Social Work Essentials Certificate Cohorts
The Social Work Essentials certificate was designed to be completed over a 4 month period (taking 3 classes at a time).
Please note:
- It is strongly discouraged for students to take more than 3 classes at a time, unless they are working on the certificate full time.
- Students are able to enroll in a cohort up to two weeks following a published cohort date.
Enroll in Social Work Essentials Certificate
Students who are planning to pursue the MSW degree (following certificate completion) are highly recommended to submit an Eligibility Review Request, fully apply to the MSW program, and receive an offer of admission prior to purchasing the Social Work Essentials Certificate.
Students only interested in the Social Work Essentials Certificate do not need to have their experience screened or apply to the MSW program.
Cohorts
4-month Track
This cohort will finish in time for students to enter in the following semesters:
- Winter 2026, Spring/Summer 2026, and Fall 2026
- On-Campus Program: Fall 2026
Students who have had their eligibility review request approved and are admitted to the MSW program can use the SW Essentials Certificate toward the MSW degree up to two years following completion.
Important: Milestone assignments are due no later than one week prior to the course end date.
| Course # | Course Start Date | Milestone Assignment Due Date | Course End Date | Registration Deadline (3pm ET) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SWEC 101: Social Work Practice: Advocating Social Justice and Change | Aug 11, 2025 | Oct 5, 2025 | Aug 25, 2025 | |
| SWEC 505: Engaging Social Justice, Diversity, and Oppression in Social Work | Aug 11, 2025 | Sep 28, 2025 | Oct 5, 2025 | Aug 25, 2025 |
| SWEC 506: Essentials of Interpersonal Practice | Aug 11, 2025 | Sep 28, 2025 | Oct 5, 2025 | Aug 25, 2025 |
| SWEC 507: Research Basics for Social Work | Oct 13, 2025 | Dec 7, 2025 | Oct 27, 2025 | |
| SWEC 508: Essentials of Social Welfare Policy | Oct 13, 2025 | Nov 30, 2025 | Dec 7, 2025 | Oct 27, 2025 |
| SWEC 509: Essentials of Community and Organizational Practice | Oct 13, 2025 | Nov 30, 2025 | Dec 7, 2025 | Oct 27, 2025 |
Live Sessions
SW505 & SW506
- Week 1 Session: Aug 12, 2025 @ 6PM ET (Mandatory or 505/506; Optional for 101)
- Week 4 Office Hours: Sep 4, 2025 @ 8PM ET (Optional)
SW507, SW508 & SW509
- Week 1 Session: Oct 13, 2025 @ 7PM ET (Mandatory)
- Week 4 Office Hours: Nov 3, 2025 @ 8PM ET (Optional)
4-month Track
This cohort will finish in time for students to enter in the following semesters:
- Spring/Summer 2026, Fall 2026, and Winter 2027
- On-Campus Program: Fall 2026
Students who have had their eligibility review request approved and are admitted to the MSW program can use the SW Essentials Certificate toward the MSW degree up to two years following completion.
Important: Milestone assignments are due no later than one week prior to the course end date.
| Course # | Course Start Date | Milestone Assignment Due Date | Course End Date | Registration Deadline (3pm ET) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SWEC 101: Social Work Practice: Advocating Social Justice and Change | Jan 9, 2026 | Mar 6, 2026 | Jan 23, 2026 | |
| SWEC 505: Engaging Social Justice, Diversity, and Oppression in Social Work | Jan 9, 2026 | Feb 27, 2026 | Mar 6, 2026 | Jan 23, 2026 |
| SWEC 506: Essentials of Interpersonal Practice | Jan 9, 2026 | Feb 27, 2026 | Mar 6, 2026 | Jan 23, 2026 |
| SWEC 507: Research Basics for Social Work | Feb 27, 2026 | Apr 24, 2026 | Mar 13, 2026 | |
| SWEC 508: Essentials of Social Welfare Policy | Feb 27, 2026 | Apr 17, 2026 | Apr 24, 2026 | Mar 13, 2026 |
| SWEC 509: Essentials of Community and Organizational Practice | Feb 27, 2026 | Apr 17, 2026 | Apr 24, 2026 | Mar 13, 2026 |
Live Sessions
SW101, SW505 & SW506
- Week 1 Session: January 12, 2026 @ 6PM ET (Mandatory or 505/506; Optional for 101)
- Week 4 Office Hours: February 2, 2026 @ 6PM ET (Optional)
SW507, SW508 & SW509
- Week 1 Session: March 2, 2026 @ 6PM ET (Mandatory)
- Week 4 Office Hours: March 25, 2026 @ 6PM ET (Optional)
4-month Track
This cohort will finish in time for students to enter in the following semesters:
- Fall 2026, Winter 2027, and Spring/Summer 2027
- On-Campus Program: Fall 2026
Students who have had their eligibility review request approved and are admitted to the MSW program can use the SW Essentials Certificate toward the MSW degree up to two years following completion.
