Why Earn Your Social Work Degree at Saint Leo University?
The Master of Social Work (MSW) degree program prepares graduates for professional advanced practice in social work services that promote social justice, economic justice, and human rights on local, national, and global levels. Students prepare to lead in advanced clinical social work practice that serves all populations—including the elderly, military personnel, and individuals and groups who experience discrimination and oppression.
Saint Leo’s Online MSW program delivers virtual courses via webcam, which allows for face-to-face interaction from the convenience of home. Students should enter the program knowing that they will be required to meet for weekly evening classes via webcam, be available for daytime internship hours, attend one weekend seminar on University Campus in the summer, and adjust their lives to meet the demands and expectations of this full-time online program.
The Master of Social Work (MSW) program offers students who are physically living in the states of Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, Mississippi, New Jersey, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and Virginia an innovative, full-time online program.
Learning Experience:
Online
Est. Time to Complete:
1-3 years
Credit Hours:
62 hours
Master of Social Work Program Details
Our mission is to prepare graduate students for professional advanced practice to become leaders through the provision of social work services that promote the social and economic well-being of clients and support human rights locally, nationally, and globally. The program further expects graduates to contribute to the empowerment of people/groups that experience discrimination and oppression.
Cohorts
Our MSW program offers multiple cohort tracks which include fulltime and part time Advanced Standing Tracks and a Two Year and Three Year Track. Please see below for additional details on each of our MSW cohorts.
- Fall I start, full time, online, two-year 62-credit hour program.
- Sequential - must be taken according to the program outline.
- Assigned class nights and times will vary from semester to semester (Tuesday, Wednesday, and/or Thursday evening).
- Attendance at a one weekend on-campus seminar is required for all students enrolled in the online MSW program.
- Fall I start, part-time, online, three-year 62-credit hour program.
- Two classes per 16 weeks, with one semester offering 3 courses.
- Sequential - must be taken according to the program outline.
- Assigned class nights and times will vary from semester to semester (Tuesday, Wednesday, and/or Thursday evening or Saturday mornings).
- Attendance at a one weekend on-campus seminar is required for all students enrolled in the online MSW program.
- Saturday Cohort - provides more flexibility than a traditional weeknight class schedule.
- 100% online and meets face-to-face online using a web conferencing platform from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. each week.
- Summer I start, full-time, online, one-year, four semester 32-credit hour program.
- Only for those who have completed a BSW degree from a CSWE accredited program, with additional academic standards required.
- Sequential - must be taken according to the program outline.
- Assigned class nights and times will vary from semester to semester (Tuesday, Wednesday, and/or Thursday evening).
- Attendance at a one weekend on-campus seminar is required for all students enrolled in the MSW program.
- Spring I start, part-time, online, five-semester 32-credit hour program.
- Only for those who have completed a BSW degree from a CSWE accredited program, with additional academic standards required.
- Sequential - must be taken according to the program outline.
- Assigned class nights and times will vary from semester to semester (Tuesday, Wednesday, and/or Thursday evening).
- Attendance at a one weekend on-campus seminar is required for all students enrolled in the MSW program.
Learn Your Way
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What are the benefits of earning your social work degree online?
Saint Leo University’s online learning experience provides a well-rounded education with the flexibility to tailor your course of study to meet your individual needs. We know our students have lives outside school, and we seek to meet them where they are. Online students can count on receiving excellent academics as well as opportunities for hands-on learning.
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Taking online classes has afforded me the opportunity to learn while maintaining a job. They give me some flexibility to study at times that work more cohesively with my schedule and allow me to utilize resources such as the library 24 hours a day.
Bentley Streat | Hayes, VA
Are education centers near you offering social work degree programs?
You may also choose to pursue your degree through one of our education centers, which merge a traditional in-person education with the flexibility to match your lifestyle. Education centers offer eight-week academic terms as well as evening and weekend classes.
Career Outlook
No matter which learning experience you choose, you will receive plenty of professional development opportunities, industry knowledge from expert professors, and support from the Saint Leo community. All this together means that you will be ready for a successful career or continued studies upon graduation.
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How will you gain real experience?
The Field Education Department provides Field Faculty to work with students to coordinate internships and provide support throughout the internship experience. Internship opportunities may include Veteran’s Administration, school social work, hospitals, and medical settings, hospice & palliative care.
Plus, our Career Services center is always available to help connect you with a variety of other experiential learning opportunities to fit your individual career goals.
What skills you will learn?
