Bethel University MSW

Social Work Program

Master of Social Work

With a Master of Social Work (MSW) degree, you’ll become a dedicated advocate for justice, working towards impactful change that honors each individual's dignity and worth.

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At a glance

Delivery

Online

Finish in as few as

12-21 months*

Estimated tuition

$27,300-43,680*
*depends on your prior degree

Learn more about the cost of attendance.

Discover what’s next. In Bethel’s Master of Social Work, you’ll gain the knowledge and skills you need in a program rooted in justice and liberation principles that define contemporary social work practice and theory. In our classes, you’ll gain the most recent knowledge in the field and have opportunities for hands-on application, equipping you for a successful career in clinical and community social work practice.

Program details

In Bethel’s MSW program, you’ll learn to advocate for justice in marginalized communities through compassionate, evidence-based social work practice. You’ll learn in classes focused on evidence-based models for clinical interventions, preparing you for clinical practice in response to crisis, trauma, and marginalization. The MSW program integrates core values with scholarship, service, justice, and leadership to prepare you to address social issues and affect positive change in your community and beyond.

Whether your calling leans toward clinical practice or community-based engagement, you’ll gain the necessary skills for successful social work licensure and practice in a fully online MSW program.

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Meet Your Counselor

Lauren Whalen

At Bethel, we're committed to helping you get the most out of your education. Your enrollment counselor is here to help you balance your program with your personal life and career goals.

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Program highlights

Faith integration


Guided by our principles of faith, Bethel University’s MSW graduates are recognized as influential agents of change, possessing a robust foundation in direct clinical practice and a steadfast dedication to advancing universal human rights, solidarity, and justice.

Flexibility


Our flexible program is designed to fit your life as you manage work, family, and community commitments. And you can tailor your educational journey to fit your goals.

Advanced Standing option


If you have a BSW from a CSWE-accredited institution, you can complete your master's degree in social work in as few as 12 months. If you have a bachelor’s degree other than a BSW, you can complete the full MSW in as few as 20 months.

Support for your next step


Whether you’re starting a new career or seeing career development, you’ll find support and guidance from our dedicated faculty and staff. They’re dedicated to your success and helping you find all the resources you need.

Distinctive emphases


You’ll study ecological systems theory, focusing on the advancement of human rights and social, economic, and environmental justice. Your learning will be deeply rooted in the principles of justice and liberation that define contemporary social work practice and theory.

Scholarships up to $25,000


To qualify, commit to at least one year of work in a Minnesota school providing essential social work services. Scholarships are available for Spring and Summer 2025 cohorts. 

New scholarships of up to $25,000 available for Master of Social Work students aspiring to work in Minnesota schools

Bethel University’s MSW program announces new scholarship opportunities, providing substantial financial support for students committed to delivering essential clinical and mental health services in Minnesota schools.

October 02, 2024 | 9:10 a.m.

Bethel’s Master in Social Work Program Receives CSWE Accreditation

Bethel’s MSW program secures prestigious CSWE accreditation, signaling a top-notch education and unlocking fresh avenues for students’ professional paths.

March 14, 2024 | 4 p.m.

Social Work Students Take First Place in National Conference

Four senior social work students presented at a national conference for their discipline and two of the four received first-place honors for their work.

May 22, 2019 | 1:30 p.m.

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Strong clinical emphasis

Through MSW courses designed around evidence-based models for clinical interventions, you’ll be equipped to address crisis, trauma, and marginalization in clinical practice. And your courses will encompass all essential clinical content mandated by the Minnesota Board of Social Work for clinical licensure. This includes but is not limited to differential diagnosis, clinical treatment planning, intervention methods, evaluation methodologies, social work values, and ethics with a focus on cultural diversity. Additionally, culturally specific assessment and intervention techniques are thoroughly covered.

Top 20

online social work master's program nationwide

- University HQ

85%

of recent graduates volunteer for charitable causes

- Bethel Graduate School Alumni Survey

#2

best online nurse midwifery program nationwide

- registerednursing.org

Career Outcomes

Wondering what you can do with an MSW?

The Master of Social Work program will prepare you to sit for the professional licensure exam. Program structure allows students to complete the clinical clock hour requirements established by the Board of Social Work. You’ll be prepared to advocate for hope and justice in a broad range of social work professions.

Employers

Our graduates can work at places like:

  • Public schools
  • Hospice
  • Domestic violence shelters
  • Adoption agencies
  • Child/adult protection
  • Health systems
  • Mental health clinics
  • Trauma centers
  • Agencies supporting refugees, the homeless, and youth
  • Nonprofit and for-profit agencies

Skills

Learn how to:

  • Address complex social issues such as poverty, systemic violence, human neglect, trafficking, child welfare, trauma, mental health, environmental racism, and social systems reform
  • Explore concepts of theology, race, and equity to address injustice
  • Apply critical concepts related to trauma and mental health to social work practice
  • Apply your training in micro to macro contexts
  • Seek justice in innovative ways
  • Apply research and evidence-based practice to impact sustainable change
  • Integrate inclusive and bias-free language in your scholarly work and professional practice

Careers

Our graduates work as:

  • Substance use and recovery treatment counselors
  • Mental health counselors
  • Marriage and family therapists
  • Medical social workers
  • School social workers
  • Foster care social workers
  • Child and family therapists
  • Social and community service managers
  • Social work teachers
  • Policy analysts
  • School and career counselors
  • Probation officers and correctional treatment specialists
  • CBT, DBT, SE therapists
  • Health educators
  • Hospice workers
  • Domestic violence advocates
  • Child protection workers
  • Adult protection workers
Kresge Courtyard

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You're called to accomplish incredible things. Take the next step in your career and fill out our simple, straightforward application today.

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