Master of Social Work Advanced Track
Online Advanced Standing MSW Program
Keuka College’s online Master of Social Work (MSW) degree program focuses on the assessment, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of mental illness, as well as emotional and other behavioral disturbances.
The advanced track of this program is for students who already have a bachelor’s in social work (BSW) looking to advance their social work careers. If you do not have a BSW but have a bachelor's degree in a different discipline, see the Traditional Track.
Our clinically-focused advanced standing online MSW degree program will:
- Equip you with clinical mental health treatment skills
- Provide you with versatile social work knowledge that translates to a range of generalist roles and leadership positions
- Provide experience needed to work in a variety of fields, including mental health, addiction and substance abuse, and family and youth services
- Fully prepare you to pursue licensure as a clinical social worker, allowing you to serve as a mental health provider and accept insurance referrals
- Give you the credentials and confidence to operate autonomously with an MSW, work 1:1 with patients, and unlock higher-impact roles beyond the reach of a BSW, such as clinical social worker, policy analyst or program director.
Program Features
Program Length
1.7 years
Credit Hours
33
Field Hours
500
Program Facts
- 100% online Master of Social Work - No campus requirements
- CSWE-accredited clinical social work program
- Field placement support provided in your region
- Just 5 semesters (1.7 years) in the Advanced Track for BSW graduates
- Learn from experts and become an expert: Faculty are licensed social work practitioners who are active in the field
- #1 Provider of Social Work Degrees in New York*
*#1 provider of BSW degree in New York, National Center of Educational Statistics, 2019
Admission Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree in social work (BSW)
- Minimum Cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher
- BSW course work with grades of B or better
- BSW Field Evaluation
- 2 Letters of recommendation
- Resume
- 1 Essay
- Personal Statement
- GRE is not required
Dedicated to Your Impact:
Field Placement and Student Support Services
Field hours allow students to make a tangible impact and build strong connections within their communities before they graduate. Additionally, they can gain exposure and begin networking with potential employers. Once you enroll in Keuka’s MSW Advanced Track program, our dedicated field placement team works with you to find sites in your local community to achieve the 500 hours of real-world, hands-on experience required to graduate. Your Student Success Advisor will discuss your goals and interests to help identify the right fit for your field education placement site.
This service is included in the program cost and allows you more time to focus on your coursework. Our online students experience a close-knit community and the personalized support of a small private school, the same as if they were on campus. Your dedicated Student Success Advisor provides dedicated support to ensure success throughout your Keuka College online learning experience from enrollment to graduation.
Curriculum Snapshot - Online MSW Advanced Track
"I truly appreciated the assignments that required us to interact and engage with the community. This was a great hands-on way to get us involved and to understand the challenges that will likely be produced with client advocacy." - Keuka College MSW student
This course discusses the formation, definition, and process encapsulated within a variety of diverse groups, along with intervention strategies and techniques.
This course provides experiential learning along with discussion and assignments that support the integration of theory, as well as professional ethics and values.
This course concentrates on the basics of trauma theory, etiology, and treatment of traumatic symptomatology so that students can develop the knowledge and skills necessary to effectively treat survivors.
This course provides the student with an advanced understanding of human behavior in the context of the social environment, examining the family, the community, and the organization as social systems and contexts for the development of individuals and groups.
Field Placement FAQs
Your field placement experience will be one of the most exciting and rewarding aspects of earning your degree. These frequently asked questions will help you better understand the field placement services we provide our online students.
01
How does the field placement process work?
The field placement team collaborates with you to secure quality placement sites that reflect your educational goals, desired practice specialty, and scheduling requests. The team ensures all experiences meet CSWE accreditation standards, and the agencies and field instructors are approved prior to the start of your fieldwork.
02
What am I responsible for to ensure a timely field experience?
Completing the field placement intake form initiates the field placement search process. Upon completion of the form, you will be required to complete all field clearance requirements (by the school and agency) prior to the start of your first field experience. Most agencies have additional requirements for the school and/or interviews that students must complete prior to starting field hours. As active participants in the placement process, and to help focus the placement team’s search, students are encouraged to provide any local sites where they would prefer to complete their field hours.
03
How do field placement services help me?
Field placement provides 500 hours of real-world, hands-on clinical social work experience. The placement team identifies and secures quality placement sites within your local community so that you can focus on your coursework and the core competencies that will help you succeed.
04
In what types of agencies do students complete their internships?
Typically, students complete their field hours at:
- Community centers/organizations
- Human service agencies
- Counseling and therapy centers
- Addiction and mental health treatment facilities
- Adoption agencies
- Senior care facilities, such as nursing homes
- Correctional facilities
- Hospitals/Clinics
Why Choose a Clinical MSW?
