Sacramento State Social Work Programs
Did you know California guides the nation with 27 fully-accredited MSW programs? Sacramento State Social Work Programs are one of the most budget-friendly choices in this reliable educational world.
Sacramento State’s social work programs offer a detailed path to help you become an ethical, competent professional. The master’s program at Sacramento State requires 1,280 hours of fieldwork. This is a big deal as it means that the standard 900-hour requirement at many California institutions. The total estimated tuition of $14,352 for in-state students makes the program $15,000 cheaper than the state average. On top of that, the bachelor’s program prepares students to serve in a variety of populations while supporting human well-being and social justice.
This piece will show you everything about completing your social work education and starting your career in just 24 months. You can specialize in Behavioral Health, Children and Families, or Health and Aging.
Types Social Work Degrees Offered at Sac State
Sacramento State has two social work degree paths that are accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE). This accreditation will give students confidence that these programs meet national standards for quality social work education.
The Bachelor of Arts in Social Work (BASW) program needs 48 units to prepare students for entry-level generalist social work practice. Students must complete 42 units of professional foundation requirements and 6 units of social work electives. During their senior year, students gain hands-on experience by completing 512 hours (16 hours weekly for 32 weeks) at a social services agency under an experienced MSW Social Worker’s supervision.
The Master of Social Work (MSW) program requires 60 units and prepares students for advanced, independent social work practice. The program has 28 units of professional foundation courses and 32 units of concentration curriculum with specialized content and electives.
Students can choose from three MSW program pathways that fit their needs:
- Two-Year Full-Time – This traditional graduate program combines classroom learning with field experience. Students start in fall semester and continue their studies for two years in a linear structure.
- Advanced Standing – Students can complete this accelerated one-year option if they have earned a CSWE-accredited bachelor’s degree in social work within the last five years and maintain a 3.5 cumulative GPA.
- Three-Year Weekend/Part-Time – This path works best for professionals in child protective services. Weekend classes allow students to keep their jobs while earning their degree.
Both programs have evening classes, supervised field experience, and academic and career planning support. Students can join active organizations including a chapter of Phi Alpha, the national honor society for Social Work. The MSW degree also meets most educational requirements needed to become a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) in California.
Degree Specializations
The Sac State social work bachelor’s program helps you learn generalist practice, while the master’s program lets you specialize in three different areas.
You’ll progress through two tiers in the MSW program. The foundation courses build your core skills in the first year. The second year lets you pick one of three specializations that define your advanced courses and field work:
The Behavioral Health Specialization teaches you to help people with severe mental illnesses and substance use disorders. You’ll learn clinical assessment, psychodiagnosis, and time-limited therapeutic interventions. The courses have Multi-Level Practice for Behavioral Health, Advanced Policy for Behavioral Health, and related field training. You can choose electives like Alcohol and Other Drugs, Advanced Mental Health Practice, and Clinical Intervention in Sexual Abuse.
The Children & Families Specialization gets you ready to work in child welfare, with couples, families, and school-based services. Your studies will cover Multi-Level Practice for Children & Families, Advanced Policy for Children & Families, and field work in these settings. You can take electives like Public Child Welfare Practice, Family Interventions, and Child Maltreatment to build your expertise.
The Health & Aging Specialization focuses on medical social work and team-based practice in acute and chronic care settings. The program has Multi-Level Practice for Health & Aging, Advanced Policy for Health & Aging, and field work in healthcare facilities. You can pick electives such as Social Work Practice in Health Care Settings, Geriatric Health/Mental Health, and Aging Policy and Services.
Each path needs 19 units of specialized coursework plus 9 units of electives. Your field placements match your chosen focus and give you real-world experience. These specialized tracks open up different career paths and meet California’s requirements to become a Licensed Clinical Social Worker.
Online and Hybrid Options
Learning online and through hybrid options makes higher education more accessible without compromising quality. Sacramento State understands this need and takes an all-encompassing approach to distance education.
The Chancellor’s Office Online Course Services (OCS) program supports the university’s online and hybrid courses. This program gives faculty quality assurance support at no cost. While online degree options remain limited, a resilient infrastructure supports high-quality online education.
Sacramento State provides extensive support to faculty who teach online and hybrid courses:
- Faculty learning communities that focus on online teaching methods
- Peer mentoring and consultation services
- Expert peer reviews of online and hybrid courses
- Professional development opportunities
The university partners with Quality Matters (QM), a prominent organization known for its peer-based quality assurance. This partnership ensures that online components meet strict standards.
Other California universities offer fully online MSW options, unlike Sacramento State’s campus-based approach. California State University, Northridge runs a complete online MSW program with an urban families focus that needs no campus visits. Humboldt State University features a Distributed Learning MSW program that specializes in rural and indigenous communities with all didactic courses online.
