Advanced Standing MSW – Individual and Family Clinical
Make a Positive Impact on the People in Your Community with Liberty’s Advanced Standing MSW – Individual and Family Clinical
Are you passionate about promoting the well-being of individuals, families, and entire communities? Do you want to become a licensed social worker* who knows how to help people overcome addiction and mental health issues? With Liberty University’s Advanced Standing Master of Social Work (MSW) – Individual and Family Clinical, you can learn all of this and much more.
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). What does this mean for you? If you’ve 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 have to complete 31 credit hours instead of the 60 required for the traditional program! That way, you can finish your degree faster, launch your career sooner, and save money on your education.
By pursuing the individual and family clinical cognate, you can become equipped to address challenges in mental health, substance abuse, diagnosis, and therapeutic practice using clinical skills and research-informed practice. Whether you aspire to work with children, adults, families, or other vulnerable groups, our Advanced Standing MSW – Individual and Family Clinical can help you make a difference through nonprofit work, mental health services, refugee resettlement, trauma recovery, human trafficking intervention, and more.
*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.
**View the Admission Requirements tab on this page for more information.
Credit Hours
View CoursesNext start date: Aug 18, 2025
CSWE Accredited
Highlights
Highlights of Our Advanced Standing MSW – Individual and Family Clinical
Study with Confidence
Liberty University’s advanced standing MSW with a specialization in individual and family clinical is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE). You can enroll in a program that is recognized for its high quality.
Gain Real-World Experience
Before you graduate, you’ll complete at least 600 hours of fieldwork. This practical training can prepare you to step confidently into the workforce with meaningful, hands-on experience.
Pursue Licensure and Mentorship
Your coursework is designed to help you meet the requirements for social work licensure exams. Along the way, you’ll receive personal mentorship and guidance from experienced professionals who are invested in your success.
Build Skills to Serve Diverse Communities
You’ll develop the essential skills needed to work in a wide range of environments, from hospitals and schools to mental health clinics and group homes. You’ll also learn how to deliver social work services to diverse populations locally and abroad.
Access Support and Enrichment Opportunities
As a student at Liberty, you can explore graduate assistantship options and take advantage of resources like our career center, writing coaching, and professional development events. Our state-of-the-art facilities are here to help you thrive both academically and professionally.
Career Potential
What Can You Do with This Advanced Standing Master of Social Work?
Liberty University’s Advanced Standing Master of Social Work – Individual and Family Clinical can help prepare you to pursue the following occupations:
- Adoption consultant
- Agency director
- Child and family social worker
- Clinical social worker
- Elementary and secondary school social worker
- Nonprofit organization director
- Social work supervisor
#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.
Courses
What Will You Study in Our Advanced Standing MSW – Individual and Family Clinical?
Throughout this program, you can develop skills that are essential for working in schools, hospitals, adoption agencies, nursing homes, group homes, and mental health clinics. You’ll take core social work courses as well as courses that are unique to the individual and family clinical cognate.
To help you get started, you’ll take a bridge course that can equip you for graduate studies in social work by emphasizing advanced writing skills, technology proficiencies, the biblical underpinnings of the profession, and the importance of social work values and ethics. As you complete other core courses, you’ll study topics such as policy, advocacy, diversity, applied research and ethics, and cultural humility. You’ll also complete a minimum of 600 field experience hours, which can help you apply theoretical and conceptual concepts from the classroom to practical, real-life scenarios.
Within the individual and family clinical cognate, you can learn how to work with individuals, families, and groups who struggle with mental health and substance abuse issues. Additionally, you’ll take a course in psychopathology that will cover mental health diagnoses and addictive behavior. In particular, you’ll examine how the DSM-5 diagnostic manual and ICD-10 classification/coding system are used to help diagnose symptoms and direct patients toward treatment. Other cognate courses will discuss topics such as therapeutic practice for children and families – including how to use research-informed practice to help these populations thrive.
Featured Advanced Standing MSW Courses
SOWK 625 – Social Policy, Justice, and Advocacy
SOWK 641 – Advanced Clinical Social Work Practice
SOWK 643 – Child and Family Social Work Clinical Practice
SOWK 645 – Psychopathology and Addictions
Degree Information
- This program falls under the School of Behavioral Sciences
- View the Degree Completion Plan
- Check out our course catalog
- Transfer in up to 3 credit hours
BENEFITS
Why Choose Liberty’s Advanced Standing MSW – Individual and Family Clinical?
Pursue a Christ-Centered Education
In Liberty’s Advanced Standing Master of Social Work program, your studies are grounded in Christian values that emphasize ethical practice and compassionate service. You’ll experience a blend of academic excellence and faith-based learning that can prepare you to make a meaningful impact as a Champion for Christ in your community.
Study in a High-Quality, Accredited Program
Your degree is backed by Liberty’s regional accreditation through the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC). This accreditation reflects Liberty’s commitment to maintaining strong academic standards and providing a respected, credible graduate education.
Experienced, Faith-Driven Faculty
As an Advanced Standing MSW student, you’ll be guided by faculty who are not only accomplished scholars but also dedicated mentors. Their commitment to Liberty’s mission and their expertise in the field can help shape both your personal development and your professional readiness.
Gain Practical Experience
You’ll complete at least 600 hours of supervised social work practice, giving you the chance to apply classroom knowledge in real-world settings. This hands-on training can help you grow in confidence, build your résumé, and prepare for a meaningful, ethical career in social work.
Admissions
How Do You Become a Advanced Standing Master of Social Work 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 completed BSW or BSSW from a CSWE-accredited program (conferred within the last 7 years) with a 3.0 GPA for admission in good standing
- 3 reference names and contact information (including phone number)
- At least 1 reference must be a field faculty member or program director from the BSW/BSSW program
- 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.)
- Writing sample (5-page minimum)
- Final field evaluation from BSW/BSSW program
- 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.