Important: Milestone assignments are due no later than one week prior to the course end date.
| Course # | Course Start Date | Milestone Assignment Due Date | Course End Date | Registration Deadline (3pm ET) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SWEC 101: Social Work Practice: Advocating Social Justice and Change | Apr 24, 2026 | Jun 19, 2026 | May 12, 2026 | |
| SWEC 505: Engaging Social Justice, Diversity, and Oppression in Social Work | Apr 24, 2026 | Jun 12, 2026 | Jun 19, 2026 | May 12, 2026 |
| SWEC 506: Essentials of Interpersonal Practice | Apr 24, 2026 | Jun 12, 2026 | Jun 19, 2026 | May 12, 2026 |
| SWEC 507: Research Basics for Social Work | Jun 19, 2026 | Aug 14, 2026 | Jul 3, 2026 | |
| SWEC 508: Essentials of Social Welfare Policy | Jun 19, 2026 | Aug 7, 2026 | Aug 14, 2026 | Jul 3, 2026 |
| SWEC 509: Essentials of Community and Organizational Practice | Jun 19, 2026 | Aug 7, 2026 | Aug 14, 2026 | Jul 3, 2026 |
Live Sessions
SW101, SW505 & SW506
- Week 1 Session: April 27, 2026 @ 6PM ET (Mandatory or 505/506; Optional for 101)
- Week 4 Office Hours: May 20, 2026 @ 6PM ET (Optional)
SW507, SW508 & SW509
- Week 1 Session: June 22, 2026 @ 6PM ET (Mandatory)
- Week 4 Office Hours: July 15, 2026 @ 6PM ET (Optional)
4-month Track
This cohort will finish in time for students to enter in the following semesters:
- Winter 2027, Spring/Summer 2027, and Fall 2027
- On-Campus Program: Fall 2027
Students who have had their eligibility review request approved and are admitted to the MSW program can use the SW Essentials Certificate toward the MSW degree up to two years following completion.
Important: Milestone assignments are due no later than one week prior to the course end date.
| Course # | Course Start Date | Milestone Assignment Due Date | Course End Date | Registration Deadline (3pm ET) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SWEC 101: Social Work Practice: Advocating Social Justice and Change | Aug 14, 2026 | Oct 9, 2026 | Aug 28, 2026 | |
| SWEC 505: Engaging Social Justice, Diversity, and Oppression in Social Work | Aug 14, 2026 | Oct 2, 2026 | Oct 9, 2026 | Aug 28, 2026 |
| SWEC 506: Essentials of Interpersonal Practice | Aug 14, 2026 | Oct 2, 2026 | Oct 9, 2026 | Aug 28, 2026 |
| SWEC 507: Research Basics for Social Work | Oct 9, 2026 | Dec 4, 2026 | Oct 23, 2026 | |
| SWEC 508: Essentials of Social Welfare Policy | Oct 9, 2026 | Nov 27, 2026 | Dec 4, 2026 | Oct 23, 2026 |
| SWEC 509: Essentials of Community and Organizational Practice | Oct 9, 2026 | Nov 27, 2026 | Dec 4, 2026 | Oct 23, 2026 |
Live Sessions
SW101, SW505 & SW506
- Week 1 Session: August 13, 2026 @ 7PM ET (Mandatory or 505/506; Optional for 101)
- Week 4 Office Hours: tentative September 9, 2026 @ 6PM ET (Optional)
SW507, SW508 & SW509
- Week 1 Session: tentative October 14, 2026 @ 6PM ET (Mandatory)
- Week 4 Office Hours: tentative November 4, 2026 @ 6PM ET (Optional)
4-month Track
This cohort will finish in time for students to enter in the following semesters:
- Spring/Summer 2027, Fall 2027, and Winter 2028
- On-Campus Program: Fall 2027
Students who have had their eligibility review request approved and are admitted to the MSW program can use the SW Essentials Certificate toward the MSW degree up to two years following completion.