One of the benefits of earning a clinical MSW degree is its versatility. Not only can you practice as a mental health provider, but you’ll also gain strong qualifications that translate well within the social work profession across many generalist roles and leadership positions in various types of organizations. The Advanced MSW track is perfectly suited for those looking to transition from BSW to MSW programs and allows students to fast-track their education.
| Clinical Social Work | Generalist Social Work | |
|---|---|---|
| Overview | Focuses on the assessment, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of mental illness, emotional, and other behavioral disturbances | Has a range of applications within organizations, initiatives, agencies, advocacy groups, community organizations, healthcare, and more |
| Credentialing | Requires distinct clinical social work licensure at the state level | Licensure for generalist social work at the state level |
| Minimum education | Accredited MSW | Accredited MSW or BSW (separate licensure levels) |
| Scope of practice | In addition to being qualified for a range of generalist roles, state-licensed clinical social workers (LCSWs) can practice as therapists/mental healthcare providers who are eligible for insurance reimbursement | More applicable to organizational or community roles in a variety of systems, including public service, nonprofit, education, criminal justice, policy, advocacy, healthcare, and within the private sector |
| Best suited for | Professionals interested primarily in providing therapeutic mental health services in individual, family, or group environments | Professionals more interested in macro-level practice with groups and communities, such as case management and social program leadership |
Why Choose Keuka?
Keuka College's Online Master of Social Work program is a top choice for aspiring social work professionals due to its unique features. The program stands out with dedicated field placement support, ensuring hands-on experiences in students' local communities.
Beyond academics, the program prioritizes holistic well-being by offering mental health resources. The high quality, rigor, affordability, and commitment to excellence of Keuka College’s Online Master of Social Work program make it a leader in online social work education, empowering change-makers nationwide.
Financial Aid Options
A Keuka College education is an investment in your future and more affordable than you may think.
Supports such as the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and the New York State Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) can help cover your education cost and pave the way for your future career.
Additionally, there are a variety of scholarship opportunities available for students who meet certain criteria. Simply complete your application for admission and submit your FAFSA to see available scholarships.
At $846 per credit, Keuka College's affordable MSW program outshines the competition.
Looking to learn more about the variety of financial aid support available to students, including government grants? Check out Keuka College’s Tuition and Financial Aid resources.
Frequently Asked Questions
If you don’t find the answers to your questions here, Email Your Enrollment Advisor.
The online MSW program is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE). CSWE accreditation can improve your chances of licensure and career options through its standardization of educational criteria. Download our Assessment of Student Learning to learn more. Keuka College is a regionally accredited institution by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE).
This online MSW program requires 33 credit hours and 500 field practicum hours. Students on this track already have a Bachelor of Social Work (BSW), therefore the foundational courses can be skipped, and the program can be completed in 1.7 years.
The advanced track program costs $846 per credit hour, for a total program investment of $27,918 (plus applicable fees). A variety of financial aid options are available to our online students. Learn more.
Rest assured, you will be educated by a committed faculty of clinicians, scholars, and peers who share your passion for providing mental health services. All our educators are licensed social workers who practice in the field, many of whom are also active researchers advancing the field of social work.
Graduates with a master’s degree from our clinical-focused program can not only practice as mental health providers in private practice, but this versatile degree translates well to many generalist roles and leadership positions within organizations. Example careers for MSW graduates include:
- Psychotherapist
- Substance abuse counselor
- Agency executive director/administrator
- School social worker
- Youth services advocate
- Medical social worker
- Family social worker
One of the benefits of earning a clinical MSW degree is its versatility. Not only can you practice as a mental health provider, but you’ll also gain strong qualifications that translate well within the social work profession across many generalist roles and leadership positions in various types of organizations. Read more on clinical vs. generalist social work.
A Career In Demand
- Social work employment is projected to grow 7% over the decade (2022-2032), faster than average for all occupations, to 782,500 social work jobs.
- About 63,800 openings in social work positions are projected each year, on average, over the decade (2022-2032).
- Social workers held about 728,600 jobs in 2022.
- Projected employment of social workers varies by occupation, but all positions are growing.
- Child, family, and school social workers to grow 7%.
- Healthcare social workers to grow 5%.
- Mental health and substance abuse social workers to grow 10%.
- All other social workers to grow 11%.
Online MSW Program Themes
Professional and Ethical Development
Build your professional identity and capabilities to practice ethical, conscious, and informed clinical social work practice.
Clinical Social Work Competencies
Expand and integrate theoretical knowledge and skills through which social work assessment and intervention may be carried out.
Integrating Theory and Evidence-Based Practice
Apply skills through experiential learning, along with discussion and assignments that support the integration of theory as well as professional ethics and values.
Social Policy, Diversity, and Human Rights
Explore the framework of social welfare policy in the United States to become an informed advocate for human rights.
