Master of Social Work (MSW)

Our MSW program combines the best of digital learning with interactive engagement, perfectly balancing your education with your busy life. Attend live 90-minute Zoom sessions on Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday evenings, depending on your course load (1-3 nights weekly). Complete engaging asynchronous activities through Canvas, Panopto and Google Workspace on your schedule, with approximately 3-9 hours of additional individual study time per class each week. Our program is 100% online, allowing you to complete your entire MSW, including practicum experiences, from anywhere without any residency or in-person requirements. We've designed our program to be accessible and inclusive, creating safe and affirming online spaces for all students pursuing graduate social work education – no matter where you call home.

Benefit from individualized instruction and meaningful connections with professors and peers in our small, community-focused classes with a low faculty-to-student ratio. Saint Joseph’s full-time faculty provide academic and career advising, helping with coursework, job searches, practicum placements and licensure preparation. You'll also join regular online social events and specialized training opportunities to foster genuine connections among students, creating a supportive learning community throughout your educational journey.

We're transforming social work education with our commitment to fair practicum experiences. Our nationwide research with Payment for Placements revealed statistics about student well-being during traditional unpaid practicums, inspiring our innovative program design. We prioritize paid and work-based practicum experiences to reduce anxiety, time poverty and basic-needs insecurity while you complete your required field education. If you're currently employed in a relevant setting, we can partner with your employer to design a practicum that advances your career while meeting all academic requirements. We also offer competitive on-campus opportunities through our disability social work programs with paid practicums and tuition remission options. All practicum sites are screened for culturally responsive supervision, ethical working conditions and quality learning experiences through our partnership with the MSW student union, and we actively participate in policy reform efforts at local, state and national levels to improve conditions for early-career social workers.

We understand that most MSW students balance full-time work alongside their studies, so we've created multiple pathways to your degree. Take 2-3 classes per semester based on your schedule and responsibilities, with the flexibility to begin your foundation classes during any semester. Complete your degree in as little as one year or extend it up to four years, depending on your needs, with year-round learning options through 14-week classes offered during fall, spring and summer semesters. You'll work closely with your dedicated advisor to create a study plan to accommodate your employment, caregiving responsibilities and personal commitments. For Bachelor of Social Work graduates, our advanced standing option recognizes your previous social work education, beginning with a summer bridge course in July and offering options to finish your MSW in just one year – or a two-year plan for greater flexibility. Current Saint Joseph's undergraduates can take advantage of our 4+2 accelerated program, beginning MSW credits during senior year and completing both degrees in just six years while saving on tuition costs.

We believe financial barriers should never limit your education. Our zero-cost approach directly addresses the fact that one in five social work students skip meals to afford textbooks by providing access to all required course materials at no additional cost from day one of your program. You'll utilize free e-books, journal articles and scholarly materials through the University library, along with open educational resources developed by our professors, including free textbooks and collaborative case studies. This approach extends beyond cost savings to engage you with authentic digital assignments that extend your influence beyond the classroom, preparing you for real-world impact in your career.

Your voice matters in shaping our program through our student union system. Elected cohort representatives attend program meetings, help develop policies and gather peer feedback for continuous improvement. This structure ensures your concerns are heard and enables you to develop valuable organizing and advocacy skills that transfer directly to your future career. Throughout the program, you'll create a public interest scholarship, engage with stakeholders and generate meaningful change in global, digital and local communities, making your educational experience directly relevant to the field you're preparing to enter.

Enhance your specialized expertise through our innovative DREAM Fellowship. This optional professional development opportunity connects theory with practice by bringing together social work, counseling and behaviorist graduate students working in campus programs like The Kinney Center (ASPIRE, Camp Kinney) and Pathways to Authentic College Experiences (PACE). As a DREAM Fellow, you'll engage in comprehensive professional development through bi-monthly in-person meetings with your cohort while helping coordinate a monthly online speaker series addressing critical issues. Your fellowship experience includes attending professional conferences aligned with your development goals and creating proposals for future presentations, applying the specialized knowledge you've gained throughout the program.

View required courses for this program in the academic catalog. Please contact us if you have any questions about the program curriculum.

Students without a BSW degree should apply to the regular standing program. To graduate with an MSW degree, students must take 62 credits over two to four years. 

Students with a BSW degree should apply to the advanced standing program. Because students who graduate from an accredited BSW program have obtained generalist competency, students start at the advanced generalist level. All advanced standing students start in July of the summer semester.

Students can complete the required 32 credit hours over one year or two. Students completing one-year plans of study should only consider doing so if they will pursue a work-based practicum with their current employer or are financially independent.

Affordable tuition options start at $879 per credit.*

*Pricing does not include room and board, health insurance or any professional, clinical or transportation fees. Visit our Tuition & Fees page for a detailed cost breakdown.

Merit scholarships are now available!

You do not have to apply separately for merit scholarships. We will evaluate your admission application for merit scholarships at the time of review.

Financial aid may be available to you to help offset the cost of your degree. Explore your options on our Financial Aid page. We also offer benefits for veterans.

