Master of Social Work Program
2024-2025 Class Dates -
Upcoming Events and Class Dates 2024-2025
Licensure Resources
The MSW program is fully accredited by Council on Social Work Education, and graduates are qualified to apply for LMSW master social worker (LMSW) and clinical social worker (LCSW) licensing. You are responsible for fulfilling the licensure requirements for the state to which you are applying.
- ASWB Guide to Social Work Exams »
- Social Work Licensure »
- Steps to applying for licensure »
- Tennessee Social Work Licensure Law »
Typical plan of study
Advanced placement. With a bachelor's degree in social work (BSW) from a CSWE-accredited institution or applicants who have successfully completed the Foundation year of eduction at a CSWE-accredited Masters of Social Work program. Full-time students typically complete the advanced year in three semesters.
Fall Semester(12 credit hours)
SOCW 509 Social Work Practice With Individuals and Families (3)
SOCW 511 Human Behavior and the Social Environment
: Biological and Psychological Development (Online) (3)
SOCW 513 Foundation of Professional Practice Seminar l (Online) (1)
SOCW 541 Integration of Faith and Foundation Practice Seminar I (Online) (1)
SOCW 547 Foundation Practicum I (1)
SOCW 597 Research Methods (3)
Winter Semester (12 credit hours)
SOCW 512 Human Behavior and the Social Environment II-Sociological and Spiritual Development
(Online) (3)
SOCW 514 Social Work Practice with Groups, Organizations and Communities (3)
SOCW 516 Foundation of Professional Practice Seminar II (Online) (1)
SOCW 533 Social Welfare Issues and Policies (3)
SOCW 542 Integration of Faith and Foundation Practice: Seminar II (Online) (1)
SOCW 547 Foundation Practicum (1)
Summer (5 credit hours)
SOCW 547 Foundation Practicum (5)
Winter Semester (12 credit hours)
SOCW 512 Human Behavior and the Social Environment II-Sociological and Spiritual Development
(Online) (3)
SOCW 514 Social Work Practice with Groups, Organizations and Communities (3)
SOCW 516 Foundation of Professional Practice Seminar II (Online) (1)
SOCW 533 Social Welfare Issues and Policies (3)
SOCW 542 Integration of Faith and Foundation Practice: Seminar II (Online) (1)
SOCW 547 Foundation Practicum (1)
Summer Semester (5 credit hours)
SOCW 547 Foundation Practicum (5)
Fall Semester (11 credit hours)
SOCW 509 Social Work Practice With Individuals and
Families (3)
SOCW 511 Human Behavior and the Social Environment I-Biological and Psychological
Development (Online) (3)
SOCW 513 Foundation of Professional Practice Seminar l (Online) (1)
SOCW 541 Integration of Faith and Foundation Practice Seminar I (Online) (1)
SOCW 597 Research Methods (3)
SOCW 609 Advanced Social Policy (Online) (2)
SOCW 611 Advanced Clinical Practice: Clinical Interventions (3)
SOCW 612 Advanced Administrative Practice:Program Development (3)
SOCW 620 Advanced Portfolio Seminar I (Online) (1)
SOCW 632 Clinical Assessment and Diagnosis I (Online) (1)
SOCW 641 Integration of Faith and Advanced Practice: Seminar I (Online) (1)
SOCW 647 Advanced Practicum (1)
Winter Semester (12 credit hours)
SOCW 617 Advanced Clinical Practice: Clinical Assessment, Psychopathology and Psychotherapeutic
Skills (3)
SOCW 618 Advanced Administrative Practice: Administration and Leadership (3)
SOCW 623 - Portfolio Contiuation (Online) (0)
SOCW 633 - Clinical Assessment and Diagnosis II (Online)(1)
SOCW 642 Integration of Faith and Advanced Practice II (Online) (1)
SOCW 647 Advanced Practicum (1)
SOCW ___ Select Advanced Foundation Core Concept of Emphasis (Online) (3)
Summer (9 credit hours)
Electives:
SOCW ___ Part 1 of Advanced Emphasis (3 day intensive) (3)
SOCW ___ Part 2 of Advanced Emphasis (3 day intensive) (3)
SOCW 624 Portfolio Completion/Capstone Seminar (Online) (0)
SOCW 647 Advanced Practicum (3)
Winter Semester (13 credit hours)
SOCW 617 Advanced Clinical Practice: Clinical Assessment, Psychopathology and Psychotherapeutic
Skills (3)
SOCW 618 Advanced Administrative Practice: Administration and Leadership (3)
SOCW 620 Portfolio Contiuation (Online) (1)
SOCW 632 Clinical Assessment and Diagnosis I (Online) (1)
SOCW 642 Integration of Faith and Advanced Practice II (Online) (1)
SOCW 647 Advanced Practicum (1)
SOCW ___ Select Advanced Foundation Core Concept of Emphasis (Online) (3)
Summer Semester(9 credit hours)
Electives:
SOCW ___ Part 1 of Advanced Emphasis (3 day intensive) (3)
SOCW ___ Part 2 of Advanced Emphasis (3 day intensive) (3)
SOCW 623 Portfolio Continuation Seminar (Online) (0)
SOCW 647 Advanced Practicum (3)
Fall Semester (11 credit hours)
SOCW 609 Advanced Social Policy (Online) (2)
SOCW 611 Advanced Clinical Practice: Clinical
Interventions (3)
SOCW 612 Advanced Administrative Practice: Program Development (3)
SOCW 624 Advanced Portfolio Completion/Capstone Seminar I (Online) (0)
SOCW 633 Clinical Assessment and Diagnosis I (Online) (1)
SOCW 641 Integration of Faith and Advanced Practice: Seminar I (Online) (1)
SOCW 647 Advanced Practicum (1)
SOCW 511 Human Behavior and the Social Enviroment I-Biological and Psychological Development (Online) (3)
SOCW 597 Research Methods (3)
Winter Semester (6 credit hours), first year
SOCW 512 Human Behavior and the Social Environment II-Sociological and Spiritual Development (Online) (3)
SOCW 533 Social Welfare Issues and Policies (3)
