Pathways
Follow your career pathway with Herzing
- Program length: 24 months
- Credits: 60 Credits
- Classes: View the curriculum
- Program length: 12 months
- Credits: 36 months
- Classes: View the curriculum
Quick facts about our CSWE-accredited social work pathways
| Accreditation | CSWE accredited;1 Accredited by the Higher Learning Commission |
|---|---|
| Tracks | Traditional and Advanced Standing MSW tracks; options available for both non-BSW and BSW students |
| Format | 100% online classes delivered asynchronously; full-time and part-time options available |
| Field practicum | We can assist students in finding a practicum site, as well as allow paid and employment-based practicums |
| Faculty | Learn from experienced professionals: all professors are Licensed Clinical Social Workers (LCSW) |
| Specializations | Choose electives across three unique career-focused areas of practice: Mental Health, Medical Social Work, and Children, Families, and Aging Services |
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Satisfaction rate
Our overall student satisfaction rate, according to the 2024 Herzing Graduate Survey.
Herzing University Online Social Work Program Tracks
Our social work degree options are graduate MSW program tracks which prepare you for a career as a professional social worker. The traditional and Advanced Standing MSW degree program provides students with fundamental knowledge and skills in clinical social work theory and practice, psychosocial assessment, clinical diagnosis, and much more.
Career-focused curriculum
Discover the crucial knowledge and skills required to succeed in your work and build a foundation for continued career growth.
Flexible schedule
We work hard to help you maintain school-life balance, striving to be as flexible as possible for busy non-traditional students.
Virtual services
Access to extensive virtual services, including academic advising, tutoring, support services, technical support and library services.
Lifelong support
We support your ongoing career advancement by providing comprehensive, personalized student services with lifelong career coaching.
Rolling admissions
No application deadlines to worry about. Apply when you’re ready and prepare to get started soon.
Why choose Herzing University?
Key specializations
Focus your education in one of three fast-growing social work areas of practice: Mental Health, Medical Social Work, and Children, Families, and Aging Services.1
Extensive support
You are never alone. Your online learning experience is personalized and asynchronous, with access to a host of student services.
Practiced faculty
All full-time Herzing MSW program instructors are Licensed Clinical Social Workers (LCSW) with deep experience in the field.
Over 90%
Satisfaction rate
Our overall student satisfaction rate, according to the 2024 Herzing Graduate Survey.
Herzing University's Master of Social Work (MSW) program is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education’s (CSWE) Board of Accreditation (BOA).1
Herzing Faculty
Meet our Faculty & Leadership
Clinically confident. Culturally informed. Competent social workers.
MSW Mission Statement
The mission of the Herzing University’s Master of Social Work (MSW) program is to educate and empower competent, ethical social work practitioners with the culturally informed knowledge, values, and skills necessary for advanced practice within diverse populations and environments. Consistent with the purposes and values of the social work profession, Herzing’s social work program is committed to service, social and economic justice, the dignity and worth of the individual, and the importance of human relationships. We are dedicated to preparing leaders who will critically analyze systems, evaluate and implement evidence-based interventions, advocate for social and economic justice, use a person-in-environment framework, provide inclusive services, and practice strength-based approaches to promote the health and wellbeing of all individuals, families, and communities.
MSW Program Goals
- The program will prepare confident, professional social work practitioners who are qualified to practice in advanced specializations, including mental health, medical social work, and children, families, and aging services.
- The program will prepare professional social worker practitioners who will advocate for populations experiencing oppression and discrimination by critically examining systems, developing and changing policies, advocating for social justice, and increasing access to services in their specialization areas.
- The program will prepare culturally informed practitioners who will conduct multi-dimensional assessments and provide specialized, evidence-based clinical practice interventions at all practice levels.
- The program will promote clinical social work excellence through lifelong learning, professional development, service, networking, and adherence to the NASW Code of Ethics.
Waived Enrollment Fee
Discover the educational pathway designed to maximize your career potential. Reach for greater heights with Herzing University.
