Online Advanced Standing MSW | Individual/Family Clinical

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Credit Hours

Online,* 8-week courses

Transfer in up to 3 credit hours

Next Start Dates: January 19, 2026 | February 16, 2026 | March 23, 2026

Help People from All Backgrounds Work Through Challenges with Liberty’s Online Advanced Standing MSW – Individual and Family Clinical

If you want to become a licensed social worker** who promotes the well-being of individuals, families, and entire communities, then Liberty University’s online Advanced Standing Master of Social Work (MSW) – Individual and Family Clinical cognate may be right for you.

The Advanced Standing MSW is designed for students who hold a Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) or Bachelor of Science in Social Work (BSSW) from a program accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE). If you’ve already earned your CSWE-accredited bachelor’s in social work,*** you can pursue our Advanced Standing MSW rather than the traditional MSW – so you’ll only need to complete 31 credit hours instead of 60! That way, you can save money, finish your degree faster, and start pursuing your dream career even sooner.

Through the individual and family clinical cognate, you can develop important clinical skills and become proficient in research-informed practice. With guidance from our seasoned faculty, you can learn to address challenges in mental health, substance abuse, diagnosis, and therapeutic practice. Whether you’re working with children, adults, families, or other vulnerable groups, our Advanced Standing MSW – Individual and Family Clinical can help equip you for a rewarding career in trauma recovery, nonprofit work, human trafficking intervention, mental health services, refugee resettlement, and more.

Your officially conferred degree name will be Advanced Standing Master of Social Work (MSW) – Individual and Family Clinical.

*Some exclusions apply. Please refer to our exclusions page for more information.

Liberty maintains strict compliance with all licensure requirements for the Commonwealth of Virginia.

Not a Virginia resident? We want to help find the best program for you! To view educational requirements and whether a specific program aligns with the licensure requirements for your state, please review our licensure/certification requirements webpage.

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600+ Online Degrees
No Standardized Testing for Admission
Transfer in up to 75% of an Undergrad Degree
Transfer in up to 50% of a Grad/Doctoral Degree

Top 10 Reasons to Choose Liberty

Why Choose Liberty’s Online Advanced Standing MSW Program – Individual and Family Clinical?

Liberty is regionally accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) – demonstrating our commitment to academic excellence. Our online programs are backed by our brick-and-mortar campus – ranked as Niche.com’s #2 Best College Campus in America for 2026 – and that commitment to excellence extends to our online students as well. Earning your degree from a nonprofit university with this kind of recognition can help set you apart from others in your field.

At Liberty, you can learn from experienced faculty who are committed to helping you achieve your goals. Throughout your courses, they will provide you with insightful instruction and valuable mentorship that can foster both your personal and professional growth. As you study under industry professionals, you can learn insider tips that can help bolster your expertise and set you apart in your field.

Want to take your education beyond the classroom? During the Advanced Standing MSW program, you’ll complete at least 600 hours of social work practice experience under the supervision of a master’s-level social worker. These hours can be completed at an approved location near you, giving you flexibility as you pursue your degree. This immersive experience is essential in preparing you for a successful career as a skilled and ethical social work professional.

What Will You Study in Our Advanced Standing MSW Program Online – Individual and Family Clinical?

As you gear up for social work graduate studies, you’ll take a bridge course that can help give you an understanding of advanced writing skills, technology proficiencies, the biblical underpinnings of the profession, and the importance of social work values and ethics. Your other core courses will cover topics such as policy, advocacy, social justice, applied research and ethics, diversity, and cultural humility.

Within the individual and family clinical cognate, you can learn how to work with individuals, families, and groups who struggle with substance abuse and mental health. You’ll complete a psychopathology course that will cover mental health diagnoses and addictive behavior. In particular, you’ll examine how the ICD-10 classification/coding system and DSM-5 diagnostic manual are used to help diagnose symptoms and provide treatment. Additionally, you will explore the nuances of therapeutic practice for children and families, including how to use research-informed practice to help these populations thrive.

To round out your education, you’ll complete at least 600 field experience hours, which can help you apply theoretical concepts from the classroom to practical, real-life scenarios. Through this experience, you can gain hands-on skills that are applicable to schools, hospitals, adoption agencies, nursing homes, group homes, mental health clinics, and more.

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State Licensure Requirements

Individual state licensure requirements may vary and are subject to change without notice. View your state’s requirements here: licensure/certification requirements.

Tuition & Aid

At Liberty University, a private Christian education is less expensive than you think. Over the last 10 years, Liberty University’s Online Program has only raised its standard tuition costs by less than 5% – and most of our online tuition rates rank in the top 35% for affordability for 2025 when compared to our leading online competitors.

Graduate Full Time	$580/Credit
Graduate Part Time	$645/Credit
Military Graduate	$290/Credit

These rates are reflective of academic year 2025-2026. Tuition rates may change annually. For the most current information, please visit our LU Tuition Cost page.

