Master of Social Work | MSW Program
Why Choose Fordham's MSW Degree Program?
Top 10 percent in the nation by U.S. News & World Report, Fordham University’s Master of Social Work (MSW) degree program will prepare you to engage effectively across all areas of social work throughout your career.
The world of social work is complex and changing. That’s why we’ve developed a future-focused curriculum that provides students with tools and skills grounded in theory and ethics. GSS also offers numerous scholarships and fellowship opportunities, including our Palliative Care Fellowship and NYC Public Schools Collaborative Program.
We've also created flexible plans of study that allow Fordham MSW students to complete their coursework in just one day a week on campus — full-time or part-time.
Accredited by the Council on Social Work Education, our MSW program curriculum is designed to turn you into a highly competent, integrated practitioner with the tools to succeed in every setting.
MSW Program Application Deadlines
| Fall 2025 |
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| Priority Deadline: February 1 |
| Standard Deadline: April 1 |
An MSW Program Designed to Meet the Needs of NYC and Beyond
For over 100 years, Fordham GSS has been educating New York’s best and brightest social workers to create an impact in their own communities and the rest of the world. Our on-campus MSW program places you in the classroom to network face-to-face with peers and learn directly from faculty experts who boast intangible, real-world experience.
The on-campus MSW curriculum educates students with advanced integrated practice that cuts across populations and contexts. Whether you want to work in a macro, micro, or mezzo environment, our coursework’s focus on innovation will mold you into a nimble social worker ready to take on the future.
Our MSW Program Offers Students:
- Flexible plans of study designed to meet the diverse needs of today's students;
- Three convenient campus locations: Manhattan, Westchester, and Long Island;
- Supervised field placements with one of the 12,000 agencies located throughout the New York metropolitan and tri-state area.
- Advanced standing admission is available to qualified applicants who have earned a BSW degree.
Specialized Practice Certificates for On-Campus Students
Looking to separate yourself in the social work job market? Fordham GSS offers two specialized practice certificates (SPCs) for on-campus students that can help you stand out throughout your career search and find the role best suited for your abilities.
- Specialized Practice Certificate in Health
- Specialized Practice Certificate in Crisis and Resilience
On-campus students can choose one SPC to complete simultaneously with their MSW degree. To receive the certificate, students must complete three applicable courses.
Read more below about the SPCs currently offered:
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The Specialized Practice Certificate in Health aims to prepare students to work in a diverse range of health care settings. Students will develop applied knowledge and skills to help individuals, families, groups, communities, and organizations address health and well-being. By obtaining this certificate, students will acquire specialized knowledge of our contemporary health care system, including current issues in policy and practice. The certificate will focus on promoting rights and justice to prepare students to advocate for change within the evolving health care environment. It equips social work students with the essential skills and competencies needed to work in the health care field, including as part of a multidisciplinary health care team, and across health care systems.
All the courses in this certificate will articulate the role of social work practitioners in health care, emphasizing effective interprofessional practice. Students will use the person-in-environment framework to critically evaluate the role of culture, social determinants of health, and intersectionality in health and health outcomes. Students will learn effective approaches to engaging in collaborative, person-centered health-focused interventions and treatment with individuals, groups, families and communities. Specifically, this will include attention to assessment methods, evidence-based practice, and policies across various health settings and populations.
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The purpose of the Specialized Practice Certificate in Crisis & Resilience is to train students to respond to and prepare for work with individuals, families, groups, communities, and policymakers in the event of crises such as natural disasters, pandemics, terrorism, shootings, or other traumatic events. Students will develop applied knowledge and skills needed to engage, assess, intervene, and evaluate during and after crises and advocate for policies that would diminish unnecessary risks in societies.
Students will use the person-in-environment framework to learn how different policies, communities, and individuals are potentially affected due to existing inequities, intersectionality, and vulnerabilities. Students will learn to promote situational awareness, problem-solving skills, coping, and emotional resilience to restore functioning after a crisis. The certificate will focus on promoting rights and justice to prepare students to advocate for change within a crisis environment. It equips social work students with the essential skills and competencies needed to work in the crisis field, including as part of a multidisciplinary team and across systems.
Whether engaging in planning to mitigate potential crises and their impact or responding during and after crises, specific skills needed are planning and conducting a thorough biopsychosocial and risk assessment; using evidence-based interventions; establishing a collaborative relationship across disciplines; restoring function through the implementation of an action plan, and evaluation and follow-up. The courses for this certificate provide students with the skills needed to carry out these responsibilities on micro, mezzo, and macro levels.
