Advanced Standing Master of Social Work (MSW)

Department of Social Work

Advanced Standing Master of Social Work Online Part-Time MSW Program

Designed for working professionals, the Advanced Standing Master of Social Work program is offered part-time, and can be completed in just four semesters. This cutting-edge program emphasizes trauma-informed resiliency frameworks, equipping students for advanced licensure in clinical social work while providing a robust foundation in policy, leadership, and applied social research.

  • Our online part-time program can be completed in 16 months (4 semesters), requiring 8-10 clinical internship hours per week and 90 minutes of synchronous classes each week.
  • The Clinical Track is a 32-credit program with a 500-hour internship requirement.
  • Admission Requirements include a BSW degree from a CSWE accredited program, completion of the BSW degree within the past five years, and a cumulative GPA of 3.0 for all social work courses.

Highlights

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    Clinically-Focused Curriculum

    Engage with internationally recognized instructors through live virtual sessions and flexible coursework.

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    Dedicated Support

    Each student is paired with a faculty advisor and has access to Barry's extensive resources, including professional development programs.

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    Advanced-Standing Program

    Specializes in trauma-informed social work, emphasizing neurobiological underpinnings of trauma and neuroplasticity for positive behavioral change.

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    Voices of Change

    Graduates, as voices of change, are equipped for advanced mental health counseling, clinical practice, and policy advocacy, promoting social justice and human rights.

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    Community Collaboration

    Enhance your learning experience with opportunities for community service and research collaboration with faculty and peers through the Student Services Office and Center for Human Rights and Social Justice, as well as personalized academic mentoring for career planning and employment preparation.

Curriculum

Curriculum: Part-time Advanced Standing MSW (32 Credits)

    • Psychopathology (3 cr)
    • Introduction to Trauma and Resilience (3 cr)
    • Advanced Clinical Practicum III (A) (2 cr)

    Total # of credits: 8

    • Advanced Clinical Social Work Practice with Individuals (3 cr)
    • Advanced Clinical Social Work Practice with Families (3 cr)
    • Advanced Clinical Practicum III (B) (2 cr)

    Total # of credits: 8

    • Advanced Clinical Social Work Practice with Groups (3 cr)
    • Mind Body Connection: The Neurobiology of Clinical Practice (3 cr)
    • Advanced Clinical Practicum IV (A)(2 cr)

    Total # of credits: 8

    • Evaluation of Clinical SW Practice (3 cr)
    • Leadership, Advocacy, and Policy Practice (3 cr)
    • Advanced Clinical Practicum IV (B) (2 cr)

    Total # of credits: 8

Frequently Asked Questions

    • Priority Deadline Date For Summer Semester: April 1
    • Priority Deadline Date For Fall Semester: July 1
    • Priority Deadline Date For Spring Semester: December 1
  • Part-time 32 credit:

    Students will enroll in trauma informed advanced clinical practice concentration courses. Students are required to take 2 courses per semester. In addition to those courses, students are required to complete 580 professional and clinical training hours over the course of their matriculation. Most students enrolled in the part-time program complete the degree in approximately 16 months.

  • The Online MSW degree program costs $ 675 per credit. We encourage you to speak to one of our dedicated financial aid officers, as financial assistance may be available. To book a one-on-one appointment with our in-house Financial Aid specialist, please visit: www.barry.edu/sswbooking.

  • We created our Online MSW program to maintain specific focus on advancing each student’s clinical practice. As such, direct feedback and dedicated instruction is paramount to the program mission. Our faculty are a key factor in delivering a top-notch program in an engaged, online format. While coursework and fieldwork may be completed within your existing schedule, you will participate weekly in live virtual sessions with peers and professors. These sessions mirror the face-to-face experiences gained through traditional on-campus programs. Additionally, your professors are experts in their fields and will guide you both in your studies and your search for meaningful professional and clinical internships that align with your individual strengths, interests, and goals.

  • Our online programs provide you with the same access to our award-winning faculty through "real-time" synchronous sessions. These programs are designed to ensure that Barry University Department of Social Work students receive more than just a degree, but the opportunity to become part of the Barry community of students, educators, and alumni. Our online programs will have several synchronous meetings. Rather than 3.5 hours in person, you will be a part of a 90-minute "real-time" academic experience.

  • A $30 nonrefundable fee must be paid at the time of application.

Barry University SSW Sarah Ingram Herring M

Sarah Ingram-Herring, Ph.D., LCSW Director, MSW Program

Director’s Welcome

“Welcome to Barry University Department of Social Work where students gain the requisite clinical practice knowledge, hands-on clinical practice experience, and leadership skills to prepare them for independent, ethical, and competent social work practice.”

