The USC School of Social Work will begin offering advanced standing this fall in its Master of Social Work program for exceptional first-year applicants who already have a bachelor’s degree in social work.

The competitive 35-unit program, which will have both full-time and part-time options, allows students to complete their degrees in less time than the traditional MSW program by waiving first-year foundation course requirements.

Students applying for advanced standing must demonstrate their readiness to perform at the level of a second-year master’s student. In preparation, students will take three two-unit bridge courses prior to starting the program, which cover bio-psycho-social assessment writing skills, literature review and research question formation, and neurobiology.

“These courses give students the chance to learn the pace of the graduate program in a supportive environment,” said Jane Allgood, clinical associate professor and advanced standing program coordinator. “One of my current students said that when he entered the program, he thought it was going to be like getting a drink of water, but it turned out to be more like getting hit with a fire hose. These courses will allow students to learn how not to drown in that fire hose.”

Advanced standing admission will be offered at University Park, as well as at the Orange County, San Diego and Virtual Academic Centers. Bridge courses begin in June for traditional students and this fall for online students.

“Having advanced standing will allow the best and brightest to be able to come here and earn a master’s degree in a three-semester program,” Allgood said. “They will be able to go out and practice as a social worker, with the full set of Trojan skills, a little bit faster.”