Andrews University MSW

Andrews University is a prestigious private institution that traces its history back to 1874. The university sprawls across a 300-acre campus and combines academic excellence with faith-based education. Students looking for values-centered higher education find their home here.

The School of Social Work leads Andrews University’s academic achievements. It ranks 11th among 150 Christian Social Work Programs nationwide. This department showcases the institution’s excellence while keeping a distinct Christian view in professional education.

“Preparing individuals for excellence during a lifetime of professional service and Christian compassion in action” guides the department’s mission. This philosophy runs through the curriculum and creates an environment where professional skills blend with spiritual values.

The School of Social Work stands out through these key features:

• A trauma-informed approach integrated throughout the program
• Strong emphasis on professional ethics guided by Christian principles
• Focus on serving diverse groups and populations facing oppression
• Collaborative problem-solving methodologies

The school houses the International Center for Trauma Education & Care. This center provides trauma-informed awareness, education, and tools that support prevention and healing worldwide. It extends the school’s global reach and strengthens its ability to tackle today’s social challenges.

Student success remains a priority with 37% of first-year students receiving need-based financial aid. The university maintains a solid four-year graduation rate of 50%. Graduates earn a median salary of $43,254 six years after completion.

Andrews University’s School of Social Work prepares you for both career success and meaningful service through academic excellence, Christian values, and practical training. The program gives you professional competence and a compassionate outlook – crucial qualities for today’s social work field. This applies whether you’re interested in clinical practice, administration, or advocacy work.

Programs offered

The Master of Social Work (MSW) at Andrews University is a professional degree that gets you ready for advanced practice in many settings. You can work in hundreds of different roles – from clinical care provider to administrator or someone who supports social justice.

The program gives you two main paths based on your education:

Advanced Standing Track: You need 33 credits and a BSW with a 3.0 undergraduate GPA. Students on campus usually finish this track in one year. Online students take two years to complete it.

Regular Standing Track: Students with bachelor’s degrees in other fields need 56 credits. Campus students typically finish in two years. Online students need three years to graduate.

Andrews University also offers a fully online MSW with some great features:

• Study from home without moving
• Live online classes run Tuesday through Thursday evenings (7-9 p.m. Eastern time)
• Learn at your own pace
• Big 33% tuition discount
• Start in August or January
• Choose full or part-time study

Andrews University’s dual degree options let you earn two master’s degrees while sharing credits. This cuts down your time and costs. These programs need 9-10 fewer social work credits and share about 16 credits between programs. You can pair your MSW with:

• Master of Business Administration (MBA)
• Master of Science in Community & International Development (MSCID)
• Master of Arts in Discipleship (with Family Life Education or Youth & Young Adult Ministry concentrations)
• Master of Divinity (MDiv)
• Master of Public Health, Nutrition and Wellness Concentration (MPH)

Dual degree students get a 33% discount on MSW credits plus an extra 10% off.

The program offers three main focus areas if you want specialized knowledge:

1. Trauma Informed
2. Clinical/Counseling
3. Human Services Management

You can also specialize in School Social Work, Medical Social Work, International Social Work, or get a Child Welfare Certificate. Picking a focus area is optional.

Andrews University’s MSW graduates excel in interpersonal clinical practices or administration and development roles. The basic curriculum includes 12 core competencies. These cover professionalism, values and ethics, critical thinking, diversity awareness, human rights, research methods, and Christian point of view.

This detailed and flexible program structure helps you customize your learning path to match your career goals and personal needs.

About the online program

Andrews University’s online MSW program puts flexibility first. The program helps busy professionals get advanced education without disrupting their careers or family life. You can earn your MSW degree from anywhere, so there’s no need to relocate or commute to campus.

The program blends live and self-paced learning experiences. Live virtual classes happen on weekday evenings (Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and/or Thursdays) from 7-9 p.m. Eastern time. This schedule lets you keep your full-time job while studying. You can complete the remaining coursework at your own pace.

The program started in Fall 2022 with a focus on clinical counseling and trauma. Now it offers several specializations you can complete online:

• Trauma Informed
• Clinical/Counseling
• Human Services Management
• School Social Work

The online program matches its campus version in academic quality while teaching through interactive online methods. These methods include synchronous learning through real-time video conferencing and asynchronous learning through forums, recorded content, and interactive materials.

The program becomes even more appealing with its 33% tuition discount for online students. Students pursuing dual degrees save an extra 10% on their tuition.

Classes move at a steadier pace than the on-campus version, with half the live class time. This pacing helps professionals balance their studies with other commitments. Each cohort stays small with just 25 students, so you’ll get customized attention.

Your timeline depends on your previous education. Students without a social work bachelor’s degree finish in three years. Those with BSW degrees complete the program in two years. You can choose between full and part-time options.

The program stays true to Andrews University’s faith-based, trauma-informed approach to social work education, even online. Students get a chance to visit campus for graduation ceremonies – a great way to connect with the university community, though it’s not required.

Accreditation

Quality assurance through proper accreditation is the life-blood of exceptional social work education. The Andrews University MSW program has full accreditation from the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE). CSWE stands as the only recognized accrediting body for social work education in the United States. The program’s accreditation will continue through 2027, which shows the university’s dedication to high educational standards.

Your degree from Andrews University meets strict national standards for social work education because of this prestigious recognition. CSWE accreditation sets a high standard by proving the curriculum, faculty qualifications, and educational outcomes match established professional measures.

Students who choose Andrews University’s CSWE-accredited MSW program can qualify for licensure more easily. Most states require students to graduate from CSWE-accredited programs before taking social work licensure exams. You might find it hard to practice professionally in many areas without this important credential.

