Keuka College MSW Program

Keuka College has built its reputation on educational excellence and social responsibility. The college sits in Keuka Park, NY, where it shapes professionals who want to “bring strength to our nation and to help humanity”. This dedication shows in every part of your educational journey.

Clear guiding principles drive all strategic and operational decisions at the college. Building a strong community atmosphere, student success, smart resource use, curiosity, and creating new chances make up these core values. These principles shape educational policies and budget decisions that benefit students like you.

Quality classroom instruction combined with hands-on learning forms the core of Keuka College’s educational philosophy. Social work students benefit greatly from this approach. They complete approximately 1,000 hours of field experience before graduation in traditional campus programs. The college’s rural setting creates excellent learning possibilities about social work practice in rural communities.

Keuka College’s social work program prepares you for work in our fast-changing, multicultural society with progressive, forward-looking principles. The program blends social work theory with practical application—a distinctive feature of Keuka’s approach to social work education.

Social justice and responsibility themes run deep throughout the curriculum. The program merges client-centered practice with systems ecological theory and recognizes each person within their environmental context. Students learn to blend knowledge, skills, values, ethics, diversity awareness, and intervention methods for different service systems.

Both undergraduate (BSW) and graduate (MSW) social work programs welcome students at the college. Students can choose between hybrid and fully online formats in the MSW program to match their learning style. Faculty members focused on advancing social justice and social work practice guide you through these programs.

The college welcomes students from all backgrounds and stays true to honest, straightforward behavior throughout your education. Your degree opens doors to careers in schools, hospitals, adoption agencies, mental health facilities, social welfare organizations, aging programs, community outreach, family and youth services, and many other fields.

Programs offered

Keuka College offers two paths to earn your Master of Social Work degree that fit different educational backgrounds and career goals. The MSW program builds clinical social work skills and focuses on assessment, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of mental illness.

The Traditional Track welcomes students with bachelor’s degrees in any discipline except social work. Students need 60 credit hours and 900 field practicum hours in this part-time program that takes about 2.6 years. The track starts with foundation courses and moves into specialized clinical content. New students can enroll starting January 2026.

Students with a Bachelor of Social Work degree can choose the Advanced Track. This faster option needs 33 credit hours and 500 field practicum hours and takes about 1.7 years. Full-time students can finish in just 11 months when they take some classes at Keuka Park’s main campus.

Both program tracks feature:

• 100% online coursework with no campus requirements
• CSWE accreditation (Council on Social Work Education)
• Clinical program with field placements provided in your region
• Instruction from licensed social work practitioners who actively work in the field

The curriculum gives you versatile skills that work in many professional settings. You’ll learn clinical mental health treatment, gain social work knowledge for leadership roles, and get hands-on experience in mental health, addiction and substance abuse, and family and youth services.

MSW classes cover everything in trauma theory, family therapy, substance abuse disorders, and specialized practice with diverse populations. The program helps you become a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), so you can work as a mental health provider and accept insurance referrals.

Your degree opens doors to roles like psychotherapist, substance abuse counselor, agency executive director, school social worker, youth services worker, medical social worker, and family social worker. This versatile degree works well for both general roles and leadership positions in organizations.

Social work remains one of the ever-changing career fields with excellent job prospects. Labor statistics show that social work professionals with graduate degrees earn about $13,000 more per year than those with bachelor’s degrees, based on experience, specialization, and location.

Keuka College’s MSW program gives you the clinical focus and professional preparation to make a real difference in your community, whether you’re switching careers or building on your social work education.

About the online program

Keuka College’s MSW program offers a fully online education with flexibility as its core. This 100% online format doesn’t require any campus visits. You can complete all coursework at your own pace and study when it works best for your schedule while keeping up with work and family commitments.

The program’s flexibility goes beyond scheduling. A dedicated field placement team helps you find practicum sites in your local community after you enroll in Keuka’s online MSW program. This service comes with your tuition and gives you more time to focus on your studies. Traditional track students complete 900 field hours over 2.6 years, while advanced track students finish 500 hours over 1.7 years.

The online platform makes shared learning possible even when students are far apart. You’ll connect with peers, share ideas, and join lively discussions. You’ll also get the same personal support as students on campus.

Your success matters from day one. Each student gets a dedicated Student Success Advisor who guides them from enrollment through graduation. This personal attention shows Keuka’s goal to create an online community that’s just as close-knit as its campus experience.

The technical requirements are simple – you just need a reliable computer and internet connection. Keuka’s digital support team provides detailed help with software, hardware, and troubleshooting if you run into any tech issues.

The faculty makes this program stand out from others. Your teachers aren’t just academics – they’re licensed clinical social workers who currently practice in the field. Their real-world experience ensures you learn today’s best practices, not just theory.

The program focuses heavily on clinical mental health skills. Students learn assessment, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of mental illness. Combined with versatile social work knowledge that applies to settings of all types, this prepares you for both general roles and leadership positions.

Working adults with busy lives find the program structure particularly helpful. Most students take one or two courses at a time to balance their workload with job and family responsibilities.

Accreditation

Accreditation is a key quality indicator to look for in MSW programs before investing in your education. Keuka College has earned top credentials that prove its high standards in both institutional quality and program excellence.

