Master of Social Work (MSW)
Overview
Help Serve the People in Your Community by Earning a Master of Social Work Degree
Are you passionate about aiding the hurting and oppressed? Do you want to help fight injustice in your community? Are you ready to take the next step in your education and become a licensed social worker?
If so, Liberty’s Master of Social Work (MSW) is for you! Our program can help you pursue administrative and supervisory roles in the field of social work. You can also work to become equipped to sit for social work licensure exams* — so you can pursue the credentials you need to further your career.
This MSW program offers a general cognate and an individual and family clinical cognate. No matter which cognate you choose, you can receive advanced generalist training in social policy, research, and practice, as well as the opportunity to apply what you’ve studied in the real world. Partner with us and prepare to promote social justice in your community — and beyond.
*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.
Credit Hours
View CoursesNext start date: Aug 18, 2025
Liberty University is accredited by SACSCOC
Highlights of Our MSW Degree
Gain Valuable Real-World Experience
You’ll complete at least 1,000 hours of hands-on field experience before graduation, giving you the opportunity to apply classroom knowledge in real-world settings. This immersive training can help you build confidence and competence as you prepare for a career in social work.
Prepare for Licensure
Liberty’s MSW program is designed to help you meet the requirements to sit for social work licensure exams. With thorough preparation and support, you can move forward with confidence toward professional certification.
Study Under Mentors Who Care
Throughout your studies, you’ll receive one-on-one guidance from experienced professionals who are passionate about your success. Their mentorship can help shape your understanding of the field and help you grow as a leader and advocate.
Build Skills for Diverse Careers
This degree can help you develop the core skills to work in a wide range of environments, like schools, hospitals, adoption agencies, and mental health clinics. You can also study how to serve diverse populations across local and global contexts.
Enjoy Exceptional Support and Resources
From our state-of-the-art facilities to dedicated writing coaches and professional development events, you’ll have access to tools that can enhance your academic journey. You can even explore opportunities for graduate assistantships as part of your experience.
Career Potential
Potential Career Opportunities for Master of Social Work Graduates
Liberty University’s Master of Social Work (MSW) can help prepare you for the following occupations:
- 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.
Courses
What Will You Study in Our MSW Degree Program?
Liberty’s Master of Social Work is designed to build on your previous education and experience. Whether you’re looking to work directly in the field or help with policy development, our program can help provide the tools you need to succeed.
Throughout our MSW courses, you can study how to advance social, economic, and environmental justice as well as offer clinically sound interventions. These skills can help you serve a variety of populations, including those struggling with disabilities, substance abuse, unemployment, domestic conflict, or poverty.
Throughout this program, you can:
- Advocate for socially just policies that align with biblical truth.
- Develop a holistic approach to social work — 1 that accounts for the social, biological, psychological, and spiritual aspects of the human experience.
- Discuss national and international events that relate to issues of human rights and social justice.
- Examine social policy in America in light of a Christian worldview.
- Explore advanced generalist methods for serving individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities.
- Hone your research skills by writing a literature review, proposing a research study, conducting program evaluation research, and completing a research project.
- Study how to create social work programs based on cutting-edge research, ethical principles, and needs evaluation.
- Prepare to offer advanced social work services in military, international, mental health, and nonprofit settings.
- Understand the cultural values of various groups and evaluate how those values influence day-to-day living.
Featured MSW Degree Courses
SOWK 501 – Generalist Social Work Concepts
SOWK 530 – Human Behavior and the Social Environment
SOWK 625 – Social Policy, Justice, and Advocacy
SOWK 650 – Diversity and Cultural Humility
Degree Information:
- Explore further with the Degree Completion Plan or Course Catalog.
- This program falls under our School of Behavioral Sciences.
BENEFITS
Why Choose Liberty’s Master of Social Work Program?
Thrive as a Student and Professional
We’ve designed our Master of Social Work (MSW) program to help you thrive, both academically and professionally. At Liberty, you can develop practical tools to serve diverse populations, engage in research-informed practice, and explore social policies grounded in biblical truth. This degree can help prepare you to make a meaningful impact in the lives of others while strengthening your knowledge and values.
Get Real-World Experience Through Practical Studies
As a Liberty MSW student, you’ll complete at least 1,000 hours of field experience. These hands-on opportunities are built into the program to help you develop marketable skills and real-world insight. Through this training, you can gain confidence in your ability to navigate various social work settings and challenges while applying what you study in class directly to your practice.
Experts Who Mentor and Support You
At Liberty, you can study under experienced faculty who are leaders in the field of social work. Our professors offer valuable insights and mentorship throughout your academic journey. As part of your training, you’ll also complete at least 600 hours of social work experience under the guidance of a master ’s-level social worker, giving you a chance to grow personally and professionally.
Build a Flexible, Biblically Rooted Degree
You can tailor your MSW degree to align with your interests and goals. Our general cognate gives you the freedom to mix and match courses that help build a diverse and adaptable skill set. If you’re passionate about serving children and families, the individual and family clinical cognate provides targeted preparation in that area.
No matter your focus, you can explore how to integrate biblical principles with evidence-based practices, studying how to approach social work with compassion and a recognition of each person’s inherent worth.
Tuition & Aid
How Much Does it Cost to Attend Liberty On Campus?
Knowing up-front what you’re paying for and why can go a long way toward making you feel comfortable about your investment. This overview of major college costs can give you an idea of what’s coming so you can create an accurate budget from the start.
All Tuition & Aid
| Per Credit Hour | $560 |
#4 Best College Campus in America
At Liberty, you’ll find an affordable, high-quality education designed to help equip students like you for the real world. Our commitment to excellence has earned us recognition as the #4 Best College Campus in America by Niche.com.
Earning your degree from a nonprofit university with state-of-the-art resources like ours can help set you apart from your peers.
Cognates
Master of Social Work and MSW – Advanced Standing Cognates
Our MSW offers a variety of cognates. If you already hold a Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) or a Bachelor of Science in Social Work (BSSW) we have advanced standing degree programs. Therefore, you can study topics that align with your interests and career goals.
Cognates
General
Individual and Family Clinical
Admissions
How Do You Become an MSW Student?
Every application is reviewed on a case-by-case basis, and all applicants must submit the following documents and meet the minimum requirements for admission:
- Admission application
- Official transcripts showing a regionally or nationally accredited bachelor’s degree with at least a 2.5 GPA for admission in good standing
- Contact information for 2 recommenders
- 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.)
- Department questionnaire (online form or PDF)
- Department approval
- Self-certification form (for students who are in the final term of their bachelor’s degree)
- Current Liberty undergraduate students seeking preliminary acceptance into a graduate program must complete a degree completion application through their ASIST account
Have Questions?
We’ll make sure you have the information you need to take your next step.