Overview
The oldest independent university in the Rocky Mountain region, the University of Denver (DU) was founded in 1864, twelve years before Colorado became a state. A DU education is distinguished by an emphasis on values, racial and cultural awareness, and global perspective. The University offers fifty-six bachelor's degree programs, 103 graduate degree programs, and fourteen certificate programs, representing a full range of disciplines in the arts, humanities, social sciences, natural sciences, business, and other professions. Located in a residential neighborhood, near the heart of one of the country's most exciting and livable cities, DU attracts students from all fifty states and around the world.

The School's total enrollment in the academic year 2004?05 was 380 students, of whom 294 were full-time master's students and 42 were part-time. There were 44 doctoral students. The School's diverse population includes African-American, Latino/a, Native American, Asian-American, and international students. Approximately 40 percent of the students are from outside of Colorado.

The Location and Community
The Denver metropolitan area has an excellent climate because of its location on a mile-high plateau at the foot of the Rockies. The population is 2.5 million. As the capital of Colorado, Denver is the center of regional offices of federal services and state social welfare, education, and health programs. It is rich in both public and voluntarily supported agencies, which provide field-instruction facilities and teaching staff members for social work students. Outdoor recreation and outstanding cultural programs in music, art, and drama are readily available. Denver is home to professional sports teams in football, baseball, hockey, basketball, and soccer.

Programs of Study and Degree Requirements
The University of Denver Graduate School of Social Work (GSSW) offers courses of study leading to a master's degree (M.S.W.), a doctoral degree (Ph.D.), and certificates in social work with Latinos, trauma response and recovery, and animal-assisted therapy. A certificate in couples and family therapy is offered in cooperation with the Denver Family Institute. A nonacademic certificate in Jewish communal service is also offered.

The two-year M.S.W. program is organized into the foundation year and the concentration year. The foundation year provides knowledge and skills essential to all social work practice. The concentration year prepares students for advanced community practice (administration, community development and organizing, and policy analysis and advocacy) or advanced clinical practice (specializing in child welfare, families, and high-risk youth or adults, with an emphasis in mental health/substance abuse or health/gerontology). Field internships are required both years, and students may choose from among 400 field placement sites. Dual-degree programs are offered in international studies, law, human communication, and theology. Students may also propose a dual degree that fits their goals. Part-time, weekend, and evening classes are available to accommodate students who are employed.

GSSW offers a one-year advanced standing M.S.W. program that is available to students with an undergraduate degree in social work from a college accredited by the Council on Social Work Education. Advanced-standing students begin in the summer or fall quarter. Full-time advanced-standing students complete their degree requirements in four quarters (one calendar year).

The program leading to the Ph.D. in social work is both theory- and research-oriented to encourage the development of scholarly and professional competence at an advanced level. It includes three components that are individualized to facilitate achievement of each student's career goals: courses offered by GSSW and other departments within the University, a comprehensive examination, and dissertation research. Students may enroll either full-time or part-time. Course work for full-time students is usually completed during the second year of study. Course work is followed first by the comprehensive examination necessary for advancement to final candidacy and then by dissertation research conducted under the guidance of members of the faculty.

Facilities & Resources
Research at GSSW provides vital information to national and state policy makers and enriches learning among GSSW students. Craig Hall, a new, state-of-the-art educational facility that was completed in 2005, includes a clinical practice suite with audio/videotaping capabilities, a virtual library with access to national research findings, and a research center that allows staff members from multiple projects to work together in one place. Research and training specialties include child welfare, high-risk youth, mental health, and gerontology.

Expenses and Aid
In 2005/06, tuition for full-time study (12 to 18 quarter-hour credits) is $27,756 per year, or $9252 per quarter. Part-time students pay $771 per credit hour. Health insurance and other fees are also required.

Financial Aid:
Financial aid for M.S.W. students includes federal loans, GSSW scholarships, the Federal Work-Study Program, and Colorado Graduate Grants. Graduate teaching assistantships, graduate research assistantships, and Colorado fellowships are forms of financial aid available for doctoral students. Filing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is required.

Housing/Living Expenses:
The estimated cost of living in 2005/06 for a single student without children is $10,440 per academic year. This estimate is exclusive of tuition costs and fees. Students should contact the Department of Residence for graduate housing information (telephone: 303-871-2246; Web site: http://www.du.edu/reslife).

How to Apply
Applicants for the master's program must have an undergraduate degree from a regionally accredited college or university and should present a broad background in the liberal arts. It is recommended that incoming students have a basic knowledge of research methods and statistics and be competent in using a personal computer. Admission factors include experience, grade point average, career goals, and references. Applicants are encouraged to submit all application materials by February 1 of the year in which they are seeking admission. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis. Applicants for the doctoral program must hold a master's degree in social work from an accredited school of social work (or, in selected instances, a master's degree in another social science discipline), have a superior academic record, have had preferably at least two years of successful post-master's experience, submit a Graduate Record Examinations (GRE) General Test score from within the past five years, and show evidence of maturity, scholarly capabilities, and readiness for advanced study. Applications should be submitted between September and December for optimal consideration and may be accepted until April 15 of the year in which one is seeking admission.

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