Online MSW – General Our Master of Social Work degree is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE).
60
Credit Hours
Online,* 8-week courses
Transfer in up to 50% of the degree total
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.
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 100% 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.
Other topics of study include:
- Best practices for promoting the health and safety of social workers.
- Important aspects of diversity, such as ethnicity, gender, socioeconomic status, politics, and religion.
- Methods for conducting multi-level agency assessments and recommending micro- or macro-level intervention.
- The foundations of social policy in the United States as evaluated through the lens of a biblical worldview.
- The necessity of utilizing research-informed practice in a competent manner.
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
- This program falls under the School of Behavioral Sciences.
- View the Graduate Behavioral Sciences Course Guides (login required).
- Students will complete a 400-hour placement and a 600-hour placement. Each placement can be completed as a block or extended over two semesters.
- A background check is required for students before enrollment in practicum courses.
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.
Not sure what to choose?
Speak to one of our admissions specialists to help you choose the program that best fits your needs.
Tuition & Aid
Your success is our success, which is why we are committed to providing quality academics at an affordable tuition rate. While other colleges are increasing their tuition, we have frozen tuition rates for the majority of our undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral programs for the past 9 years – and counting.
Graduate Full Time | $565/Credit |
---|---|
Graduate Part Time | $615/Credit |
Military Graduate | $275/Credit |
Tuition rates may change annually. For the most current information, please visit our LU Tuition Cost page.
All Tuition & Fees
Financial Aid & Scholarships
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.
- Admission to this program also requires:
- 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 – in at least 400 words:
- In 150 words, complete the following prompt: I desire to earn a Master of Social Work degree and attend Liberty University because…
- In 150 words, complete the following prompt: I show a posture of learning and respect when interacting with diverse individuals, families, and groups by…
- In 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 or online here.
- 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.
Dual Enrollment
Please see the Online Dual Enrollment page for information about starting graduate courses while finishing your bachelor’s degree.
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
Liberty University Online Admissions Verification
1971 University Blvd.
Lynchburg, VA 24515
Ready to Apply?
Submit your application online or over the phone.
Military
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 – $275 per credit hour for graduate courses
- Additional discount for veterans who serve in a civilian capacity as a First Responder (less than $625 per course)*
- 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.
Tuition rates may change annually. For the most current information, please visit our LU Tuition Cost page.
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