Deadline for Advanced Standing application January 9, 2026
Deadline for Traditional Non-BSW application June 12, 2026
Clinical social workers help solve urgent problems faced by so many people — children and adolescents, people suffering from substance abuse, veterans, people with medical conditions, older adults, hospice patients and many other members of our communities. Master of Social Work colleges prepare you to meet these challenges. If you have the drive to help individuals and families, enroll in the University of Southern Indiana’s Master of Social Work degree to get started.
Our Master of Arts in Social Work allows you to concentrate on your area of interest while gaining a broad view of the profession in the core Master of Social Work courses. Wherever your passion lies, you can follow it by choosing one of the specialties identified by the Council on Social Work Education.
The challenges are real, and social workers help people survive and thrive, whatever life brings. Whether you have an undergraduate degree in social work or another field, we’ve designed our Master of Social Work degree program to accommodate your learning needs. As one of the most affordable Master of Social Work colleges in Indiana, we provide the education to prepare you to empower the people in your community.
The USI Master of Social Work program can be completed in one or two years, dependent on whether or not the student has a Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) degree. The Full-Time (Day) Track is the only option, at this time, for students with degrees in psychology, sociology, philosophy or other disciplines.
The Master of Social Work curriculum is offered in both fully on-campus and fully online tracks (except internship).
USI faculty and staff are dedicated to giving you the support you need no matter the modality for which you're taking classes. Check out our robust resources for online students including what online learning is, technology requirements and frequently asked questions.
The Master of Social Work program requires applicants have a bachelor's degree from a regionally or comparably accredited institution. Applicants with an undergraduate degree other than a Bachelor of Social Work should apply to the two-year full-time track.
Admission to the Master of Social Work program requires:
Prerequisite course content older than 10 years may be considered upon review.
Students transferring from other graduate programs must submit an Evidence of Good Standing Verification Form, available from the Social Work Department. Students may transfer, with approval, up to 12 graduate credit hours.
The MSW Program does not grant academic credit for life or work experience in lieu of social work course or field content.
International students are required to have a score of 550 on the paper-based Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or 79 on the Internet-based TOEFL or 6 on the IELTS (International Language Testing System).
Deadline for Advanced Standing application January 9, 2026
Deadline for Traditional Non-BSW application June 12, 2026
To get started, complete the following four steps:
1.) A completed USI Application for Graduate Study and $40 application fee.
2.) Upload the following to your application account.
3.) Submit official transcripts to Graduate Studies.
4.) International students may be required to provide additional information.
Admission Policy
It is the applicant's responsibility to provide all required materials to the Social Work Department by the application deadline. Applications are reviewed when all materials have been received by the Social Work Department MSW Admissions Committee.
Admission decisions for the Master of Social Work (MSW) Program are based upon:
Indiana Public Law 11-1994 and MSW Admission
In order to fully comply with Indiana Public Law 11-1994 (conviction of sexual offenses against children), the Social Work Department will conduct a criminal history check of students requesting admission to the Master of Social Work program. This check will be conducted at the point of admission and upon entering the field placement. A student who has been convicted of sex offenses against children as identified in P.L. 11-1994 will not be granted admission to or allowed to continue in the Master of Social Work program.
Individuals who were convicted of such crimes outside of the state of Indiana are required to report their intent to reside more than seven days in the area within Indiana to local law enforcement authorities having jurisdiction in the area of intended residence.
There are a wide variety of career/practice areas for Bachelor's of Social Work (BSW) and Master's of Social Work (MSW) degree graduates. The Occupational Outlook Handbook lists social work as having faster than average job growth. Professional social workers work to assist clients in solving human problems.
Graduates work in a variety of settings including social services agencies and programs, health care institutions and services, communities, correctional systems, schools and government (at all levels).
Social workers work with different populations (children, adolescents, adults, elderly), social problems (substance abuse, mental and emotional problems, corrections, child maltreatment), and levels of practice (individuals, families, communities).
Many agencies, programs and health care institutions require licensed professional social workers due to accreditation, licensing, certification and governmental requirements. Detailed information is available in the Social Work Department or by going to the National Association of Social Workers website.
*income information provided by O*NET Online. Occupation opportunities vary by region and experience.
The University of Southern Indiana is committed to making college accessible to those wishing to further their education by providing numerous scholarships, grants, and financial aid options to assist students in managing tuition expenses.
The Master of Social Work program at the University of Southern Indiana is fully accredited by the Council on Social Work Education.
The Nine Competencies of Social Work Practice | Assessment of Student Learning Outcomes
Requirements for licensure and certification vary by profession and by state. USI has reviewed the educational requirements for each state and licensing agency to determine if the academic program here at USI meets the educational requirements to be eligible for licensure/certification in each state or not. Please note that some states may have additional requirements for licensure, such as residency requirements, additional non-academic certifications, etc. that USI cannot determine. We encourage you to check with your state's licensing agency for all requirements needed to obtain licensure.
