Master of Social Work
Discover a rewarding career in social work with Messiah University’s Master of Social Work (MSW) program. Our flexible, online MSW program empowers you to make a meaningful difference in communities and individuals’ lives. With an Advanced Generalist specialization, our MSW prepares you for diverse roles in social work, including clinical practice, practice with groups, organizational administration, community change, advocacy, and policy development.
Online Master of Social Work (MSW) Program at Messiah University overview
Messiah University’s advanced generalist MSW provides graduate-level social work training within a Christian context. The coursework is customizable to your career goals and provides you with a comprehensive understanding of social work at the micro, mezzo and macro levels. Students choose a focus area in health, leadership in organizations or mental health.
- 61 credits (traditional standing); 30 credits (advanced standing)
- Three interdisciplinary elective focus area options: health, leadership in organizations and mental health
- Students in advanced standing can complete the MSW in one year
- Cohort model
- Online coursework
- Collaboratively selected field placements
- Designed to academically prepare you for professional social work licensing
- One-year full-time completion for advanced standing students; part-time completion in two years
- Two-year full-time completion for traditional standing students; part-time completion plans in three or four years
- No-fee tuition
- No application fee
- Clinical social worker
- School social worker
- Medical social worker
- Child welfare social worker
- Substance abuse counselor
- Geriatric social worker
- Mental health counselor
- Policy advocate
- Program manager / director
- Community organizer
Accreditation Status:
Messiah University’s MSW Program has achieved candidacy status for accreditation by the Council on Social Work Education’s (CSWE) Board of Accreditation (BOA).
Candidacy status for an MSW program by the BOA indicates that it has made progress toward meeting standards of program quality evaluated through a peer review accreditation process. A program that has attained candidacy status has demonstrated a commitment to meeting the standards set by the Educational Policy and Accreditation Standards (EPAS) but has not yet demonstrated full compliance.
Students that are admitted to candidacy programs in the fall (or later) of the academic year in which the program is granted candidacy status will be retroactively recognized as graduates from a CSWE-BOA accredited program as long as the program attains initial accreditation.
Initial accreditation is typically a 3-year process and attaining candidacy does not guarantee that a program will eventually attain initial accreditation. Accreditation provides reasonable assurance about the quality of the program and the competence of students graduating from the program.
The MSW program at Messiah University does not grant social work course credit for life experience or for previous work experience.
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Why choose Messiah University’s MSW program?
Messiah University’s MSW program is designed for students who seek a comprehensive and compassionate approach to social work education. Our program integrates Christian values with professional training, preparing you to serve diverse communities with empathy and expertise. Key benefits of choosing Messiah University include:
- Flexible Online Format: Complete your MSW at your own pace with our fully online program, ideal for working professionals.
- Experienced Faculty: Learn from seasoned social work professionals who bring real-world insights to each course.
- Field Practicum Opportunities: Gain hands-on experience in various social work settings, enabling you to build confidence and practical skills.
- Personalized Support: Benefit from small class sizes and individualized support that help you thrive academically and personally.
At Messiah, we are committed to equipping you with the knowledge and skills to pursue meaningful careers in social work. Our graduates are prepared for roles as clinical social workers, policy advocates, community leaders, and more.
MSW Advanced Generalist specialization
Messiah University's MSW Advanced Generalist specialization prepares graduates for multidimensional, multi-level and complex social work practice with individuals, families, groups, organizations and communities and in the policy arena. The Advanced Generalist specialization emphasizes interprofessional collaboration by offering three focus areas (nine elective credits) taken in other graduate programs offered at Messiah:
Health focus overview
Messiah University’s health focus will help you grow as an advanced social worker and decision-maker. Health social workers can be found in hospitals, community health centers, psychiatric facilities, nursing homes and rehabilitation centers, primary care offices, hospices and public health settings. Health social workers typically work on interdisciplinary teams and often act as advocates of policy change to improve health care access to vulnerable or underserved populations.
Leadership in Organizations focus overview
Messiah University’s leadership in organizations focus will help develop your skills as an advanced social worker and as a visionary leader. Social worker leaders in organizations serve as supervisors and mentors, are engaged in program development, management, and evaluation, develop and manage budgets, write grants, and create organizational policies and have the skills to direct social service agencies.
Mental Health focus overview
Messiah University’s mental health focus allows you to use your knowledge of human behavior, sociology, psychiatry, and psychology as you grow in advanced social work roles and leadership. Mental health social workers can be found in hospitals, residential treatment facilities, outpatient mental health and substance abuse centers, schools, criminal justice settings and private or group therapy practices.
Online Master of Social Work (MSW) Program at Messiah University tuition cost
No-fee tuition
Know what you are paying for with Messiah’s no-fee tuition. With our graduate programs, the cost per credit is what you pay – there are no hidden fees for labs, courses, services or technology. We put the true cost of your program upfront so that you can accurately compare and plan for your graduate education.
Deferred billing
Deferred billing is available for students with employer reimbursement. For more information contact Student Financial Services at gradfinancialserv@messiah.edu.
2025-2026 tuition
While our program completes the necessary steps to become accredited (projected for spring 2027), the MSW program is offering a 25% tuition discount for all students who enroll, and we are offering Messiah alums an additional 10% discount, totaling a 35% tuition discount. You can learn more about tuition and fees here.
For Messiah alumni:
The tuition rate with the discounts for the 2025-26 academic year is $520 per credit hour (compared to the original $800 credit hour) and $15,600 for the total program.
Graduates from other schools:
For anyone that is not a Messiah alum, the discounted rate would be $600 per credit hour (compared to the original $800 credit hour) with a total cost of $36,600 (or $18,000 for those with a BSW from another school).
Next steps for admissions
Before completing an application for any of Messiah University’s graduate and certificate programs, please read our Admissions Requirements to ensure that you are eligible for enrollment and to receive a helpful checklist of the supporting documentation that you will need to provide to complete your application. Questions regarding the application process may be directed to gradprograms@messiah.edu.
What makes our Master of Social Work program unique?
- Messiah University’s MSW applies Christian faith principles to guide competent and ethical social work practice.
- MSW faculty are experienced social workers who help bridge academic learning with professional practice.
- Messiah’s advanced generalist MSW has focus areas in health, leadership in organizations and mental health so students can customize their degree to their career objectives.
- Our faculty provide hands-on advising in academics and individualized mentoring in professional development and faith integration.
- Field placements in the MSW are collaboratively selected for optimal opportunities for the application of knowledge, values and skills.