Your Calling. Our Mission.
Our Online MSW program empowers aspiring social work professionals with a flexible, mission‑driven education dedicated to making a meaningful impact. With a focus on serving populations in need—including military‑connected communities, children, and families—our program equips students to champion social justice and lead positive change in diverse practice settings.
- 100% online coursework
- Part-time and full-time options
- Cohort model with sustained peer support
- CSWE-Accredited program
- Field placement assistance
- Two tracks: Traditional and Advanced
Why Choose the Online MSW Program at Saint Leo University?
Our mission is to prepare graduate students for advanced clinical practice and provide social work services that support human rights and promote the social and economic well-being of clients locally, nationally, and globally. Our MSW online program prepares graduates to empower military-connected communities and people or groups who experience discrimination and oppression.
Saint Leo and You
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The Online MSW at Saint Leo is designed for compassionate individuals ready to become leaders in clinical social work. Our curriculum equips you with the skills to engage in ethical practice, advance human rights, and promote social, racial, and economic justice. Whether you are new to the field or hold a Bachelor of Social Work, we have a part- or full-time option for you.
- Traditional MSW Track: 62 credit hours / 1,024 field placement hours / 2-3 years
- Advanced Standing MSW Track: 32 credit hours / 512 field placement hours / 15-20 months
- Three Annual Start Dates: Fall, Spring, Summer
- Cost per credit hour: $620
- One virtual seminar
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The Online MSW at Saint Leo is designed for compassionate individuals ready to become leaders in clinical social work. Our curriculum equips you with the skills to engage in ethical practice, advance human rights, and promote social, racial, and economic justice. Whether you are new to the field or hold a Bachelor of Social Work, we have a part- or full-time option for you.
- Traditional MSW Track: 62 credit hours / 1,024 field placement hours / 2-3 years
- Advanced Standing MSW Track: 32 credit hours / 512 field placement hours / 15-20 months
- Three Annual Start Dates: Fall, Spring, Summer
- Cost per credit hour: $620
- One virtual seminar
Two Paths in our Online MSW
To ensure you feel supported and empowered, our online MSW program offers two distinct pathways tailored to your unique educational background:
Empowering Your Social Work Career
Saint Leo University’s masters degree in social work online program is crafted to support professionals who lead with compassion and advocate for vulnerable populations.
This program is for those who want to deepen their clinical expertise and become leaders in therapeutic settings. It prepares you to step confidently into roles such as clinical social worker (eligible), psychotherapist (eligible), behavioral health clinician, medical social worker, or substance abuse counselor, empowering you to make a profound impact.
Are you passionate about strengthening families and empowering communities, including military-connected communities? Our curriculum equips you to work in child welfare or as a family social worker, providing the skills needed to advocate for systemic change.
Our program is built for dedicated individuals managing work, family, and other commitments. The flexible Online MSW format allows you to choose between a part-time or full-time program so you can pursue your graduate degree while maintaining work-life balance.
For those seeking to strengthen clinical, advocacy, and leadership skills to drive community impact.
What Will You Learn in the Online MSW Program?
Our curriculum is designed to empower you as a clinical social work leader, capable of navigating complex human needs and promoting positive change. You will explore trauma-informed practice, ethical practice, psychopathology, and advanced clinical methods. This is just a snapshot of the courses you will encounter in our online master’s social work program.
This course builds upon the comprehensive understanding of the interactions of human behavior and the social environment explored in foundation practice courses. SWK 615 is designed to facilitate competent practice in the planned change process with greater depth and breadth and specificity for generalist social work practice. It provides increased knowledge and skills for the integration of values and ethics that will enable students to practice using an ecological perspective at the advanced level. Evidence-based practice is emphasized in the application of theory and the evaluation of practice.
This course builds upon the basic concepts and methods of scientific inquiry used to facilitate knowledge and evaluate practice. The following topics are explored: single case designs, needs assessment, program evaluation, and application of evaluation methods results to social work practice in both clinical and managerial settings.
This course is an advanced practice class that is required in both the advanced clinical practice and management concentrations. The course provides an overview of mental health assessment and diagnostic tools, including the Diagnostic Statistical Manual diagnostic criteria, and examines treatment strategies and techniques. Particular attention is paid to the relationship between the social environment, cultural influences, and emotional and mental health.
This course links theory and practice in consideration and application of the major models of family therapy. Family and couples issues of gender, ethnicity, empowerment, and multiculturalism are explored, as are intervention strategies in correcting maladaptive couple and family interactive patterns. The course illustrates the relationship between, and the integration of, micro and mezzo, with an emphasis on ethical decision making and issues of diversity in social work practice.
This course builds upon the basic concepts and methods of scientific inquiry used to facilitate knowledge and evaluate practice. The following topics are explored: single case designs, needs assessment, program evaluation, and application of evaluation methods results to social work practice in both clinical and managerial settings.
