Go from BSW to MSW through our CSWE-accredited advanced standing MSW program
| Accreditation | CSWE accredited;1 Accredited by the Higher Learning Commission |
|---|---|
| Eligibility | Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) degree required |
| Format | 100% online classes delivered asynchronously; synchronous sessions offered weekly in each course allow you to discuss the material with professors |
| Field practicum | Complete hands-on field education in your community concurrently with coursework |
| Faculty | Learn from experienced professionals: all professors are Licensed Clinical Social Workers |
| Areas of practice | Choose electives across 3 areas of practice |
| QuickPaths | Transfer credit, stackable credentials, and adaptive learning technology build a faster pathway to a higher education with Herzing University |
Learn More Today!
Satisfaction rate
Our overall student satisfaction rate, according to the 2024 Herzing Graduate Survey.
Master of Social Work (MSW) – Advanced Standing
The Advanced Standing MSW degree program option is a 36-credit online graduate program which prepares you to advance your career in social work. The CSWE-aligned program curriculum1 provides students with advanced knowledge and skills in clinical social work, social justice and advocacy, psychosocial assessment, and more.
Career-focused curriculum
Discover the crucial knowledge and skills required to succeed in your work and build a foundation for continued career growth.
Flexible schedule
You can take classes during the day or in the evening. We work hard to help you maintain school-life balance, striving to be as flexible as possible for busy non-traditional students.
Virtual services
Access to extensive virtual services, including academic advising, tutoring, support services, technical support and library services.
Lifelong support
We support your ongoing career advancement by providing comprehensive, personalized student services with lifelong career coaching.
Rolling admissions
No application deadlines to worry about. Apply when you’re ready and prepare to get started soon.
Courses & curriculum details
All didactic, lecture-style courses are delivered online, with 500 total field practicum hours. You can choose electives across three career-focused social work areas of practice: Mental Health, Medical Social Work, and Children, Families, and Aging Services.2
| Program | Months 2 | Credit |
|---|---|---|
| Master of Social Work (MSW) - Advanced Standing | 12-24 | 36 |
iAverage number of months for students to complete the program for full-time (12 months) and part-time (24 months) enrollment.
Program availability varies by location
Required Core Courses
All courses, 19.00 semester credit hours, are required.
Required Project Residency Core Courses
All courses, 8.00 semester credit hours, are required.
Required Area of Practice Elective Courses
9.00 Semester credit hours are required. Students should select three courses from the list below to learn more about areas of social work practice. Course availability depends on enrollment.
Choose a CSWE-accredited MSW program
Our MSW program has undergone the rigorous evaluation process required to earn full accreditation from the Council of Social Work Education (CSWE).✝
CSWE accreditation proves excellence in social work education meeting the highest professional standards—and reflects the dedication of faculty, field instructors, and program leadership.
Herzing University devotes this dedication to every student enrolled in the MSW program. Choose the Herzing MSW program and join a passionate team of lifelong learners eager to help you find career success as a social worker.
Choosing the right area of practice electives
When you enroll in the Herzing MSW program, you will choose elective courses across three different areas of practice:
Unsure which electives to choose? Our admissions team can help you determine what courses are right for you based on your personality and desired career path.
Your field education experience
You can put didactic coursework into practice in the clinical practicum component of the MSW Advanced Standing program option. This represents hands-on experience that’s crucial to prepare you for career success right from the start.
You’ll be required to complete two 250-hour Field Practicum courses within the area of practice of your choosing (500 total hours across two semesters).
Where you complete each practicum can vary widely based on your location and area of practice you choose. We encourage you to choose your preferred Field Agency, but our Director of Field Education will provide support should you need help securing practicum sites.
Examples of potential field practicum sites include community agencies, counseling centers, criminal justice organizations, hospitals, mental health facilities, and schools.
Tuition & Cost
Tuition & Cost
The cost of tuition for the Advanced Standing MSW program is $625 per credit.
You can potentially earn even greater savings by transferring credit from prior college coursework, applying for financial aid, or potential partnership opportunities through your employer.
Our goal is your career advancement. That's why we are always working to improve our curriculum and processes to make our program as affordable as possible while preparing you best for success in your work.
Scholarships & Financial Aid
You may be eligible for multiple scholarships and grants, both through Herzing University and several national scholarship websites.
Military/Veteran Discounts
Veterans, Active Duty U.S. Servicemembers, and spouses may qualify for a 10-20% tuition discount.