Important: Milestone assignments are due no later than one week prior to the course end date.
| Course # | Course Start Date | Milestone Assignment Due Date | Course End Date | Registration Deadline (3pm ET) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SWEC 101: Social Work Practice: Advocating Social Justice and Change | Jan 5, 2027 | Mar 2, 2027 | Jan 19, 2027 | |
| SWEC 505: Engaging Social Justice, Diversity, and Oppression in Social Work | Jan 5, 2027 | Feb 23, 2027 | Mar 2, 2027 | Jan 19, 2027 |
| SWEC 506: Essentials of Interpersonal Practice | Jan 5, 2027 | Feb 23, 2027 | Mar 2, 2027 | Jan 19, 2027 |
| SWEC 507: Research Basics for Social Work | Feb 19, 2027 | Apr 16, 2027 | Mar 5, 2027 | |
| SWEC 508: Essentials of Social Welfare Policy | Feb 19, 2027 | Apr 9, 2027 | Apr 16, 2027 | Mar 5, 2027 |
| SWEC 509: Essentials of Community and Organizational Practice | Feb 19, 2027 | Apr 9, 2027 | Apr 16, 2027 | Mar 5, 2027 |
Live Sessions
SW101, SW505 & SW506
- Week 1 Session: TBD (Mandatory or 505/506; Optional for 101)
- Week 4 Office Hours: TBD (Optional)
SW507, SW508 & SW509
- Week 1 Session: TBD (Mandatory)
- Week 4 Office Hours: TBD (Optional)
4-month Track
This cohort will finish in time for students to enter in the following semesters:
- Fall 2027, Winter 2028, and Spring/Summer 2028
- On-Campus Program: Fall 2027
Students who have had their eligibility review request approved and are admitted to the MSW program can use the SW Essentials Certificate toward the MSW degree up to two years following completion.
Important: Milestone assignments are due no later than one week prior to the course end date.
| Course # | Course Start Date | Milestone Assignment Due Date | Course End Date | Registration Deadline (3pm ET) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SWEC 101: Social Work Practice: Advocating Social Justice and Change | Apr 9, 2027 | Jun 4, 2027 | Apr 23, 2027 | |
| SWEC 505: Engaging Social Justice, Diversity, and Oppression in Social Work | Apr 9, 2027 | May 28, 2027 | Jun 4, 2027 | Apr 23, 2027 |
| SWEC 506: Essentials of Interpersonal Practice | Apr 9, 2027 | May 28, 2027 | Jun 4, 2027 | Apr 23, 2027 |
| SWEC 507: Research Basics for Social Work | Jun 4, 2027 | Jul 30, 2027 | Jun 18, 2027 | |
| SWEC 508: Essentials of Social Welfare Policy | Jun 4, 2027 | Jul 23, 2027 | Jul 30, 2027 | Jun 18, 2027 |
| SWEC 509: Essentials of Community and Organizational Practice | Jun 4, 2027 | Jul 23, 2027 | Jul 30, 2027 | Jun 18, 2027 |
Live Sessions
SW101, SW505 & SW506
- Week 1 Session: TBD (Mandatory or 505/506; Optional for 101)
- Week 4 Office Hours: TBD (Optional)
SW507, SW508 & SW509
- Week 1 Session: TBD (Mandatory)
- Week 4 Office Hours: TBD (Optional)
4-month Track
This cohort will finish in time for students to enter in the following semesters:
- Winter 2028, Spring/Summer 2028, and Fall 2028
- On-Campus Program: Fall 2028
Students who have had their eligibility review request approved and are admitted to the MSW program can use the SW Essentials Certificate toward the MSW degree up to two years following completion.
Important: Milestone assignments are due no later than one week prior to the course end date.
| Course # | Course Start Date | Milestone Assignment Due Date | Course End Date | Registration Deadline (3pm ET) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SWEC 101: Social Work Practice: Advocating Social Justice and Change | Aug 20, 2027 | Oct 15, 2027 | Sep 3, 2027 | |
| SWEC 505: Engaging Social Justice, Diversity, and Oppression in Social Work | Aug 20, 2027 | Oct 8, 2027 | Oct 15, 2027 | Sep 3, 2027 |
| SWEC 506: Essentials of Interpersonal Practice | Aug 20, 2027 | Oct 8, 2027 | Oct 15, 2027 | Sep 3, 2027 |
| SWEC 507: Research Basics for Social Work | Oct 22, 2027 | Dec 17, 2027 | Nov 5, 2027 | |
| SWEC 508: Essentials of Social Welfare Policy | Oct 22, 2027 | Dec 10, 2027 | Dec 17, 2027 | Nov 5, 2027 |
| SWEC 509: Essentials of Community and Organizational Practice | Oct 22, 2027 | Dec 10, 2027 | Dec 17, 2027 | Nov 5, 2027 |
Live Sessions
SW101, SW505 & SW506
- Week 1 Session: TBD (Mandatory or 505/506; Optional for 101)
- Week 4 Office Hours: TBD (Optional)
SW507, SW508 & SW509
- Week 1 Session: TBD (Mandatory)
- Week 4 Office Hours: TBD (Optional)