Advanced Standing Master of Social Work (MSW) – Individual and Family Clinical Cognate
Help Individuals, Families, and Communities Thrive with Liberty’s Advanced Standing MSW – Individual and Family Clinical
Do you want to become a licensed social worker* who knows how to help people overcome addiction and mental health issues? Are you passionate about promoting the well-being of individuals, families, and entire communities? If so, Liberty University’s Advanced Standing Master of Social Work (MSW) – Individual and Family Clinical may be right for you!
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). If you’ve earned one of those bachelor’s degrees,** 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! This can help you finish your degree faster and save money.
By completing 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. You could go on to work with children and adults – both individually and in group settings – to help them face challenges and pursue a brighter future.
*Please note: Each state has unique requirements for becoming a licensed social worker. Be sure to research the requirements in your state: https://www.liberty.edu/statelicensure/.
**View the Admission Requirements tab for more information.
Pursue Your Degree with Confidence
- Liberty is regionally accredited by SACSCOC, the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
- You will complete at least 600 hours of field experience before graduation.
- Our Advanced Standing MSW can help equip you to sit for social work licensure exams.
- Liberty’s MSW faculty have years of experience in academia and the social work field.
What Will You Learn?
- Applied research and ethics
- Child and family therapeutic practice
- Clinical skills for working with individuals, families, and groups who struggle with mental health and substance abuse issues
- Diversity and cultural humility
- Mental health diagnoses and addictive behavior
- Social policy and advocacy from a social and environmental justice perspective
Potential Careers for Graduates of Our Advanced Standing MSW – Individual and Family Clinical
- Adoption consultant
- Agency director
- Child and family social worker
- Clinical social worker
- Elementary and secondary school social worker
- Nonprofit organization director
- Social work supervisor
Internships and Resources Available to Advanced Standing MSW Students
- Liberty’s MSW faculty can help provide the guidance and mentorship you need to make a difference in the social work field.
- Our courses are taught from a Christian worldview, so you can learn how to live out ethical principles in your career.
- Prepare to sit for social work licensure exams and get the credentials you need to further your career.
- By completing 600 hours of field experience, you can apply your knowledge to the real world and learn from seasoned professionals.
- We offer opportunities for graduate assistantships to master’s-level students.
- Take advantage of our top-notch resources – including a career center, writing coaching, and professional development events.
- The Advanced Standing MSW only requires 31 credit hours of coursework – allowing you to finish your degree much faster than a traditional MSW.
Admission Requirements for Our Advanced Standing MSW
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 bachelor’s degree transcripts showing a completed BSW or BSSW from a CSWE-accredited program (conferred within the last 7 years) with a 3.0 GPA or higher
- 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 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.)
- 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 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
Credit Hours
![](https://dcfwfuaf91uza.cloudfront.net/residential/lp/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/Degree_SACSCOC.png)
Class Type
Residential
Transfer Credits
Transfer in up to 3 credit hours
Next Start Date
Jan 13, 2025
Accreditation
Liberty University is accredited by SACSCOC
15,000+
Students
20
NCAA DI Sports
500,000+
Community Service Hours
350+
Undergrad & Grad Programs
The Liberty DNA
Liberty’s promise to you is an education that expertly brings knowledge and faith together. You’ll not only be challenged academically but also pushed spiritually through weekly worship gatherings and community engagement, local service projects, and global mission trips. You can become a Champion for Christ that changes the world with the Gospel.
![](https://dcfwfuaf91uza.cloudfront.net/residential/lp/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/convo-image.jpg)
Convocation
The largest weekly gathering of Christian students in North America cannot happen without a key ingredient: you. Experience life-changing messages from more than 80 nationally acclaimed speakers each year.
![](https://dcfwfuaf91uza.cloudfront.net/residential/lp/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/Graduation-shot-for-accreditation-e1626192444420.jpg)
Accreditation
In addition to Liberty’s institutional accreditation through the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges, many programs are also accredited or recognized by specialized professional agencies, including ABA, ABET, ACBSP, AOA-COCA, ATS Commission on Accrediting, CAAHEP, CAATE, CACREP, CCNE, CEPH, CoARC, NCATE, and NASM.
