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

60

Credit Hours

View Courses

Online,* 8-week courses

Transfer in up to 50% of the degree total

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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Backed by a brick-and-mortar campus ranked among Niche.com’s Top 5 College Campuses in America

What Sets Us Apart?

  • Private Nonprofit University
  • 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

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.


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.

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.


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


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.


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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.