The University of West Florida MSW Program

The University of West Florida (UWF) is a leading institution in Pensacola, Florida. Its Master of Social Work program resides in the Usha Kundu, MD College of Health. The Department of Social Work, located in Building 85 on the main campus, is 20 years old and serves as a hub of excellence in social work education.

UWF’s Department of Social Work has a straightforward mission. It prepares graduates to work with individuals, families, groups, communities, and organizations, especially when you have medical and behavioral health settings. The program focuses on serving military populations, which shows UWF’s dedication to helping service members and veterans in the region.

The UWF MSW program stands out because of its faculty’s ground experience in the classroom. Most faculty members are licensed clinical social workers who bring their extensive practice backgrounds to their teaching. Students learn from professionals who blend theoretical knowledge with real-life application. This combination gives a more meaningful education from experts who understand today’s social work challenges.

The department has built strong ties with placement agencies throughout the Gulf Coast region. These strategic collaborations cover several specialties:

• Child welfare
• Mental health services
• Military support services
• Health care settings
• Family services
• Substance abuse treatment
• Domestic violence intervention

These relationships are a great way to get field placements—a vital part of your MSW education at UWF.

The department’s core values shape how students learn. Faculty members champion human rights, social and economic justice, and respect for diversity. These principles help improve lives of individuals and communities. Students learn to tackle complex social problems with both compassion and skill.

The program develops practitioners with advanced clinical and critical thinking skills to help clients facing various challenges. UWF’s curriculum gives you the tools to make meaningful contributions whether you want to practice clinical work or organize community programs.

UWF sits at 11000 University Parkway in Pensacola, creating an ideal environment where future social workers can grow academically while preparing for meaningful careers. Students benefit from the university’s location, which provides exposure to different communities and practice settings.

Programs offered

UWF gives you two flexible paths to earn your Master of Social Work degree based on your educational background and career goals.

The Traditional MSW Program takes 60 semester hours and welcomes students with undergraduate degrees in any field except social work. Your first year builds a strong foundation (30 semester hours) with a professional core (21 sh), two electives (6 sh), and hands-on field experience (3 sh). You’ll spend 300 hours at one agency during a single semester to gain practical experience. Once you complete your foundation year, you’ll move on to the concentration curriculum.

Students who earned their bachelor’s in social work from a CSWE-accredited program within the last seven years can choose the Advanced Standing MSW Program. This 30-semester-hour fast-track option lets you skip the foundation courses and jump right into concentration studies.

Both programs share the same concentration curriculum. You’ll take a professional core (18 sh), two electives (6 sh), and complete two field placements (6 sh). The concentration phase puts you in the field for 600 hours at one agency over two semesters.

Your UWF MSW journey can fit your lifestyle perfectly. You can take classes:

• Face-to-face on the Pensacola campus
• Completely online
• Through a mix of both approaches

You can study full-time or part-time. Full-time students usually take 12 credit hours each semester, while part-time students take 3-9 semester hours. Remember that you’ll need at least 6 credit hours per semester to qualify for financial aid.

You can start your program in any semester. Traditional program students who want to graduate in five semesters should start in fall. Advanced Standing students aiming to finish in three semesters will find summer the best time to begin.

The program focuses on clinical skills that prepare you for work in medical and behavioral healthcare. You’ll learn about human behavior in social environments, social service policy, human diversity, social justice, and clinical social work practice. After graduation, you’ll be ready to pursue licensure as a clinical social worker in Florida.

About the online program

UWF’s online Master of Social Work program features a clinically focused curriculum that really prepares you for advanced practice in the field. This flexible online option lets you complete your degree while you retain control of your current personal and professional commitments.

The online MSW program upholds the same high academic standards as the on-campus version. In fact, both formats share similar learning objectives, with the online version giving you better accessibility as a distance learner. You’ll involve yourself in specialized medical and behavioral healthcare studies through a curriculum that combines clinical internships with practical, hands-on learning experiences.

The program offers two enrollment paths based on your educational background. Students with a bachelor’s degree in social work can take the Advanced Standing track to speed up their studies and focus on the advanced clinical curriculum. Students whose undergraduate degree is in another field can take the Traditional track, which builds the foundational knowledge before moving to specialized content.

The curriculum covers these essential topics:

• Human behavior in the social environment
• Human behavior in communities and organizations
• Social service policy
• Human diversity and social justice
• Clinical social work practice
• Social work research

The program’s clinical focus sets it apart. As an online MSW student, you’ll develop advanced clinical and critical thinking skills to help clients in a variety of settings and circumstances. The department shows a steadfast dedication to promoting human rights, social and economic justice, and respect for diversity—core values that shape every part of the curriculum.

This program meets all educational course requirements for licensure as a clinical social worker in Florida. The Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) accreditation shows the program meets nationally recognized standards of excellence. Employers and licensing boards value this accreditation as a mark of quality.

Students should submit their application materials for both Traditional and Advanced Standing online program options to the MSW online program manager at Wiley. This optimized application process will give a smooth start to your educational experience.

Accreditation

The Master of Social Work program at UWF holds full accreditation from the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE). This prestigious status was reaffirmed through 2025, which speaks volumes about the program’s excellence and high educational standards.

CSWE puts programs through an intensive peer-review process. They check if programs meet or surpass their quality benchmarks. This gives a full picture of how well UWF’s MSW program uses its resources to achieve its goals. The review also confirms the program follows all Educational Policy and Accreditation Standards.

