Shape your career and your impact with a flexible MSW program.
A Master of Social Work (MSW) from Calvin equips you to address complex social issues, empower communities, and enact meaningful change.
Our program is guided by the core values of social justice and the dignity of every person. At Calvin, you'll boldly explore the intersection between faith and the profession. You'll learn in robust, conversation-driven classes that emphasize professional competence, integrity, and service to your community. You'll be connected to our incredible network of over 150 partner agencies.
Whether or not you have earned a BSW, your educational needs, career goals, and schedule are unique, so we've designed a program that's flexible and responsive. Courses are online and synchronous, and instructors provide personalized advising to help you reach your goals. You'll graduate with practical skills and experience—and a vision to use them to help people flourish.
Applications are accepted on a rolling basis with a deadline of April 20, 2026. Applications received by January 31, 2026 allow for time to arrange for preferred practicum placements.
Why Choose Calvin's MSW?
- Built-in flexibility: Learn in synchronous online and hybrid evening courses with in-person practicums.
- Faith-informed: Explore what it looks like to practice social work through the lens of faith and justice, seeing each person as an image bearer of God.
- Practice-oriented: Develop valuable skills that can be applied immediately, such as ethical leadership principles, documentation best practices, and a clear understanding of legal responsibilities.
- Missionally focused: Work toward the advancement of social justice in a variety of clinical and macro level settings through anti-racist, anti-oppressive social work practice.
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Online
Per credit
Flexible
Partner agencies
Program Pathways
Choose from one of two pathways, selecting the one that matches your educational background.
Advanced Standing
Who this is for: Anyone who has earned a BSW.*
Next start date: Summer 2026 (May)
Jump right in with advanced coursework to prepare for professional licensure.
- Finish in one year (full-time) or two years (part-time)
- 36 credits
- One field placement (500 hours)
- $720 per credit
- Specialize in clinical or macro track
* BSW's earned over seven years ago may require four additional generalist courses.
With a BSW already earned, Advanced Standing start with 600 level coursework, deepening their knowledge, while also focusing on either a clinical or macro specialization. Students must have received their BSW within the past seven years and meet the GPA requirements to qualify.
SOWK 610: Trauma Informed Social Work Practice
SOWK 620: Anti-racist, Anti-oppressive Social Work Practice
SOWK 630: Mental Health and Social Work
SOWK 680/681: Advanced Field Education I & II
In addition, you will take courses for the clinical or macro track.
Clinical track: You will take four courses related to providing clinical care to patients across the lifespan.
Macro track: You will take four courses related to using social work knowledge and skills in a community organization setting.
Admission Criteria for Advanced Standing
In order to be considered for Advanced Standing, prospective students will need to meet the following criteria:
- A commitment to the NASW values of social work (importance of human relationships, service, social justice, integrity, competency, and the dignity and worth of every person) as demonstrated in their personal statement
- Earned a baccalaureate social work degree (BSW) from a CSWE-accredited program earned within the last seven years*
- Have a minimum undergrad GPA of 3.0 (in a 4.0 scale)**
- Minimum GPA of 3.0 in all 300 level social work courses taken at the undergraduate level ***
*Students who 1) are graduating from a BSW program that has not yet received its initial CSWE accreditation or 2) earned their BSW over seven years ago are not be eligible for advanced standing but they may be eligible to transfer up to 16 credits toward their MSW degree.
** Students who have not earned a GPA of 3.0 in their undergraduate degree may still apply. Rational for the lower GPA and an explanation of commitment to graduate level academics may be included as part of the purpose statement.
**Students who meet all other criteria for Advanced Standing but have not earned a “B-” or higher in 300-level social work courses taken at the undergraduate level may be required to take the equivalent course through Calvin’s MSW program. Practicum courses and seminar are an exception wherein only a passing grade is required. These decisions are made by the MSW Program Director using transcripts, the course descriptions, and syllabus content.
Regular Standing
Who this is for: Anyone who has earned a bachelor degree other than a BSW.
Next start date: Fall 2026
Your first 24 credits cover the fundamentals of social work, followed by advanced coursework to prepare you for professional licensure.
- Finish in two, three, or four years depending on your plan
- 60 credits
- Two field placements (900 hours total)
- $720 per credit
- Specialize in clinical or macro track
First year courses:
SOWK 501: Social Work Foundations
SOWK 510: Spirituality, Faith, and Social Work
SOWK 520: Diversity, Inequity, and Social Justice
SOWK 550: Human Behavior and the Social Environment
SOWK 555: Introduction to Applied Social Research
SOWK 560: Social Welfare Policy
SOWK 571: Introduction to Practice with Individuals, Families, and Groups
SOWK 575: Introduction to Practice with Communities and Organizations
SOWK 580/1: Field Education I and II
Second year courses:
SOWK 610: Trauma Informed Social Work Practice
SOWK 620: Anti-racist, Anti-oppressive Social Work Practice
SOWK 630: Mental Health and Social Work
SOWK 680/681: Advanced Field Education I and II
The clinical and macro tracks add several additional classes to this schedule.
Admission Criteria for Regular Standing
- A commitment to the NASW values of social work (importance of human relationships, service, social justice, integrity, competency, and the dignity and worth of every person) as demonstrated in their purpose statement
- Earned a baccalaureate degree from a college or university accredited by a recognized regional accrediting organization
- A minimum undergrad GPA of 3.0 (in a 4.0 scale) *
* Students who have not earned a GPA of 3.0 in their undergraduate degree may still apply. Rational for the lower GPA and an explanation of commitment to graduate level academics may be included as part of the purpose statement.
