Master of Social Work

The Millersville & Shippensburg MSW Program

Millersville and Shippensburg universities are jointly offering a Master of Social Work (MSW) degree program. It is designed for students who want to either further their education in social work or join the social work profession. The program was developed to support both the full-time student and the working professional. State-of-the-art technology permits students to acquire social work knowledge, skills, and values through multiple educational methods, including traditional campus classes, teleconferencing and web-based activities. Because this is a joint program, students benefit from the quality faculty and resources of both universities.

 

Effective May 2025, all MSW program options (online and in-person) will start in the first MSW Summer term of 2025. Students should apply April 15, 2025. For students who want to discuss starting in the fall or spring semester, please reach out to the MSW Program Coordinator.

Now Offering Two Methods of Delivery!

Program options: Regular Standing and Advanced Standing

Traditional On-Campus Master of Social Work

Our traditional on-campus MSW is designed for the working professional and can be completed on a full-time or part-time basis. Field placements are available across the central Pennsylvania area.

Request Info, On-campus MSW

Online Master of Social Work

Our same great MSW program, taught by the same faculty. Courses may meet synchronously or asynchronously. Field placements will be available near the student's physical location.

Request Info, Online MSW

An MSW permits graduates to work in a variety of human service programs and agencies in an advanced clinical and/or administrative capacity. The flexibility of the social work degree provides graduates with many options as they pursue their careers in the helping fields.

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PROGRAM MISSION AND GOALS

The mission of the Millersville University and Shippensburg University Collaborative MSW Program is to promote human and community well-being by providing an advanced generalist social work education that prepares students to be contemporary practitioners and advocates for individuals, families, groups, communities, and organizations utilizing the person in environment perspective. We prepare students to be competent, globally responsive evidence-informed practitioners, committed to social, racial, economic, and environmental justice and human rights, which are rooted in the values of the social work profession.  

The MU-SU MSW Program goals are:

  1. Prepare graduates for competent advanced generalist practice through the acquisition and demonstration of social work competencies and values consistent with Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) educational policy and accreditation standards and Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education. 
  2. Provide graduates with the advanced generalist knowledge values and skills for social work practice across micro, mezzo and macro systems to assess, plan and facilitate change with attention to the profession's commitment to interprofessional collaboration. 
  3. Develop graduates’ commitment to continued evidence-informed professional development and prepare graduates to practice human rights-based social work that promotes social, racial, economic, and environmental justice.

Master of Social Work at Millersville

Learn about our MSW program by listening to first-hand accounts from students and faculty at Millersville University.

“I really enjoy research so learning about program evaluation has helped me to lead internal research efforts at CASA. The MSW program actually opened my eyes to macro social work and I realized how much I love it and that it's really the work I've always wanted to do but didn't know it.”

- Laura Golomb | Master of Social Work Graduate

PROGRAM COMPETENCIES

  1. Demonstrate ethical and professional behavior.
  2. Engage diversity and difference in practice.
  3. Advance human rights and social, economic, and environmental justice.
  4. Engage in practice-informed research and research-informed practice.
  5. Engage in policy practice.
  6. Engage with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities.
  7. Assess individuals, families, groups, organizations and communities.
  8. Intervene with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities.
  9. Evaluate practice with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities.