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SOCIAL WORK MSW – REGULAR STANDING

Aug. 20, 2025

Next Start Date

19

Courses Required

$705

Cost Per Credit Hour

60

Total Credit Hours

Online Courses

Learning Format

Prepare to Change Lives

The Master of Social Work offered by the WVU School of Social Work prepares you to be a well-rounded advanced practitioner who can respond to the complex realities of practice in a variety of roles and settings. The specialization in advanced integrated practice builds on generalist practice and prepares you to integrate micro, mezzo, and macro practice skills across service sectors and within interdisciplinary teams to effectively address social and human problems pertinent to a wide range of professional practice areas, with a particular emphasis on effective models of rural service delivery.

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The WVU Master of Social Work program educates students to become advanced integrated practice social workers. The specialization in advanced integrated practice builds on generalist practice and prepares students to integrate micro, mezzo, and macro practice skills across service sectors and within interdisciplinary teams to effectively address social and human problems pertinent to a wide range of professional practice areas, with a particular emphasis on effective models of rural service delivery.

The advanced integrated practice curriculum provides an integrative approach to social work where students are prepared for both direct practice and administrative roles. This curriculum prepares WVU MSW graduates to be well-rounded advanced practitioners who can respond to the complex realities of practice in a variety of roles and settings.


Students without a bachelor’s degree in social work are eligible to pursue the regular standing degree plan option if they have earned a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited university. The Regular Standing degree plan option can be pursued through our online program on a part-time basis only. Students who pursue the Regular Standing degree plan option through the online program begin the program in the fall semester and complete the degree the summer after their third year in classes.

Students with a BSW degree from an accredited program within the last eight years should go to the Social Work MSW – Advanced Standing page.

Online MSW Technology Requirements

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Social Work MSW - Regular Standing Admission Requirements

Regular Standing

  • Domestic applicants: Bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university
  • International applicants: Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution. You are considered an international applicant if you are not a citizen or permanent resident of the United States. (Note: applicants must be living within the US to be eligible for the online program)
  • At least a 2.75 overall GPA required, though a 3.0 GPA is preferred
  • GPA from a previous master’s degree can be substituted for an undergraduate GPA
  • Students with an overall GPA below 2.75 may be considered for provisional admission based on a review of the applicant's transcript(s) and the strengths of the other elements on the application.

Admissions

Application Deadlines

Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis.

  • November 1 is the early decision deadline. Applications submitted by November 1 will receive an early decision notification and accepted applicants are eligible for scholarships provided through the School of Social Work.
  • February 1 is the priority deadline. Applications submitted by February 1 will be eligible for scholarships provided through the School of Social Work.
  • April 15 is the final deadline. Applications submitted between February 1 and April 15 will be reviewed on a rolling basis.

NOTE: International applicants living outside of the United States are not eligible to apply to the online MSW program.

Application and Application Fee
  • Complete the Online Application
  • $60 application fee
Transcripts
  • Submit official transcripts for all undergraduate and graduate coursework to the WVU Hub, P.O. Box 6004, Morgantown, WV 26506. ( *NOTE: official transcripts for applicants who attended West Virginia University will be uploaded by WVU Graduate Admissions upon submission of the graduate application).
  • Unofficial transcripts can be uploaded by applicants in their application for the purposes of review for admission. However, official transcripts are required before a formal acceptance to the MSW program is offered.
Resume
  • Submit a current resume including employment, volunteer experience, including start and end dates.

Letters of Recommendation

Three professional letters of recommendation are required. Contact information for these individuals should be provided within the online Graduate Application. Please submit a recommendation from each of the following categories*** (see note below):

  • Academic
  • Social Work/Human Service Experience (volunteer or paid)
  • Employer

***The recommendation suggestions above are preferable, however, for applicants that have been out of school for many years or who have been working in the field, a combination of 3 professional recommendations that address your ability to handle the rigors of graduate studies and your experience and skills in the helping field are acceptable. For students right out of undergraduate studies with little work experience; a combination of 3 professional recommendations that include 2 academic references and a social work/human service experience recommendation are appropriate. Questions? Contact us at socialwork@mail.wvu.edu.

If you use recommenders other than the suggested academic, social work/human service experience, and employer, discuss your reasons why in the Addendum section of the admission essay.

Admission Essay

All applicants must submit an Admission Essay. Please see detailed guidelines for the essay on the WVU School of Social Work Admissions Requirements.

For more information, contact Master of Social Work Admissions & Recruitment at socialwork@mail.wvu.edu or phone (304) 293-3280.

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Tuition, Fees, and Financial Aid

WVU provides a comprehensive approach to helping you finance your education. Learn more by visiting the Student Financial Services website.

Students are encouraged to:

  • File the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form by the June 30, 2024 deadline to determine their eligibility for federal and state funds as well as scholarships. WVU’s FAFSA Code is 003827; and
  • Check with your employer to see if they provide financial support for earning your graduate degree.

