Master of Social Work (MSW)

We offer the MSW degree in multiple formats for full- and part-time students. All program options include generalist and advanced practicum internship experiences, with placements available across Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, and Ventura counties.

Before completing the advanced practicum, you must choose one of our two specializations:

• Clinical Practice with Individuals and Families
• Community Leadership and Program Administration

To further prepare you for a career as a social worker, we also offer electives across a wide range of topics, including couples therapy, human sexuality, clinical Spanish, and skills for practice in healthcare settings.

Specialization Information All Available Electives (PDF)

Full-Time, Two-Year Track

Offered at the Azusa campus, this traditional full-time track allows you to complete your 60 units over two academic years. Your weekly routine combines daytime classes two days per week with 16 hours of hands-on fieldwork.

During your first year, you take foundational generalist courses alongside your peers to build your core skills. This initial phase ensures that everyone establishes a shared baseline of knowledge while you simultaneously begin your first 16-hour weekly practicum.

By your second year, your focus shifts entirely to advanced coursework tailored to your chosen specialization. Your 16-hour weekly field placement transitions to an agency that aligns with your specific area of practice.

Azusa Two-Year Program Schedule (PDF)

Part-Time, Three-Year Track

Designed as a flexible MSW program option for working professionals, this three-year, 60-unit track includes classes during the first half of the summer following your first and second years. You must maintain the ability to reduce or rearrange your full-time employment during the second and third years to accommodate a mandatory supervised practicum.

Schedule formats vary by our two campus locations:

• Inland Empire: You attend classes every Thursday evening, plus Saturday intensive courses three to five times per semester.
• Azusa (Main Campus): You attend classes one evening per week, plus Saturday intensive courses three to five times per semester.

In addition to class time, the practicum experience requires up to 20 hours per week.

Azusa Three-Year Program Schedule (PDF) Inland Empire Three-Year Program Schedule (PDF)

Advanced Standing 4+1 Program

The Advanced Standing MSW program allows you to earn your master’s degree in 10 months if you hold a Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) from a program accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE). To qualify for this path, you must

• have graduated within 7 years of starting the MSW program;
• maintain full-time standing; and
• attend classes in person.

Admission Requirements for Advanced Standing Applicants

In addition to the eligibility requirements, Advanced Standing applicants must meet the following criteria:

• Minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA
• Minimum grade of B  in all social work classes
• If you do not have a minimum grade of B  in all social work courses, you may be considered for conditional admission status (the conditional admission status requires maintaining a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 and no grade lower than B- in the first 12 units; anyone who does not meet this requirement will be dismissed from the MSW program)
• Statistics course (grade C or higher)
• One reference from a BSW field supervisor

We also recommend, but do not require

• a working knowledge of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM); and
• an Abnormal Psychology prerequisite (unless DSM knowledge has been gained through work experience).

Tuition and Fees for the Advanced Standing MSW Program

Advanced Standing MSW Tracks

The Advanced Standing MSW program can be completed in one year and is available. only at our Azusa campus. As an Advanced Standing student, you enroll in bridge coursework (6 units) two nights per week online in July/August, then begin specialization coursework in the fall semester. This program does not require you to take foundational MSW coursework, since it was covered in the BSW.

Advanced Standing students must also complete a 20-hour-per-week practicum, with placements available in Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, and Ventura counties. Though days and times are arranged in collaboration with your partnering agency, the schedule typically includes classes on Tuesdays and Thursdays, with practicum hours on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays.

Download Advanced Standing Schedules

At Azusa Pacific University, we prepare you to begin a successful career immediately after graduation. We accomplish this by providing additional training opportunities you can pursue as you complete your master’s degree.

These certification and stipend options are available for MSW students:

• Pupil Personnel Services Credential in School Social Work and Child Welfare and Attendance Services: Qualify for social work positions in prekindergarten to 12th-grade school settings without the need to add any additional units to your MSW.
• Los Angeles Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) and University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) Academy of Workforce Excellence Child Welfare Stipend Program: In exchange for a commitment to work for Los Angeles County, DCFS offers full-time MSW students interested in child welfare a total stipend of $52,000 ($26,000 per year).
• Human Services Management Certificate: If you choose the Community Leadership and Program Administration specialization, you can also earn this certificate, which helps you develop the leadership skills to advance into a management role. For more information on the certificate, contact the MSW program at [email protected].
• Geriatric Social Work Education Consortium (GSWEC): Bringing together social work departments from eight universities, the GSWEC provides fieldwork experience with older adults and automatically qualifies you to interview with any of 14 Centers of Excellence.

All eligibility and application information applies to the two specializations of the traditional Master of Social Work, whether you earn your degree in two or three years.

