Wingate University MSW Program
Wingate University, a private liberal arts institution, is 127 years old. Baptist Associations from Union County, North Carolina, and Chesterfield County, South Carolina founded this university that grew from humble beginnings into a thriving educational hub. The university started on a 10-acre plot with beautiful oak trees and a year-round spring. Now it spans across a 520+ acre campus with academic buildings, residence halls, and modern facilities.
Students numbering more than 3,400 now attend Wingate University’s two campuses in Wingate and Hendersonville, North Carolina. The university has grown substantially in the last five years. Overall enrollment jumped 8% while undergraduate enrollment surged by 19%. The student population consists of 72% undergraduates and 28% master’s or doctoral students.
The student community reflects remarkable diversity:
- 42% diverse student population
- 41% first-generation college graduates
- 44% Pell Grant recipients
The university’s academic journey shows remarkable progress. Starting as a prep school, it became a junior college in 1923, transformed into a four-year college in the 1970s, and finally earned university status. Dr. Jerry McGee led the Board of Trustees to officially recognize this evolution by granting university status.
Students can now choose from 37 undergraduate majors, 42 minors, 9 pre-professional programs, and 5 dual-enrollment pathways—offering 60 different degree options. Graduate education includes nine master’s programs, such as the Master of Social Work (MSW), alongside four doctoral degrees in education, pharmacy, physical therapy, and occupational therapy.
Healthcare education stands as a cornerstone at Wingate University. One in five undergraduate students prepares for careers in pharmacy, physician assistant studies, physical therapy, or nursing. The health sciences programs attract 73% of graduate students. This creates rich opportunities for MSW students to collaborate with other helping professions.
Recent years saw the addition of several health science programs. The Doctor of Physical Therapy program launched in 2014, followed by Doctor of Occupational Therapy in 2019, and a Master’s program in Public Health in 2021. These programs strengthen Wingate’s healthcare education portfolio, complementing the mental health expertise students gain through the MSW program.
Wingate University holds the distinction of being the largest private university for North Carolina residents in the western half of the state. It also ranks as greater Charlotte’s most popular private school by enrollment. The university continues to honor its motto “Faith, Knowledge, Service” while preparing students for rewarding careers in social work and other fields.
Programs offered
Wingate University now features an innovative Master of Social Work (MSW) program that works well for professionals. Students can complete this fully online, asynchronous program in just two years full-time, and part-time options give them extra flexibility. The program needs minimum of 48 credit hours, including 12 hours of practicum experiences that give students vital field training.
Wingate’s MSW program teaches “transformative social work,” a unique approach where students learn to merge micro, mezzo, and macro levels of practice within a person-in-environment framework. This complete approach helps graduates promote human and community well-being. The program’s foundation builds on the “beloved community” concept—a space without racism and other forms of marginalization, where human dignity matters most and peace reaches beyond international borders.
The university will launch a Master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, with its first group of students starting in 2025. This face-to-face, 60-hour program runs for two years and focuses on hands-on learning. The “trauma-informed” and generalist curriculum welcomes students from different undergraduate backgrounds. Students will benefit from a planned pro bono clinic that puts them in clinical settings early while serving the local community.
Students can start their journey through Wingate’s human services major, which blends psychology, counseling, and sociology. This program helps students develop people skills and prepares them for graduate studies in counseling and social work. The program requires undergraduates to complete a 100-hour practicum in various settings like social services organizations, autism support services, community shelters, and domestic violence facilities.
Both graduate programs help create culturally competent practitioners. The Clinical Mental Health Counseling program wants to build a diverse student community while strengthening cultural competence and ethical decision-making skills. The MSW program creates social workers who value social justice, human dignity, and scientific inquiry at local and global levels.
Wingate’s Counseling Services gives students practical experience through graduate training placements for final-year master’s level internships in a complete college counseling center.
About the online program
Wingate University’s MSW program puts flexibility first. Students can complete their coursework online at any time that works for them, without fixed class schedules. This setup lets working professionals keep their full-time jobs while moving forward with their education and career goals.
Students access their courses through Canvas, the university’s learning platform that delivers all course content. The program works with student groups starting at 15 students, with plans to welcome 30 new students each year as it grows.
Wingate’s online learning stands out with these unique features:
- Wingate Service Station – a higher education system that gives students ground experience and online opportunities to help campus and local communities
- Interprofessional Education Collaborations (coming soon) to connect students from different fields
- Self-paced learning modules with instructor support that fit different learning styles
The program meets national distance education standards through Wingate’s approval under SARA-NC. Students get the same quality experience no matter where they live.
The online format benefits students in many ways. They can apply what they learn directly to real-life situations, which improves their learning and professional skills. Students develop a deeper understanding when they put theory into practice right away.
The Ethel K. Smith Library gives online learners detailed digital resources. Students have round-the-clock access to research databases like APA PsycArticles, ProQuest Central, Psychology Databases, Social Sciences Index, and Sociology Databases. The library also offers full-text electronic access to major peer-reviewed journals in social work. A search tool called “Fetch!” lets students look through all resources in one place.
Online students get technical support whenever they need it throughout their educational experience. They learn how to use library resources and navigate online learning during orientation. This strong support system and flexible learning options make Wingate University’s MSW program perfect for busy professionals who want to grow their clinical mental health expertise while keeping their careers on track.
