13 Best MSW Programs in Florida (Online & Campus) – 2025


Written By: Pattie Trumble, MPP, MPH

As a graduate of one of the many great MSW programs in Florida, you’ll have a variety of dynamic career paths to choose from. You can become a medical social worker, a mental health and substance abuse social worker, or a marriage and family therapist, all occupations that will enable you to make a genuine difference in the lives of others. And your average salary will be $55,270 a year. Ready to learn more about how a master’s degree in social work can prepare you for success? The descriptions below of the 13 best MSW programs in Florida for 2025 are an excellent place to start.



RECOMMENDED ONLINE MSW PROGRAMS

WHAT ARE THE BEST MSW PROGRAMS IN FLORIDA (ONLINE & CAMPUS) FOR 2025?

(Based on our Ranking Methodology, the following are the 13 Best campus-based and online MSW Programs in Florida.


1) University of Central Florida - Orlando


MSW Programs Offered: Full-Time Advanced Standing MSW (On-Campus), Full-Time Traditional MSW (On-Campus), Part-Time Advanced Standing MSW (On-Campus), Part-Time Traditional MSW (On-Campus), Part-Time Advanced Standing MSW (Online), and Part-Time Traditional MSW (Online)


About University of Central Florida: MSW students attending the University of Central Florida will be attending the nation’s largest institution of higher learning: As of 2019, more than 60,000 students were enrolled in this school in the Sunshine State’s state university system. UCF’s School of Social Work is affiliated with its College of Health and Professions and Science and is located on the school’s Lake Nona campus. This MSW in Florida is dedicated to educating social workers capable of working with a diverse set of clients in a wide variety of settings.

University of Central Florida MSW Program Details: The University of Central Florida’s Master of Social Work degree is not only one of the best MSW programs in Florida but also one of the most versatile. UCF offers full-time and part-time traditional MSW tracks, Advanced Standing MSW tracks on campus, and part-time traditional and Advanced Standing tracks online. When you enroll in UCF’s online program, you’ll sign up for one class every seven weeks.

The traditional track consists of 62 credits, 39 of which consist of core and specialty class requirements, 9 of which are electives, and 14 of which are field studies. The traditional full-time track is designed to be completed in two years; the part-time traditional track is intended to be completed in three years.

The 32-credit Advanced Standing curriculum is an option open to students who hold an undergraduate degree in social work. Full-time Advanced Standing students will complete the curriculum in three semesters; part-time Advanced Standing students will complete the curriculum in four semesters.

Students who graduate from the University of Central Florida with an MSW are trained in general social work during their first year of study and clinical social work during their second year of study. As with all accredited MSW programs in Florida, fieldwork is an integral part of this educational experience. Students enrolled in the 62-credit program are required to complete 1,000 hours of fieldwork; students enrolled in the 32-credit Advanced Standing program are required to complete 600 hours of fieldwork. The University of Central Florida’s fieldwork partners include more than 300 human services and agencies within the Greater Orlando Metropolitan Area.

University of Central Florida MSW Admission Requirements: All applicants must have a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university. Applications must include a current resume as well as three professional references.

Key Highlights For University of Central Florida MSW Students

• In 2019-2020, 194 students earned MSW degrees from the University of Central Florida, the largest graduating class in any of the MSW programs in Florida.
• UCF offers you the opportunity to earn a graduate certificate in Military Social Work by taking nine additional class credits.
• The University of Florida’s MSW program is ranked in the top 30 percent of social work programs nationwide by US News & World Report.


2) University of South Florida – Tampa & Sarasota


MSW Programs Offered: Full-Time MSW (On-Campus), Part-Time MSW (On-Campus), Full-Time Advanced Standing MSW (On-Campus), Part-Time Advanced Standing MSW (On-Campus), MSW (Online), Full-Time Advanced Standing MSW (Online), Part-Time Advanced Standing MSW (Online), and Part-Time MSW Sarasota Campus (On-Campus)


About University of South Florida: The University of South Florida is one of several schools with social work master’s programs in Florida that belongs to the state university system. USF has campuses in Tampa, St. Petersburg and Sarasota-Manatee; the MSW degree is offered on the Tampa and Sarasota-Manatee campuses. The College of Behavioral and Community Sciences, with which the MSW program is affiliated, is located on the Tampa campus. The University of South Florida is the only Florida university ranked among U.S. News & World Report’s Top Ten Value Colleges.