The accreditation process needs a complete evaluation of several areas:

• Curriculum design and content
• Faculty qualifications and performance
• Student achievement metrics
• Program resources and support systems
• Administrative structure and governance

CSWE accreditation applies to all approved ways of delivering the program. This means Andrews University’s on-campus and online MSW options have the same accreditation status. Employers and licensing boards treat both formats equally.

The program’s recent full reaccreditation confirms its ongoing quality. Few programs complete this rigorous process without suggestions for improvement. It includes detailed self-studies, visits from peer reviewers, and extensive documentation of program outcomes.

Andrews University also has institutional accreditation from The Higher Learning Commission. This complete validation covers all university programs. Multiple layers of quality assurance come from this dual-accreditation approach.

This accreditation status assures prospective social work students that their investment will result in a recognized, respected credential. Andrews University’s MSW program undergoes regular reviews to keep these standards high. Assessment and improvement processes are built into its daily operations.

These accreditation standards shape your educational experience at Andrews. They influence everything from course content to field placements and prepare you for effective, ethical professional practice.

Admission Requirements

Andrews University MSW program has specific admission criteria that change based on your chosen track. The admission team reviews both your academic achievements and professional potential.

You’ll just need a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with a minimum undergraduate GPA of 2.75 to join the regular two-year program. The advanced standing one-year program sets a higher bar. You should have a Bachelor’s degree in Social Work from a CSWE-accredited program within the last five years and maintain a minimum 3.0 undergraduate GPA.

Your BSW degree age matters. Each year beyond the five-year mark requires one year of post-bachelor’s human service work experience.

The academic calendar sets these application deadlines:

• Fall semester (August-December): July 30
• Spring semester (January-May): November 15
• Summer session (May-August): April 1

Non-native English speakers must prove their language skills through these minimum scores:

• TOEFL ITP (paper-based): 550
• TOEFL iBT (internet-based): 80 with at least 20 on each section
• MELAB: 80 with minimum 80 on each section
• IELTS (Academic version): 6.5
• PTE (Academic version): 54

The university offers a Bridge program if you fall slightly below these requirements. A TOEFL ITP score between 500-549 lets you take 2-3 ESL courses while completing 3-6 credits of regular MSW coursework.

The Graduate Record Examination (GRE) isn’t required but can lead to significant tuition savings:

• GRE score of 320: 50% tuition reduction
• GRE score of 310: 25% tuition reduction
• GRE score of 300: 10% tuition reduction

Your application package should include:

• Two recommendations from professionals (advisors, professors, employers)
• A professional resume highlighting your employment and relevant projects
• A personal essay showing your point of view and professional goals

The regular standing program requires a strong liberal arts background. This includes specific credits in human biology, communications, social sciences, humanities, and statistics.

The admissions committee reviews applications that don’t meet all requirements individually. They might suggest extra coursework to strengthen your application.

Tuition

Investing in your MSW degree at Andrews University comes with benefits through smart tuition plans and scholarship options. The MSW program charges $920 per credit. This means you’ll pay around $51,520 for the Regular Standing track (56 credits) and $30,360 for the Advanced Standing track (33 credits).

Online students get a hefty 33% tuition discount that lowers their costs. Students pursuing a dual degree receive an additional 10% discount, which adds up to more savings.

The program rewards academic excellence with MSW scholarships. Your GPA determines your tuition cut: 10% (GPA 3.30-3.49), 25% (GPA 3.50-3.89), or 50% (GPA 3.90-4.00). Regular Standing students become eligible in their second year, while Advanced Standing students can qualify right away.

The timing of your scholarship application matters. You need to apply by May 1 for Summer semester, August 1 for Fall semester, and December 1 for Spring semester. You’ll hear back about your application by the 20th of that month, after grades are in.

Michigan residents have some amazing funding chances. The School of Social Work got $208,236 for their master’s program. They now offer six $30,000 scholarships to Advanced Standing students. These almost cover the full MSW program cost, but you must work in Michigan’s public behavioral health sector for at least two years after graduating.

The MSW program doesn’t require GRE scores, unlike many other graduate programs at Andrews University. This choice reflects concerns about test bias, especially for international students. In spite of that, good GRE scores might get you Graduate Scholarships with tuition cuts of 10% (score 300), 25% (score 310), or 50% (score 320) if these are better than MSW-specific scholarship amounts.

These financial options make Andrews University’s MSW program affordable and available to more people, especially when combined with federal aid for eligible students.

Additional Information

Andrews University’s MSW program goes beyond classroom learning. Their Career Center, field education opportunities, and alumni networks provide complete support to ensure your success in the profession.

The Career Center gives you individual guidance and resources to explore career paths, land internships, and ace job interviews. You’ll get one-on-one coaching to help choose your major, craft resumes, write cover letters, and prepare for interviews. The center also connects you with powerful tools for short-term professional assignments, and job boards.

Field education is a vital part of your MSW journey that blends theory with hands-on practice. The program has specific hour requirements based on your track. BSW students need 400 hours, MSW Regular Standing requires 900 hours (400 generalist + 500 advanced), and MSW Advanced Standing students must complete 600 hours. You’ll receive 20-45 hours of supervision from an MSW professional who has at least two years of experience during your practicum.

Andrews MSW graduates find careers in a variety of settings and roles. The opportunities include positions as therapists, school social workers, medical social workers, and many other roles in healthcare, education, community services, and mental health settings. The program equips you to help children, families, elderly individuals, and people facing specific challenges.

Graduation welcomes you into a supportive alumni network that connects graduates with each other and current students. The Social Work Alumni Board actively shares job opportunities, provides continuing education, and mentors current students. This connection helps boost your professional growth while deepening your ties to both the department and university.

Andrews University’s steadfast dedication to your success creates a lifelong professional community that complements your academic credentials.