MSW Online Degree | General Cognate

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Credit Hours

Online* with 1 virtual intensive

Transfer in up to 50% of the degree total

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

Prepare to Make a Difference in Your Community with Liberty’s Online Master of Social Work – General

Are you passionate about promoting social justice? Do you want to become a licensed social worker and learn how to serve diverse populations? If so, conferring Liberty University’s online Master of Social Work (MSW) – General is a great option. Our MSW is designed to help you become a leader in the field of social work by offering advanced training in research, generalist practice, and human behavior.

Throughout this MSW program, you will study practical methods for working with individuals, families, and communities. You can also become equipped to sit for social work licensure exams and pursue the credentials you need to further your career. Additionally, because the general cognate has no set courses, you can mix and match various electives to create a personalized degree plan.

Liberty’s online MSW program includes in-depth courses that can help you prepare to take on roles in military, international, mental health, and nonprofit settings. Whether you want to work in the United States or abroad, our Master of Social Work with the general cognate seeks to equip you with the knowledge and skills you need to make a difference. From refugee resettlement and human trafficking intervention to trauma recovery and nonprofit management, this degree can help you learn how to provide many types of services to vulnerable populations.

*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 Master of Social Work Degree Program?

Flexibility | As a pioneer in distance learning, Liberty seeks to provide programs that can meet your needs as a student and as a professional. Our Master of Social Work is offered online, so you’ll have the freedom to complete your coursework on your schedule. Additionally, our MSW provides foundational training that can help you prepare for more advanced courses — so you can apply to this program even if you don’t have a Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) degree.

Hands-On Training | As part of the online Master of Social Work program, you’ll participate in 2 field experience placements for a combined total of 1,000 hours of social work practice experience. At least 600 of these hours will be completed under the supervision of a master’s-level social worker. You’ll also engage in practicums so you can further boost your résumé. By putting your skills to the test, you can become equipped to sit for social work licensure exams and provide better care to your clients.

Personalized Degree Plan | At Liberty, we recognize the God-given uniqueness of every individual. That’s why we’ve designed this program to offer you maximum flexibility. The general cognate for our Master of Social Work allows you to select 4 elective courses, so you can explore the topics that interest you the most.

Valuable Mentorship | Our mission is to Train Champions for Christ — and one way we do that is by offering you top-notch training from industry professionals. Many of our MSW faculty hold doctoral degrees, and all of them have extensive experience in the field of social work. With their guidance, you can prepare to lead with excellence and integrity in your career.

What Will You Study in Our Online MSW Program?

Liberty’s MSW online degree emphasizes the importance of integrity, competence, human dignity, justice, and service in the field of social work. Our professors will encourage you to demonstrate humility and understanding as you engage with other cultures. You can also grow in your understanding of the biological, psychological, social, spiritual, and environmental aspects of the human experience.

Your core social work courses will cover practical techniques for working with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities. You’ll also study theoretical perspectives on human behavior and learn how to effectively advocate for just policies. Additionally, by completing practicums and field experience, you can boost your marketability and meet the requirements to sit for social work licensure exams.

Potential Career Opportunities

Liberty’s Master of Social Work online program can help you pursue administrative and supervisory positions in the field of social work. Some of the roles you may qualify for include:

Agency director
Medical social worker
Mental health therapist
Program director
School social worker
Social work supervisor

Please note: Some roles may require licensure in social work, and each state has specific requirements for licensure. Be sure to research the licensure requirements in your state.

Featured Courses

Degree Information

Degree Completion Plan

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.

Speak to one of our admissions specialists to help you choose the program that best fits your needs.

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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 Online MSW – General

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 bachelor’s degree with at least a 2.5 GPA is required for admission in good standing. Applicants who have earned a master’s degree or at least 12 graduate credits from an accredited institution will be assessed on the basis of the master’s-level degree work.
- Unofficial transcripts can be used for acceptance purposes with the submission of a Transcript Request Form.
Contact information for 2 recommenders from professional sources (i.e., not family/friends). This form can be submitted online (login required) or by email to luoverify@liberty.edu. These individuals should be qualified to address the applicant’s ability to complete the graduate-level work, disposition, and ability to become a counselor, as well as their maturity, motivation, and ethics. Some examples of individuals that may be suitable include professors, employers, or leaders in an organization where the applicant volunteers.
Statement of Purpose (400-word minimum):
- In roughly 150 words, complete the following prompt: I desire to earn a Master of Social Work degree and attend Liberty University because…
- In roughly 150 words, complete the following prompt: I show a posture of learning and respect when interacting with diverse individuals, families, and groups by…
- In roughly 100 words, discuss the following prompt: Please share about a personal challenge in your life and discuss how you have worked through this challenge. (Please do not share about a challenge with your job.)
Complete the Department Questionnaire (online form or PDF).
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.

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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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Online MSW – General Our Master of Social Work degree is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE).

Prepare to Make a Difference in Your Community with Liberty’s Online Master of Social Work – General

What Sets Us Apart?

Why Choose Liberty’s Online Master of Social Work Degree Program?

What Will You Study in Our Online MSW Program?

Potential Career Opportunities

Featured Courses

Degree Information

State Licensure Requirements

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Tuition & Aid

Financial Aid & Scholarships

Admission Information for Our Online MSW – General

Admission Requirements

Preliminary Acceptance

Undergraduate Enrollment in Graduate Courses Policy

Transcript Policies

Admissions Office Contact Information

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