University of South Florida MSW Program Details: The University of South Florida offers eight MSW tracks. The 63-credit full-time traditional curriculum is offered on the Tampa campus, as is the 63-credit part-time traditional curriculum and both the full-time and part-time 32-credit Advanced Standing programs for students who’ve completed BSW degrees. The Sarasota-Manatee campus also offers a part-time Advanced Standing program. The full-time 63-credit track and the full-time and part-time 32-credit Advanced Standing tracks are also offered online.

The full-time 62-credit track is designed to be completed in four semesters, while the part-time 62-credit track is intended to be completed in eight semesters. Students in the full-time 62-credit campus track will attend classes from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. two days a week. Students in the part-time 62-credit track will attend classes three evenings a week.

You should be able to complete the full-time Advanced Standing MSW course in two semesters. Students from all 50 states and the District of Columbia are eligible to enroll in online Advanced Standing tracks. Still, you should check to ensure that this MSW in Florida meets your state’s professional licensure requirements.

USF is one of the MSW schools in Florida that doesn’t offer a second-year specialization option but continues to offer a generalist education that stresses a variety of interventional approaches throughout the entire MSW course of study.

If you enroll in the 62-credit program, you’ll be required to perform a total of 900 hours of fieldwork. If you enroll in the Advanced Standing program, you’ll be required to complete a total of 600 hours of fieldwork. The University of South Florida is unusual among accredited MSW programs in Florida in that you’ll be placed with a single human services organization throughout the entire time you’re studying for your Master’s degree in social work.

University of South Florida MSW Admission Requirements: If you want to enroll in USF’s MSW program, you must have a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with a grade point average of 3.0 or better. Your undergraduate classes must have included at least three units of social and behavioral sciences.

Key Highlights For University of South Florida MSW Students

• The University of South Florida offers a dual MSW/Master’s of Public Health (MPH) degree in conjunction with USF’s College of Public Health.
• All USF MSW students must submit a capstone project based on original research that synthesizes some of the information they’ve learned in class with fieldwork experiences.
• USF Tampa awarded 138 MSW degrees in 2020.


3) Barry University - Miami Shores


MSW Programs Offered: Full-Time Traditional MSW (On-Campus), Part Time Traditional MSW (On-Campus & Online), Full-Time Advanced Standing MSW (On-Campus), Part Time Advanced Standing MSW (On-Campus & Online), Part-time Traditional MSW (Online), and Non-Degree MSW (On-Campus)


About Barry University: Though Barry University is a Catholic university and remains committed to Catholic intellectual and spiritual traditions, it welcomes students from all religious backgrounds. The university sponsors a unique “portfolio program” through which MSW students can earn up to 30 class units for real-life experiences in behavioral and social sciences. If you’re looking for an MSW school in Florida that offers a personalized experience, you’ll find it at Barry: The student-to-teacher ratio is 15:1, which gives you plenty of opportunities to develop close relationships with your instructors.

Barry University MSW Program Details: You can choose among seven MSW programs at Barry University. The 63-credit full-time traditional MSW track is an accelerated program that can be completed in 16 months if you’re a full-time student and 28 months if you’re a part-time student. The 32-credit Advanced Standing program is essentially the second year of the 63-credit track and is only open to students who’ve graduated with a bachelor’s degree in social work.

Part-time enrollment in the 63-credit program and the Advanced Standing track are offered both online and at the school’s Miami campus. Online programs use a synchronous format.

In the second year of the traditional program and throughout the entirety of the Advanced Standing track, you’ll focus on a trauma-informed curriculum that will teach you how to manage potentially triggering approaches, so that intervention attempts do not retraumatize clients. Other upper-level classes include “Psychopathology,” “Mind Body Connection: The Neurobiology of Clinical Practice” and “Leadership, Advocacy and Policy Practice.”

Like all accredited master’s in social work programs in Florida, fieldwork is extremely important at Barry University. If you’re enrolled in the 63-credit traditional program, you’ll be expected to complete 1,000 hours of fieldwork. If you’re enrolled in the Advanced Standing program, you’ll be expected to complete 580 hours of fieldwork. Barry University has fieldwork partnerships with numerous healthcare and human services organizations in the Greater Miami Metropolitan Area, including the Florida Department of Children and Families, the Nicklaus Children's Hospital and Broward County Schools.

Barry University MSW Admission Requirements: Successful applicants to this MSW program in Florida will have a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university. You’ll also need two recommendations from professionals who can attest to your suitability for a social work career.

