Introduction to MSW Programs at Christian Colleges

Major Takeaways:

MSW programs at Christian colleges blend professional social work training with Christian faith, which can help students serve others better.
These programs emphasize values like dignity, integrity, and community service, aligning with Christian principles.
Benefits of these programs include a supportive faith-based community, holistic education, and opportunities for spiritual growth.
Graduates with an MSW from a Christian college are prepared for diverse career paths in social work and have a ready-made network of faith-based professionals.

To be a social worker, you must be compassionate, empathic, and concerned about the welfare of others – all principles espoused by Christianity. As such, MSW programs at Christian colleges are a natural fit. The question is whether a faith-based education is the right fit for your needs.

The majority of MSW programs are basically the same from a curriculum standpoint. The differences lie in the religious component. Getting a quality social work education is imperative for preparing you for the work ahead. But it’s equally as important to find an MSW program that aligns with your core values and belief system.

This guide helps familiarize you with the basics of Master of Social Work programs, the unique features of a faith-integrated curriculum, the benefits of faith-based MSW studies, and much more!

Related:

What is an MSW Program?

A Master of Social Work is a graduate-level degree that prepares you for state licensure as a social worker. Though you can be licensed with a Bachelor of Social Work (BSW), an MSW opens many more career opportunities. What’s more, the purpose of an MSW is to gain advanced skills (e.g., clinical counseling, advocacy, resource development) that enable you to provide improved services to your clients – and a wider range of services at that.

With an MSW degree, you can pursue many different social work career paths:

School Social Worker
Clinical Social Worker
Geriatric Social Worker
Healthcare Social Worker
Mental Health Social Worker
Child and Family Social Worker

Moreover, some social work jobs, like clinical social work, are available in many different settings. You might work for a state or federal agency like the Department of Health and Human Services. You might also work in residential treatment centers, community mental health centers, or private practice.

Unique Aspects of MSW Programs at Christian Colleges

Studying social work from a Christian perspective means blending your love of serving others with your dedication to your faith. As noted earlier, these two things often intersect.

For example, Christian MSW degree programs explore typical features of professional practice, such as social work theory and techniques. But these programs integrate faith as a vehicle for enhancing your skills. On the one hand, you might rely on your faith to maintain a positive attitude amid stressful and emotional work with your clients. On the other hand, you might use Christian teachings – like recognizing the dignity and worth of all people – to help you recognize the potential for growth and change in each client you serve.

Social work is a field guided by ethics; to practice ethical social work, you must recognize and adhere to the values of service to others, social justice, and integrity. Likewise, you’re required to value the importance of human relationships, commit yourself to competent practice, and recognize the inherent dignity of others.

This is another area where the Christian perspective can make you a more effective helper. Following Jesus’ teachings necessitates following many of the same values described above. Again, you can rely on your faith to inform your decision-making, guide your interactions with your clients, and help build up others who need it.

Of course, social work and Christianity have another feature in common – a dedication to community service. As a social worker and a Christian, it’s your duty to reach out to others, provide help to those who need it, and give yourself to the community so that others can lead a better life. What better way to learn to do so than by pursuing an MSW from a Christian college?

Benefits of Studying at a Christian College

Getting an MSW from a Christian college or university offers many different benefits as a student and a future social work professional:

The supportive faith-based community will help you grow as a professional.
The holistic approach to education enhances your skill development and allows you to incorporate faith-based techniques into your everyday work.
These programs present ample opportunities for spiritual growth and development with the support of your classmates and professors.
You can strengthen your bond with Christ and His teachings.
You’ll graduate with a ready-made network of other social work professionals with a faith-based perspective.

Additionally, like any CSWE-accredited program, a faith-based MSW degree prepares you for graduate-level licensure in your state. This, in turn, opens many more career paths and opportunities to help others in your community.

Curriculum and Coursework

A typical MSW program is 60 credits if you don’t already have a BSW. In this case, you’ll need to complete foundational coursework in areas such as:

Social Work Practice With Individuals and Families
Human Behavior
Social Influences on Behavior
Child Welfare
Social Work Policy and Analysis

Other foundational courses explore research-related topics, social work practice in community and organizational settings, and group work. Moreover, you’ll need to complete two field experiences that introduce you to working in a social work setting.

Typically, the second year of an MSW includes advanced coursework. After completing your first year of MSW studies (or if you start your MSW program already having a BSW), you’ll take classes like the following:

Advanced Social Work Practice
Social Work Ethics
Theories, Models, and Interventions in Social Work
Mental Illness and the DSM System
Advanced Clinical Practice

You’re also required to complete two more field experiences to gain advanced training in clinical work, case management, advocacy, and other primary social work roles. All told, CSWE-accredited MSW programs require you to complete at least 900 hours of fieldwork.

Most MSW programs offer specialization opportunities, too. Depending on the program you choose, you might have options to prepare for direct practice, health social work, or gerontological social work. Other specializations include community social work, social work administration, and generalist practice, to name a few.