Discount Eligibility

Alumni of Saint Joseph's are eligible to receive 10% off the cost of this program through our alumni discount.

Have you completed a year or more of service with a recognized service organization? You may be eligible for our mission discount.

Check with your employer to see if they are an Edcor or a Bright Horizons EdAssist member, which may entitle you to a discount on graduate programs. 

Note: discounts cannot be combined.

The Saint Joseph's University Master of Social Work Program does not grant social work course credit for:

• Life Experience
• Previous Work Experience

Saint Joseph's University has achieved candidacy for accreditation by the Council on Social Work Education’s (CSWE) Board of Accreditation (BOA).

Candidacy for a baccalaureate or master’s social work program by the BOA indicates that it has made progress toward meeting standards of program quality evaluated through a peer review accreditation process. A program that has attained candidacy status has demonstrated a commitment to meeting the standards set by the Educational Policy and Accreditation Standards (EPAS) but has not yet demonstrated full compliance.

Students that are admitted to candidate programs in the fall (or later) of the academic year in which the program is granted candidacy status will be retroactively recognized as graduates from a CSWE-BOA accredited program as long as the program attains initial accreditation. Candidacy is typically a 3-year process and attaining candidacy does not guarantee that a program will eventually attain initial accreditation.

Candidacy 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 candidacy status in CSWE’s Directory of Accredited Programs (https://www.cswe.org/accreditation/directory/?). For more information about social work accreditation, contact CSWE’s Department of Social Work Accreditation.

Graduate assistantships are offered on a limited basis. Please contact the program director for availability.

SJU is a Yellow Ribbon School that accepts GI education benefits. Our Office of Veterans Service can help you access and understand your benefits.

For Regular Standing Applicants:

• Bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited institution
• Undergraduate cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher
• Open to transfer students and current Saint Joseph's undergraduates in the 4+2 program

For Advanced Standing Applicants:

• BSW degree from a CSWE-accredited program
• Undergraduate cumulative GPA of 3.2 or higher

Provisional Admission Pathway: 

We believe in creating opportunities for diverse learners. If you don't meet the minimum GPA requirements but show potential for graduate-level work, we offer provisional admission. This reflects our commitment to student equity, especially for those who have faced learning challenges. Provisionally admitted students take up to two classes in their first semester to demonstrate their ability to maintain a 3.0 GPA or higher at the graduate level. Advanced standing applicants are also eligible for provisional admission.

• Apply online.
• Submit official college transcripts from all colleges attended.
• Submit a personal statement.
• Submit resume.
• Submit two letters of recommendation.

Visit our Graduate Admission Information page to learn more about admission requirements, key deadlines, additional requirements for international students and how to submit your application.

Graduate applications are reviewed on a rolling basis. New students may enroll in courses during the fall, spring or summer semesters.

Start Terms:

• Fall: August
• Spring: January
• Summer: May

International students cannot use our online MSW program to support an F1 student visa. If you would like to enroll in MSW classes from your home country, you must provide proof of English language proficiency and a certification of finances along with your application. Check the graduate admission page for additional requirements.

As an online MSW student at Saint Joseph's, you'll have access to comprehensive support services, including health, mental health, basic needs assistance and financial wellness tools through our online platform, The Nest. The Career Center regularly hosts social work employers at career fairs and provides online job search and resume development resources to help advance your professional goals. You'll receive technical assistance for all University-provided online learning platforms, ensuring a smooth educational experience. Beyond these University-wide resources, our program offers a dedicated student support coordinator and various specialized tools designed to help you navigate your academic journey and focus your career search, providing you the same high-quality support available to on-campus students. Check out our online learning resources.

To succeed in our online MSW program, you'll need a computer with a reliable broadband Internet connection capable of supporting synchronous and asynchronous video and audio collaboration. Saint Joseph's provides all the required software for your MSW classes and activities at no additional cost. If you have questions about specific computing hardware or software requirements, our IT services team can help ensure your technology setup meets program needs. Contact IT Services to learn more about computing hardware and software requirements.

Yes, our MSW program is designed with licensure in mind. Our curriculum aligns with the licensure requirements in Pennsylvania, Delaware, New Jersey and many other states. Upon graduation, you'll qualify for the Licensed Social Worker (LSW) credential and can begin accumulating supervised practice hours toward your Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) credential.

As a fully online program, we work with students nationwide to review licensure requirements in their home states. Our faculty advisors partner with you to ensure your degree plan aligns with your state's specific requirements. Since state regulations can change, we encourage you to monitor your state's licensing board for updates and work closely with your advisor to stay on track.

Our Advanced Generalist Focus: While some programs specialize exclusively in clinical practice, our advanced generalist approach provides broader training. This comprehensive education not only prepares you for clinical roles but also equips you with skills in agency leadership, community organizing and policy evaluation. If you're interested in developing versatile capabilities that extend beyond direct practice, our program offers the well-rounded preparation you need for diverse career opportunities in social work.