MSW Course Syllabus & Subjects 2024

MSW course syllabus is offered by colleges accredited by the University Grants Commission (UGC). The university designs the MSW course subjects based on the commission's curriculum guidelines. Based on the New Education Policy, the Ministry of Education will only accept MSW course syllabus and subjects designed with the Choice Based Credit System (CBCS). Therefore, you can get the course syllabus through the CBCS scheme. Students in the CBCS course structure are taught some core subjects that are common to all students. They can also select from a list of predetermined subjects known as electives or optional courses. 

MSW course syllabus incorporates subjects such as Social Work, Psychology, Sociology, Human Rights, Social Development, etc. It is designed in a way to benefits society by allowing students to work for the betterment of people and the community as a whole. The Master of Social Work course is a two-year post-graduate course in the field of social work. MSW course subjects cover topics like Healthcare, Childcare, Psychology, Sociology, and so on. Along with core semester subjects, the course includes other specialisations for specific skill development. The course does not require an internship, but it does require extensive study and research throughout the course. For more information on the MSW course subjects and syllabus, including the semester-by-semester topics for all core and elective subjects under the CBCS programme, continue reading.

Students must select an elective course from a list of options when enrolling in an MSW course. There are two elective subject schemes included in the MSW course curriculum: electives and open electives. Electives are only available to MSW students, but electives are open to both MSW students and students of other courses offered by the Department of Social Science.

Candidates must go over the MSW course structure followed by UGC-recognised colleges under the CBCS scheme before moving on to the list of MSW syllabus:

• There are 19 required papers for the two-year MSW course, including fieldwork practical
• There will be six core subjects each in the first and second semesters
• There are four core subjects in the third semester
• Three core subjects are included in the fourth semester
• Two elective subjects are offered in each of the third and fourth semesters of the two-year MSW course
• The third and fourth semesters of the course structure include four open elective subjects

The MSW syllabus is divided into core and elective subjects. They may differ depending on the university/ college. The MSW course syllabus aims to provide students with access to all important aspects of the curriculum. MSW syllabus is divided into two parts: a mandatory set of courses covering all foundation areas in literature and an elective set of courses aimed at developing job-specific skills and knowledge. The general MSW subjects over the four semesters have been provided below:

Despite the various types of specialisation available in the MSW Program, the MSW course syllabus remains the same except for one subject that candidates choose as a major MSW subject based on their specialisation.

In the Master of Social Work programme, students can choose from several specialisations, such as Family and Children's Welfare, Medical and Psychiatric Social Work, And Urban and Rural Community Development. Here is a quick overview of these specialisations:

Family and Child Welfare: This MSW course's subject specialisation teaches about matters about family and child welfare. Aspirants receive training to assist others in resolving these problems and maintaining a happy family life. They are also taught about family ethics, problem-solving methods etc. in this specialisation.

Medical and Psychiatric Social Work: This MSW course subject is a type of medical social work that involves supporting and caring for people who are mentally ill or require psychiatric guidance. Their job is to teach their clients how to deal with mental illnesses and to assist them in curing them.

Urban and Rural Community Development: This MSW course subject; Urban and Rural Community Development is a specialisation that teaches how to improve the life approach and standard of living of the underprivileged population. It also includes meeting the community's economic and non-economic needs.

Criminology Administration: This specialisation entails teaching to support family members affected by the actions of offenders. They also help survivors navigate the legal system from the time they report to trial and beyond.

Below is the MSW detailed semester-by-semester syllabus.

MSW Course Syllabus: 1st Semester

Only core subjects are covered in the first semester of the MSW course. The following is the syllabus for these core subjects:

MSW Syllabus: 2nd Semester

The following is the MSW 2nd semester syllabus and subjects:

MSW Course Syllabus: 3rd Semester

The MSW course's third semester consists of six subjects: two core subjects, two electives, and two open electives. The third semester MSW syllabus is listed in the table below:

MSW Course Syllabus: 4th Semester

The MSW course's fourth semester consists of six subjects: two core subjects, two electives, and two open electives. The fourth semester MSW syllabus is listed in the table below:

Though they vary according to the course module offered by a respective institute, the MSW subjects are essentially similar in all of them. Nonetheless, depending on the teaching style, the MSW course subjects are delivered in a different order even though they are generally relatively comparable. Candidates who complete the programme will learn a novel approach to child care, nursing, health, etc. The following table covers some important MSW subjects in detail along with their respective topics covered.

