Aug. 20, 2025
Next Start Date
19
Courses Required
$705
Cost Per Credit Hour
60
Total Credit Hours
Online Courses
Learning Format
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.
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.
Attend a Virtual Information Session
Thank you for your interest in the Social Work MSW - Regular Standing program at West Virginia University! Attend a Virtual Information Session and learn more about the Social Work MSW - Regular Standing program.
"As a graduate of WVU, I look forward to helping future students begin their own journeys to becoming a Mountaineer. At WVU Online, we are eager to guide you through the enrollment process with ease and want to provide you with the information and resources you need to be successful. Online degrees give everyone an opportunity to further their education and I can’t wait to help you do just that."
Regular Standing
Application Deadlines
Applications are 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 FeeLetters 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):
***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.
WVU provides a comprehensive approach to helping you finance your education. Learn more by visiting the Student Financial Services website.
Students are encouraged to:
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.
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:
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.