Admission Requirements
Candidates for the Master of Social Work (MSW) – Advanced Standing track must meet several prerequisites for acceptance, including the following:
- Cumulative GPA of 2.75
- Prospective graduate students must have completed a bachelor’s or graduate degree in social work from a college or university accredited by an agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education or have completed a three- or four-year bachelor’s degree at a foreign college or university recognized as equivalent to a U.S. bachelor’s degree by an approved foreign credential evaluator; within 7 years of the date their BSW was conferred, OR, have a BSW license in good standing
- Transcript—BSW from a CSWE accredited program
- A personal statement addressing MSW prompts—contact admissions for details
- Optional Recommendations for both traditional and advanced standing MSW tracks: students may choose to submit recommendations to be considered with their application but are not required
Herzing Faculty
Meet our Faculty & Leadership
Phi Alpha Honor Society
Herzing University established the Delta Kappa Sigma Chapter of Phi Alpha International Honor Society in 2024 with Dr. Hyacinth McKee as the Faculty Advisor. Membership in this chapter represents the highest honor a student can receive in our social work program. Members enjoy several benefits, including:
- Your academic excellence is recognized. Phi Alpha honors high-achieving students (3.5+ GPA), rewarding those who go above and beyond and establish themselves as eager lifelong learners.
- Engage with the community. Make your impact outside of the classroom with access to organized volunteer work and community events. Get involved with service, advocacy, and awareness initiatives.
- Networking and career opportunities. Earn access to a large network of social work professionals, alumni, and other students. Become an active participant in the social work community and expand your career possibilities.
Membership in Phi Alpha rewards your academic success and accelerates your path to career success well before you are set to graduate with an MSW.
What you can do with a master’s in social work
While the field of social work has evolved to become more diverse and specialized, core master’s degree courses prepare you for a wide variety of job possibilities.
Choose the area of practice electives best reflecting the social work career path you want to walk.
Job titles can vary widely with overlap across each area of practice.3
- Behavioral Health Therapist
- Mental Health Social Worker
- Psychiatric Social Worker
- Psychosocial Coordinator
- Residential Therapist
- Substance Use Disorder Clinician
- Suicide Prevention Specialist
- Therapist
- Victim Advocate
- Home Health & Hospice Social Worker
- Hospice Social Worker
- Medical Social Worker
- Oncology Social Worker
- Residential Treatment Coordinator
- Social Work Case Manager
- Adoption Social Worker
- Adult Protective Services Worker
- Child Protective Services Supervisor (CPS Social Worker)
- Domestic Violence Advocate
- Family Protection Specialist
- Family Resource Coordinator
- Family Service Worker
- Foster Care Social Worker
- Gerontology Social Worker
- Pediatric Social Worker
- School Social Worker
- Veteran Affairs (VA) Social Worker
- Youth Specialist
Job Outlook
Employment of social workers is expected to increase across all specialties, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Among available BLS occupational groupings, employment of mental health and substance abuse social workers is expected to rise the fastest (11% growth).
Accreditation & Recognition
Our accredited & recognized online school
We strive to earn rank as one of the top private, nonprofit universities in the United States. Just as you work every day to become the best version of yourself, so do we as a university.
We are proud to have attained institutional and programmatic accreditation in addition to industry recognition for our accomplishments helping students earn a college education and find career success.
✝Herzing University's Master of Social Work (MSW) program is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education’s (CSWE) Board of Accreditation (BOA). Accreditation of a baccalaureate or master’s social work program by the BOA indicates that it meets or exceeds standards of program quality evaluated through a peer review accreditation process. An accredited program has sufficient resources to meet its mission and goals and the BOA has verified that it demonstrates compliance with all sections of the Educational Policy and Accreditation Standards (EPAS). Accreditation applies to all program options, which includes locations and delivery methods. Accreditation provides reasonable assurance about the quality of the program and the competence of students graduating from the program. Review our program’s accredited status in CSWE’s Directory of Accredited Programs. For more information about social work accreditation, contact CSWE’s Department of Social Work Accreditation.
Herzing University is institutionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (hlcommission.org), a regional accreditation agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
Faq
Frequently Asked Questions
Didn't find the answer to your question? Send us an inquiry and we will be happy to answer all your questions!
According to the CSWE’s most recent Educational Policy and Accreditation Standards, the 9 Social Work Competencies are listed as such:
- Demonstrate Ethical and Professional Behavior
- Advance Human Rights and Social, Racial, Economic, and Environmental Justice
- Engage Anti-Racism, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (ADEI) in Practice
- Engage in Practice-Informed Research and Research-Informed Practice
- Engage in Policy Practice
- Engage with Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities
- Assess Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations and Communities
- Intervene with Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities
- Evaluate Practice with Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities
Learn more about the most important skills needed to succeed as a social worker.
