Accredited MSW Programs in Mississippi

Mississippi’s MSW programs have gained popularity over the last several years. These programs create essential pathways for developing skilled and compassionate social work professionals. Students eager to advance their social work careers can choose from four public universities that offer Master of Social Work degree programs throughout the state.

The institutions feature traditional MSW tracks for bachelor’s degree holders. They also provide advanced standing options tailored for students with BSW credentials. Most students complete traditional programs in about two years or four semesters of full-time study. These programs include at least 900 hours of practical field education to build hands-on expertise. Students seeking schedule flexibility will find Jackson State University as their best option – it’s the only Mississippi institution with a fully online MSW program.

An MSW degree from Mississippi can boost your career prospects significantly. Social workers in the state earn an average of $41,755 annually. The Bureau of Labor Statistics expects a strong 13% job growth rate from 2019 to 2029. Your options include Jackson State University, Mississippi Valley State University, the University of Southern Mississippi, and others. This piece will help you find the MSW program that matches your goals perfectly.

Jackson State University MSW Program

Jackson State University leads Mississippi’s social work education with its Master of Social Work program. The program creates skilled practitioners who can tackle today’s community challenges. Students learn core social work values and graduate ready to make a real difference across the state.

Program Overview

The Master of Social Work program at Jackson State University prepares graduates for independent, advanced social work practice. Students earn an Advanced Generalist Practice degree with a Rural Nonurban Emphasis. This program meets local, regional, and national workforce needs.

The program’s core mission prepares graduate-level social workers to work with children, youth, and families in urban and rural settings. Students become leaders who build on advanced direct social work practice knowledge and skills. They learn to uphold professional values and ethics.

JSU’s School of Social Work creates professionals who promote social, economic, and political justice. This focus helps groups facing discrimination and oppression. The program increases the number of master’s level social workers by creating a welcoming space for students from state, national, and global communities.

The MSW program has managed to keep its continuous accreditation from the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) since 1998. This shows the program’s steadfast dedication to high professional standards.

Specializations Offered

JSU’s MSW program focuses on Children, Youth, and Families as its specialized practice area. Students learn advanced direct social work practice that promotes social, economic, and political justice through advocacy.

The specialization covers treatment and prevention services. These services help people whose lives face disruption from environmental, social, psychological stress or health issues. Students learn to evaluate how bio-psychosocial factors affect people’s interactions with their environments.

The first year covers foundation courses. Second-year students take concentration courses focused on advanced direct practice with children, youth, and families. Students work with child development theories, study policies like Medicaid and TANF, and solve ethical problems in real-life settings.

Admission Requirements

Students can choose from three paths to earn their MSW degree:

Two-Year Full-Time Program (60 hours): Perfect for students without a BSW from a CSWE-accredited program or those who don’t meet advanced standing requirements.

Three-Year Part-Time Program: Evening classes spread across six semesters and three summer terms let students keep their day jobs.

One-Year Advanced Standing Program (39 hours): Designed for CSWE-accredited BSW graduates who meet specific criteria.

Two-year and part-time program requirements:

• A bachelor’s degree from an accredited school (minimum 2.5 GPA on a 4.0 scale)
• Social work volunteer/work experience
• Five-page personal statement about social work understanding, degree goals, and personal strengths
• Three reference letters (one from an instructor)
• International students need TOEFL scores
• The Admissions Committee might request an interview

Advanced Standing students also need:

• A BSW from a CSWE-accredited program
• “B” or better in all social work courses
• 0 GPA or higher on a 4.0 scale

Students don’t need GRE scores to apply. The program accepts up to 30 semester hours from other CSWE-accredited master’s programs. These credits must be less than five years old with minimum “B” grades.

Fieldwork Expectations

Field education stands at the heart of social work education at JSU. Students apply classroom theories in real agencies. They work with different populations and develop professional skills through hands-on experience.

Each program track has specific fieldwork hours:

• Foundation Field Instruction: First-year students complete 450 hours in spring (two-year program) or second fall (part-time program).
• Advanced Concentration Field: Students finish 450 hours between January and early May of their final spring.
• Advanced Standing Field: Students complete 500 hours in their graduation spring semester.

Field placements help students build their professional identity. They learn to use themselves effectively, create strategies for justice, and help at-risk populations in urban settings. Students master assessment, intervention planning, supervision, professional interaction, and working with diverse populations.

Tuition and Costs

JSU makes advanced social work education available with competitive tuition rates:

Other costs include a $25 Graduate Admissions fee, $75 Thesis fee, and administrative charges.

The Division of Graduate Studies helps students with assistantships that include monthly stipends and tuition for one academic year. Students need a 3.0 GPA, must take 9+ semester hours each term, and work 12 hours weekly in a department or academic college.