![](https://dcfwfuaf91uza.cloudfront.net/residential/lp/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/Professional-Male-Counseling.jpg)
Career Focused
As a Christian university, we’re committed to helping you every step of the way so you can earn your degree flexibly, affordably, and with excellence — and do the things that matter to you. That’s why our professors and dedicated Career Services department are focused on getting you job ready before you leave the classroom.
FAFSA and Loan Information
Most graduate students qualify for $20,500 in student loans through the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) – and even more in certain health fields!
There are two types of federal loan options available to grad students:
- Direct Unsubsidized Loans (Stafford) – loans made to eligible undergraduate, graduate, and professional students, but eligibility is not based on financial need.
- Graduate PLUS Loans – loans made to graduate or professional students and parents of dependent undergraduate students to help pay for education expenses not covered by other financial aid. Eligibility is not based on financial need, but a credit check is required. If you have a bankruptcy, foreclosure, or an account in collections, you may be denied.
Tuition Costs
Liberty University provides master’s programs at just $545* per credit hour. Most courses will be paid by credit hour except the John W. Rawlings School of Divinity block rate of $2,850 per semester for 9-15 credit hours. Most graduate programs average from 35-45 credit hours to complete.
*Some programs differ and may have additional fees that apply.
Amounts are per credit and are based on data published on each institution’s website as of 11/16/20. This information is believed, but not guaranteed, to be accurate. Individual institutions may charge additional fees in addition to the per credit hour rates. Rates are subject to change.
Visit Our Central Virginia Campus
Have you visited Liberty yet? We can’t wait to have you. Watch a robot fetch your books at the Jerry Falwell Library, cheer on the winning touchdown at Williams Stadium, break a sweat at the fitness center, and gaze at the stars at the astronomical observatory.
At Liberty, you’ll find an affordable, high-quality education that equips students like you for the real world. Our commitment to excellence helped us rank among Niche.com’s Top 3 college campuses in America. Earning your degree from a nonprofit university with state-of-the-art resources like ours can help set you apart from your peers.
Located directly behind Arthur S. DeMoss Hall, the Montview Student Union is a 4-story, 168,000-square-foot structure that includes a lounge overlooking the Academic Commons, retail dining venues, an art gallery, a ballroom, and a bowling alley. The building also has space for academics, meetings, and offices.
The Liberty Baseball Stadium features the latest turf playing surface, as well as full-length, major league-style dugouts, a fully-equipped media area, two suites, a club room, and a spectator picnic area.
The Center for Medical and Health Sciences (CMHS) is a state-of-the-art modern learning facility for Liberty University's College of Osteopathic Medicine (LUCOM) and School of Health Sciences. Sitting on Liberty Mountain, the 140,000 square-foot, four-story facility offers breathtaking views of the valley and the Blue Ridge Mountains to the north and west.
The Center for Music and the Worship Arts features 124 Steinway pianos and 43 teaching studios complete with piano, songwriting, and music computer labs. Additionally, the center includes a 1,600-seat concert hall.
The Center for Natural Sciences houses classrooms, an auditorium, and more than 30 laboratories designed for hands-on learning, including an advanced anatomy lab and a cell culture lab. The facility has more than $2 million in equipment, including a GC mass spectrometer and a gene sequencer.
As the primary academic building on campus, Arthur S. DeMoss Hall spans 500,000 square feet over four floors and houses computer labs, classrooms and student resource centers, and a rooftop terrace.
Jerry Falwell Library houses an array of study spaces including six learning commons, one technology commons, and 30 group-study rooms. Multiple terraces and balconies provide additional space to relax, and several dining options are available. Taking advantage of the latest technology, the ASRS, a robotic retrieval system, houses the majority of the library’s collections in a state-of-the-art automated on-site retrieval system.
The 275-foot-tall Freedom Tower, home of the John W. Rawlings School of Divinity, the nation’s largest center for religious studies and ministerial training, includes classrooms and offices, a conference room, a homiletics lab, and an interactive classroom, as well as observation spaces to take in the spectacular views of campus.