- Important Dates
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Application deadline
August 3, 2026 -
Start date
August 24, 2026
Student Success Stories
Comprehensive Support for Experiential Learning
Your field placement experience will be one of the most exciting and rewarding aspects of earning your Master of Social Work (MSW) degree. This experience will be guided and directed by Saint Leo’s faculty in collaboration with your on-site field placement supervisor at the agency where you complete the hours. Our program offers a supportive field placement process designed to help you pursue experiences that align with your professional interests and career goals. Our field placement team provides clear expectations, timelines and personalized support to ensure your placement meets program requirements (Traditional: 1,024 hours; Advanced Standing: 512 hours) and prepares you for professional practice.
Your dedicated Saint Leo field placement team supports you throughout the process of identifying and securing a quality experiential learning site that aligns with your educational goals and intended area of practice. You’ll take an active role in exploring opportunities that reflect your interests, while the field placement team provides guidance, resources, and ongoing support.
Before you begin your fieldwork, the team ensures that all placement sites and field instructors meet CSWE accreditation standards and complete the required approval process.
Take the First Step Toward a Future of Impact
Your journey to becoming a confident, compassionate social work leader begins here. Follow these steps to begin transforming your passion into purpose at Saint Leo University.
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Complete the Form
Fill out our simple form to get started. It only takes a minute, and it’s the best way to let us know you’re interested in Saint Leo University.
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Speak with an Advisor
An enrollment advisor will connect with you to answer your questions, discuss your goals, and ensure our program is the right fit for your career aspirations.
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Submit Your Application
Your advisor will guide you through the application process, helping you gather your documents and present your strengths so you can put your best foot forward.
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Start Leading
Once accepted, you will join a community of dedicated peers and faculty, ready to begin your journey toward earning your masters and leading with confidence.
Frequently Asked Questions
Choosing Saint Leo’s Online Master of Social Work program means joining a compassionate, empowering, values-driven learning community. Our CSWE-accredited program delivers a rigorous education focused on ethical practice, social justice, and real-world impact. You’ll benefit from individualized faculty mentorship, supportive practicum placement services, and the flexibility to balance your studies with life’s many responsibilities. At Saint Leo, you’re never just a number; you’re part of a caring community with a shared purpose.
The online MSW is designed to fit the needs of busy professionals. We offer a part-time option for those who need even more flexibility. Our faculty and staff understand the realities of adult learners and will support you as you manage school, career, and family.
Our CSWE-accredited online MSW program meets the educational academic requirements for MSW licensure in most states. Additionally, graduates of our program may pursue independent practice as licensed clinical social workers (LCSW). Because state licensure standards vary, we encourage you to review the requirements where you plan to live and practice after graduation and speak with an enrollment advisor to ensure our program aligns with your licensure goals.
Aside from your field placement, our online MSW program includes optional live labs where you can meet with your classmates and instructor to foster connection and engagement. The program also includes a required interactive virtual residency to help you practice and sharpen your professional skills.
Yes. Eligible students may access a variety of financial aid options, including federal student loans, flexible payment plans, and other forms of financial assistance.
After passing ASWB board exams and obtaining licensure, graduates are prepared for a wide variety of roles, including clinical social work, behavioral health clinician, substance abuse counselor, medical social worker, agency executive, and more. You’ll be ready to make a meaningful difference in diverse settings such as healthcare, schools, social service agencies, and community organizations.
The Traditional Track is designed for students who do not have a Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) and requires 62 credit hours and a more extensive field placement experience. The Advanced Standing Track is for students with a BSW from a CSWE-accredited institution, allowing you to complete your MSW in as few as 32 credit hours. Both tracks offer a path to advanced clinical practice.
No, the GRE is not required for admission to Saint Leo University’s Online Master of Social Work program. Our admissions process looks at the whole applicant, focusing on your academic background, experience, and passion for social work.
Learn from Experienced Social Work Practitioners
At Saint Leo University, your journey to becoming a compassionate leader in social work is supported at every step. You’ll be guided by accomplished faculty—licensed clinical social workers and field placement experts—who bring years of real-world experience into the online classroom. As dedicated mentors, our faculty are committed to your personal and professional growth, offering the encouragement, wisdom, and insight needed to help you thrive throughout your Online MSW program.
Dr. Victoria A. Anyikwa, Ph.D., MSW
Associate Professor
Dr. Anyikwa is a social work professor with…
Dr. Cindy Lee, Ph.D, LCSW
Interim MSW Program Director Associate Professor – Graduate Social Work
Dr. Cindy Lee is a licensed clinical social…
Roberta Restaino
MSW Field Director & Instructor, BSW and MSW Programs
Roberta Restaino is the Field Director for the…
Dr. Elizabeth Ruegg
Assistant Professor, MSW Program
Dr. Elizabeth Ruegg is a licensed clinical social…
Dr. Patricia Tobin Senger
Associate Professor MSW program
Dr. Patricia Tobin Senger is a tenured associate…