Social workers provide assistance to individuals, families and communities to address problems in their everyday lives. They can work in a “macro” role directly coordinating with organizations or policymakers, or a “micro” role focusing on individuals and their families.
The social work job description varies—social workers can have a wide variety of duties:
- Find those in need of help
- Work with people in all stages of life from birth to end of life
- Assess their situation: what they need, who supports them, what their goals are and develop interventions and strategies to help
- Collaborate with community resources to offer a network of care and refer clients accordingly
- Diagnose and treat mental, behavioral, and emotional health problems
- Maintain clear case files and records
- Raise awareness and advocate for solutions at the local, state, or even national level
- Navigate crisis situations, such as child abuse, family and community violence, or health emergencies
Yes, you can potentially leverage your education and experience in nursing into a career as a social worker. You may choose to stay in the healthcare field as a medical social worker.
You'll want to consider a Master of Social Work degree program to earn the new skills in knowledge to succeed in the field and position yourself best when applying for jobs.
Learn more about the RN to social work pathway and discover some of the primary differences between each career path.
The average salary for a social worker depends on several factors, including where they work, the state in which they practice, how long they have practiced, and chosen specialization.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics provides average salary estimates for three different types of social workers:*
- Child, family, and school social workers earn an annual average salary of $59,190 per year ($28.46 per hour)
- Healthcare social workers earn an annual average salary of $67,430 per year ($32.42 per hour)
- Mental health and substance abuse social workers earn an annual average salary of $63,870 per year ($30.71 per hour).
The skills and traits required for success as a social worker overlap with those of a human resources manager or professional. Both careers require strong communication skills, empathy, and a desire to help both individuals and groups thrive.
However, there are significant differences in the day-to-day life of HR professionals vs. social workers, including work environment, schedule, who you’ll work with, and types of problems you’ll be solving.
Learn more about the difference between human resources and social work careers.
Educational and licensing requirements can vary by state and employer across both jobs. The disciplines are distinct enough to demand separate master’s degree curriculums.
The primary difference between clinical social workers and mental health counselors is the scope of their duties and the education required to perform them. Generally, counselors focus solely on mental health issues, while clinical social workers carry a wide variety of responsibilities including and beyond mental health care.
Becoming a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) includes more involvement in managing your clients’ support network and larger community. While clinical social workers can potentially adopt a direct, active role in diagnosing and treating mental health issues, it’s not the sole purpose of the profession as it is for mental health counselors.
Program Finder
Master of Social Work
OnlineTo learn more about this program, click the Request Info button.
Request Information
Ready to get started?
Contact us to request more information
Related Programs
Accreditation & Disclosures
1. Herzing University's Master of Social Work (MSW) program is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education’s (CSWE) Board of Accreditation (BOA). Accreditation of a baccalaureate or master’s social work program by the BOA indicates that it meets or exceeds standards of program quality evaluated through a peer review accreditation process. An accredited program has sufficient resources to meet its mission and goals and the BOA has verified that it demonstrates compliance with all sections of the Educational Policy and Accreditation Standards (EPAS). Accreditation applies to all program options, which includes locations and delivery methods.
Accreditation provides reasonable assurance about the quality of the program and the competence of students graduating from the program. Review our program’s accredited status in CSWE’s Directory of Accredited Programs. For more information about social work accreditation, contact CSWE’s Department of Social Work Accreditation.
2. The Bureau of Labor Statistics identifies three specialties projected to grow at an above average rate from 2022-2032: Mental health and substance abuse social workers (11%), Healthcare social workers (10%), and Child, family, and school social workers (5%).*
3. Individuals considering the Master of Social Work program should be aware that state certification/ licensure requirements and eligibility to apply for certification/licensure vary from state to state. While certification/licensure is not a requirement for certain types of jobs, in some states, it may be required for any positions titled ‘Social Worker’ and to refer to yourself as a Social Worker in professional settings.
* Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics 2023 / Occupational Outlook Handbook 2022. BLS estimates do not represent entry-level wages and/or salaries. Multiple factors, including prior experience, age, geography market in which you want to work and degree field, will affect career outcomes and earnings. Herzing neither represents that its graduates will earn the average salaries calculated by BLS for a particular job nor guarantees that graduation from its program will result in a job, promotion, salary increase or other career growth.
Recent Blog Posts
Waived Enrollment Fee
Discover the educational pathway designed to maximize your career potential. Reach for greater heights with Herzing University.
