Mississippi MSW Degree Programs

School	Program	Admissions
University of Kentucky	Online Master of Social Work CSWE Accredited, 100% online. Regular and Advanced Standing MSW tracks.	Website
University of West Florida	Online Master of Social Work CSWE Accredited, 100% online. Traditional and Advanced Standing MSW tracks.	Website
Campbellsville University	Online Master of Social Work No GRE or GMAT required. Traditional and Advanced Standing tracks available. Program can be completed in less than a year.	Website
University of Kentucky	Doctorate of Social Work Select one of four concentrations: Administrative Leadership, Clinical Social Work, Military Behavioral Health, and Social Work Education.	Website
George Mason University	Master of Social Work (MSW) Online CSWE accredited. Tracks include: Adults & Healthy Aging or Children, Youth, & Families.	Website

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Click to view online MSW programs that are taking applications for 2024.

The state of Mississippi has multiple opportunities to pursue an accredited social work program at popular institutions, including the University of Mississippi. Employment hovers around the national average across the board in social work positions.

Mississippi CSWE Accredited MSW Programs

The Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) has accredited four programs at institutions based in the state of Mississippi. Holding this designation means that the program has met nine different competencies, such as offering legal and ethical standards for students to follow and advanced skills in evidence-based treatment planning. At this time, none of these programs have the capability to be pursued fully online.

Are there online MSW programs in Mississippi?

Yes, there are colleges in Mississippi with an online Master of Social Work degree program. Consider a featured online MSW program that is taking applicants right now, or move on to the list.

Click to see more accredited online MSW programs that are taking applications for 2024.

List of online MSW programs in Mississippi that are CSWE accredited

Finding a Campus Based Mississippi MSW Program

Oxford and Hattiesburg are top locations to receive an education in social work and look toward potential careers in the industry. Specializations that students can consider when pursuing the Master of Social Work at the University of Southern Mississippi include direct clinical practice or community development. Jackson has undergraduate and/or graduate programs at Jackson State University and Belhaven University.

University of Mississippi's Master of Social Work

The Department of Social Work offers various social work programs at different levels, including the MSW. This program can be taken in a traditional two-year format or at an accelerated pace with advanced standing. Students that have graduated with a Bachelor's degree in social work that was accredited by the CSWE are eligible for this path.

Curriculum Structure

60 total credit hours are needed to complete the traditional program format. This is divided up into 24 credit hours of foundational content, six credit hours worth of electives, and half the curriculum is specifically for clinical practice topics. Students eligible for the advanced standing format will have foundational courses waived.

There are four field experience courses needed in the traditional program, each requiring 225 clock hours at two separate internships. Two elective courses will be selected to customize the program, and examples of these courses include Diversity in Social Work Practice, Forensic Social Work with Children, and Gerontological Social Work.

Admission Requirements

In order to get into the traditional program, prospective students must have a Bachelor's degree with high academic merit. While the prior discipline does not need to be specifically in social work, students must have credit in a variety of liberal arts courses, such as political science, sociology, and human biology. Further submissions needed include evidence of a background check, three letters of recommendation, updated resume, and personal statement.

University of Southern Mississippi's MSW

The School of Social Work has CSWE-accredited undergraduate and graduate programs available for students. If certain students have completed the undergraduate program at USM or a different institution with accreditation, they are eligible to apply for advanced standing. This eliminates foundational work in their studies, dropping from 60 credit hours to 34 credit hours needed in the curriculum.

Both part-time and full-time enrollment is available for the traditional or advanced standing formats. Advanced topics that the Master of Social Work includes social welfare policy, addiction treatment procedures, and community development. Based on information from the university, 95 percent of graduates have passed licensure examination.

Field Education

900 total clock hours in two internships are needed for the field experience regardless of part-time or full-time enrollment. The separation will differ based on enrollment, with full-time students clocking 300 hours in one semester and 600 hours over two semesters. Those eligible for advanced standing will take 600 total clock hours over a two-semester span, eliminating one of the internships.

Unique Features

Benefits of taking the program at USM include the opportunity to pursue the History and Social Work in Cuba experience. Students will take the Human Rights and Social Development in the Caribbean course for two weeks in Havana. In addition to their studies, students will be able to explore national museums and historic landmarks in the area.

Review of campus-based Mississippi MSW programs

Careers, Licensures, and Salaries in Mississippi

Some of the highest-paid social workers in the state of Mississippi fall in the field of mental health and substance abuse. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, the annual mean wage across the state is at $42,140, and that can grow to $62,070 in the top 10 percent. This is on par or higher than most salaries for other states in the region.

Mississippi Social Work Licensure Requirements

There are three different stages of licensure for social workers in the state of Mississippi:

• Licensed Social Worker (LSW)
• Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW)
• Licensed Certified Social Worker (LCSW)

The final two licensures both require at least a Master’s degree to fulfill academic criteria. One major difference between the two is an ability practice at a clinical or macro level with the certified licensure. These practices would still need to be certified with the LMSW.

In order to receive the LCSW, there are four different supervision evaluations over an approximate two-year timespan. These must be completed and approved, along with a background check on criminal history within 180 days of the submitted application. Also, the clinical exam from the Association of Social Work Boards must be completed and passed.

Endorsement and Renewal Requirements

The state of Mississippi will endorse other licensures if they are in good standing from other states. Renewals take place every two years in the state with different fees based on the level of licensure. 40 credit hours of continuous education must be met, and includes four credit hours dedicated to ethics and two credit hours toward cultural diversity.