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Admission Information for Our MSW Online Advanced Standing Program

Admission Requirements

Apply online or over the phone with an admissions counselor by calling (800) 424-9596.
- A non-refundable, non-transferable $50 application fee will be posted on the current application upon enrollment (waived for qualifying service members, veterans, and military spouses – documentation verifying military status is required).
Send official college transcripts (mailed as sealed, unopened copies or sent via a direct electronic transcript system). A regionally or nationally accredited BSW or BSSW from a CSWE-accredited program (conferred within the last 7 years) with at least a 3.0 GPA is required for admission in good standing.
- Unofficial transcripts can be used for acceptance purposes with the submission of a Transcript Request Form.
Admission to this program also requires:
- Contact information (including phone number) for 3 recommenders from professional sources (i.e., not family/friends). One must be a field faculty member or program director from the BSW/BSSW program. This form can be submitted online (login required) or by email to luoverify@liberty.edu.
- Statement of Purpose (1,200-word minimum):
  - Introduce yourself and explain what has inspired you to earn a Master of Social Work degree. Discuss related life events, experiences, and relationships – educational, professional, and/or personal. If you are making a career change, discuss what prompted the change. Discuss what you hope to do with an MSW. (400 words)
  - What qualities and abilities do you possess that you believe are a good fit for the social work profession? (150 words)
  - What qualities and abilities do you want to develop or further develop that you believe will be helpful in the profession? (150 words)
  - How do you show a posture of learning and respect when interacting with diverse individuals, families, and groups? (150 words)
  - Share a personal challenge (please do not share a challenge related to your job) in your life and discuss how you worked through or are working through this challenge. (200 words)
  - Explain the reason you believe Liberty University is the best fit to help you meet your goal of obtaining an MSW. (150 words)
  - If you have social work-related experience, discuss those experiences (for instance, working or volunteering in social services). (optional)
- Department questionnaire (online form or PDF)
- Copy of final field evaluation from the BSW/BSSW program
- ACD – Department Admission Review approval required – upon all documents being received on the checklist, the application will be sent to the department for review.
  - Listed recommenders are contacted by the department and a decision review will not be started until all recommender responses have been received, at which point decisions will be made within 1-2 business days (24-48 hours).
Applicants whose native language is other than English must submit official scores for the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or an approved alternative assessment. For information on alternative assessments or TOEFL waivers, please call Admissions or view the official International Admissions policy.

Preliminary Acceptance

If you are sending in a preliminary transcript for acceptance, you must:

Be in your final term and planning to start your master’s degree after the last day of class for your bachelor’s degree.
Complete a Bachelor’s Self-Certification Form confirming your completion date. You may download the form from the Forms and Downloads page or contact an admissions counselor to submit the form on your behalf.
Submit an official/unofficial transcript to confirm that you are in your final term. The preliminary transcript must show a minimum of 105 completed credit hours.
If you are a current Liberty University student completing your undergraduate degree, you will need to submit a Degree/Certificate Completion Application.
Send in an additional, final official transcript with a conferral date on it by the end of your first semester of enrollment in the new master’s degree.

Undergraduate Enrollment in Graduate Courses Policy

Transcript Policies

Unofficial College Transcript Policy

Unofficial transcripts combined with a Transcript Request Form can be used for admission. Official transcripts are required within 60 days of the admissions decision or before non-attendance drops for the first set of matriculated classes, whichever comes first, and will prevent enrollment into future terms until all official transcripts have been received.

Before sending unofficial college transcripts, please make sure they include the following:

Your previous school’s name or logo printed on the document
Cumulative GPA
A list of completed courses and earned credit broken down by semester
Degree and date conferred (if applicable)

Official College Transcript Policy

An acceptable official college transcript is one that has been issued directly from the institution and is in a sealed envelope. If you have one in your possession, it must meet the same requirements. If your previous institution offers electronic official transcript processing, they can send the document directly to luoverify@liberty.edu.

If the student uses unofficial transcripts with a Transcript Request Form to gain acceptance, all official transcripts must be received within 60 days of the admissions decision or before non-attendance drops for the first set of matriculated classes, whichever comes first. Failure to send all official transcripts within the 60-day period will prevent enrollment into future terms until all official transcripts have been received.

Admissions Office Contact Information

Submit your application online or over the phone.

Start Online Application

Apply by phone: (800) 424-9595

Liberty University is dedicated to providing world-class educational experiences to military students across the globe.

Who May Qualify?

Active Duty
Reserve/National Guard
Veterans/Retirees
Spouses of Service Members and Veterans/Retirees
Current Department of Defense Employees

Available Benefits:

Tuition discounts – $290 per credit hour for graduate courses
Additional discount for veterans who serve in a civilian capacity as a First Responder*
8-week courses, 8 different start dates each year, and no set login times (may exclude certain courses such as practicums, internships, or field experiences)

*Not applicable to certificates.

These rates are reflective of academic year 2025-2026. Tuition rates may change annually. For the most current information, please visit our LU Tuition Cost page.

View Military Benefits

Frequently Asked Questions

How is Liberty University accredited?

How many hours of field experience will need to be completed before graduation?

How does this program prepare you for the social work licensure exams?

What skills will this program help you develop?

What resources will you have access to as a student?

Are you ready to change your future?

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App Fee Waived This Week*

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*Some restrictions may occur for this promotion to apply. This promotion also excludes active faculty and staff, military, non-degree-seeking, DGIA, Continuing Education, WSB, and certificate students.

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MSW Advanced Standing – Individual/Family Clinical Our Master of Social Work degree is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE).

Help People from All Backgrounds Work Through Challenges with Liberty’s Online Advanced Standing MSW – Individual and Family Clinical

What Sets Us Apart?

Why Choose Liberty’s Online Advanced Standing MSW Program – Individual and Family Clinical?

What Will You Study in Our Advanced Standing MSW Program Online – Individual and Family Clinical?

Potential Career Opportunities

Featured Courses

Degree Information

Not sure what to choose?

State Licensure Requirements

Tuition & Aid

Financial Aid & Scholarships

Admission Information for Our MSW Online Advanced Standing Program

Admission Requirements

Preliminary Acceptance

Undergraduate Enrollment in Graduate Courses Policy

Transcript Policies

Admissions Office Contact Information

Ready to Apply?

Military

Frequently Asked Questions

How is Liberty University accredited?

How many hours of field experience will need to be completed before graduation?

How does this program prepare you for the social work licensure exams?

What skills will this program help you develop?

What resources will you have access to as a student?

Are you ready to change your future?

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