The tuition rate per credit hour listed above is for the 2024-2025 academic year. Tuition and fees increase beginning in the fall term of each academic year.

Tuition and fees are usually not the only educational expenses you may have while pursuing a degree. You may have other costs such as books, supplies and living expenses. Please see the Estimate Costs and Aid webpage for how to estimate and plan for other potential expenses.

Your future in Social Work

The mission of the MSW program is to provide students with skills in direct practice with individuals, families, and groups, as well as program and agency administration, community development, and macro-level practice. In addition, students are trained in how to utilize these skills to foster successful interprofessional practice in a wide variety of settings. Specifically, graduates of the MSW program will be prepared to:

  • Formulate and implement integrated service delivery models appropriate to advanced practice with diverse client populations at multi-system levels.
  • Design and conduct brief and/or on-going assessment and intervention methods consistent with integrated systems and context of practice.
  • Construct an integrated evidence-informed theoretical framework appropriate to the level and context of practice situations.
  • Organize collaboration with other professions to coordinate intervention efforts suitable to the practice situation.
  • Design and conduct collaborative, practice-based evaluation methods and apply findings to improve practice, policy, and/or service delivery effectiveness.

The Benefits to Choosing Our Program

Regular Standing: includes students who have completed a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited university in a discipline other than Social Work. Regular Standing students can complete their degree on a full-time or part-time basis. Part-time students have the option of completing their degree on campus or online.

Career outlook for Social Work

Graduates of the MSW program are employed throughout the United States and internationally. They work as individual, family, and group treatment specialists, planners, community organizers, and social researchers. They also work as social work educators and as administrators in a variety of programs such as mental health clinics, hospitals, correctional institutions, courts, delinquency programs, aging programs, family counseling agencies, child protective agencies, public welfare departments, child development programs, drug and alcohol abuse programs, public schools, community action agencies, settlement houses, city governments, state government planning agencies, federal administrative agencies, and private research and development organizations concerned with human problems. Social workers are the largest group of mental health service providers in the country.

Generalist Courses

Course Title Credit Hours
SOWK 513 Research Methods 3
SOWK 520 Human Behavior in the Social Environment 3
SOWK 540 Generalist Practice 1: Individuals, Families, and Groups 3
SOWK 530 Professional Identity and Social Justice 3
SOWK 531 Social Welfare Policy and Programs 3
SOWK 541 Generalist Practice 2: Rural Community Macro Practice 3
SOWK 581 Generalist Field Experience 3

Advanced Courses

Course Title Credit Hours
SOWK 616 Evaluation Research in Social Work 3
SOWK 633 Social Policy Analysis, Advocacy, and Deliberation 3
SOWK 643 Assessment and Diagnosis 3
SOWK 649 Practice with Individuals 3
SOWK 650 Practice with Families and Groups 3
SOWK 654 Organizational Administration and Leadership 3
SOWK 656 Financial Management and Grant Writing 3
SOWK 682 Advanced Field Experience 3-5

Electives
Select two of the following:

Course Title Credit Hours
SOWK 626 Child Mental Health: Promotion, Prevention, and Treatment 3
SOWK 627 Clinical Practice in Integrated Healthcare 3
SOWK 675 Addiction and Social Work Practice 3
SOWK 680 Child Welfare Continuum 3
GERO 645 Fundamentals of Gerontology 3
GERO 681 Rural Gerontology 3

Total Hours: 60

Frequently Asked Questions

What are some of the potential employers for the Social Work MSW degree?

Social workers are employed in a variety of settings, including child welfare and human service agencies, healthcare providers, and schools. Most work full time, and some work evenings, weekends, and holidays.

How long will it take me to complete a Master of Social Work Regular Standing degree?

Students without a bachelor’s degree in social work are eligible to pursue the regular standing degree plan option if they have earned a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited university. The Regular Standing degree plan option can be pursued through our online program on a part-time basis only. Students who pursue the Regular Standing degree plan option through the online program begin the program in the fall semester and complete the degree the summer after their third year in classes.

Can you tell me more about the faculty and curriculum for the Social Work MSW Regular Standing program?

The MSW Program offers social work education for the 21st century, incorporating digital literacy in both the on campus and online programs. The WVU MSW is ranked #72 by US News & World Report in their 2022 rankings of graduate schools of social work.

When are the Master of Social Work Advanced Standing program deadlines?

Regular Standing (Part Time Only)

The deadline for our Regular Standing Online Program has been extended to June 1, 2022. Please reach out to socialwork@mail.wvu.edu with any questions.

  • February 1 is the priority deadline.* Applications submitted by February 1 will be given preference for scholarships.
  • June 15 is the standard deadline.* Applications submitted between February 2 and June 15 will be reviewed on a rolling basis.

Please remember that all required materials must be received and processed by the deadline dates listed above. Keep in mind transcripts, references, and test scores often take longer than anticipated to arrive.

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