Eligibility

To be considered for the Master of Social Work program, you must meet these eligibility requirements:

• Hold a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited university or college (or an equivalent degree from a college or university in another country)
• A minimum 3.0 grade point average on a 4.0 scale is required (at the program’s discretion, a limited number of applicants with a grade-point average of 2.5-2.99 and relevant work experience may receive conditional admission)
• Complete a statistics course, consisting of three semester units, with a grade of C or higher
• If you have not taken statistics at the time of MSW application, you must complete it at any regionally accredited college or university prior to the start of the program in the fall (send proof of registration in a statistics course to the MSW program at [email protected] and to the Student Services Center by April 1; you must also provide proof of progression by June 15 and proof of completion by August 20)

Admission Requirements for Domestic Applicants

You must meet these university graduate and program admission requirements to apply for the MSW degree:

• Graduate application for admission

• $45 nonrefundable application fee

• Official transcripts from all regionally accredited institutions leading to and awarding your bachelor’s degree, and from all postbaccalaureate studies
• An official transcript is one that Azusa Pacific University receives unopened in an envelope sealed by the former institution and that bears the official seal of the college or university (a minimum cumulative 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale) grade-point average (GPA) on the posted degree is required for regular admission status; provisional admittance may be granted to individuals with a lower GPA if competency can be shown through multiple measures)
• Current résumé
• Admission interview, which may require a writing sample
• Two references from individuals familiar with your professional and/or academic interests and your aptitude for MSW education
• Written acknowledgment that you have reviewed the National Association of Social Workers Code of Ethics

In addition to the requirements above, domestic MSW applicants must submit a four- to six-page, double-spaced personal statement. Through this document, we assess your

• writing and organizational skills;
• evidence of professional commitments to service and social justice;
• self-awareness, maturity, and readiness to successfully complete program requirements; and
• engagement in employment, volunteer work, leadership activities, or other experiences relevant to professional social work.

In your personal statement, using your own words without the use of AI or other technology assistance, explain your

• motivation for pursuing MSW education, including relevant background experiences and professional goals;
• professional, internship, and volunteer experiences related to social work;
• expectations for attending a Christian university and approach to faith integration in social work practice (although no admission requirements exist regarding faith identification, Christian and other religious perspectives may be presented and discussed in classes);
• interest in a specific social problem, including your perceptions of potential causes and solutions; and
• response to an ethical challenge you encountered and resolved during your professional experiences.

Send official transcripts to:

Office of Graduate and Professional Admissions
Azusa Pacific University
PO Box 7000
Azusa, CA 91702-7000
[email protected]

Admission Requirements for International Applicants

Azusa Pacific University is authorized under federal law by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services and the U.S. Department of State to enroll nonimmigrant alien undergraduate and graduate students. APU issues and administers the I-20 and DS-2019 (F-1 and J-1 status documents, respectively).

In addition to meeting the MSW admission requirements for domestic applicants, international students must also

• demonstrate proficiency in English through one of our Academic Success Center’s Foreign Language Placement and Proficiency Assessments or through a TOEFL or IELTS score that meets APU’s requirements (request that official test scores be sent to APU; you must submit all other forms of proof indicated in the English proficiency requirements directly to International Services);
• provide a Graduate Affidavit of Financial Support (PDF) and a bank statement from within the last six months, proving your financial ability to pay for education costs through personal, family, or sponsor resources;
• submit a copy of a valid passport showing biographical data, including your name, country of citizenship, and date of birth; and
• get foreign transcripts evaluated (a foreign transcript evaluation agency must evaluate international credentials, including transcripts, certificates, diplomas, and degrees; review our graduate international transcript policy and a list of approved foreign transcript evaluation agencies).

Technical Standards

For admittance to the MSW degree at APU, you must have and maintain these technical standards:

• Physical strength, stamina, and mobility to perform satisfactorily in classroom and social work agency settings (including transportation to and from classroom, practicum internships, and additional meeting sites)
• Reading and comprehension skills to acquire research data, conduct accurate observations, and respond to reports and other written documents at a level and speed that aligns with coursework requirements
• English language competency at a college level for effective and timely communication with faculty, students, agency staff, clients, and other professionals
• Mental ability to work under pressure in emotionally charged or unpredictable environments, handling conflict in a professional manner

If you believe that you cannot meet one or more of these technical standards, we will work with you in an individualized, interactive process to determine whether reasonable accommodations can be made. Contact the Academic Success Center to apply for an accommodation.

Next Steps

After the Student Services Center receives all materials for your application to the MSW program, the faculty or department chair reviews your information and notifies you in writing of the admission decision.

At APU, we partner with you as you pursue graduate education by providing tuition, financial aid, and scholarship resources. Whether you earn your master’s degree in two or three years, our admission team supports you throughout the journey. If you have questions, contact the Student Services Center at (626) 815-2020.

Master of Social Work Tuition and Fees

Some courses may require additional costs. View a complete list of university fees. If you hope to pursue the five-year BSW/MSW option, explore the Advanced Standing tuition and fees.

All stated financial information is subject to change. Contact the Student Services Center at (626) 815-2020 for more information.

Financial Aid

At Azusa Pacific, we’re committed to keeping Christian education accessible. We offer several types of financial aid for your Master of Social Work. The resources range from federal loans and state grants to select fellowships and scholarships. For more details about financial aid for this program, contact the Student Services Center.

Military and Veterans Benefits

Military members—and in some cases their spouses and dependents—qualify for financial assistance covering tuition, housing, and books. Azusa Pacific is a Yellow Ribbon University and Military Friendly School, so you can remain confident that we provide the benefits and flexibility you need in order to complete your education.

