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Social Work (BSW) + Master of Social Work (MSW) 3+1

Accelerated (Undergraduate + Graduate)
Students in class

Complete your BSW and MSW in just four years

Ready to launch your career in social work? The Social Work (BSW) + Master of Social Work (MSW) 3+1 program option at Simmons offers an exceptional pathway to complete your Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) and Master of Social Work (MSW) in four years. Learn from expert faculty, gain hands-on experience, and access opportunities for practicum placements in Boston’s top hospitals and nonprofit organizations. 

Rooted in social justice, our program prepares you for a purposeful career helping individuals and communities. Simmons has been a leader in social work education since 1904. 

We were the first school of social work in the country, and we still lead the field today. Our MSW graduates consistently outperform state and national averages on the ASWB licensing exams.

Why study Social Work at Simmons?

Simmons University’s 3+1 social work BSW/MSW program option offers an intensive yet rewarding opportunity that accelerates your path to professional practice. Here, you will:

  • Put your purpose into action. With rigorous coursework and on-site agency experiences, you’ll see how your training connects to a larger mission of equity and social justice. 
  • Study at the center of opportunity. Located in Boston’s Fenway and Longwood Medical Area, Simmons sits in one of the most concentrated medical districts in the US. We are close to world-renowned hospitals, including Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston Children’s Hospital, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, and Fenway Health.
  • The Power of Simulation: We are among the few programs in the US to use trained actors to simulate clinical scenarios. Practice your skills in a safe, guided environment.
  • Scholar-Practitioner Faculty: Our faculty are nationally-recognized leaders in social work practice, research, and education. They bring their diverse experiences into the curriculum and classroom. 
  • A Lifelong Network: Join the Simmons School of Social Work family, a community of alumnae/i leading the profession globally.

How does the 3+1 option in the Social Work program work?

As a student, you can expect a thoughtfully designed path that builds your skills year by year and prepares you for advanced professional practice.

  • Year 1-3 (BSW): Build a rock-solid foundation in generalist social work practice in our on-campus BSW program option.
  • Year 4 (MSW): Transition into your master’s coursework while staying within the Simmons community you trust. 
    • Note: You must apply to the Advanced Standing MSW Program during your junior year and be accepted in order to earn the MSW. Simmons 3+1 students have fewer application requirements, however, compared to applicants from other programs. 

What can you do with a BSW and MSW?

An MSW qualifies you for unlimited roles and opportunities. You can work as a licensed therapist in outpatient mental health clinics, inpatient hospitals, and private practice. You can also serve as an administrator, leading an agency, developing programs, and supervising staff. You can lead at the systems level — serving in public office, shaping policy, and advancing change that strengthens communities.

You also will be eligible to become a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) or a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW). 

The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that social work employment will grow by 6% through 2034. Here is a mere sample of the types of programs where our MSW graduates work:

  • Clinical and Behavioral Health Settings: Community mental health
    eating disorder treatment, Healthcare, HIV/AIDS, inpatient mental health, private practice, public health departments, 
  • Children, Youth, and Families: Child welfare, juvenile justice, school social work, youth development
  • Government Systems: Courts, police departments,, Veterans Affairs
  • Community and Social Services: disaster response, domestic violence, employment assistance programs, housing providers, libraries

Finally, return after you graduate to pursue your Doctorate in Social Work (DSW) or PhD in Social Work.

In keeping with accreditation standards set forth by the Council on Social Work Education and the New England Association of Schools & Colleges, students enrolled in the 3+1 BSW/MSW Program complete all of the same undergraduate and graduate course and field requirements as our traditional programs, but at an accelerated pace.

Students choosing to pursue the 3+1 path will complete their undergraduate work in three years by taking five courses rather than four during some semesters and by taking courses during the summers between each year.

Students in the 3+1 program may then apply for advanced standing at the MSW level and, if accepted, will begin the MSW program at the end of three years. Provided they meet all requirements of the program, these students are eligible to earn their MSW in one additional year (3 semesters), allowing them to begin working and earning earlier.

As a student in Simmons’ Social Work + Social Work (3+1) program, you’ll complete your Bachelor of Social Work coursework at an accelerated pace. You’ll take five courses per semester and fulfill additional electives or requirements during summer terms.

At the end of your third year, you’ll apply for the master’s portion of the program, adhering to the MSW Advanced Standing application process and deadlines. 

Simmons University is accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education. The MSW degrees from the School of Social Work are approved by the Council on Social Work Education. We adhere to all accreditation standards, requiring completion of all undergraduate and graduate courses and practicum requirements.

Practicum

Classroom and practicum learning have a synergistic, critical relationship in social work education. You’ll gradually prepare for the profession through theoretical learning in the classroom and hands-on experience. First, you’ll fulfill service-learning hours, and then you’ll be placed in a formal practicum.

Learn more about Practicum Education.

Our curriculum ensures you graduate "career-ready" through a two-tiered practical approach:

1. Service Learning

  • Engage in 40 hours of community service as part of SW253: Human Behavior in the Social Environment
  • Goal: Gain early exposure to diverse populations and social service organizations.

2. Simulated Practicum Placement (Junior Year)

  • Integrate social work knowledge, skills, values, and ethics in our immersive virtual practicum course. 
  • Goal: Enter Senior Practicum feeling prepared to be effective on the first day.

3. Practicum Placement (Senior Year)

  • Engage in a formal, supervised internship that offers immersive, professional practice over 425 hours (approximately 16 hours/week).
  • Goal: Graduate with the knowledge and skills to successfully enter the social work profession and/or pursue an MSW degree.

Spotlight on Social Work + Social Work (3+1) Students and Alums

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Honors 3+1 Student Embraces Interdisciplinarity

Abigail Pearson ’26, ’27MSW is an honors student pursuing an accelerated degree in social work. We spoke with her about the vitality of an interdisciplinary education and the thriving community at Simmons.

The 2025 cohort of Bonner Leaders

Simmons Welcomes New Cohort of Bonner Community Leaders

The Bonner Community Leaders Program is a unique opportunity for students who want to combine a strong commitment to service with personal growth, teamwork, leadership development, and scholarship. We spoke with Ellie Foss ’28, Jocelyn Miranda Landaverde ’28, Bridget Swezey ’28, and Soraya Timas ’28 about what drew them to the program.

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Julie Tokarowski ’21 Combines Social Work with Female Empowerment

Julie tells us about her experience transferring to Simmons and why she chose to pursue social work.

Highlights of Social Work Program at Simmons

1st

School of Clinical Social Work in the Country

The School of Social Work (SSW) is distinguished in many ways — with nationally acclaimed faculty, a strong emphasis on clinical practice, and our ideal Boston location among world-renowned teaching hospitals and research facilities.

School of Social Work

125+

Years

For more than a century, Simmons has set the standard for clinical social work education and social justice advocacy.

500+

Agencies

Our extensive Boston internship network, with over 500 partner agencies, provides exceptional placements in hospitals, schools, and community mental health settings.

85%

First-time pass rate on ASWB licensing exam

Simmons University consistently surpasses national averages for first-time pass rates on the licensing exam. In 2025, 85% of campus and online students passed the ASWB Master’s Level Licensing Exam, which is 12% higher than the national average.

View recent licensing exam pass rates for MSW graduates.

82%

Rank Clinical Training as Excellent

82% of students agree that the clinical training quality at Simmons is "excellent."

* results from the 2025 MSW student survey

80%

Feel that Faculty are Invested

80% of students report that faculty are invested in their success.

* results from the 2025 MSW student survey

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