Master of Social Work

Tuition: $754/credit*

* Tuition rates are for the 2025-26 academic year. Additional fees and costs for course materials may apply. Total program cost and completion time varies depending on transfer credits and individual program plans. Tuition rates are subject to change.

Fees

• Background check: $44 one-time fee
• Tevera-Practicum Documentation and Management Tool: $215 one-time fee
• St. Louis County Health and Human Services Conference Registration: $50 per year
• Pinning Ceremony: $50 one-time fee

Program Format and Location

At The College of St. Scholastica, we design rigorous degree programs that meet the needs of your busy life. The MSW program is structured for working adults and offers Tuesday and Wednesday evening online classes, with a 3-day summer residency in Duluth. You can pursue your degree without compromising the standards needed for Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW) licensure.

Please note: because online learning is an integral part of this program, access to broadband internet is required in order to complete coursework.

A Program Built for Future Therapists

The design of our curriculum supports your journey toward clinical social work practice, helping you build strong skills in assessment, intervention, and evidence-based treatment. You’ll benefit from a focused approach that emphasizes:

Specialized Clinical Training

Gain in-depth knowledge of therapeutic approaches to use with clients in direct practice. With the practicum director’s support, we’ll help you identify a placement that aligns with your career goals and interests.

Interprofessional Collaboration

Engage in training simulations that will teach you how to work effectively as part of a mental/physical healthcare team, preparing you for real-world collaboration in integrated healthcare settings.

Emphasis on Rural Mental Health

Located near rural areas in Minnesota and Wisconsin, we focus on the unique challenges and opportunities of providing therapy in rural areas. This training ensures you are well-prepared to serve these communities.

View Requirements

View Learning Outcomes

Program Options

Regular Standing Track

Length: 2 years (63 credits)

This track is for students with bachelor’s degrees from fields other than social work. The track includes one year of foundational coursework built around core professional competencies. This is followed by a second-year within the program in an advanced concentration.

The Regular Standing track includes a minimum of 900 hours of supervised field practicum instruction.

Advanced Standing Track

Length: 1 year (38 credits)

This track, for students with a bachelor’s degree in social work, includes an advanced concentration, focusing a student’s studies on a particular area of interest within the field.

The Advanced Standing track includes a minimum of 450 hours of supervised field practicum instruction.

Areas of Advanced Concentration (Clinical Year)

During your clinical year of the program, you may pursue the following areas of advanced concentration (subject to change based on availability):

• Cognitive behavioral therapy
• Somatic therapy
• Relational cultural therapy
• Treatment with families and couples
• Treatment of trauma
• Treatment of co-occurring disorders

LICSW Licensure

The College of St. Scholastica’s MSW program meets the Minnesota licensure standards which require LICSW candidates to document 360 clock hours (24 credits) in six clinical knowledge areas.

In addition to the completion of an MSW program, prospective licensees must complete 4,000 hours of practice. Of those hours, 1,800 are clinical and 200 are supervised. You’ll also need to pass an Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) exam.

Prepare for Advanced Clinical Practice

By pursuing your master’s degree in social work at St. Scholastica, you’ll be prepared to enter an in-demand field with opportunities to practice in a variety of clinical and non-clinical settings, including community mental health centers, hospitals, and clinics, state and local government, child welfare agencies, and more.

Be a leader for social change and use your career to advocate for others.

Unlock a Meaningful and Impactful Career with a Master of Social Work Degree

Earning a Master of Social Work (MSW) opens up doors to exciting career opportunities in diverse employment settings and entry into a field with promising growth. This degree prepares you for meaningful work, whether providing mental health support, helping families and children, leading teams, or shaping social policies. It also prepares you for leadership and specialized roles, giving you the tools to make a real difference in people’s lives and your community.

As an MSW graduate, you can work in areas such as clinical settings, community organizations, healthcare facilities, educational institutions, and government agencies. In these roles, you’ll provide support through clinical assessments, caseload management, policy advocacy, program development, and community outreach.

A Growing Field for MSW Graduates

The field of social work is experiencing significant growth, indicating strong demand for qualified professionals:

Overall Growth

The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects employment of social workers to grow 6% from 2024 to 2034, faster than the average for all occupations.

Healthcare Social Work

The Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates jobs in healthcare social work to grow by about 9.6% between 2022 and 2032, reflecting the increasing need for social services in healthcare settings.

Mental Health and Substance Abuse

The NASW anticipates positions in mental health and substance abuse to grow by 19%, highlighting the critical role of social workers in these areas.

St. Scholastica’s Master of Social Work Program is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE). 

View Competency Measures

View Assessment of Student Learning Outcomes

Visit our admissions page for information about transcripts, online application, international admissions, financing, and the Center for Equal Access.

Application Deadlines

Both the Regular Standing Track and Advanced Standing Track offer two deadlines for applications. The priority deadline offers students an opportunity to learn of their acceptance into the program earlier in the application cycle. Applications will continue to be accepted until the application final deadline. Deadlines are:

Regular Standing Track Timeline

Cohort start time: Sept.
Application priority deadline: Feb. 15
Application final deadline: Aug. 1

Advanced Standing Track Timeline

Cohort start time: May
Application priority deadline: Feb. 15
Application final deadline: April 15

Eligibility

New Students

Prerequisites

• No GRE required