Moravian University MSW

Founded in 1742, Moravian University is the nation’s sixth-oldest university and the first to educate women in the original 13 colonies. The university’s beautiful 85-acre campus sits in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, carrying a rich educational legacy that spans almost three centuries.

The story begins with the Moravian Church—followers of the Bohemian Reformation—who set up separate schools for girls and boys. The university evolved through many changes and became Moravian University in July 2021. This new status reflects its growing programs at undergraduate, graduate, and research levels.

Today, Moravian University serves 2,811 students, with 1,992 undergraduates and 819 graduate students. Students benefit from a close-knit learning environment with a 10:1 student-faculty ratio. The university’s excellence shows in its rankings—#38 among Regional Universities North and #20 in Best Undergraduate Teaching in the 2026 edition of Best Colleges.

The College of Health at Moravian houses three specialized schools that train future healthcare and mental health professionals. Students in the School of Behavioral & Community Health, which includes the Master of Social Work program, learn to provide culturally-sensitive and trauma-informed care.

The Helen S. Breidegam School of Nursing and the School of Rehabilitation Sciences provide great educational resources through collaborative efforts. MSW students gain unique insights from this mix of disciplines while building expertise in their field.

The university launched its online Master of Social Work program in Fall 2023. Students can access this innovative program through online coursework combined with weekend residencies. The MSW program has reached candidacy status for accreditation by the Council on Social Work Education’s Board of Accreditation—a key step in the process.

Moravian University stays true to its founding belief that “education is essential for all, without regard for gender or social standing”. This steadfast dedication to inclusive education and excellence makes it a great choice for students seeking advanced degrees in social work and other fields.

Programs offered

Moravian University’s Master of Social Work program has a complete curriculum that prepares clinical social workers who are committed to anti-racist, anti-oppressive, and healing-centered practice. The program launched in Fall 2023 is 60 total credits and has 900 hours of field education experience.

Students can choose from three flexible pathways based on their needs:

• Full-time pathway – Students with bachelor’s degrees outside social work can finish their coursework in 2 years. They take 15 credits each fall and spring semester with optional summer classes
• Part-time pathway – Students can complete their studies over 4 years by taking 6-9 credits each semester
• Advanced Standing pathway – BSW graduates from CSWE-accredited institutions can transfer up to 30 credit hours if they have B grades or better. They may enter directly into the specialist year after completing MSW 595: Foundations of Social Work Practice

The program offers two specialized areas students can focus on:

• Healing-Centered Clinical Practice – This pathway goes beyond traditional trauma-informed care and prepares students to work directly with clients in a variety of settings
• Social Justice & Working with Marginalized Communities – This track emphasizes social justice advocacy and specialized knowledge to work with underserved populations. Students get advanced training with queer and trans communities

Students learn through an innovative format that combines accessibility with hands-on experience. Courses blend asynchronous online learning with four mandatory residency weekends each semester. These weekends help develop practical skills and build strong connections within the cohort. This hybrid approach removes common barriers found in traditional weekly in-person classes.

Field education is the foundation of the MSW curriculum. Students complete their 900 required hours through two phases:

• Generalist level: 400 hours (Field Simulation & Seminar; Field Practicum & Seminar)
• Specialist level: 500 hours (full-year field placement across two semesters)

The curriculum weaves anti-racism, diversity, equity, and inclusion viewpoints throughout all courses. Students pursuing licensure can take the original Licensed Social Worker (LSW) exam starting Spring 2026. Those seeking advanced clinical licensure (LCSW) must complete additional supervised practice hours after graduation as required by Pennsylvania.

Students benefit from Moravian University’s interdisciplinary environment. They work together with peers and faculty from other healthcare disciplines in the College of Health. This setting helps students provide comprehensive, culturally-sensitive care in their future practice.

About the online program

Moravian University’s state-of-the-art online MSW program makes quality graduate education available to students across the United States. Working professionals will find this program ideal with its flexible asynchronous learning and strategic in-person components that create an optimal educational experience.

