Accelerated Dual-Degree
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Visit the School of Health SciencesOur accelerated dual-degree program, which culminates in a master’s degree in social work (MSW), provides the knowledge, skills and compassion to help heal and change countless lives — from recovering addicts to victims of abuse and those suffering from mental and emotional disorders, including young children and teens in need of assistance.
Emergency rooms, rehabilitation facilities and youth centers all rely on social workers to treat veterans with PTSD, neglected children, people with chronic illnesses and many others. Our program prepares you for licensure and gives you the tools you’ll need to provide patients with counseling, crisis intervention and access to social welfare and community resources.
You’ll act as a crucial link between patients and other caregivers, ensuring that they are receiving proper attention. Our curriculum emphasizes interprofessional education to familiarize you with a team-based health care approach while also giving you the freedom to tailor your degree to your specialty.
Through this accelerated dual-degree program, you‘ll complete both your Bachelor of Science in Health Science Studies and your MSW in just 5 years.
In lieu of completing a BS in Health Science Studies, students may choose to complete a bachelor‘s degree in one of the many programs offered through our College of Arts and Sciences and the MSW within the same timeframe (3 undergraduate years and 2 graduate years).
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, over 53,800 new Social Work jobs will be created over the next decade. (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2023)
A 2017 National Association of Social Workers Workforce Study found MSW salaries were $13,000 higher than for those who held a BSW degree.
U.S. News & World Report
Our accelerated dual-degree (3+2) program enables you to earn your undergraduate and graduate degrees in the most efficient and economical way possible, positioning you for success in a competitive landscape. This approach to earning your degrees advances on traditional higher education models by focusing on rigorous, interdisciplinary and experiential learning.
The benefits include:
Save time and money: You’ll complete your degrees sooner, save on tuition costs and enter the workforce at least one year earlier, with a graduate degree
Competitive career positioning: Your graduate degree will give you an advantage in a competitive landscape
Dedicated guidance: You’ll be partnered with a faculty adviser who may also be the director of the program within the school
Experiential learning: You’ll have access to special programming and networking opportunities for program students
Course overload fees are waived during the Fall and Spring semesters for students in accelerated dual-degree programs up to 19 credits per term (or up to 20 credits per term for up to two semesters for students engaging in a study abroad program). Summer and/or January term courses may be required to earn the accelerated graduate degree and are also offered at no cost to students in accelerated dual-degree programs.**
*This only applies to the one graduate program associated with your chosen dual-degree.
**Not to exceed a seven-credit limit per Summer (Summer 1 and Summer 2 combined) or a three-credit limit per January term in which you enroll in courses. Any additional credits in a Summer or January term will have associated credit hour costs. Please see the tuition and fee schedule on the webpage for specific costs per program.
All Council on Social Work Education programs measure and report student learning outcomes. Students are assessed on their mastery of the competencies that comprise the accreditation standards of the Council on Social Work Education. These competencies are dimensions of social work practice that all social workers are expected to master during their professional training. A measurement benchmark is set by the social work programs for each competency. An assessment score at or above that benchmark is considered by the program to represent mastery of that particular competency.
View the Assessment of Student Learning Outcomes: Form AS 4(M) (PDF)
The MSW and MSW - Advanced Standing programs meet the academic requirements for licensure as a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW). These programs are fully accredited by the Council on Social Work Education. Initial accreditation was granted in March 2016.
Quinnipiac's online Master of Social Work (MSW) and online MSW Advanced Standing are pending approval from the Council on Social Work Education's (CSWE) Board of Accreditation (BOA) for the online MSW format.
Accelerated dual-degree students, like all students, are required to live on campus for their first three years of enrollment.
Our undergraduate admissions counselors are here to answer any questions you may have and help you navigate the application process.