Serve the People in Your Community by Earning an Advanced Standing Master of Social Work Degree
If you already have your Bachelor of Social Work, then Liberty’s Advanced Standing Master of Social Work (MSW) can help you resume your education and advance your mission to help people in need. You can continue to aid the hurting and oppressed and help fight injustice in your community.
Our program can help you further your studies and gain advanced social work skills at an accelerated rate. You can also be equipped to sit for social work licensure exams* – so you can get the credentials you need to further your career.
What is the difference between Advanced Standing and the regular MSW?
When it comes to choosing an MSW, it’s important to note that “Advanced Standing” refers to what your undergraduate education background is, while the Master of Social Work refers to a specific degree specialization.
Our Advanced Standing MSW is designed for students who already hold a Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) or a Bachelor of Science in Social Work (BSSW) from a program accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE). This gives you an opportunity to complete your MSW degree in less time and with fewer requirements. Through Liberty’s Advanced Standing MSW, your specialized training can help accelerate your journey to gaining your social work license and making a difference in others’ lives.
In contrast, our standard MSW program gives a very broad, well-rounded background in the topics you need to know about social work. We offer our traditional MSW program, which is the degree you should pursue if you don’t already have a CSWE-accredited BSW or BSSW, as it can help to fulfill the requirements you need to sit for social work licensure exams.**
This program offers a general cognate and an individual and family clinical cognate. Regardless of which one you choose, you’ll undergo training at an advanced level in social policy, research, and practice. Additionally, you’ll have the chance to implement what you’ve learned in real-world situations.
Get ready to foster social justice and put your undergraduate studies to the test as you embark on your advanced training in social work.
*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.
Award-Winning Campus
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 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.
Why Choose Liberty’s Advanced Standing MSW Program?
Our MSW advanced standing program has been thoughtfully crafted to ensure both your academic success and professional growth. Here, you can be equipped with the essential tools to cater to varied populations, participate in practice informed by research, and create social policies that are firmly grounded in biblical truths.
Consider these benefits of choosing Liberty for your Advanced Standing Master of Social Work degree:
- Hands-On Experience | You will complete at least 600 hours of field experience, allowing you to gain marketable skills and on-the-job training.
- Expert Guidance | Learn from leading minds at Liberty, where all of our MSW faculty members have doctoral degrees and are renowned experts in social work. Plus, you’ll benefit from at least 600 hours of practice in social work guided by a seasoned master’s-level social worker.
- Faith-Based Perspective | We hold a firm belief that the Scriptures lay the strongest groundwork for social justice initiatives. Through our Advanced Standing MSW curriculum, you will be taught to integrate biblical principles with cutting-edge research and practice methods, emphasizing the divine worth of each individual.
- Tailored Degree Paths | Liberty offers you the freedom to shape your MSW degree to your unique interests and passions. Choose the general cognate to explore a varied mix of courses for a multifaceted skill set. If your interest lies in specializing in family and children’s work, our individual and family clinical cognate could be the perfect match.
What Will You Learn in Our Advanced Standing MSW Degree Program?
Liberty’s Advanced Standing MSW program is designed to build on your previous BSW or BSSW 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.
In our MSW courses, we seek to foster social, economic, and environmental justice as well as give you the opportunity to master the skills needed to provide clinically robust interventions. Once you graduate, you can prepare to assist diverse groups of people, whether they’re facing challenges with disabilities, substance abuse, unemployment, domestic strife, or poverty.
Throughout this Advanced Standing MSW program, you will experience a degree that integrates various dimensions of social work. You can learn how to advocate for socially just policies in line with biblical truths, developing a well-rounded approach that considers the social, biological, psychological, and spiritual facets of human life. You can explore issues pertaining to human rights and social justice as you engage in discussions on national and international events. You can also learn how to critically examine social policy in America through the lens of a Christian worldview.
As you delve deeper, you’ll discover advanced generalist methods for serving individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities. The program emphasizes hands-on research skills, guiding you through the process of writing literature reviews, proposing research studies, conducting program evaluation research, and completing your own research projects.
Your learning can further extend to creating social work programs grounded in cutting-edge research, ethical principles, and comprehensive needs assessment. Preparation for advanced social work services in various contexts like military, international, mental health, and nonprofit settings is also an integral part of this comprehensive program. Moreover, you can gain insights into the cultural values of diverse groups, evaluating how those values affect day-to-day living.
The general cognate offers additional flexibility for you to be able to choose the courses that best suit your personal and professional goals. You will have 9 credit hours to use on courses that can help prepare you for whatever direction your social work career takes you. Join us and equip yourself to make a meaningful difference in the lives of those who need it most.
View the Degree Completion Plan and check out our featured courses below for more information about what you’ll learn in our Advanced Standing MSW program!
SOWK 600 – Advanced Generalist Bridge Course
SOWK 625 – Social Policy, Justice, and Advocacy
SOWK 650 – Diversity and Cultural Humility
SOWK 655 – Advanced Generalist Social Work Practice
Advanced Standing Master of Social Work Cognates
General
Individual and Family Clinical
Highlights of Our Advanced Standing MSW Degree
- Liberty is regionally accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC).
- Complete at least 600 hours of field experience prior to graduation.
- Meet the requirements to sit for social work licensure exams.
- Receive hands-on guidance and mentorship from industry experts.
- Develop core skills needed to work in schools, hospitals, adoption agencies, nursing homes, group homes, and mental health clinics.
- Learn how to provide social work services to diverse populations in a variety of settings, both domestically and internationally.
- Explore opportunities for graduate assistantships.
- Take advantage of our state-of-the-art facilities and resources – including a career center, writing coaching, and professional development events.
Master of Social Work Degree Program Information
- Residential
- 31 total credit hours
- Transfer in up to 3 credit hours
- This program falls under Liberty’s School of Behavioral Sciences
- Download and review the Degree Completion Plan
- View our course catalog for more information
- A background check is required for students in practicum courses
- Students will complete at least 600 hours of social work practice experience
Potential Career Opportunities for Advanced Standing Master of Social Work Graduates
You can pursue a variety of exciting jobs with a Master of Social Work. Whether you want to stay in the United States or work abroad, our program can help open you up to numerous job opportunities.
Some of the roles you may qualify for after completing this program include:
- Agency director
- Medical social worker
- Mental health social worker
- School social worker
- Social work supervisor
Admission Requirements for Liberty’s Advanced Standing MSW 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 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 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 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
