Meet the increasing needs of your community with an advanced degree from Dordt University, the Christian university known for student engagement.
Courses are 100% online with both synchronous and asynchronous learning activities and are offered in the fall, spring, and summer terms.
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Dordt University is the highest-ranked university in Iowa, according to the "Regional Universities (Midwest)" ranking by 2022-23 U.S. News & World Report Best Colleges. Dordt is the highest-ranked institution within the Great Plains Athletic Conference as well.
These foundational courses are prerequisites for the advanced standing courses (students not holding a BSW must take foundation and advanced courses).
(all students will take advanced standing courses)
The 100% online MSW program offers three areas of specialization (students will select 5 courses from their chosen area of specialization).
A Clinical Practice specialization will prepare you for social work in a clinical mental health setting. If you’re interested in working in direct practice with individuals, families, or groups in a counseling or mental health setting, you might consider the clinical specialization.
The Community Practice and Administration specialization will prepare you to work in public or non-profit organizations, communities, and faith-based agencies at the administrative or community level. You’ll learn to apply evidence-informed and asset-based community practice frameworks and methods of intervention to develop responsive systems, sustainable physical and social environments, and social justice-oriented public and institutional policies.
The Advanced Generalist specialization is a good option if you're open to a career path that might take you into direct or indirect practice. This specialization allows you to pick and choose courses that are most interesting or seem most useful to you.
Students will choose courses from the Clinical and Community Practice & Administration specializations.
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“I like the flexibility of Dordt's MSW program and the professors. They are available, supportive, and want to see you succeed. If you have any questions, you can email or do a zoom call and they will help you.”
–Liz Moss, MSW student
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Located in Sioux Center, Iowa, Dordt University is a Christian university committed to helping you serve in the real world—right now, today.
The Wall Street Journal and Times Higher Education have consistently ranked Dordt #1 in student engagement. So you know you can expect to experience a Christian community that builds you up and pushes you to grow when you begin your graduate studies at Dordt University.
To learn more, visit our admissions requirement page.
The MSW program requires 36 credits for students qualifying for advanced standing. Regular standing requires 60 credits.
Because your MSW plan of study will be custom tailored based on your interests and objectives, your time to complete the program may vary.
A regular standing full-time plan of study typically takes 1¾ years (21 months), and a part-time plan of study typically takes 2¾ years (33 months) with 15-week semesters and two 7.5-week summer terms.
An advanced standing full-time plan of study typically takes one year beginning in the summer, and a part-time plan of study typically takes two years with 15-week semesters and two 7.5-week summer terms.
Preference for admittance to Advanced Standing will be given to those students who completed their BSW degree no more than five years prior to application. If students completed their BSW more than five years before applying to the MSW program, they must demonstrate that they have engaged in continuing education and professional social work practice during the majority of the years since their baccalaureate education.
A copy of the Field Evaluation from BSW field experience(s) documenting satisfactory generalist practice experience and skills in the internship is required. While prospective students may be admitted conditionally based on their performance in the field, full admission is contingent upon receipt of final field evaluation. When the final field evaluation is not available, the applicant must submit the Field Verification Form.
Students who have obtained a bachelor’s degree in an area other than social work will have regular standing.
Dordt's MSW program is approved by the Higher Learning Commission. The program has entered candidacy with Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) and will be fully accredited by February 2023. Accreditation status will then be retroactively applied to all who graduate from the program before it is fully accredited.