Department of Social Work Events

Attend one of our upcoming events
  • Graduate and Adult Learner Virtual Open House Week

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  • Graduate and Adult Learner Virtual Open House Week

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  • Graduate and Adult Learner Virtual Open House Week

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  • Graduate and Adult Learner Virtual Open House Week

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  • Graduate and Adult Learner Virtual Open House Week

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  • Graduate and Adult Learner Virtual Open House Week

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  • Graduate and Adult Learner Virtual Open House Week

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Internship Professional and Clinical Practice

The program ensures that students receive the clinical experience necessary to become a professional autonomous social worker. Students will be assigned to agency placements which will provide students with the opportunity to build confidence, spend time in a professional environment and the ability to grow and learn as a professional. The intent of the clinical practice in the Department of Social Work is to assist students in connecting the curriculum with the practical world of the practice setting.

The Office of Professional and Clinical Practice has several diverse agency placements such as Catholic Charities, Broward County Public Schools, Families First of Palm Beach County, Henderson Behavioral Health, Jackson Health Systems and many more. Clinical practice is a course designed to help students bridge theory and practice and to offer extended learning opportunities for students to grow and develop professionally.

Professional and Clinical Practice Placement Core Performance Standards

Clinical Sites Include:

Books School

Schools

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Hospitals & Health Centers

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Criminal Justice Agencies

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Community-based Agencies

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    Schools

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    Hospitals & Health Centers

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    Criminal Justice Agencies

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    Community-based Agencies

Denise Deen

Denise Deen, EdD Director of Graduate Admissions

Welcome to Barry University Department of Social Work - MSW Traditional Program!

“Thank you for considering our program and for dedicating your education to becoming a change maker. We have no doubt our program will equip you with the necessary foundation to instill that change. I will be your main contact and support for all admissions and program-related questions, so please do not hesitate to 1:1 virtual appointment with me, call or email. I am here to guide you through this journey into graduate school!”

Admissions Overview Admission Requirements

  • CSWE-accredited Bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited or internationally recognized college or university.
  • International applicants applying to the Advanced Standing pathway whose undergraduate social work degree is NOT from a Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) accredited institution or a Canadian Association for Social Work Education (CASWE-ACFTS) accredited institution will need to have their international credentials evaluated by the CSWE Office of Social Work Accreditation to determine if their international degree in social work is comparable to an accredited baccalaureate in social work in the United States. More information about the International Social Work Degree Recognition and Evaluation Service can be found at the CSWE International Degree Review website.
  • Undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher with a 3.0 or higher in all Social Work courses.
  • Two Letters of Recommendation from past professors, professionals, supervisors, or community leaders who can attest to your readiness for social work graduate studies.
  • Write your personal statement. Please write your response in paragraph format.

The Director of Graduate Admissions for Social Work considers your personal statement to be an essential part of your application. It provides you with an opportunity to tell us about yourself, your professional interests that have influenced you to pursue an MSW degree. Your personal statement also gives the Director a glimpse into your ability to write and think critically. Your statement should be typed, doubled spaced, in APA format, and consist of at least 500 words.

Please choose one of the following prompts and provide a minimum 500 word response in the form of an essay.

  • Think back to a situation in your life where you had to decide between taking a risk and playing it safe. - Which choice did you make? What was the outcome of your choice?
  • Would you have made the same decision looking back on the experience or would you have made a different decision?
  • What movie, poem, musical composition, or novel has most influenced your life and the way that you view the world? Why?
  • Describe an experience that forever changed your life and how it changed your outlook on life.
  • If you were given the ability to change one moment in your life, would you do so? Why or why not? If so, what moment would you change and why?
  • How has the neighborhood you've grown up in molded you into the person you are today?
If you wish to transfer credits from another school, please complete the attached form.

Application Fee

$30 nonrefundable fee must be paid at the time of application.

Financial Aid Affordable for you.

At BarryU, our tuition is competitive, affordable and still promises all the perks of a private school education. Our cost per credit is in-line with other institutions, but we offer a mission-driven educational experience and provide our students with small class sizes, personalized attention, and academic excellence. Scholarships, graduate assistantships, and financial aid can also be explored to help offset overall costs.

Barry University participates in the full array of federal and state financial aid programs. At Barry, we are committed to doing all we can to help you finance your education.

For the 2024-2025 academic year, the tuition cost of an MSW degree is $675 per credit. 

The MSW is affordable given the strong demand for social workers. This investment supports entry into a high-impact profession with diverse career opportunities, addressing critical workforce needs in mental health, healthcare, and community services, while offering long-term financial and professional rewards.

Financial Aid Programs

Admissions Overview International Student FAQs

If you are an international student, applying as early as possible is in your best interest in order to allow ample time for immigration processing. Please be aware that admission to Barry University does not guarantee that you will be granted a student visa by the United States Embassy or Consulate in your country of origin.

International applicants applying to the Advanced Standing pathway whose undergraduate social work degree is NOT from a Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) accredited institution or a Canadian Association for Social Work Education (CASWE-ACFTS) accredited institution will need to have their international credentials evaluated by the CSWE Office of Social Work Accreditation to determine if their international degree in social work is comparable to an accredited baccalaureate in social work in the United States. More information about the International Social Work Degree Recognition and Evaluation Service can be found at the CSWE International Degree Review website.

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