Fall Semester (8 credit hours), second year
SOCW 509 Social Work Practice with Individuals and Families (3)
SOCW 513 Professional Practice Seminar I (Online) (1)
SOCW 541 Integration of Faith and Foundation Practice,
Sem. I (Online) (1)
SOCW 547 Foundation Practicum (3)
Winter Semester (8 credit hours), second year
SOCW 514 Social Work Practice with Groups, Organizations and Communities (3)
SOCW 516 Professional Practice Seminar II (Online) (1)
SOCW 542 Integration of Faith and Foundation Practice, Sem. II (Online) (1)
SOCW 547 Foundation Practicum (3)
SOCW 512 Human Behavior and the Social Environment II- Sociological and Spiritual Development (Online) (3)
SOCW 533 Social Welfare Issues and Policies (3)
Fall Semester (6 credit hours), first year
SOCW 511 Human Behavior and the Social Enviroment I- Biological and Psychological Development (Online) (3)
SOCW 597 Research Methods (3)
Winter Semester (8 credit hours), second year
SOCW 514 Social Work Practice with Groups, Organizations and Communities (3)
SOCW 516 Professional Practice Seminar II (Online) (1)
SOCW 542 Integration of Faith and Foundation Practice, Sem. II (Online) (1)
SOCW 547 Foundation Practicum (3)
Fall Semester (8 credit hours), second year
SOCW 509 Social Work Practice with Individuals and Families (3)
SOCW 513 Professional Practice Seminar I (Online) (1)
SOCW 541 Integration of Faith and Foundation Practice, Sem. I (Online) (1)
SOCW 547 Foundation Practicum (3)
SOCW 609 Advanced Social Policy (Online) (2)
SOCW 611 Advanced Clinical Practice: Clinical Interventions (3)
SOCW 632 Clinical Assessment and Diagnosis I (Online) (1)
Winter Semester (7 credit hours), first year
SOCW 617 Advanced Clinical Practice: Clinical Assessment, Psychopathology and Psychotherapeutic Skills (3)
SOCW 633 Clinical Assessment and Diagnosis II (Online) (1)
SOCW ___ Select Advanced Foundation Core Concept of Emphasis (Online) (3)
Fall Semester (8 credit hours), second year
SOCW 612 Advanced Administrative Practice:Program Development (3)
SOCW 620 Portfolio Seminar (Online) (1)
SOCW 641 Integration of Faith and Advanced Practice: Seminar I (Online) (1)
SOCW 647 Advanced Practicum (3)
Winter Semester (7 credit hours), second year
SOCW 618 Advanced Administrative Practice: Administration and Leadership (3)
SOCW 623 - Portfolio Contiuation Seminar (Online) (0)
SOCW 642 Integration of Faith and Advanced Practice, Sem. II (Online) (1)
SOCW 647 Advanced Practicum (3)
Summer Semester (6 credit hours), second year
Electives:
SOCW ___ Part 1 of Advanced Emphasis (3 day intensive) (3)
SOCW ___ Part 2 of Advanced Emphasis (3 day intensive) (3)
SOCW 624 Portfolio Completion/Captsone Seminar (0)
Questions and Answers
The Commission on Accreditation (COA) from the Council on Social Work Education has granted full accreditation to Southern Adventist University’s Master of Social Work (MSW) program. Southern Adventist University maintains compliance with the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACS-COC) and the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) policies through the appropriate and timely reporting on areas of substantive change.
For more information about Southern’s accreditation, click here.
We do not require the GRE test for admission into the MSW program.
Southern's MSW program is fully accredited which qualifies you to apply for your LMSW and LCSW.
No. We recommend that you apply now and include an official transcript from universities/colleges you have attended. We will render a provisional admission decision. Please send us a second official transcript that indicates your final grades and your conferred degree as soon as it becomes available.
Yes. We look at the quality of the entire application in addition to your GPA. If your GPA is below 3.0, we encourage you to write about your undergraduate academic circumstances in your personal statement. You may have to enter the program on provisional status, but you should still apply.
Individuals who have a BSW may apply for Advanced Standing. The GPA used if cumulative of core social work classes.
Applicants are notified of their acceptance status via email approximately three - four weeks after all application materials are submitted to the School of Social Work.
The time limit for completing the program will be four years for full-time students and up to six years for part-time students.
Professional organizations
- Council on Social Work Education »
- National Association of Social Workers »
- National Organization of Forensic Social Workers »
- North American Association of Christian Social Workers »
Policy-analysis websites
MSW Accreditation
MSW Accreditation Outcomes 2022-2023
The Commission on Accreditation from the Council on Social Work Education has granted full accreditation to Southern Adventist University’s Master of Social Work program. Southern Adventist University maintains compliance with the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges and the Council on Social Work Education policies through the appropriate and timely reporting on areas of substantive change.
Additionally, Southern maintains compliance with the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
The Master of Social Work program utilizes multiple measures to assess student competency in advanced generalist social work practice.