The LaHaye Ice Center is home to Liberty men's and women's hockey teams, as well as the synchronized skating and figure skating teams. Recently renovated, the ice center seats 4,000 fans and includes 10 box suites.
Whichever way you like to break a sweat, you can do it here! The recreation center has weight rooms, cardio lofts, private classrooms, an indoor track, pools, a rock wall, soccer fields, and basketball courts.
The Reber-Thomas Dining Center (Liberty’s dining hall) is a two-story, 120,000-square-foot all-you-care-to-eat buffet that boasts a seating capacity of more than 2,700. It provides breakfast, lunch, and dinner and offers over 20 unique stations to choose from.
The Residential Commons are comprised of three residence halls. The rooms feature a private bath, and every floor provides laundry facilities and a common lounge. Additional residential facilities are also planned for the site.
The three-story structure serves as a home base for the School of Business, which includes 152 programs from the certificate to the doctoral level, as well as centers of excellence focused on entrepreneurship, financial literacy, cybersecurity, and stock trading. On the first floor, a stock trading simulation room, operating in partnership with Truist, features an LED stock ticker that wraps around the top of the room and streams the latest market activity from Wall Street.
The Liberty Mountain Snowflex Centre offers students the opportunity to ski, snowboard, and tube year-round with its cutting-edge terrain technology.
Tower Theater is home to Liberty’s Department of Theatre Arts as well as the professional theatre company, Alluvion Stage Company. Tower Theater features a Broadway-style fly tower and professional rigging system and has over 12,000 square feet of backstage and support area.
This auditorium’s 10,000 seats are filled by students at Convocation and Campus Community, concert-goers, and athletic event attendees.
The stadium’s 25,000 seats host the fans of our FBS conference football team. Williams Stadium also boasts a 110-foot viewing tower and houses the Football Operations Center, containing locker rooms, coaches’ offices, equipment, and weight rooms, and a training facility.
The Admission Process
Apply Now, Pay Later
Start the enrollment process by applying online now — the application takes about 10 minutes. Your application fee isn’t due until you enroll!
Get Accepted
Once you’ve submitted all your admission documents, you’ll be updated on the status of your application through text and email. You can also keep track on your Student Checklist.
Act Early
After you apply, you may be eligible for Liberty's Graduate Assistantship program. Each graduate assistant is awarded a tuition scholarship equivalent to a full-time course load in their respective degree.
Contact one of our Admissions Counselors for more information by calling (877) 298-9617.
Hear from Liberty Students — Past and Present
![Photo of Former SGA President Derek R.](https://dcfwfuaf91uza.cloudfront.net/residential/lp/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/Derek-Rockey.jpg)
Former SGA President Derek R.
“The whole school and the administration have their mindset on heaven — the Holy Spirit is so active on campus.”
![Photo of Former SGA Vice President Esther L.](https://dcfwfuaf91uza.cloudfront.net/residential/lp/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/Esther-Lusenge.jpg)
Former SGA Vice President Esther L.
“It was knowing that I could be vulnerable about where I was from or what I was coming from or going through with people that were here and cared was encouraging and helped me with the transition.”
![Photo of David H.](https://dcfwfuaf91uza.cloudfront.net/residential/lp/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/David-Hendricks.jpg)
David H.
“Spiritually, I have seen the most growth in my life. …The spiritual atmosphere of the campus here at Liberty is unreal.”
![Photo of Queenstar B.](https://dcfwfuaf91uza.cloudfront.net/residential/lp/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/Queenstar-Banini.jpg)
Queenstar B.
“They [professors] see each student as an individual who has the potential to truly impact the world for God’s Namesake.”
![Photo of Sarah B.](https://dcfwfuaf91uza.cloudfront.net/residential/lp/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/Sarah-Blanke.jpg)
Sarah B.
“Here there are authentic people that have really embodied how the Lord cares for each of us.”
![Photo of Joseph H.](https://dcfwfuaf91uza.cloudfront.net/residential/lp/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/Joseph-Hendricks.jpg)
Joseph H.
“Once I made it on campus — just the overwhelming amount of love that I received from the student body, the people on my hall, and my RAs just blew me away.”