Mount Vernon Nazarene University announced the launch of its Master of Social Work degree, starting in the spring of 2025. The program will have specializations in behavioral health and school social work.

The MSW is designed to develop students into advanced social work practitioners with specialized knowledge from a Christlike perspective.

“What makes the program special is our faith-based approach and our faculty’s commitment to the profession,” said Program Director Rachel Young. “School social work and behavioral health were chosen after looking at the needs in our community and wanting to answer the call. Throughout the United States, there is a great need for behavioral health social workers, and in Ohio, there is a need for school social workers. This makes us unique as there is a lack of programs offering the school social work specialization.”

The MSW degree program consists of 62 standard track hours and is designed to be fully completed online. MVNU is also offering an “ASAP Starts here” option, consisting of 31 credit hours. To be eligible for the ASAP program, students must have completed a bachelor’s in social work from a CSWE-accredited institution within the last five years and earned at least a 3.0 undergraduate GPA with satisfactory field evaluations.

“ASAP is advanced standing,” Young said. “ASAP students can complete the program in a calendar year. Students not eligible for ASAP can complete it in two years. Students who can qualify will save time and money on their degree.”

The online program will require practicum and seminar hours but is designed to be flexible and work with the student’s location and schedule.

“Practicum requires spending 20 hours a week in a social work field setting,” Young said. “Students will choose their focus track, either behavioral health or school social work. This will determine where their field placement is. For instance, behavioral health students could complete their fieldwork at a psychiatric hospital or mental health clinic. School social workers will complete their field hours in a school setting. Students will meet virtually with the MSW field education director to finalize these details.”

Upon completion, with proper licensure, graduates will be prepared for several opportunities. The Behavioral Health track will prepare students to be medical social workers, clinical social workers/therapists, social work supervisors, social work administrators, or researchers/professors. The School Social Work specialization will allow graduates to work in a school setting, conducting assessments of children in need of support to be successful.

For more information or to apply, visit mvnu.edu/master-social-work.