About the Master of Social Work Program

About the Program

The University of New Mexico Master of Social Work (MSW) Program offers an in-person graduate program at UNM’s main campus in Albuquerque. Students earn the Master of Social Work degree and prepare for advanced social work practice with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities. The program includes concentration coursework in Clinical Social Work and Medical Social Work. With classes held after 5 p.m., the program is designed to support students who are balancing graduate education with work, caregiving, and other responsibilities. Students learn in the UNM Health Sciences environment and benefit from applied coursework, practicum education, and strong connections with small cohorts to learn and grow together. 

Mission Statement

The mission of the University of New Mexico Master of Social Work Program is to build more just and equitable communities by improving the quality of behavioral health and social services for New Mexico and beyond. The program is committed to promoting best practices and the most current research while listening to and valuing the knowledge of individuals about themselves and their communities, in order to promote service provision that is humble, anti-oppressive, and informed.

Program Focus

The UNM MSW program is intentionally designed to respond to New Mexico’s unique communities, histories, and workforce needs. The curriculum emphasizes behavioral health and social services, anti-oppressive and informed practice, and preparation for work in rural, frontier, tribal, and other historically underserved communities. Through coursework, field education, and community-engaged learning, students are prepared to serve populations across the cultural, linguistic, and geographic diversity of the state.

Program Strengths

Students in the UNM MSW program benefit from in-person evening classes, strong field education support, and access to a robust range of student resources across the university and Health Sciences Center. These include academic writing and research support, accessibility services, advocacy and basic-needs support, health and counseling services, wellness resources, and a variety of graduate student organizations and identity-based support programs.

A distinctive strength of the program is its location within the UNM School of Medicine and its connection to the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences and the broader Health Sciences campus. This setting gives students access to behavioral health and medical environments, nearby clinical and practicum opportunities, and learning experiences that support interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary training. The curriculum also includes opportunities for students to engage in interdisciplinary collaboration with professionals from other disciplines in clinical and medical settings.