The program’s thoughtful blended approach sets Moravian’s online MSW apart. Students complete coursework through asynchronous online learning that allows schedule flexibility without compromising educational quality. The program also features monthly in-person weekend “residencies” that bring essential face-to-face learning experiences. These weekend sessions become concentrated periods of hands-on skill development, collaborative learning, and community building among cohorts.

Distance learning options at Moravian continue to grow in popularity. 229 graduate students have enrolled exclusively in online courses. Pennsylvania residents make up 177 of these students, while 50 come from other states and 2 from outside the US. The university has 254 additional graduate students who take some online courses alongside traditional offerings.

Online MSW students receive personalized support for field education requirements. The director of field education works one-on-one with each student to secure appropriate placement sites in their local areas. Students get meaningful field experiences whatever their location.

Moravian University’s Department of Online Education and Innovation oversees all online programming with high educational standards. Their teaching approach is:

• Student-centered and built on Quality Matters Rubric standards
• Focused on continuous professional development of faculty
• Committed to technological advancement in educational delivery

The online MSW program showcases the university’s broader dedication to available education. The program was explicitly “designed to create educational and professional opportunities to educate and train healing-centered clinical and macro practice social workers”. Students from various locations can access Moravian’s specialized approach to anti-racist, anti-oppressive social work education through this online format.

Students with work or family commitments benefit most from this program. The online format removes traditional barriers of in-person weekly classes while providing comprehensive training in clinical social work practice. This availability matches Moravian’s mission to provide quality education to diverse student populations whatever their circumstances.

Accreditation

Accreditation is a vital indicator of educational quality for social work programs. Moravian University’s MSW program’s accreditation status directly affects its graduates’ career prospects and licensure eligibility.

Moravian University has earned accreditation from the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE), which the U.S. Department of Education recognizes as an institutional accrediting agency. The university’s overall academic credibility comes from this accreditation, and professional programs need specific accreditation just as much.

The Council on Social Work Education’s (CSWE) Board of Accreditation has granted candidacy status to Moravian’s MSW Program. This status shows the program has made good progress toward meeting quality standards through CSWE’s peer review process. The program shows dedication to meeting Educational Policy and Accreditation Standards (EPAS) requirements but hasn’t yet fully complied.

Candidacy usually takes three years, and accreditation isn’t guaranteed. In spite of that, this milestone shows remarkable progress for a program that started in Fall 2023. The program’s curriculum matches the 2022 CSWE Educational Policy and Accreditation Standards for competency-based education.

Students should know that CSWE candidacy offers important guarantees. When the program ended up getting initial accreditation, students who joined during or after the fall of the candidacy year will be considered graduates of a CSWE-accredited program. This status covers all program options, locations, and delivery methods.

CSWE accreditation matters greatly in the social work profession. Most states require graduation from CSWE-accredited programs for social work licensure, especially for clinical roles. Many employers also want MSW degrees from CSWE-accredited schools to meet professional standards.

Pennsylvania has 21 MSW programs, and 17 have CSWE accreditation. Moravian University’s program remains in candidacy and aims to get full accreditation within two years. This matches the normal timeline for the accreditation process.

Moravian University’s steadfast dedication to quality social work education shows in its pursuit of CSWE accreditation. The accreditation process gives assurance about program quality and student competence, making it essential to establish Moravian University’s MSW among respected online MSW programs in PA.

Admission Requirements

Your journey toward a Master of Social Work degree at Moravian University starts with meeting admission requirements. The program sets specific criteria that help students prepare for graduate-level study.

You need a baccalaureate degree from a college or university accredited by a recognized regional accrediting organization to qualify for the MSW program. Moravian University looks for applicants with a 3.0 or higher undergraduate GPA. Students with lower GPAs can explain their circumstances in a designated section of the application.

Students seeking advanced standing must have a baccalaureate social work degree from a CSWE-accredited program. The program accepts degrees from CASWE (Canadian social work accreditor) through an MOU with CSWE. Internationally earned degrees evaluated by ISWDRES that match a baccalaureate social work also qualify.