Online Availability

JSU leads online social work education. The School of Social Work launched its 100% online MSW program in 2020. This made JSU Mississippi’s first school with a fully online MSW program and the only HBCU in the deep south offering this option.

Students can complete both the one-year advanced standing program (started June 2020) and two-year full-time program (started August 2020) entirely online. This helps students earn their advanced social work degree from anywhere.

JSU also offers traditional programs in a hybrid/blended format that combines online and in-person learning. Students attend classes one afternoon and evening weekly, making it easier to balance work and school. Social work electives come in different formats – face-to-face, scheduled online meetings, and flexible online completion.

Small classes help students build strong relationships with professors. They get chances to work with community agencies and professionals through coursework, field experiences, and social work conferences. This personal approach and program flexibility prepare graduates for success in one of the fastest-growing fields according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Mississippi Valley State University MSW Program

Mississippi Valley State University runs a Master of Social Work program that prepares professionals to work in rural settings. The program puts special emphasis on helping impoverished communities in areas like the Mississippi Delta. Students learn to address unique challenges faced by underserved populations.

Program Overview

The MSW program at Mississippi Valley State University teaches students professional social work at micro, mezzo, and macro levels. Students gain advanced knowledge, values, and skills to work with people of all backgrounds.

The program helps social workers serve impoverished minorities in rural regions, especially the Mississippi Delta where the university stands. This rural focus makes MVSU’s program unique among state universities.

Students become social work professionals who stand by their profession’s values and ethics. They develop skills to serve both local and global communities through an ecological systems framework.

Program Specializations Offered

MVSU’s MSW program offers just one focus area: Child and Family Welfare. This choice lets students become experts in rural social work and learn interventions that work best in child and family settings.

Students blend theory with hands-on skills at every level of social work practice. Graduates gain expertise to help impoverished minorities in the Mississippi Delta and similar communities.

Admission Requirements

Students can earn their MSW degree through two paths:

Regular Admission Program:

• Baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university
• Good standing at previous institution
• Official transcript with minimum 2.75 GPA on a 4.0 scale
• 30 semester hours of undergraduate liberal arts courses, including 3 hours of biological science with human development content
• Two-page essay about social work career motivation and major social issues
• Three references from professors, supervisors, or character witnesses
• Complete applications for MSW Program and Graduate School
• Possible interview with Admissions Committee

Advanced Standing Program:

• CSWE-accredited BSW degree earned within five years
• “B” or better in all social work courses
• 0 GPA on a 4.0 scale in undergraduate work
• Possible interview with Admissions Committee
• 30 semester hours in social work

Regular students finish in two academic years or five semesters. BSW graduates might skip foundation courses by scoring 80 or higher on proficiency exams.

Fieldwork Expectations

Field education is vital to MVSU’s MSW program. Students apply classroom theory in real settings and develop their professional identity while working with diverse groups.

The program has three tracks with specific requirements:

1. Two-Year Program: Students complete two internships—foundation work after year one and advanced practice in child and family welfare after year two. Each internship needs 450 hours.
2. Three-Year Extended Program: This option helps students balance family or work duties. They take fewer courses each semester while meeting the same internship requirements.
3. Advanced Standing Program: Students complete one advanced internship of 450 clock hours in their final semester.

Students must follow placement schedules, agency rules, dress codes, and complete assigned work while following the NASW Code of Ethics. Weekly field logs and time sheets are mandatory, and missing these leads to lower grades.

Tuition and Costs

MVSU offers budget-friendly education compared to other MSW programs. While current MSW tuition rates weren’t listed, the university’s costs remain available to many students.

Net prices after financial aid vary by family income:

• $9,724 for $0-$30,000 earnings
• $10,136 for $30,001-$48,000 earnings
• $14,172 for $48,001-$75,000 earnings
• $16,611 for $75,001-$110,000 earnings
• $21,606 for over $110,001 earnings

MVSU undergraduate borrowers have a median federal loan debt of $28,413, with $301 monthly payments. Federal loan debt decreases as family income rises:

• $21,113 for $0-$30,000 earnings
• $17,000 for $30,001-$75,000 earnings
• $13,000 for over $75,001 earnings

Contact the university for current tuition and fees, as rates may have changed.

Online Availability

MVSU has a small online presence with limited MSW options. Only 2 out of 11 graduate programs run online or through distance education.

The university has 355 graduate students, and 66% (236 students) study part-time. This shows some program flexibility, though details about online MSW options remain limited.

Students wanting online programs might need to look elsewhere. MVSU focuses on campus-based learning that prepares social workers through hands-on community experiences.