As discussed, the MSW syllabus is created in compliance with the Ministry of Education's curricular guidance. It offers a thorough grasp of social work in India and the different methods connected to it. Check out the common MSW subjects here:

• Social Work Research and Quantitative Analysis
• Social Policy and Planning
• Social Legislation and Labour Welfare
• Rehabilitation and Resettlement
• Human Rights and Social Legislation
• History of Social Work
• Corporate Social Responsibility

MSW courses emphasise skills and impart knowledge of industry best practices. These courses impart knowledge of industry standards of excellence and are skill-oriented.

• Social Entrepreneurship
• Public Health for Social Workers 
• Medical Social Work
• Medical Social Work
• Livelihood Promotion 
• Labour Legislation and Labour Welfare 
• Industrial Relations 
• Human Resource Management

The MSW course syllabus offers a comprehensive grasp of social work in India and the range of related practices. It attempts to guarantee that every essential component of the curriculum is available to the candidates. Additionally, the topics covered in MSW course subjects are skill-oriented and offer expertise in industry best practices. The following is a discussion of the year-wise MSW course lab subjects.

First-Year Lab MSW Course Subjects

For effective learning, the MSW course syllabus incorporates practical coursework into the programme. The following is a list of a few of the laboratory or practical subjects covered in the first-year course syllabus:

• Drawing attention to a pressing local issue that has to be addressed
• Utilising research techniques in a regulated setting
• Serving as a facilitator for a creative programme
• Recommendations for creative measures to improve the circumstances

Second-Year Lab MSW Course Subjects

The following is a list of a few of the laboratory or practical subjects covered in the second-year MSW course syllabus:

• Learn how to do systematic observation.
• Developing a volunteer-focused personality
• Capturing people's voices discussing their social exclusion experiences
• Ideas for developing approaches to solve the issue

Master of Social Work (MSW) programmes can be broadly classified into three categories based on their main areas of specialisation: micro, macro, and advanced generalist programmes. These broad categories do, however, include specialisations that allow graduates to focus even further on their areas of expertise to pursue employment in their chosen fields after graduation.

Also Read: Top Five Specializations to Pursue in MSW Course

Some social work programmes allow candidates to obtain advanced knowledge in multiple areas of social work by offering tracks or sub-specialisations in addition to the regular ones. For instance, some programmes provide an optional track or sub-specialisation in military social work, substance misuse, and/or trauma in addition to a specialisation in adult mental health and wellness. Depending on the student's interests, these specialisations can be pursued during the MSW course duration. The details of MSW specialisation in India are shown in the list below.

• Substance Abuse and Mental Health
• Social Work in Schools
• Social Work in Criminal Justice
• Social and Community Work
• Family and Children's Social Work

MSW Distance Education programmes lasts between a duration of two and five years. The time required to complete the MSW course entirely depends on the time provided by the candidates. MSW distance education courses are extremely beneficial for candidates who are unable to attend regular classes.

The requirements for MSW distance learning admission vary depending on the college. The majority of admissions are granted based on merit. During the admissions process, candidates must submit their caste certificate along with other necessary documents. Candidates from any stream are eligible to enrol in the MSW distance education programme. Here is the semester-wise MSW syllabus:

Also Read: Top 10 Distance Education Universities in India

Colleges offering Master of Social Work (MSW) admission screen applicants based on their performance on written tests or skill assessments, followed by a personal interview. Top Master of Social Work Entrance Exams (MSW) are CUET PG, BHU PET, TISS NET, AMU and DSSW. 

Topics covered under the MSW Syllabus for the entrance exam are the Meaning, Nature, and Scope of Social Work, the Relationship between Social Work and other Social Science Fields, Social Work and Associated Ideas: Social Development, Social Welfare, Social Services, and Social Reform. At the National level, there are programmes and services for Family Welfare, Children Welfare, Woman Welfare, Youth Welfare, Aged Welfare, Social Issues and Laws Governing Society.

Also Read: Top Colleges in DU Based on NIRF Ranking 2024

The MSW programme is designed for those who want to specialise in social work. The topics covered in the MSW syllabus/module are more than sufficient. However, some books are also written by authors who have shared their thought processes which help students in exploring more theories and ideas related to the subjects. 

The best books for the MSW course provided below make up a significant portion of the MSW Subjects and help readers become more skilled and knowledgeable.

The MSW syllabus is primarily made up of materials from the social work, healthcare, and elective subject areas, providing the knowledge needed to work in the various job sectors. A student's mind is sharpened in this field to overcome the daily challenges they face in their job, their studies, and other similar aspects. The MSW course structure includes the following:

• Core MSW subjects
• Field Works
• Workshops
• Debates/ Research
• Internships
• Elective MSW subjects