MSW in Individual and Family Clinical
Liberty’s Master of Social Work Helps You Work Hands-On with Families and Individuals to Improve Your Community
Do you want to work in a career dedicated to making a positive difference in the world? If you want to work hands-on with hurting families in your community, Liberty University’s Master of Social Work – Individual and Family Clinical* cognate can help you get the training you need.
Individual and family clinical social workers study how community factors impact the lives of families and children. These social workers are trained to understand how to approach challenges that face communities worldwide to build structures that will help families lead safer, healthier, and happier lives.
With hands-on experience working in two practicums, you can learn how to apply what you learn to help hurting people. If you want to use a holistic approach to help strengthen communities anywhere in the world, then earning a Master of Social Work can help give you the clinical practice skills you need.
*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
Highlights of the Individual and Family Clinical Cognate for Our MSW Degree Program
Practical Learning
You will complete at least 1,000 hours of field experience, allowing you to gain marketable skills and on-the-job training.
Valuable Mentorship
At Liberty, you can learn from the best. Many of our MSW professors hold doctoral degrees, and all of our faculty are experts in the field of social work.
Additionally, you’ll complete at least 600 hours of social work practice experience under the supervision of a master’s-level social worker.
Biblical Worldview
We believe Scripture provides the most solid foundation for social justice efforts.
In our MSW courses, you can learn how to synthesize biblical principles with the best methods in research and practice. That way, you can approach social work with an emphasis on the God-given value of every individual.
Develop a Valuable Skillset
At Liberty, your MSW degree can help equip you with a wide range of skills that can help you adapt to challenges in the social work field.
Career Potential
What Can You Do with an MSW – Individual and Family Clinical Degree?
Liberty University’s Master of Social Work with a specialization in Individual and Family Clinical can help prepare you to pursue the following occupations:
- Child and family social worker
- Medical social worker
- Mental health therapist
- 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.
#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 Master of Social Work – Individual and Family Clinical Cognate?
Your social work training will cover foundational skills and knowledge so that you can be prepared as an effective community mental health professional. You can cover social work practices, current issues, and principles of human behavior in communities. You can also study many social work topics designed to prepare you to be an adaptable generalist in the field and specialized courses for individual and family clinical work. With a broad and in-depth understanding of human behavior in communities, you can be equipped to face the challenges of your career.
You can gain hands-on field experience through one 400-hour placement over 2 semesters and one 600-hour block placement. These placements can help prepare you for your career and to sit for social work licensure exams.
Featured MSW – Individual and Family Clinical Courses
SOWK 530 – Human Behavior and the Social Environment
SOWK 641 – Advanced Clinical Social Work Practice
SOWK 643 – Child and Family Social Work Clinical Practice
SOWK 645 – Psychopathology and Addiction
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 50% of the degree total
BENEFITS
Why Choose Liberty’s MSW – Individual and Family Clinical?
Strengthen Your Clinical Skills Through Practical Experience
Liberty’s MSW program with a cognate in Individual and Family Clinical Practice offers focused training in clinical social work methods. You can apply what you learn through 2 required practicums designed to provide exposure to real-world environments.
These experiences allow you to observe and participate in professional settings under the supervision of experienced practitioners. This approach can help you build confidence as you work with individuals and families facing a variety of life situations.
Pursue Your Calling with a Christ-Centered Approach to Service
At Liberty, you have the opportunity to explore how Christian values inform compassionate and ethical social work practice. The program encourages you to develop a servant leadership mindset rooted in integrity and care for others.
You can study how to approach social issues with empathy while considering both professional best practices and a faith-based perspective. This combination of values and knowledge may help you learn to navigate complex challenges with a balanced and thoughtful approach.
Prepare for Licensure and Explore a Range of Career Paths
This program is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE), reflecting its commitment to academic quality. Completing the degree can help you meet the educational requirements for graduate-level licensure in many states,* which is often needed for advanced roles in the field.
With this qualification, you may choose to pursue opportunities in settings such as schools, hospitals, group homes, and nonprofit organizations. The program also covers topics relevant to those interested in working with communities impacted by issues like refugee resettlement and disaster recovery.
*To view educational requirements and whether a specific program aligns with the licensure requirements for your state, please review our licensure/certification requirements webpage
Learn from a Curriculum Designed to Address Complex Social Needs
Liberty’s curriculum emphasizes evidence-based practices that are relevant to the challenges individuals and families face today. You can explore methods that support effective interventions while remaining sensitive to cultural and social factors.
The program also highlights research-informed strategies to help you evaluate and apply appropriate approaches in your work. This academic foundation is designed to support your professional growth as you prepare for a variety of roles in the field.
Admissions
How Do You Become a Student in the MSW Degree Program?
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)
- 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.