The Department of Social Work can provide updated information about course delivery methods and any online components.

University of Mississippi MSW Program

The University of Mississippi (Ole Miss) has an MSW program that focuses on clinical practice. Students get ready for professional work in many different settings. The program offers traditional campus-based education with several options to fit different student needs.

Program Overview

Ole Miss’s MSW program puts clinical social work practice at its core. Students learn detailed skills to work with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities. This professional degree will give a graduate specialized skills they need for clinical settings in service environments of all types.

The program’s main goal is simple: create skilled and ethical clinical social workers who can do research and show leadership. These social workers commit to diversity, social and economic justice, and better quality of life. The program takes an all-encompassing approach to social work education that looks at systems of every size in society.

Students pick between two main tracks based on their education background. The regular track suits those without a social work bachelor’s degree. Qualified BSW graduates can take the advanced standing option. Regular track students need 60 credit hours while advanced standing students complete 36 credit hours.

Specializations Offered

Ole Miss MSW program stands out by focusing only on clinical social work practice. The program has specialized courses in:

• Psychotherapy approaches
• Trauma and crisis intervention
• Substance abuse and addiction

Students can also choose electives in several specific areas:

• Leadership and administration
• Forensic social work with children
• Child welfare
• Gerontology

This focused curriculum builds strong clinical practice foundations. Students can shape their education toward specific populations or practice settings they care about.

Admission Requirements

The admission process changes based on your chosen track. Regular admission needs several key requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution
• Specific undergraduate liberal arts courses (3 hours each): English composition, history, political science, statistics, psychology, sociology, human biology, plus 9 hours of social/behavioral science electives
• Resume
• Personal autobiographical statement
• Essay
• Three letters of recommendation

Advanced standing students must meet extra criteria:

• BSW degree from a CSWE-accredited program earned in the last five years
• Minimum 3.0 GPA on the last 60 hours of undergraduate coursework or 3.0 overall GPA

Qualified BSW graduates can take this faster path while meeting high admission standards that show they’re ready for advanced practice.

Fieldwork Expectations

Real-life experience plays a vital part in Ole Miss’s MSW curriculum. Regular program students must complete 900 hours of field education during their studies. This hands-on training gives graduates solid experience before they start professional work.

Each track has different fieldwork requirements:

• Regular track students do two field placements adding up to 900 hours
• Advanced standing students complete 450 hours at program-approved social work agencies

Field placements let students use what they learned in supervised practice settings. They develop vital professional skills while working with different populations and organizations.

Tuition and Costs

Ole Miss charges tuition by credit hour with different rates for residents and non-residents:

The university’s graduate student costs for 2025-2026 break down like this:

The university’s net price changes based on family income. Families earning under $30,000 pay about $8,933, while those earning over $110,000 pay around $20,648.

Online Availability

Ole Miss offers some online options for MSW students. Most courses happen in a traditional campus setting. Students can take several elective courses online.

Advanced standing students can benefit from this mixed approach. They complete some electives online while getting core instruction in person. This setup offers schedule flexibility but keeps the face-to-face learning that helps develop clinical skills.

Students who want fully online MSW programs in Mississippi might need to look at other schools. Ole Miss focuses on campus-based education with some online options. The program excels through its traditional approach where students work directly with faculty and peers to build clinical skills and professional identity.

University of Southern Mississippi MSW Program

The University of Southern Mississippi (USM) runs Mississippi’s original graduate social work program. The program started in 1974 and has held continuous accreditation from the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) since then. Students receive comprehensive academic training and hands-on field experience that prepares them to work in a variety of professional settings.

Program Overview

USM’s Master of Social Work program features a 60-credit-hour traditional track and a 34-credit-hour advanced standing option for qualified BSW graduates. The program’s curriculum builds on social work values and helps students develop practical skills through classroom learning and field experiences. Students become experts in human rights, social justice, problem-solving, and evidence-based practice methods.

Graduates qualify to work in clinical settings that require Licensed Master Social Workers. Students who attend full-time complete their degree in five semesters, while part-time students finish in eight semesters. Those in advanced standing can graduate in three semesters (full-time) or five semesters (part-time).

Specializations Offered

USM’s MSW curriculum provides broad coverage of practice areas through specialized courses instead of formal concentrations. Students study:

• Human rights and social justice
• Addictions treatment
• Trauma-informed care
• Forensic social work
• Aging and gerontology
• School social work
• Grant writing

Students develop versatile skills they can use in multiple practice settings through this approach.

