Social Work

Program Summary 

York has the first and only Master of Social Work (MSW) degree in Queens County, New York. In 2018, it became the youngest MSW Program in the CUNY System with a unique and diverse commitment to healthcare and was initially accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) Board [Council] of Accreditation in 2021. 

The following are elements of the program: 

• Part-time study is available 

• Courses are hybrid synchronous  

• Courses are offered in the evenings/and on weekends 

• Internship opportunities with leading hospitals, healthcare providers and agencies throughout all five (5) boroughs of New York City to demonstrate the nine social work competencies and practice all systems levels—individuals, families, groups, organizations, and/or communities at practicum settings 

• Opportunity to participate in research, scholarship, and professional conferences 

• Licensing preparation available through course work and a bootcamp for graduates 

Mission Statement 

The mission of the MSW Program at CUNY York College is to educate scholars for advanced, urban social work practice at the micro, mezzo, and macro levels with a specialization in healthcare settings. The program seeks to recruit and prepare scholars from diverse surrounding communities to become skilled, culturally aware, competent, and compassionate professionals who can respond to the growing demand for healthcare-focused social work practice in underserved urban communities. 

The Program fosters the intellectual growth and professional development of our scholars at the highest level as well as promotes the value of civic participation and dedication to public service locally and globally. Our scholars are engaged and challenged by both the rigorous curriculum which encompasses specific knowledge, values, and skills derived from the research-informed practice and practice-informed research, and by our diverse, multicultural, and vibrant social environment which prepares them for advanced social work practice in the healthcare arena. 

The collegiate experiences of faculty and scholars enable both to achieve their highest professional ambitions by engaging in a variety of scholarly and professional activities that produce research and community partnerships. Guided by the Code of Ethics of the National Association of Social Workers (NASW), our MSW Program is committed to challenging oppression, embracing diversity, respecting the dignity and worth of all human beings, and promoting social and economic justice. More specifically, the MSW Program draws on social work values and a body of knowledge and skills to assure that: 

• Scholars incorporate the richness of the diverse communities inside and outside of the College to appreciate the unique differences across the human spectrum and are compassionate, respectful, and accepting of their diverse client populations 

• Scholars serve as a multifaceted resource for the New York metropolitan area with the vision of alleviating social and economic problems of individuals, families, and communities, especially in healthcare resources and needs. 

• Scholars are committed to civic participation and leadership to promote human development, quality of life, social justice, and respect for all human beings. 

• Scholars meet our high expectations in academic programs, are prepared for the competitive marketplace upon graduation, are dedicated to practicing with integrity, cultural awareness, social diversity, and competency, and are committed to and are passionate about lifelong learning. 

Program Goals 

The five program goals of the M.S.W. Program at CUNY York College are as follows: 

1. Educate outstanding social work practitioners in an intellectually rigorous environment so they can practice social work in urban health care settings and with diverse communities. 

2. Educate advanced social work practitioners to be knowledgeable, skilled, and culturally competent and whose attitudes, behaviors, and communication skills are based on the foundation of professional social work values and ethical principles. 

3. Prepare scholars for advanced social work practice with an understanding of the importance of continued self-reflection, professional development and self-care throughout their professional career. 

4. Provide professional opportunities for MSW scholars in a variety of health care sectors and settings. 

5. Engage scholars in faculty research, scholarship, and service to advance theory, policy, and practice in the profession of social work and the field of urban health care as well as provide them with hands-on and experiential learning of the implications of research- informed practice and practice-informed research. 

Core Competencies 

The MSW Program at CUNY York College employs nine (9) required CSWE Core Competencies and practice behaviors as student learning goals. Scholars are assessed each semester on their proficiency in each learning goal, and program enhancements are made based on these outcomes: 

• Competency 1: Demonstrate Ethical and Professional Behavior 

• Competency 2: Advance Human Rights and Social, Racial, Economic, And Environmental Justice 

• Competency 3: Engage Anti-Racism, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (ADEI) in Practice 

• Competency 4: Engage in Practice-Informed Research and Research-Informed Practice 

• Competency 5: Engage in Policy Practice 

• Competency 6: Engage with Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities 

• Competency 7: Assess Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities 

• Competency 8: Intervene with Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities 

• Competency 9: Evaluate Practice with Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities 

Career Description 

In the United States, social workers have established a definitive presence as the largest group of health professionals within healthcare settings as demand for social workers in the medical field continues to grow as the aging population requires a strong presence of dedicated professionals. For this reason, the MSW Program at CUNY York College identifies healthcare as an area of specialized practice. Social workers represent a critical professional component in the healthcare field by providing patient counseling, discharge planning, family outreach, group activities, support, bereavement counseling, crisis intervention specialist psychotherapists, administrators, and beyond.  

The MSW Program at CUNY York College prepares scholars for entry-level professional social work practice with individuals, families, groups, communities, and organizations. Scholars also receive hands-on training in professional settings and are supervised by licensed social workers who are specifically trained onsite. The generalist curriculum provides scholars with a solid liberal arts foundation which well prepares them for the advanced year specializing in healthcare practice.  

Upon earning an MSW Degree from CUNY York College, scholars have secured careers such as: 

• Healthcare Social Worker 
• School Social Worker  
• Mental Health Social Worker/Therapist/Psychotherapist  
• Crisis Social Worker  
• Applied Behavioral Analyst 

Graduates from our MSW program have established careers that engage diverse populations (e.g., adults living with HIV/AIDS, school children living with Autism Spectrum Disorder, geriatric, mental illness, individuals with visual impairments, formally incarcerated and justice impacted population, elders, youth, young adults, and teenagers, individuals, and families) in a variety of settings, including but not limited to hospitals, schools, clinics, faith centers, the FDNY, and the criminal justice system. Their responsibilities reflect the broad range of the social work profession: conducting group therapy, individual therapy, and home visits; performing mental health assessments; creating suicide prevention plans, discharge plans, and treatment plans; and identifying referrals, continued care assessments, and patient education needs; and serving as a liaison with medical professionals, educators, and the court and criminal justice system