Keuka College has regional accreditation from the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE). The college got this recognition renewed in 2022, which shows it meets all the complete educational standards. This means you can trust the quality of education you’ll get from Keuka College’s MSW program.

The best news for future social workers is that both tracks of Keuka’s MSW program – traditional and advanced – are accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE). CSWE is America’s leading authority in social work education. It sets high standards to make sure programs prepare students well for their careers. This special accreditation will affect your career options greatly.

The CSWE reviewed and renewed Keuka’s MSW program accreditation through 2030. Such a long accreditation period shows how committed the program is to quality education. The CSWE Commission on Accreditation carefully checks if programs give students the right learning environment and resources they need to succeed.

CSWE accreditation will help your career in many ways. You’ll need it to become a licensed clinical social worker since all states require degrees from CSWE-accredited programs. This credential will make your job applications stand out too.

Employers know that graduates from CSWE-accredited programs have proven their skills. This makes it easier to find a job. The accreditation shows your education matches core professional values like “justice, dignity and worth of a person, human relations, integrity, and competence”.

U.S. News & World Report ranks Keuka College among the top regional universities. The school has also earned recognition as a 2025-26 College of Distinction. These honors further prove the quality of education you’ll get in the MSW program.

These accreditations show that a Keuka College MSW will prepare you well for a successful career in social work, not just help you graduate.

Admission Requirements

Keuka College’s MSW program has specific academic standards and documentation requirements. Your admission path differs slightly based on whether you choose the traditional or advanced standing track.

You’ll need a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale. The program requires prerequisite courses completed with a C grade or better. These include writing, statistics, and human biology. These courses build your foundation to excel in graduate-level social work studies.

Students seeking advanced standing must have a Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) from a CSWE-accredited institution. This lets you skip the Foundations year of the program. Advanced standing candidates need B grades or better in all undergraduate social work courses. This option works for students who finished their BSW within six years of applying.

The application package should include:

• A completed online application
• Official transcripts from all schools attended
• Two letters of recommendation
• Current resume
• Personal essay about your professional goals
• Final BSW Field Practicum Evaluation (advanced standing applicants only)

The MSW program doesn’t require GRE scores, which makes it more accessible than many other graduate programs. Once you’re in, your academic performance determines your success in completing the degree.

Your MSW degree requires a 3.0 or higher cumulative GPA and B grades or better in all social work courses. Traditional students must complete 900 field practicum hours – 400 in foundation courses and 500 in advanced courses. Advanced standing students need 500 hours. Every student presents a master thesis paper as their final requirement.

Keuka College’s Office of Admissions will let you know their decision after reviewing your materials. A $200.00 enrollment deposit holds your spot in the program. This payment comes due about two weeks before your term starts.

Tuition

Keuka College’s MSW education comes with clear cost structures that match your chosen program track. The Master of Social Work program costs $846 per credit hour, which makes it a good match for other graduate social work programs.

Students in the traditional track need 60 credit hours, bringing the total investment to $50,760. The advanced standing track requires 33 credit hours and costs $27,918. Students should factor in additional fees that apply universally. These include a $125 fee each semester (or $375 yearly) plus technology fees of $241 for two specific courses (SWK629 and SWK689).

The MSW program’s cost sits in the middle range of Keuka’s graduate offerings. The Master of Science in Occupational Therapy program costs $1,203 per credit hour. The Master of Science in Management online program costs $730 per credit hour.

Keuka College believes that “no student should be denied access to a college education solely based on economic constraints”. The college takes part in federal, state, and institutional financial aid programs. Students get excellent support – 98% receive some form of financial assistance.

Financial aid options include:

• Federal Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
• New York State Tuition Assistance Program (TAP)
• Various scholarship opportunities for qualifying students

Keuka College students receive substantial support. The average undergraduate financial aid package reaches $24,114. Every first-year student gets some form of financial aid, with grants and scholarships being more common than loans.

Students can access federal programs like Federal Direct Loans, Work-Study opportunities, and TEACH grants if they qualify. The process starts with submitting your FAFSA and completing your admission application to find available scholarships.

Additional Information

Keuka College MSW graduates enjoy excellent job prospects in the social work field. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics shows social work positions will grow 6% from 2024 to 2034. This is important since it means that the growth outpaces the 8% average across all careers. Mental health counselors (15%), healthcare social workers (13%), and school social workers (13%) show stronger growth potential.

MSW holders express high career satisfaction, with 91.9% saying they would recommend this career path to others. Their salaries reflect this value, as MSW graduates earn 41.8% more than BSW degree holders.

Keuka College’s MSW online program graduates work across diverse settings:

• Private nonprofit organizations (33.3%)
• Outpatient healthcare services (17.4%)
• Government agencies (15.2%)
• Hospital inpatient facilities (9.5%)

Demographic shifts create steady demand for qualified social workers. The senior population will reach 23% of Americans by 2060, up from 16% in 2018. About 20% of people aged 55 and older experience mental disorders.

New York State provides two licensing options after completing your Keuka College masters program. The Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW) requires an MSW degree and successful completion of the ASWB Masters exam. Clinical practice aspirants can pursue the Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) credential, which requires 2,000 supervised hours within three years after graduation.