San Jose State University’s Online/Hybrid MSW program delivers all didactic courses online for students who need maximum flexibility. But like most accredited programs, students must complete substantial field education hours—usually between 900-1200 hours.
The Sac State MSW includes hybrid elements in their weekend/part-time option. Working professionals can keep their jobs while earning degrees through strategically scheduled classes.
Field education remains fundamental to social work education, whatever the delivery method. Students in California’s online programs must complete between 900-1300 hours of supervised field experience.
Your learning priorities and schedule constraints should guide your program format choice. Every format demands serious commitment to complete successfully.
Graduation Rates
Sacramento State Social Work Programs showcase their excellence through outstanding graduation outcomes and national rankings. The university stands among the top performers in social work education, ranking #36 out of 419 schools nationwide.
The numbers tell an impressive story. The bachelor’s program graduated 196 students in the 2021-2022 academic year. That same year, 100 students earned their master’s degrees. These figures place Sac State as the 91st most popular choice nationwide for social work master’s degrees.
The university’s overall graduation rates paint an even brighter picture. First-year students now graduate at a record-breaking rate of 31.3%. This success story began in 2016 with the “Finish in Four” initiative, and graduation rates have grown fourfold since then.
Sacramento State’s achievements stand out even more because they surpass the California State University (CSU) system’s expectations. While the CSU aimed for a 38% two-year graduation rate for transfer students, Sacramento State reached 44%. No other campus in the 23-school CSU system has shown such remarkable progress.
Several key strategies drove this soaring win:
- The university added thousands of seats to help students get the classes they need to graduate
- Students no longer take non-credit remedial courses
- The Hornet Launch program helps map out courses based on student goals
- Students now believe they can finish their degree in four years
Students reap financial rewards from these improvements. Early graduation means lower tuition costs and faster entry into the workforce, which leads to higher lifetime earnings. First-generation and underrepresented students have especially benefited, as graduation rates improved for almost every demographic group.
The university managed to keep its high academic standards through these changes. The social work programs continue to prepare students effectively for their careers while helping them graduate on time.
Career Outcomes
Social work careers provide multiple paths for professional growth. Graduates of Sac State enjoy strong employment prospects and earning potential.
The employment numbers tell a compelling story. About 54% of Sacramento State graduates achieve “positive outcomes” – 38% find jobs and 14% pursue further education. The master’s program stands out with its “high graduate employability rate” that draws students from home and abroad.
MSW graduates from Sacramento State earn a median salary of $65,967. This is a big deal as it means that the national median of $61,330 for social work master’s degree holders. Sacramento State social work bachelor’s graduates earn a median salary of $37,290, which sits close to the national median of $37,334.
BASW students typically take on $23,908 in student loans with monthly payments around $206. This investment helps graduates “effectively demonstrate, apply, participate with, and assess the nine social work competencies” required by the Council on Social Work Education.
Sacramento State’s career support enriches graduates’ professional journey through several key resources:
- Access to Handshake job database with full-time, part-time, and internship listings
- Five 45-minute career counseling sessions each year
- Big Interview platform to practice interview skills
- Career events including job fairs and employer presentations
- Online career resources and assessment tools
MSW graduates are “prepared to enter advanced professional practice, fortified with specialized knowledge and skills, to participate in leadership, apply effective interventions, and to advance social work for social justice”. These professionals can “carry out extensive research work in the field”.
Student feedback highlights the program’s value. A remarkable 94% of surveyed students said their degree improved their career prospects, and 91% would recommend the school to others. The university tracks career outcomes through the First Destination Survey given to students in their final semester.
What’s Unique about the Social Work Programs at Sac State
Sacramento State’s social work programs stand out among California schools with features that give students both academic and financial advantages.
Students get more hands-on experience than other California MSW programs require. The program demands 1,280 hours of supervised fieldwork instead of the usual 900 hours. This extra time in the field gives graduates a clear edge in the job market.
Money matters too. In-state students pay just $14,352 in total tuition, which saves them about $15,000 compared to other California MSW programs. Graduates start their careers with less debt while earning competitive salaries.
The faculty’s dedication to student success has earned Sacramento State a spot among the top 10% of social work schools nationwide. This excellence shows in the program’s ranking at #36 out of 419 schools across the country.
The program’s flexible structure works well for different types of students. Besides the regular full-time program, Sac State has an accelerated one-year Advanced Standing track for qualified BSW graduates. Working professionals in child protective services can choose a three-year weekend format.
Students graduate on time at Sac State. The “Finish in Four” initiative has helped the school boost its four-year graduation rates four times over since 2016. Transfer students are doing well too – 44% graduate in two years, beating the CSU system’s goal of 38%.
Career support at Sacramento State is strong. Students get career counseling, interview prep, job fairs, and access to job databases. This complete approach to education explains why 94% of students say their career prospects improved after finishing the program.