Students who choose this accredited program enjoy several key benefits:

• Peace of mind about program quality and graduate competence
• Ability to get licensed as a clinical social worker in Florida
• Credibility with employers and academic institutions
• Access to federal financial aid

CSWE accreditation shows that graduates are ready to help promote health, well-being, and justice for everyone in our diverse society. Both online and on-campus MSW programs follow these high standards.

The specialized recognition proves that UWF’s curriculum takes an integrated approach. Students learn to become respectful, responsible social workers who can serve communities of all types. Graduates get the critical thinking and problem-solving skills they need to support justice, equity, inclusion, and diversity.

UWF also holds full accreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC). This allows them to award various degrees, including master’s credentials. This institutional accreditation adds another layer of quality assurance to your education.

A CSWE-accredited program like UWF’s MSW will make your degree stand out to employers. Unlike unaccredited “degree mills” that might mislead students, CSWE accreditation verifies that graduates have the knowledge and skills to practice effectively.

The accreditation sets you up for success in social work. UWF’s MSW program is one of twelve graduate social work programs in Florida with full CSWE accreditation. This makes it a trusted path for advancing your career in the field.

Admission Requirements

The UWF MSW program evaluates candidates through university and departmental criteria. Our department looks at each applicant’s complete profile to determine their likelihood of success.

University Requirements:

• Completed graduate application with processing fee
• Submission of all official transcripts
• International students may need to fulfill additional requirements

Departmental Requirements:

• Graduate Record Examination (GRE) Verbal and Quantitative score or Miller Analogies Test (MAT) results
• Recommended minimum undergraduate institutional GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale
• Academic preparation evaluation based on quality and relevance of undergraduate degree
• Personal statement using the required Social Work Personal Statement Form
• Three letters of recommendation from individuals familiar with your ability to succeed in a graduate program
• Professional resume
• MSW Criminal History Form

Students with an institutional undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher don’t need to take graduate admission tests. This makes the application process simpler for strong academic performers.

Advanced Standing applicants need one recommendation from their undergraduate field experience supervisor. This helps confirm your readiness for advanced placement through clinical supervision.

The Traditional program doesn’t require a specific undergraduate major, but expects a strong liberal arts background. However, Advanced Standing admission needs a bachelor’s degree in social work from a CSWE-accredited program.

New applicants should know that previous social work experience helps but isn’t mandatory. We believe that academic potential combined with personal qualities can indicate success in the field.

Students living more than 60 miles from campus must provide contact details for three potential field placement sites. This helps us check if placement is possible in your area.

Each semester welcomes about 25 students, creating a close-knit learning environment. Meeting admission deadlines is crucial since late applications might not be processed before your desired term begins.

Take time to review all requirements thoroughly. Make sure your application materials show how you fit the comprehensive criteria our department has set for this respected program.

Tuition

UWF’s MSW education comes with clear, competitive pricing that varies by student category. The online MSW program charges a standard rate of $450.00 per credit hour for both Traditional and Advanced Standing paths. Your total investment ranges from $13,500 for the 30-credit Advanced Standing track to $27,000 for the 60-credit Traditional program.

Students attending campus classes see different rates based on where they live. Florida residents pay $377.60 per credit hour, with total costs reaching $11,328 for Advanced Standing or $22,656 for Traditional tracks. Out-of-state students face a higher rate of $1,037.20 per credit hour, bringing program totals to $31,116 or $62,232.

The good news is that UWF provides significant tuition breaks for non-Florida residents. Graduate students receive a 90% waiver on out-of-state tuition until they complete their degree or reach 45 credit hours. This brings their cost down to $478.83 per credit hour, with total program expenses of $14,365 for Advanced Standing or $28,730 for Traditional tracks.

Students from Alabama pay a special rate of $489.60 per credit hour. Their total program cost comes to $14,688 for the 30-credit option or $29,376 for the full 60-credit program.

Military members on active duty outside Florida don’t pay any non-resident tuition or fees. On top of that, it’s worth noting that UWF’s tuition hasn’t increased in ten years, and in-state students pay 45% less than the national average yearly.

The online program helps you save even more by eliminating commuting, housing, and relocation costs. You can also tap into federal student loans, scholarships, and employer assistance programs. UWF offers installment plans and short-term loans if you need flexible payment options.

Private graduate programs across the country can cost up to $89,000. This makes UWF’s MSW program a smart investment that delivers quality education at an affordable price.

Additional Information

Social work careers give you meaningful ways to positively impact communities. The U.S. Department of Labor shows employment in social work positions will grow by 7% through 2032. This rate is by a lot higher than the average 2.8% growth across all professions. UWF MSW graduates have excellent job prospects in this resilient job market.

Social work professionals earn competitive salaries nationwide. National median earnings reached $63,770 annually as of May 2023. Mental health and substance abuse social workers earned a median salary of $63,870 per year.

UWF helps graduates succeed even after completing their degree. The Career Development & Community Engagement office helps students with professional résumés, interview preparation and career coaching. Students can find jobs and connect with career coaches through Handshake, the university’s job posting system.

Military members and veterans receive specialized support through UWF’s Military and Veterans Resource Center (MVRC). The university ranks as a Gold-level Military Friendly School among large public institutions. Students can access VetSuccess counselors, Social Work Interns Mentoring (SWIM) Team and transitions coaches.

Florida residents can use therapy services at UWF’s Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS), while all students have access to telephone crisis counseling. Students with disabilities can get personalized support and virtual accommodations through Student Accessibility Resources.