Accreditation
Wingate University’s accreditation status confirms its high-quality educational offerings. The university has full accreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC). This allows Wingate to award baccalaureate, masters, educational specialist, and doctorate degrees. This institutional accreditation forms the base for all academic programs at the university.
The Master of Social Work program at Wingate University has reached candidacy status for accreditation by the Council on Social Work Education’s (CSWE) Board of Accreditation (BOA). This marks a key milestone in the program’s growth. The candidacy shows the program has made real progress toward meeting CSWE’s quality standards through a thorough peer review process.
Candidacy isn’t the same as full accreditation, but it shows Wingate’s steadfast dedication to meeting the Educational Policy and Accreditation Standards (EPAS) requirements. The university aims to build a top-tier MSW program that matches professional standards.
The path to full accreditation usually takes three years. Getting candidacy status doesn’t guarantee initial accreditation. Notwithstanding that, this process gives a clear path toward recognition by the profession’s accrediting body.
Students who start the MSW program in fall semester or later during the academic year of candidacy status will get retroactive recognition. They’ll be seen as graduates of a CSWE-BOA accredited program once it gets initial accreditation. This gives early students all the benefits of an accredited degree.
Wingate Graduate Affairs approved the MSW program in March 2023, followed by the university’s Board of Trustees. SACSCOC’s Board of Trustees looked at the MSW program materials and gave official approval to include it in Wingate’s accreditation scope.
CSWE standards require the program to start with at least two full-time faculty members. This number will grow to at least four by the time of initial CSWE accreditation in 2027. Faculty who teach practice courses must have an MSW from a CSWE-accredited institution and at least two years of post-MSW experience.
This accreditation process will give a good indication of the program’s quality and its graduates’ competence.
Admission Requirements
Students who want to join Wingate University’s MSW program must meet several academic and professional requirements. A bachelor’s degree or higher from an accredited institution stands as the basic requirement. This foundation will give a solid base for success in graduate-level studies.
Your academic record plays a crucial role in the admission process. Traditional track applicants need a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale. Advanced Standing admission sets the bar higher with an expected GPA around 3.5.
The application needs a personal statement that shows your understanding of social work values and why you want to pursue this degree. This helps admission teams see how your goals line up with the program’s mission to revolutionize social work practice.
Future students should know these graduation requirements:
- Completion of 48 credit hours for traditional students
- Completion of 24 credit hours for Advanced Standing students
- Maintaining a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 throughout the program
Field education forms a major part of the program, with 12 credit hours devoted to hands-on clinical practice. These placements follow Council on Social Work Education standards and give students real-world training.
Wingate University makes the process easier for some applicants. Current students and alumni can use the “WU Fast App” for a quicker application process. This option recognizes their existing connection with the university.
The admission process remains selective even without GRE requirements. Students with relevant coursework or volunteer experience might have stronger applications, though prior social work experience isn’t required. The university takes an all-encompassing approach to assess applications, looking at both academic performance and personal qualities that indicate success potential in clinical mental health.
Tuition
Wingate University’s MSW program demonstrates its steadfast dedication to quality education at competitive rates. MSW students pay $670 per credit hour. This makes it one of the most affordable private university options for social work education in North Carolina. The full 48-credit program’s total tuition remains a good match for many alternatives.
Graduate tuition rates at Wingate show some interesting patterns. The MSW program’s price point falls in the middle of the university’s graduate offerings. Programs range from $455 per credit hour for education to $795 per credit hour for the Master of Public Health. These rates balance specialized clinical mental health training with student affordability.
Wingate University’s average graduate tuition and fees for 2024-2025 come to $11,864. Students need to budget $2,250 yearly for books and supplies. Room and board costs run about $11,062 for on-campus living, while off-campus housing costs $11,796.
Students can manage these costs through Wingate’s interest-free monthly payment plan. The plan splits tuition into five monthly installments each semester. This helps students fit educational costs into their monthly budget without extra interest charges. Students can easily enroll through the university’s online payment portal.
Smart financial planning includes personal expenses in the total cost calculation. On-campus students typically need $6,454 for personal expenses. Off-campus students often need up to $10,460. The total estimated cost reaches $31,630 for on-campus students and $36,370 for off-campus students per academic year.
Planning your educational investment in clinical mental health through Wingate University’s MSW program starts with understanding these costs.
Additional Information
Wingate University offers excellent student support services that boost your educational experience beyond the core MSW curriculum. Students can access the Academic Resource Center for peer tutoring, individual study spaces, and skills review sessions. The Writing Center provides free consultations, critique services, and tutoring sessions that help you become a better, more confident writer.
The Office of Disability Support Services will give all students equal access by addressing specific accommodation needs. Campus counseling services provide support for personal well-being and professional development through graduate training programs.
Students can plan their professional trip through dedicated career services. Wingate gives access to Handshake—a platform where you can browse job opportunities, upload resumes, and connect with potential employers. Job prospects for MSW graduates look promising. Employment in mental health fields will grow 18% between 2022 and 2032, and this is a big deal as it means that the 3% average growth rate for all occupations.
Wingate’s innovative social work approach includes practical community service. The university plans a pro bono clinic where students can get hands-on experience while serving local communities. This lines up with the university’s mission to equip students with knowledge, skills, and experiences needed for career success.
The university’s steadfast dedication to student success shows in its higher rates of persistence, graduation, and career achievement compared to peer institutions.