Moravian’s free online application kicks off your admission process. Requirements vary based on your entry pathway:

Regular admission needs:

• Official transcript showing your baccalaureate degree completion
• Personal statement answering three key questions:
  • Your professional goals with the MSW degree
  • Your understanding of social justice and anti-racist, anti-oppressive practice
  • Your goals for field experience
• One letter of recommendation, preferably from an academic source

Advanced standing and transfer admission require:

• Official transcripts from graduate programs for transfer credit requests
• B grade or higher in social work courses for credit transfer
• Proof of 400+ hours of BSW-level field work
• Resume
• Two recommendation letters (one academic, one community-based)

The application review can start with unofficial transcripts or course lists. Official transcripts become necessary before finalizing transfer credit.

Moravian’s MSW program requirements match typical graduate standards and emphasize social justice principles. The personal statement is a vital way to show how you fit with the program’s values.

You won’t need to take the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) for this program. This makes the application process easier for many students. After acceptance, you’ll join other students working toward clinical social work licensure in one of Pennsylvania’s newest online MSW programs.

Tuition

The cost of your MSW degree plays a key role in planning your education. You need to assess both tuition costs and funding options to finance your graduate studies.

Moravian University’s Master of Social Work program costs $750 per credit hour. Each course costs $2,250. The complete MSW program totals $45,000. This places Moravian’s program in the middle range compared to other online MSW programs in Pennsylvania, where some state programs charge between $399-$516 per credit.

Moravian University creates e-bills when you register. You must pay the full tuition (minus approved financial aid) by the due date. Students can pay the entire amount or choose an approved payment plan.

Several financial aid options can help reduce your costs during your studies:

• Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loans – Graduate students can borrow up to $20,500 annually with an 8.083% interest rate (2024-2025)
• Federal Direct Graduate PLUS Loans – These allow borrowing up to the full cost of attendance minus other financial aid received, subject to credit approval
• Private Alternative Loans – Available after exhausting federal eligibility or for certificate programs

The advertised price often differs from what students actually pay. Your final cost equals the remaining amount after applying scholarships, grants, work-study, and loans. Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) before making financial decisions. This determines your eligibility for most funding options.

Additional scholarships can lower your educational expenses. Women over 25 pursuing Bachelor’s degrees or post-baccalaureate certificates who show financial need can apply for the Charlotte Newcombe Scholarship. The Windmill Foundation Scholarship supports students who demonstrate active community involvement.

Note that Moravian University charges the same tuition for all graduate programs, whether online or on-campus.

Additional Information

Moravian University’s MSW program stands on the strength of its accomplished faculty members who are practitioners in the field. Dr. Kayti Protos, DSW, LCSW, leads the program as MSW Program Director. She brings rich research experience in transgender health, eating disorders, and LGBTQ+ mental healthcare. Dr. Jenifer Norton, PhD, MSW, serves among other professionals as Assistant Professor of Practice and adds her expertise to the program.

Students receive strong support services that boost their academic and personal growth. The Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) gives students free confidential therapy services to help them handle stress, anxiety, and personal challenges. Students can connect with their community through CAPS events that feature support groups, mindfulness sessions, and stress relief activities with therapy dogs.

Moravian’s steadfast dedication to student wellbeing shows in its campus culture. The university now expands its student center, the HUB, to blend health and counseling services with new wellness offerings. Students will find physical and mental healthcare services conveniently located in one central spot.

You’ll become part of a growing institution that has evolved over the last several years. The School of Behavioral & Community Health opened in 2022 as part of Moravian’s strategic growth plan and now houses the MSW program. Moravian reached university status in 2021, reflecting its improved academic programs at master’s and doctoral levels.

Social work ranks as one of the fastest-growing professions with 6% projected job growth, making career prospects bright for graduates. The MSW program’s clinical preparation matches the rising need for master’s-level social workers in clinical, advocacy, and policy fields.