Specialization: Behavioral Health

The Behavioral Health specialization combines theory and skill development to enable MSW graduates to promote behavioral health in multiple domains. It addresses co-occurring problematic substance use with attention to the current opioid overdose crisis, trauma, and stigma, with a focus on communities experiencing disproportionately lower access to services. Students learn to advance racial and health equity by examining how racism is enacted in behavioral health settings through both policies and practice.

The specialization will prepare students to be active members of interdisciplinary teams that provide social work leadership in behavioral health systems to address health inequities and the needs of specific individuals, families, and communities. Program graduates enter the workforce understanding the unique role that social work plays in enhancing prevention and intervention strategies with racial/ethnic and economically diverse populations who are facing multiple challenges in an ever-changing practice environment. The specialization also emphasizes a broad definition of behavioral health, including physical, emotional, psychological, environmental, and other social dimensions—not just the absence of injury or disease. It also reinforces core social work values, including racial, social, and economic justice, human dignity, and working in partnership with individuals and communities.

Any required courses not available at your campus will be taken through the BUSSW Online Program. Please be aware of the tuition differential rate for online program courses.