Lancaster Bible College MSW

Lancaster Bible College (LBC) began its journey in 1933 when Henry J. Heydt started with just 22 students in Lancaster’s Convention Hall. The college has grown tremendously since those early days and stayed true to its mission. Students learn to think and live with a biblical worldview while serving Christ through their work in church and society.

The beautiful Lancaster campus covers 103 acres just north of bustling Lancaster city in southcentral Pennsylvania. Students enjoy easy drives to major cities like Philadelphia, New York City, Baltimore, and Washington, D.C.. Modern facilities dot the campus, including two cafes, a radio station, television production studio, and several athletic venues.

The Teague Learning Commons building sits at the center of campus life. This building houses both the Ally Center and Charles & Gloria Jones Library, giving students access to complete academic support services and resources. These facilities serve the college’s 3,236 students at every educational level.

A faith-centered approach sets Lancaster Bible College apart in higher education. Every academic program builds on the Bible as its foundation, whether students pursue professional or ministry-related degrees. Students taking on-campus bachelor’s degrees complete 30 credits of Bible classes. Their extracurricular activities also strengthen biblical principles.

Dr. Thomas L. Kiedis took the helm as president in February 2020, leading this private, non-denominational Christian college. Under his leadership, the college launched 25 new online bachelor’s and master’s programs. The school earned recognition as America’s No. 1 Online Bible College.

The college boasts 49 full-time and 8 part-time faculty members, plus 350 active adjunct professors. The staff includes 142 full-time and 30 part-time members who create a supportive learning environment.

LBC welcomes everyone and bans discrimination based on race, color, sex (except where sex represents a bona fide occupational qualification), ancestry, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or genetic information. This policy covers all employment terms and conditions, plus admission and enrollment processes.

The college reaches beyond Lancaster with campuses in Washington, D.C., Philadelphia, and Boca Raton, Florida. Through both classroom and online learning, Lancaster Bible College continues teaching with biblical integration. Students graduate ready to make their mark in various fields, including professional social work.

Programs offered

Lancaster Bible College has a strong Master of Social Work (MSW) program that features two specializations. The program prepares you to lead professionally in social work settings. Your coursework combines biblical principles with advanced social work practice, which helps you serve society and the Church well.

The Clinical Social Work specialization helps you become a skilled practitioner and leader in mental health settings for individuals and families. Students build on core generalist practice skills at all three levels: micro, mezzo, and macro. The curriculum focuses on social work’s core values like service, social justice, human dignity, and competence.

Students choosing the Advanced Child & Family Practice specialization become leaders in child welfare. You’ll develop skills in every aspect of child welfare practice. The program covers policy development, advocacy, administrative work, and direct service with individuals, families, and groups in the child welfare system.

Both specializations let you study flexibly:

• Regular Standing (for non-BSW graduates): 60-credit program with foundation courses and specialized training
• Advanced Standing (for BSW graduates): 33-credit program focused on specialized coursework
• Multiple timeline options: Finish in one year (Advanced Standing, full-time), two years (Advanced Standing, part-time OR Regular Standing, full-time), or three years (Regular Standing, part-time)

The MSW program’s field education component is complete. Regular Standing students complete 900 hours of internship experience, while Advanced Standing students complete 500 hours. These placements are a great way to get hands-on experience in professional settings.

Lancaster Bible College also offers an accredited Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) program for undergraduate students. The program gives students generalist practice skills through classroom learning and intensive field education in community settings. Students take foundational courses in their first two years, followed by practice-oriented courses and field experiences in their junior and senior years.

After completing the MSW program, you can work in roles like clinical therapist, child welfare supervisor, family-based therapist, school social worker, and healthcare social worker. The program also helps you prepare for the social worker licensing exam to advance your career.

About the online program

Lancaster Bible College’s online MSW program gives busy professionals a flexible way to advance their social work career without putting life on hold. The program blends live and self-paced learning components that create an engaging academic experience available to everyone.

Students access their courses through the Canvas learning management system and complete weekly assignments according to their schedule. Live sessions let you participate in real-time or watch recordings later based on your schedule. This flexibility means you can study with your morning coffee or work when your house is quiet – you decide the timing as long as you meet the deadlines.

The program builds a strong community through weekly sessions that help you make real connections with professors and classmates. You get the convenience of learning from home while building valuable peer relationships that improve your professional growth.

Students who complete the licensing exam can become Licensed Social Workers (LSW) in Pennsylvania. The program has tailored residencies through video conferencing, so you never need to visit campus.

Every online student gets detailed support throughout their educational experience:

• A dedicated Success Coach works as your academic advisor, career counselor, and resource guide from start to finish
• The Ally Center provides writing help, academic mentoring, and accessibility support
• Library resources with 100+ databases, digital books, journal articles, and research help
• Technical support from the LBC Help Desk and Technology Knowledge base
• Career Services helps with job searches, resume reviews, and career counseling

Students apply their knowledge in real-life settings through field experience in their local community. Regular Standing students complete 900 internship hours across four placements, while Advanced Standing students complete 500 hours through two advanced internships.

The curriculum helps you blend biblical principles with professional social work practice. This prepares you to work effectively in both secular and faith-based settings. The program’s mission focuses on preparing students “to serve society and the Church through advanced social work practice within the purpose and values of the social work profession and the context of a biblical worldview”.

Accreditation

Your future career opportunities depend heavily on your graduate program’s accreditation status. Lancaster Bible College’s social work program has full accreditation through the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE), which accredits all bachelor’s and master’s social work programs in the United States.

