Social Work + Master of Social Work (3+1)
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.
What Our Student Say
I am very blessed to be so close with many of the faculty here. I think my relationships with faculty are the most important thing I am going to take from college.
- Abigail Pearson ’26, ’27MSW
I found my community through my classmates. Our cohort included people from many different professional and personal backgrounds, and learning from one another was one of the most valuable parts of the program.
- Vanessa Iroegbulem ’26MSW
Spotlight on Social Work + Social Work Students and Alums
2025–26 Graduate Student Research Award Recipients
The Office of Research and Fellowships has announced the recipients of the 2025–2026 Graduate Student Research Award. This competitive, cross-disciplinary award provides up to $1,500 to five doctoral and master’s degree candidates to conduct research in the fields of mental health, social work, children’s literature, and archival preservation.
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.
Integrating Forest Spirituality into a Social Work Mindset
Grant Pike ’18MSW ’24DSW shares how the vitality of nature can be combined with social work and social justice, with a positive impact on humans and the planet.
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.
Simmons Social Work Doctoral Student Awards Kindest Kids in America
Jessie Hansen ’26DSW recently started the program The Kindest Kid in America, which awards young students who are exemplars of kindness. Hansen is a representative of Think Kindness, an organization that aims to promote acts of kindness in school and communities.
Breaking Ground with Qualitative Research in Hospice Care
Stephanie Wladkowski ’14PhD was a clinical social worker in hospice care when policy changes impacted her clinical practice. In a search for answers, Wladkowski began her PhD in Social Work at Simmons. Her dissertation, “Dementia Caregivers and Live Discharge from Hospice: What Happens When Hospice Leaves?,” has inspired further research in the field.
Nathan Brewer ’10MSW ’18PhD on Protecting College Students
Nathan Brewer ’10MSW ’18PhD is Director of the Sexual Assault Response & Prevention Center (SARP) at Boston University (BU). After receiving his Master’s in Social Work from Simmons, he returned to the University to pursue his PhD in Social Work alongside his clinical practice. We spoke to Brewer about his experience in the program, and his current work at Boston University.
Wilfred Labiosa ’20PhD Continues the Simmons Tradition of Social Work in Puerto Rico
Wilfred Labiosa ’20PhD opened a series of Waves Ahead community centers in Puerto Rico, a nonprofit dedicated to working with marginalized and vulnerable people in Puerto Rico — most notably, LGBTQ+ elders.
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.
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.
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