months

Start dates & application deadlines

Starting 2027-08-25 00:00:00
- Apply before 2027-04-01 00:00:00

Language

English

Duolingo English Test

120

Take A Free Practice Test!

TOEFL^® IBT

Schedule TOEFL®

PTE Academic

Schedule a PTE test!

IELTS

Prepare for Your English Test

Cathoven AI IELTS Preparation

Learn your IELTS Score

AI-powered IELTS feedback. Clear, actionable, and tailored to boost your writing & speaking score. No credit card or upfront payment required.

Trusted by 300k learners
98 accuracy using real exam data
4.9/5 student rating

Credits

60 SCH

Delivered

On Campus

Campus Location

Buffalo, United States

Disciplines

Social Work View 580 other Masters in Social Work in United States

Join for free or log in to access our complete career info list.

Academic requirements

We are not aware of any specific GRE, GMAT or GPA grading score requirements for this programme.

English requirements

Duolingo English Test

120

Take A Free Practice Test!

TOEFL^® IBT

Schedule TOEFL®

PTE Academic

Schedule a PTE test!

IELTS

Prepare for Your English Test

Cathoven AI IELTS Preparation

Learn your IELTS Score

AI-powered IELTS feedback. Clear, actionable, and tailored to boost your writing & speaking score. No credit card or upfront payment required.

Trusted by 300k learners
98 accuracy using real exam data
4.9/5 student rating

Other requirements

General requirements

Bachelor's degree (or international equivalent) in any discipline from an accredited institution

Minimum of 24 credits of undergraduate liberal arts coursework. Of those 24 credits:

6 must be in the social or behavioral sciences (e.g., psychology, sociology, anthropology, political science).6 must be in the arts or humanities (e.g., history, English, foreign languages, philosophy, ethnic/gender studies).12 credits may be made up with any combination of the above or with courses from the natural sciences or mathematics.

GPA of 3.0 preferred

Human biology undergraduate course must be completed prior to the advanced year MSW curriculum

Three recommenders

Upload copies of academic transcripts

Upload your application essay

Application fees are $75 each

A photocopy of your passport page

Upload a photocopy of your passport (photo page)

Copy of Current I-20 and Visa

English Proficiency Scores

International Applicant Financial Form and Bank Documents

Tuition Fees

Tuition fees are shown in and the most likely applicable fee is shown based on your nationality.

International Applies to you

Applies to you

Non-residents

24030 USD / year

≈ 24030 USD / year
Out-of-State

24030 USD / year

≈ 24030 USD / year
Domestic

Applies to you

In-State

13080 USD / year

≈ 13080 USD / year

Living costs

Buffalo

United States

920 - 1560 USD / month

The living costs include the total expenses per month, covering accommodation, public transportation, utilities (electricity, internet), books and groceries.

Financing

Interested in financing your studies? Find a student loan that works for you.

MPOWER Financing No cosigner. No collateral. No hidden fees.

Check your Eligibility

Get the funding you need to study in the U.S. or Canada - with a process that's fast, simple, and built for international students.

Flexible loans from US$2,001 to US$100,000
Fixed interest rates -- no inflation surprises
No upfront fees or prepayment penalties
Accepted at 500+ universities across the U.S. & Canada
100% online application -- instant conditional offer
Free visa & career support through our Path2Success program

Funding

Win a €10000 Scholarship! Deadline: 30 June 2020

Embark on your journey with the Studyportals Scholarship! We're giving away a total of 20,000 euros to help you achieve your dream of studying abroad.

Win a €10000 Scholarship! Deadline: 30 June 2020

Embark on your journey with the Studyportals Scholarship! We're giving away a total of 20,000 euros to help you achieve your dream of studying abroad.

Need help with your student visa?

Get Visa Support

Get personalized guidance from a certified VFS Global advisor and save 20% through Studyportals.

Avoid common visa mistakes and delays
Know exactly what documents you need
Get a clear checklist tailored to your situation

In order for us to give you accurate scholarship information, we ask that you please confirm a few details and create an account with us.

Scholarships Information

Below you will find Master's scholarship opportunities for Social Work.

Available Scholarships

You are eligible to apply for these scholarships but a selection process will still be applied by the provider.

On this page

About

Overview

Programme Structure

Key information

Duration

Start dates & application deadlines

Language

Prepare for Your English Test

Credits

Delivered

Campus Location

Disciplines

What students do after studying

Academic requirements

English requirements

Prepare for Your English Test

Other requirements

General requirements

Tuition Fees

International Applies to you

Domestic

Living costs

Buffalo

Financing

Funding

Need help with your student visa?

Scholarships Information

Available Scholarships

Our partners