Prospective student interested in an SPC? Join us for an information session to get more details!
Current student interested in an SPC? Contact your advisor to begin the journey of specializing your passion!
Advanced Standing MSW Program
You may be eligible for advanced standing admission if you earned a Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) degree or completed the first year of a CSWE-accredited MSW program. This plan of study enables you to bypass the foundation coursework you have already completed and earn your MSW degree in just nine months, saving over $30,000 in the process.
Read more about the advanced standing plan of study.
Hybrid MSW Program
Can’t commit to our Manhattan or Westchester campuses for all your coursework? That’s not an issue with our innovative hybrid MSW program.
Fordham GSS has partnered with Molloy University so our Long Island students can get a Fordham experience without the commute. Split your classes between Molloy’s campus and our Lincoln Center campus, or complete your classes online. Both paths lead to a Fordham M.S.W. upon completion.
Frequently Asked Questions
What jobs can I get with a Master of Social Work (MSW) degree? What is an MSW degree, anyway?
Social work is a profession that can span a multitude of job positions and titles. This kind of diverse opportunity is what makes the MSW degree so versatile. If you're new to social work and are wondering how it can fit into your future, we've tried to answer some of your questions below.
How long does it take to earn a degree in social work?
How long it takes for someone to get their MSW degree depends on two key factors:
- Are they a traditional or advanced standing student?
- Are they enrolled full-time or part-time in their MSW program?
At Fordham, we offer many flexible plans of study to meet your needs as a student. As a full-time advanced standing student, you could complete your MSW program in as little as one year. Traditional full-time students typically finish the degree in two years. Additionally, we offer three- to four-year part-time options for those who earn their degree while working full-time or attending to other obligations that prevent them from attending school full-time.
Learn more about our plans of study, or schedule an appointment with an admissions counselor to explore how Fordham can help tailor MSW coursework to your schedule.
What is an MSW Degree?
A Master of Social Work (M.S.W.) degree is a graduate degree that prepares students to serve populations as a professional social worker and also pursue state licensure. Students take coursework for credit and perform field education requirements—getting on-the-ground exposure to what social workers do and how they serve communities.
Field internships span a variety of areas at Fordham through our diverse New York City partnerships. These include the Department of Education, multiple New York City hospitals, and the United Nations.
Fordham’s future-focused curriculum provides students with tools and skills grounded in theory and ethics. Our program combines a strong foundation in social work traditions with the ability to design your own advanced course of study.
Whether your interest is in direct practice, organizational leadership, or social science research, you’ll graduate with a skill set relevant to every population and every setting throughout your career.
Is a social work degree right for me?
Before any major career decision, it’s important to ask yourself whether or not that path is the right fit. So, how do you know if social work is right for you?
All good social workers have a diverse skill set that makes them effective in the field. Here are some of the top social work qualities:
- Determined to help others and drive change, specifically in underserved communities
- High-level emotional intelligence and perceptiveness
- Excellent interpersonal communication skills—verbal, nonverbal, and written
- Detailed and organized
- Ability to handle high-pressure situations
- Culturally competent and sensitive
- Knowing when and how to set boundaries
Do you see yourself represented by these characteristics? A career in social work may be the journey you’re looking for. Feel free to contact a GSS admissions counselor for more information about whether or not social work is right for you. We want to help you find and pursue your passion.
Jobs in Social Work
Social workers are offered a variety of career options after obtaining their Master of Social Work (M.S.W.) degree, thanks to the versatility of the degree itself. As an MSW student, you will learn qualitative and quantitative skills that transfer well to various career paths.
Here are some of the most common settings for social work jobs:
- Clinical Social Work (therapist; L.C.S.W. needed)
- Child Welfare Agencies
- Schools
- Hospitals
- Palliative Care Social Worker
- Military Social Worker
- Social Work Administrator
- Government and Policy
Demand for social workers continues to rise in the United States. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, social worker employment is projected to grow 9% from 2021 to 2031, which is faster than average compared to other professions.
The knowledge acquired through an MSW program also applies to various professions outside of social work. Social work is both an art and a science. Fordham’s MSW program will teach technical and interpersonal skills to help you thrive in any career path.