Of course, studying at a Christian college means your MSW program will be infused with Christian ethics and values. You’ll learn how to provide social work services in a Christ-like manner, conduct yourself according to core Christian ethical principles, learn Christian values like respect, honesty, forgiveness, and love, and learn how to incorporate those values into your work.

Admission Requirements

The specific admission requirements for an MSW degree depend on the college or university offering the program. However, most institutions have the same basic general requirements:

Have an undergraduate degree from an accredited institution.
Have a satisfactory undergraduate GPA (e.g., 3.0 on a 4.0 scale).
Submit an application for admission and pay the required admission fee.
Provide official transcripts from each college you’ve attended.
Provide letters of recommendation from past professors or professional colleagues who can speak to your academic skills and workplace competency.
Submit a current resume outlining your work experience or a curriculum vitae outlining your academic experience.
Provide a personal statement in which you discuss your career goals and how the program you’re applying to will help you achieve those goals.

You may also be asked to participate in an interview with social work faculty and/or an admissions committee. These interviews often occur in person, though many institutions have adopted virtual interviews via Zoom or other teleconference programs.

Specific Admission Requirements for Christian Colleges

Some Christian colleges have additional admissions requirements focusing on your spiritual background. For example, you might be required to submit letters of recommendation from church references, such as your pastor. You might also be asked to discuss your spiritual journey in a personal statement.

In some cases, you might also be required to abide by a conduct code to be admitted. Schools like Liberty University, for example, have detailed policies governing student behavior, violations of which may lead to expulsion.

Tips for a Successful MSW Application

One of the best things you can do to increase your chances of being admitted to an MSW program is to make yourself stand out from other applicants. This is often best done with your personal statement.

Most MSW programs have high academic requirements, so having good grades – though important – doesn’t separate you from other applicants. Instead, your personal statement is an opportunity to explain who you are, your values, and your career goals. Furthermore, your personal statement is an opportunity to explain why the program you’re applying to aligns with your career goals.

Other application tips worth implementing include the following:

Get as much social work experience as you can, even if it’s non-paid work.
Ensure your resume or curriculum vitae is up to date.
Be specific about your experience; explain how your work benefited others.
Be honest; don’t exaggerate academic or career accomplishments.
Get insights from colleagues who have successfully completed an MSW application.
Pay attention to the requirements and deadlines for your application.

Ultimately, your MSW admissions profile will be the best it can be if you take your time, pay attention to details, and make a strong case for why your unique skills and abilities will benefit the program.

Financial Aid and Scholarships

There’s no getting around the fact that college is expensive. This is especially true for graduate studies. However, there are many MSW financial aid options you can pursue to offset the cost of your degree:

Type of Financial Aid	Description
Scholarships	Need-based and merit-based scholarships are widely available and don’t have to be repaid.
Grants	Grants are typically need-based, and like scholarships, they don’t have to be repaid.
Service-Based Aid	Some organizations (e.g., the Peace Corps, AmeriCorps, National Institutes of Health) offer financial assistance in return for a specified period of service after you graduate.
Fellowships	Many colleges, universities, and private organizations offer stipends for MSW students that pay for everything from tuition and fees to room and board. Fellowship stipends do not have to be repaid.
Student Loans	Loans are available from many different sources, from local banks to the federal government. These loans are easy to get but must be repaid with interest.

You can also seek out Christian college scholarship options. Your specific school may offer scholarship opportunities, or you might seek faith-based scholarships from Christian organizations, like your local church or national church groups.

Tips for Applying for Financial Aid

The name of the game for maximizing your financial aid awards is to set yourself apart from the crowd, just like you need to do when applying to an MSW program. The following tips will help you do just that:

Cast a wide net. The more financial aid you apply for, the more likely it is that you are to get an award of some kind.
Apply for aid early. Often, early applications are prioritized for funding.
Speak with a financial aid representative at each school you’re applying to. Ask for guidance about specific financial aid packages you might qualify for.
If the financial aid award you’re offered isn’t what you hoped, contact the school and ask them to reconsider.
If you receive financial aid offers from multiple schools, present the best offer to the other schools to see if they will improve their proposed financial aid package.

It’s also important to stay in touch with representatives from each school’s financial aid office. It’s incumbent on you to be persistent; don’t wait for weeks to hear back from a school. Take it upon yourself to be proactive and keep your name fresh in their minds. Doing so might make a difference in whether you get an award or not.

Conclusion

Social work is no doubt an honorable profession that’s in dire need of well-qualified professionals. Combined with Christian teachings, an MSW curriculum equips you to provide a range of services to clients with diverse backgrounds, comfort the weary, counsel the mentally ill, and improve your community as well. To say that you can have significant positive impacts on others is an understatement!

Focus on due diligence as you look for the right program for your needs. Use this guide as a springboard for further investigations into specific programs to determine which ones align with your personal, professional, and spiritual goals. The more work you put in now, the more likely you’ll find the faith-based MSW program for you!