Social work is about people

Binghamton University is ranked among the top 50 best public colleges in the nation (U.S. News & World Report, 2020). As a premier university in the northeast, Binghamton is renowned for its academic excellence, research and value. The high- achieving student body represents great diversity, from first-generation college-goers to international students. 

Binghamton is part of the State University of New York (SUNY) system and is located in the Southern Tier of upstate New York, situated on 930 acres of land, and just a few hours from New York City, Boston, Philadelphia and Washington, D.C.

Master of Social Work (MSW)

Our department faculty, staff, students and alumni are committed to advancing social and economic justice, as well as to developing professional social workers who will become leaders in a complex, multicultural society. 

Our mission is to prepare social workers for autonomous, knowledge-based, advanced generalist practice within an integrated community of scholars, practitioners and learners. We help students acquire a broad base of knowledge and skills to address the needs of families, individuals, groups, organizations and communities. 

Our approach embraces: 

¬ an advanced generalist curriculum that trains practitioners for multilevel practice, engaging with individuals, families, groups, communities, organizations and service-delivery systems in identifying needs and strategies to initiate and produce change; 

¬ a commitment to social justice that teaches how to apply strategies of advocacy and social change to advance social and economic justice; and 

¬ service learning that involves collaborating with community agencies to meet specific service needs while enhancing student learning. 

Accreditation and assessment data 

¬ The Master of Social Work (MSW) program is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education's Commission on Accreditation 

¬ The Baccalaureate of Social Work (BSW) is in the candidacy process with the Council on Social Work Education's Commission on Accreditation. 

MSW licensure examination passage rates 

The New York State Education Department (NYSED) requires that master's degree social workers pass the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) master's-level examination in order to obtain a license to practice social work (LMSW) in New York state. Students must graduate from a CSWE-accredited MSW program and provide proof of graduation (diploma/transcript) prior to scheduling an appointment to take the examination. 

Each year, Binghamton University Master of Social Work (MSW) alumni have one of the highest passage rates for Licensed Clinical Social Workers (LCSW). 

Internships, research opportunities and more 

The department places a strong emphasis on the integration of theory and practice, both in the classroom and in the field. 

Through the MSW program, students are afforded more than 1,000 hours of professional experience through two field placements, which put students in direct service to the community for practical learning and training in various areas and levels of practice. The department has field placement partnerships with more than 200 organizations, offices, and agencies across the Southern Tier and throughout the surrounding counties, allowing students to pursue their specific areas of interest. Students can earn a certificate in geriatric and gerontological social work or take classes through the social work in health care program, providing them with specialized knowledge in two growing fields. 

The MSW program concludes with a capstone project, which offers students a chance to demonstrate mastery of CSWE-determined competencies and practice behaviors needed for advanced generalist practice by working as a team to integrate and apply social work knowledge, ethics, values and skills in a complex case study.

Financing your education

Graduate students at Binghamton University obtain financial support from a variety of sources, including loans, grants, assistantships, fellowships, scholarships, research and travel funding, Federal Work Study, and part-time employment. Many students seek out 

graduate assistantships, which allow students to earn stipends while gaining professional experience in an on-campus office or department. Learn more >

Alumni highlights

John Jones, ’12, MSW ’14, counselor, Binghamton University Counseling Center:“The field of helping people requires you to be able to do a lot of different things at one time. In the MSW program you have to do that, too; it models what social work is really like.” 

Alice Sounthala, ’11, MSW ’14, clinical social worker:“My experience in the field gave me the opportunity to work with real clients in real-life situations, while my courses gave me a general understanding of mental health.

Request information

Location and contact 

Address: 

4400 Vestal Parkway East Binghamton, NY 13902-6000 United States 

Contact 

Dr. Suk-Young Kang Chairperson Email: sykang@binghamton.edu 

Phone: 607-777-9156 Fax: 607-777-5683