Messiah University’s Master of Social Work (MSW) degree with a focus in mental health is designed for social workers who would like to advance their practice as an advocate for patients and their families in the field of mental health. Messiah’s advanced generalist MSW will prepare you for professional licensure examinations and provide field placements in mental health settings. Coursework is 100% online.
Messiah University’s MSW degree with a focus area in mental health 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.
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.
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An MSW prepares you for meaningful work in clinical practice, healthcare, community organizations, and beyond. Explore how your passion for service, justice, and faith can become a career that truly makes a difference.
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.
With Messiah’s no-fee tuition, there are no additional university charges for labs, courses, services or technology. While some programs may involve additional expenses such as materials, travel or other external costs that vary by student, you won’t encounter unexpected fees from Messiah. This approach allows you to clearly understand and plan for the tuition portion of your graduate education.
Deferred billing is available for students with employer reimbursement. For more information contact Student Financial Services at gradfinancialserv@messiah.edu.
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.
The tuition rate with the discounts for the 2026-27 academic year is $533 per credit hour (compared to the original $820 per credit hour) with a total cost of $32,513 (or $15,990 for those with a BSW from Messiah).
For anyone who is not a Messiah alum, the discounted rate would be $615 per credit hour (compared to the original $820 per credit hour) with a total cost of $37,515 (or $18,450 for those with a BSW from another school).
Other costs may be incurred throughout the program.
MSW students are eligible to apply for federal financial aid. Tuition is subject to annual adjustment; historically, increases have averaged approximately 2-3% per year.
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.
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