What you can do with a master’s in social work
While the field of social work has evolved to become more diverse and specialized, core master’s degree courses prepare you for a wide variety of job possibilities.
Choose the area of practice electives best reflecting the social work career path you want to walk.
Job titles can vary widely with overlap across each area of practice.3
- Behavioral Health Therapist
- Mental Health Social Worker
- Psychiatric Social Worker
- Psychosocial Coordinator
- Residential Therapist
- Substance Use Disorder Clinician
- Suicide Prevention Specialist
- Therapist
- Victim Advocate
- Home Health & Hospice Social Worker
- Hospice Social Worker
- Medical Social Worker
- Oncology Social Worker
- Residential Treatment Coordinator
- Social Work Case Manager
- Adoption Social Worker
- Adult Protective Services Worker
- Child Protective Services Supervisor (CPS Social Worker)
- Domestic Violence Advocate
- Family Protection Specialist
- Family Resource Coordinator
- Family Service Worker
- Foster Care Social Worker
- Gerontology Social Worker
- Pediatric Social Worker
- School Social Worker
- Veteran Affairs (VA) Social Worker
- Youth Specialist
Job Outlook
Employment of social workers is expected to increase across all specialties, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Among available BLS occupational groupings, employment of mental health and substance abuse social workers is expected to rise the fastest (11% growth).
Program Finder
Master of Social Work
OnlineTo learn more about this program, click the Request Info button.
Master of Social Work - Advanced Standing
OnlineTo learn more about this program, click the Request Info button.
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Accreditation & Disclosures
1. Herzing University's Master of Social Work (MSW) program is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education’s (CSWE) Board of Accreditation (BOA). Accreditation of a baccalaureate or master’s social work program by the BOA indicates that it meets or exceeds standards of program quality evaluated through a peer review accreditation process. An accredited program has sufficient resources to meet its mission and goals and the BOA has verified that it demonstrates compliance with all sections of the Educational Policy and Accreditation Standards (EPAS).
Accreditation 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 accredited status in CSWE’s Directory of Accredited Programs. For more information about social work accreditation, contact CSWE’s Department of Social Work Accreditation.
2. The Bureau of Labor Statistics identifies three specialties projected to grow at an above average rate from 2023-2033: Mental health and substance abuse social workers (12%), Healthcare social workers (10%), and Child, family, and school social workers (5%).*
3. Individuals considering the Master of Social Work program should be aware that state certification/ licensure requirements and eligibility to apply for certification/licensure vary from state to state. While certification/licensure is not a requirement for certain types of jobs, in some states, it may be required for any positions titled ‘Social Worker’ and to refer to yourself as a Social Worker in professional settings.
Program Outcomes
Programs accredited by the Council on Social Work Education’s (CSWE) Commission on Accreditation (COA) are required to measure and report student learning outcomes. Students are assessed using a minimum of two measures on their mastery of the nine competencies that comprise the Educational Policy and Accreditation Standards (EPAS) and any additional competencies programs may choose to add. These holistic competencies reflect the dimensions (knowledge, values, skills, and cognitive & affective processes) of social work practice that all social workers are expected to master during their professional training. Herzing makes this information regarding our MS program available to you here.
Herzing University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (hlcommission.org), an institutional accreditation agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
* BLS pay estimates calculate the median annual wage for various occupations. Per the BLS the median wage for an occupation is: "The wage at which half of the workers in the occupation earned more than that amount, and half earned less. Median wage data are from the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey." Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook 2024. BLS median wage estimates do not represent entry-level wages and/or salaries. Multiple factors, including prior experience, age, geographic market in which you want to work, and degree level and field, will affect career outcomes, including starting salary and earnings as an experienced employee. Herzing neither represents that its graduates will earn the median salaries calculated by BLS for a particular job nor guarantees that graduation from its program will result in a job, promotion, particular wage or salary, or other career growth.
Recent Blog Posts
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Waived Enrollment Fee
Discover the educational pathway designed to maximize your career potential. Reach for greater heights with Herzing University.