Admission Requirements

USM’s MSW program requires applicants to have:

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college/university
• Minimum 3.0 GPA on last 60 hours of coursework
• Written personal statement
• Three recommendation letters
• TOEFL/IELTS scores for international applicants

Advanced standing applicants must meet these requirements:

• BSW from a CSWE-accredited program (earned within past five years)
• Minimum 3.0 GPA on last 60 hours
• Minimum 3.5 GPA in social work program with no grades below B
• Passing score on the School’s qualifying examination
• MSW admissions committee acceptance

Fieldwork Expectations

Traditional students must complete 900 total hours. The current field education structure works like this:

• Full-time students: One 300-hour placement in one semester and a 600-hour placement over two semesters
• Part-time students: Two 450-hour placements across two semesters each
• Advanced Standing students: Two 300-hour placements across two semesters each

Students can choose from over 200 agency partners. Most placements happen in Mississippi, but out-of-state and international options exist.

Tuition and Costs

Graduate tuition rates for 2024-2025 are:

Rates include student activities fee ($2.23-$20.00) and capital improvement fee ($3.89-$35.00)

Online Availability

Southern Miss removes out-of-state tuition for students in fully online programs. Graduate students taking 9-13 hours pay $5,197.00 per semester, which comes to $10,394.00 yearly. Part-time students (1-8 hours) pay $578.12 per credit hour, or $1,734.36 for a typical three-hour course.

Online students follow the same rigorous curriculum and field education requirements as campus-based students. Some courses may have additional fees between $20.00 and $150.00 per credit hour for specialized materials, labs, or proctoring services.

Affordable Online MSW Programs in Mississippi and Nearby States

Mississippi students who want to become social workers can choose from several affordable online programs, both within the state and in nearby areas. These options help expand your educational choices and might save you money too.

Affordable Online MSW Programs Overview

Jackson State University is currently the only school in Mississippi with a fully online MSW program. Many students look beyond state borders because of these limited local options. To cite an instance, the University of North Alabama lets advanced standing students complete their online MSW in just one year. Tulane University in Louisiana brings its century-long experience of training New Orleans social workers to its online MSW program.

Specializations Offered

The online MSW at Jackson State University focuses on clinical practice with a specialty in Children, Youth, and Families. Tulane’s approach differs by preparing students through relationship-centered, clinical-community practice that boosts the resilience of individuals, families, groups, and communities. Students can usually apply their coursework to their preferred areas, such as school social work or indigenous communities.

Admission Requirements

These affordable online programs match their on-campus versions in admission standards. Advanced standing programs typically need:

• BSW from a CSWE-accredited program
• Minimum 3.0 GPA
• Grade of B or better in all social work courses

Traditional track programs ask students to complete specific undergraduate liberal arts courses including statistics and human biology.

Fieldwork Expectations

Field education plays a vital role in online programs. JSU’s online students must complete 900 hours of field education at approved sites near their homes. Tulane’s MSW students also need 900 hours of field-based education. Each student works with an organizational partner in their local community, which gives them hands-on experience without moving.

Affordable Online MSW Programs Tuition and Costs

Public universities charge $12,394 per year on average for graduate programs, while private nonprofit graduate schools cost about $26,621 annually.

Online Availability

Online programs are a great way to get flexibility if you have a job. Students can complete most MSW coursework online. Local organizations like healthcare facilities or government agencies help with field practicum hours. Schools also support remote learners through academic advising, virtual tutoring, and quick technical assistance.

Choose Your Mississippi MSW Now

Your career advancement in social work throughout Mississippi depends on picking the right MSW program. The state has all but one of these programs in public universities, yet each offers unique benefits to think about. Jackson State University’s fully online MSW program stands out as a perfect fit for working professionals who can’t relocate.

You’ll need around 900 hours of hands-on experience. This training gives you ground skills and helps build valuable professional connections before you graduate. On top of that, BSW holders can finish their degrees faster through advanced standing options at all four universities, which saves time and money.

Each school has its own focus areas. JSU specializes in children, youth, and families, while MVSU’s strength lies in rural social work practice. The University of Mississippi’s program centers on clinical social work. USM takes a wider approach with multiple practice areas. Your career goals should help you pick the program that matches your professional dreams.

Social work jobs in Mississippi look promising with 13% growth expected through 2029. This is a big deal as it means that the growth rate beats many other professions, showing a strong need for qualified MSW graduates statewide. The average yearly salary of $41,755 creates a solid foundation for your career growth.

Students who want more flexibility might check out online options from nearby states like the University of North Alabama or Tulane University. These schools offer quality education that helps avoid commuting or moving challenges.

Whatever path you take, an MSW opens doors to advanced practice opportunities and prepares you to make real changes in Mississippi’s communities. Your choice should weigh program specialties, format, location, and costs to find the perfect educational match.