You can apply for many of our general graduate school and Department of Social Work scholarships. We offer discounts contingent on academic merit, ethnicity, race, gender, or socioeconomic background. Application deadlines vary by scholarship, ranging from year-round availability to specific dates in the fall or spring semesters.

Review our list of MSW scholarship opportunities for the most up-to-date information.

Scholarship Criteria

To receive a scholarship, you must be enrolled in the two-year full-time program or the 10-month Advanced Standing option. You must also fulfill these requirements:

• Demonstrated Financial Need: Hold a Student Aid Index (SAI) of $15,000 or less, as indicated on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) report in accordance with current federal poverty guidelines for family and household size
• Disadvantaged Background: Meet at least one of these criteria (students meeting multiple categories and demonstrating severe financial hardship will receive priority in awarding):
• Economic Disadvantage: Family income below federal poverty guidelines as determined by FAFSA data (we may request additional documentation to verify eligibility)
• Educational Disadvantage: Graduation from a low-performing high school, as determined by the California State Department of Education School Accountability Report Card (submit a copy of your high school diploma with the scholarship application)
• Environmental Disadvantage: First-generation college student (verified by the Department of Social Work through Financial Services reporting) or history of poverty, illness, single-parent status, foster care, substance dependence/recovery, or similar life circumstances
• Citizenship/Resident Status: Verify your status as a United States citizen or permanent resident by including a copy of your passport, birth certificate, naturalization certificate, or permanent resident card with your scholarship application

If you receive a scholarship, you must agree in writing to

• complete a behavioral health primary care practicum, which supports medically underserved communities, in the first two years of the MSW program;
• report on the training you receive during the practicum experience;
• participate in mentorship activities with faculty and alumni;
• report your use of department and university support services;
• serve underresourced populations upon graduation, through employment in behavioral health care;
• provide a written statement on the impact of the scholarship or discount on your degree completion and career readiness; and
• report employment information to the Department of Social Work annually for four years after graduation.

Awards should not exceed $36,000 per year or a total maximum of $72,000 over the course of the degree. We distribute funds in the fall and spring semesters. Scholarship funding remains contingent on the successful completion of all program requirements, which you can review in the MSW Student Handbook under Student Resources.

Samantha Quintanar Memorial Top Macro Student Award

This faculty-nominated award is presented annually to an MSW student specializing in Community Leadership and Program Administration who demonstrates excellence in academic coursework, practicum internship, and professionalism. The $1,000 scholarship was named in 2020 to honor alumna Samantha Quintanar, who inspired her peers, colleagues, and staff with her commitment to helping others, and whose life was tragically cut short in 2018.

We base our selection for this award on

• GPA after completion of the generalist coursework and the first semester of the specialization curriculum;
• practicum internship performance; and
• evidence of professional behavior and conduct.

MOU Partner Tuition Discounts

The MSW program at the Inland Empire Regional Campus offers $500 per semester, or a total maximum of $2,000, to employees of Riverside and San Bernardino counties. Riverside County employees should contact the Student Services Center at (626) 815-2020 about their application process. San Bernardino County employees need only show proof of employment to receive the tuition discount.

Whether you are a current or prospective MSW student, these resources help you navigate and succeed in your education at APU.

MSW Student Handbook

Consult the current MSW handbook to ensure that you remain in good standing, complete all necessary requirements, and adhere to the guidelines for in-person placements. This is also a comprehensive resource if you have questions about the program or need more information about a particular procedure, such as the process for practicum internship placement or instructions for the program’s qualifying and exit exams.

2025-26 MSW Student Handbook (PDF)

MSW Learning Outcomes and Competencies Report

We measure and report student learning outcomes for all Council on Social Work Education programs, including the Master of Social Work. As an aspiring social worker, you are assessed during your education based on your mastery of certain competencies or dimensions of practice that comprise CSWE’s accreditation standards.

CTA: MSW Student Learning Outcomes and Competencies Report (PDF)

MSW Organizations and Associations

In addition to social work events, boards, and associations, you can get involved with these organizations:

• APU Master of Social Work Student Association (MSWSA): This organization facilitates faculty/student communication and collaboration, hosts student extracurricular and developmental events, and serves the surrounding community
• Network for Social Work Management (NSWM): The NSWM is an international organization focused on strengthening and advancing social work management within the health and human services fields

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Azusa Pacific University is accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC). The MSW program is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education). The MSW program’s Pupil Personnel Services Credential in School Social Work and Child Welfare and Attendance is accredited by the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CTC).

No, we do not require the GRE for admission to the Master of Social Work.

Yes, we accept applications from students with any undergraduate degree from a regionally accredited university or college.

If you were previously enrolled in a CSWE-accredited MSW program, you may transfer up to 12 units of foundation-year courses as long as they were completed within five years of your projected graduation date.

In addition, you can transfer up to 6 units of elective credit from another graduate program as long as they remain relevant to this degree and as long as you completed them within the last five years.

The MSW program director assesses all transfer requests for eligibility after your admission to the program. If you pursue the Advanced Standing option, you cannot transfer any coursework.