Choose from Two Specializations
Whether you follow the regular or advanced standing pathway, select the specialization that fits your career goals.
Macro Track
The macro track prepares students to work with communities and organizations across a wide range of settings and varying levels of complexity.
Clinical Track
The clinical track prepares students to work with individuals, groups, and families in varying degrees of complexity and clinical settings.
Practicum Placements
Practicum placements are a core part of our program—and a fantastic way for you to get the experience you'll need to thrive in your career. In the regular standing pathway, you'll complete two placements over two years for a total of 900 hours; in the advanced standing pathway, you'll complete one 500-hour placement.
You don't have to find a placement yourself. As part of Calvin's MSW, you'll have access to our network of 150+ social work agency partners. We'll work closely with you to find a placement that fits your career goals.
Our Values
Our program is rooted in a deep respect for the dignity of every person. We adhere to the priorities and values set forth by the Center for Social Work Education and the National Association of Social Workers.
Our faith-infused approach also embraces the principles of racial justice and reconciliation set forth in Calvin's From Every Nation statement.
Accreditation
The Calvin University MSW Program is approved by the Higher Learning Commission and is currently in pre-candidacy for accreditation by the Council on Social Work Education's (CSWE) Board of Accreditation (BOA).
What Can You Do With an MSW?
Open new career opportunities.
- Work in a wide range of fields, like mental health, child welfare, healthcare, and community organizing.
- Open doors to positions requiring specialized knowledge and skills.
Mental Health Counselor: Offer counseling and support to individuals dealing with mental health disorders, helping them develop coping strategies and improve their overall well-being.
School Social Worker: Work within educational settings to support students' emotional, social, and academic needs, and collaborate with teachers, parents, and administrators
Medical Social Worker: Assist patients and their families in navigating the healthcare system, providing support and resources for coping with illness, injury, and recovery.
Child Welfare Social Worker: Advocate for the safety and well-being of children, working with families, foster care systems, and adoption agencies to ensure children receive proper care and support.
Gerontological Social Worker: Specialize in working with older adults, providing support and resources to help them navigate aging-related challenges and improve their quality of life.
Substance Abuse Counselor: Provide counseling and support to individuals struggling with addiction, helping them develop recovery plans and access necessary resources.
Community Social Worker: Engage with communities to identify and address social issues, develop programs, and advocate for policy changes to improve community well-being.
Program Director or Administrator: Oversee social service programs and organizations, managing staff, budgets, and program development to ensure effective service delivery.
Policy Analyst: Analyze social policies, advocate for changes, and work with government agencies and non-profits to develop and implement policies that address social issues.
Social Researcher or Data Analyst: Conduct research on social issues, program outcomes, or community needs in academic, nonprofit, or governmental settings.
Urban Planner: Collaborate on projects related to housing, transportation, and community development.
Expand your options.
- Qualify for roles that require an advanced degree.
- Enter a field with above-average demand according to the US Dept of Labor.
Become a respected leader.
- Address complex social issues and advocate for systemic change.
- Make a difference in your community while doing fulfilling work.
Have questions? Contact us!
I love the MSW program. I have amazing classmates and the professors are so helpful. I have been able to develop a deep knowledge and respect for the social work field.
FAQs
Yes! Our Field Education Director will assist you finding a suitable practicum placement site.
Students who have earned their BSW over seven years ago or their BSW was taken an an institution that is not CSWE accredited are not eligible for advanced standing, but may be eligible to waive up to four 500 level courses (SOWK 501, 550, 580, 581). Meet with the Program Director for more information.
You may request to transfer a maximum of 9 credits from other regionally accredited institutions (or a recognized foreign institution) to satisfy graduate degree requirements at Calvin.
Students are invited to submit a request for transfer credits during the admissions process. All requests for transfer credits must relate to transfer-level coursework, including transfer requests for certificate programs.
Transfer credit will normally be awarded for courses that are
- taken at a CSWE-accredited institution and represented on an official transcript by the credit-granting institution;
- academic and similar in nature to graduate-level courses offered at Calvin;
- completed with a minimum grade of B (or its equivalent);
- approved by the program director (or designee); and
- completed within seven years of enrolling in the graduate program at Calvin.
Transfer course work is not computed in the Calvin University GPA.
Most classes are offered on Tuesday or Thursday nights from 6:30-8:30 pm (EST). Practicum seminar courses (SOWK 580, SOWK 581, SOWK 680, and SOWK 681) meet every other Monday night from 6:30-8:00 pm.
Unfortunately, no. The social work program does not grant social work course credit for life experience or previous work experience.
The Calvin University MSW Program is approved by the Higher Learning Commission and is currently in pre-candidacy for accreditation by the Council on Social Work Education’s (CSWE) Board of Accreditation (BOA).
Pre-candidacy for a baccalaureate or master’s social work program by the BOA indicates that it submitted an application to be reviewed for candidacy and received approval of its Benchmark 1 from CSWE accreditation staff to move forward for a candidacy review within 1-year. A program that has attained pre-candidacy status has not yet been reviewed by the BOA nor verified to be compliant with the Educational Policy and Accreditation Standards (EPAS).
Students that are admitted to pre-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 pre-candidacy does not guarantee that a program will eventually attain candidacy and initial accreditation.
Pre-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.
