The goal of a Master of Social Work (MSW) program is to prepare students for professional practice in the social work area at the graduate level. The MSW program, which normally lasts one to two years, covers a wide range of subjects, such as community organizing, advocacy, diversity and social justice, human behavior and development, social welfare policy and social work research methodologies. In addition, students participate in internships or supervised field assignments that offer real-world experience in a variety of social work contexts, including government offices, hospitals, schools and community organizations.