The Master of Social Work program reached a milestone by receiving CSWE accreditation during spring 2024 semester. This achievement makes the program one of the few faith-based graduate social work programs in the country. CSWE accreditation covers all approved program locations and delivery methods, including the online MSW option.

The undergraduate social work program in the Counseling & Social Work Department earned its full reaccreditation from CSWE in June 2020, valid for eight years. This recognition came after a thorough evaluation that involved:

• A detailed self-study submitted to CSWE
• CSWE representatives’ on-site visit to meet with administration, faculty, students, field instructors, and the advisory board
• The full Commission on Accreditation’s review

CSWE accreditation proves vital to your professional growth. States require a master’s degree from a CSWE-accredited school of social work for licensure eligibility. This accreditation confirms your program meets national standards for social work education.

Lancaster Bible College’s MSW program has all required coursework to become a Licensed Social Worker (LSW) in Pennsylvania after passing the licensing exam. Social work accreditation’s national recognition extends throughout the United States and Canada.

Lancaster Bible College also holds institutional accreditation from:

• The Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE), with reaffirmed accreditation on April 18, 2018
• The Association for Biblical Higher Education Commission on Accreditation (ABHE), which validates the college’s certificates and degrees at all academic levels

These institutional accreditations confirm the college’s educational quality standards across programs. Lancaster Bible College shows its steadfast dedication to high academic standards through these rigorous accreditation processes while preparing you for successful licensure and professional practice in social work.

Admission Requirements

The Lancaster Bible College MSW program has a simple admission process that evaluates your academic background and alignment with their mission. You’ll need to submit an online application with a $40.00 application fee.

Regular Standing status requires a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution with a minimum 2.5 GPA on a 4.0 scale. Students seeking Advanced Standing need a bachelor’s degree from a CSWE-accredited social work program. They must maintain an overall 3.0 GPA and a social work major GPA of 3.25 or higher.

The admission process requires these documents:

• Your official transcripts sent directly from previous institutions to the Admissions office through email or sealed mail
• A personal statement describing your spiritual trip and statement of faith
• Two professional references from a work supervisor and a pastor or spiritual mentor who can vouch for your character

Students with GPAs below these requirements might qualify for provisional admission. This status requires you to maintain a 3.0 GPA or higher in your first 12 credits.

Students whose native language isn’t English must prove their English proficiency through approved examination scores. This rule doesn’t apply if you’ve completed a degree taught completely in English.

The MSW Program Director will review your application first. If it doesn’t move forward, you’ll hear back within 72 hours with an explanation.

Here are the application deadlines:

• Fall Semester: August 1
• Spring Semester: December 1
• Summer Semester: April 1

Some candidates may need an admission interview. The faculty or staff will reach out directly after reviewing your materials.

An admissions counselor will contact you personally when you ask for more information about Lancaster Bible College’s faith-integrated social work degree.

Tuition

A Master of Social Work degree is a big financial investment. Lancaster Bible College shows you upfront tuition costs to help you plan your education expenses better.

The college’s MSW program has different tuition rates for the 2023-2024 academic year. Students who take 9 or more credits pay $468.00 per credit. Those enrolled in 8 or fewer credits pay $550.00 per credit. The good news is that seminary and graduate students won’t see any tuition increases during their program if they stay continuously enrolled.

Your total cost depends on your admission type and study timeline. Regular Standing students need 60 credits to graduate. Advanced Standing students complete 33 credits, which makes a big difference in the total cost.

The program has these additional fees:

• Student Service Fee: $75.00 per semester
• Application Fee: $50.00 (non-refundable)
• Tevera Software Fee: $215.00
• Payment Plan Enrollment Fee: $25.00 per semester (for automatic debit)

Textbooks add another major expense. Students typically spend about $440.00 per semester on books. You must pay for all textbooks when you buy them or charge them to your student account.

The college accepts payments online, by mail, or in person at the Lancaster campus. Students who want to spread out their payments can use the payment plan for a $25.00 setup fee. This splits your balance into equal monthly payments, which are automatically withdrawn on the first Monday of each month.

The Financial Aid Office helps students find ways to fund their education. Late payments come with fees – $125.00 per semester for balances over $500.00, or $40.00 monthly for amounts over $100.00.

Military personnel and members of affiliated churches can get special tuition discounts. These discounts help reduce the cost of getting your MSW degree from one of Pennsylvania’s faith-based online MSW programs.

Additional Information

Field education serves as the core of Lancaster Bible College’s MSW curriculum. Students partner with community organizations that uphold core social work values. They complete at least 210 hours each semester under supervision. The field placement lets students apply the Planned Change Process hands-on. This includes engaging, assessing, planning, implementing, terminating, evaluating, and following up with clients.

The program’s detailed resources help ensure student success. Lancaster Bible College’s library services, academic support through the Ally Center, assistive technology, and career development guidance are a great way to get practical help. Student competence evaluations happen through field assessments, coursework, and program climate reviews.

Lancaster Bible College’s MSW program uniquely merges biblical principles with professional practice. The program acknowledges the harmony between biblical values and social work’s fundamental commitments. These include service, social justice, human dignity, relationships, integrity, and competence. This foundation helps students represent Christ-like behavior as they serve others, following Matthew 25’s call to care for the vulnerable.

MSW graduates report they feel ready for their careers. A recent graduate shared: “LBC taught me how to integrate my faith into my work as a social worker”.