- Apply ethical principles and critical thinking;
- Engage diversity in practice;
- Advance human rights/social and economic justice;
- Engage research informed practice/practice informed research;
- Engage policy practice to advance well-being and deliver services;
- Respond to practice contexts;
- Practice engagement, assessment, intervention, and evaluation
What can you do with a master's in social work degree?
Saint Leo University’s Master of Social Work program is a CSWE-accredited, innovative, full-time online program. Graduates from the program may be able to begin the licensure process in their state for their LCSW (Licensed Clinical Social Worker) or state equivalent. Students are encouraged to research and confirm the licensing requirements for their state.
Our students become leaders in the field and contribute to the empowerment of persons/groups that experience discrimination and oppression. If you’re unsure what to do with your MSW degree, here are a few options to consider:
- Licensed Clinical Social Worker Therapist (eligible)
- School Social Work
- Military and First Responder Social Work
- Marriage and Family Counselor
- Substance Abuse Counselor
- Behavioral Health
- Social Work in Medical Settings
What are the top social work degree jobs?
| Career | Growth | Salary |
|---|---|---|
| School/Career Counselor | 11% (Faster than average) | $58,120 per year |
| Social Work Teacher | 12% (Faster than average) | $78,110 per year |
| Social Service Manager | 15% (Faster than average) | $69,600 per year |
From the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2020.
Where are Saint Leo social work graduates now?
Our MSW degree graduates are prepared to be leaders in advanced clinical social work practice with a specialization in Trauma-informed care within populations related to children and adolescents, first responders, the military, and the multitude of vulnerable populations served by the profession of Social Work.
College of Education and Social Services
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Saint Leo University’s College of Education and Social Services couples a transformative liberal arts tradition with highly specialized training in the education and social services fields. Through close faculty mentorships, practical field internships, and applied learning experiences, we prepare students for careers in education, social work, criminal justice, and human services. Our faculty remain active in their respective fields as researchers and practitioners, giving students close access to a wealth of real-world knowledge and experience.
With the ever-changing needs of today's students, we provide flexible degree programs. These include programs at University Campus and education centers with evening and weekend options, as well as online offerings. These degree programs are grooming the next generation of educators and social service specialists—a new breed of professionals with the talent and resolve to make a difference in the world.
Student Stories
"What if, two years ago, I could have seen my future? What if that opportunity allowed a peek at who I'd become after completing Saint Leo's Creative Writing MA Program? What would I tell myself? Well, self—indubitably, you made the right choice! The tools in your writer’s toolbox were obtained from a team of well-versed faculty, like-minded peers, several residency programs, assignments, and academic reviews. Creative Writing MA graduate, you made the right choice."
Violetta Deloatch-Woods (Fiction, 2023)
"Pursuing my MA at Saint Leo was the scariest decision I ever made; it also turned out to be one of the best. I have grown exponentially within this community of honest and talented writers, and I couldn’t have asked for better peers."
Derora Williams (Poetry, 2023)
"Saint Leo's Creative Writing MA program genuinely changed my life for the better. I learned so much about myself as a reader, writer, and human being with every assignment, and I was constantly challenged to grow outside of my comfort zone. My professors and peers were always there to celebrate achievements and overcome obstacles, making the program feel like my second family. I wouldn't be the person I am today without Saint Leo."
Emmett Ferree (Poetry, 2023)
"Saint Leo's Creative Writing MA program helped me immensely as a reader and a writer. Learning to read not only what is in a story, but paying careful attention to how it's written, is just one of the memorable gifts I received from this program's helpful faculty and encouraging environment."
Janna Correa, (Fiction, 2022)
This program allows growth as a writer and as a person. The experience was absurdly personal. Absurd because of the organic evolution fostered by its leadership and absurd because of the personal touches from the instructors. Why expect that? St. Leo is invested in its students. You get more than you bargained for.
Jimmy Sutman, (Poetry, 2022)
It can be intimidating to go back to school after decades of being in the workforce. But as a non-traditional student, I felt nothing but a warm welcome from Saint Leo faculty and my classmates. I started my first semester at another university and wasn't happy. I transferred to Saint Leo and learned more than I could have ever imagined in this program. Best decision I ever made. Thanks to my studies there, I'm getting ready to release my first book at the end of this year!
Lisa Moody, (Nonfiction, 2021)
News/Additional Resources
View MSW Program Brochure
View the MSW Program Assessment of Student Learning Outcomes
Accreditation
The Master of Social Work program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE).