Key Highlights For Barry University MSW Students

• Barry University’s School of Social Work hosts the Center for Human Rights and Social Justice.
• Individuals who already have an MSW degree and who are specifically working toward Florida licensure can enroll in non-degree classes on the university’s Miami campus.
• In 2020, 152 students were granted MSW degrees from Barry University.


4) Florida State University – Tallahassee & Panama City


MSW Programs Offered: Full-Time Traditional MSW (On-Campus), Full-Time Advanced Standing MSW (On-Campus), Part Time Traditional MSW (On-Campus), Part Time Advanced Standing MSW (On-Campus), Part Time Traditional MSW (Online), and Part-Time Advanced Standing MSW (Online)

Full-Time Traditional MSW Concentrations Offered: Clinical Social Work and Social Leadership

Full-Time Advanced Standing MSW Concentrations Offered: Clinical Social Work and Social Leadership

Part-Time Traditional MSW Concentrations Offered: Clinical Social Work and Social Leadership

Part-Time Advanced Standing MSW Concentrations Offered: Clinical Social Work and Social Leadership


About Florida State University: MSW students who enroll in Florida State University, the flagship school in the Sunshine State’s state university system, will receive good value for their tuition dollars. U.S. News & World Reports has ranked FSU among the top 20 public universities in the U.S., and both the Princeton Review and USA Today have ranked it among the five top value public universities in the nation. Florida State University maintains campuses in both Tallahassee and Panama City, and its College of Social Work offers MSW courses at both campuses.

Florida State University MSW Program Details: The 61-credit traditional MSW program and the 39-credit Advanced Standing MSW program are both offered on the Panama City campus for full-time students. You’ll be required to complete the 61-credit track in two years and the Advanced Standing track in one year.

Part-time students will complete their studies for both the 61-credit and Advanced Standing MSW tracks at the Tallahassee campus. You’ll be able to enroll in evening classes so that your work schedule won’t be negatively impacted by your educational goals.

FSU also offers the part-time 61-credit and Advanced Standing options online. This online MSW program in Florida was the first in the nation to offer an asynchronous MSW curriculum.

Florida State University offers two concentrations for students who’ve completed their foundational coursework. The Clinical concentration will prepare you to work one-on-one with clients in various social service settings. The Social Leadership concentration will prepare you for administrative and advocacy positions in social service agencies and organizations. Both concentrations are available to part-time online students. The Clinical concentration is open to students pursuing MSW degrees at both the Tallahassee and Panama City campuses, but the Social Leadership concentration is only available on the Tallahassee campus.

As is the case with all of the best MSW schools in Florida, fieldwork is an integral part of MSW education at Florida State University. FSU has more than 950 fieldwork partners at sites throughout the nation. First-year students must do 27 hours of fieldwork a week for a minimum of 432 hours. Second-year and Advanced Standing students must do 32 hours of fieldwork a week for a minimum of 512 hours.

Florida State University MSW Admission Requirements: For admission into this MSW school in Florida, you’ll need to submit a resume and three professional or academic recommendations. You’ll also need to be a graduate of an accredited college or university.

Key Highlights For Florida State University MSW Students

• FSU’s College of Social Work offers certificates in Child Welfare Practice, Gerontology/Aging Studies and Leadership in Executive and Administrative Development (LEAD) in Social Work.
• Florida State University offers four concurrent MSW degrees: a joint MSW/Master’s of Business Administration (MBA) degree in conjunction with FSU’s College of Business, a joint MSW/Juris Doctor (JD) degree in conjunction with the FSU College of Law, a joint MSW/Master’s of Public Administration (MPA) degree in conjunction with FSU’s Reubin O'D. Askew School of Public Administration and Policy, and a joint MSW/Master of Science (MS) degree in conjunction with FSU’s School of Criminology & Criminal Justice.
• Students employed in a social work setting may request that one of their fieldwork placements be at their place of employment.


5) Saint Leo University - Saint Leo


MSW Programs Offered: Full-Time 2 Years MSW (Online), Part-Time 3 Years MSW (Online), Advanced Standing Full-Time MSW (Online), and Advanced Standing Part-Time MSW (Online)


About Saint Leo University: Saint Leo University is one of the largest Catholic universities in the nation, but it’s open to students from all religious backgrounds. Saint Leo University’s MSW program is associated with its College of Education and Social Services. The program aims to make the social work profession more accessible so that students can balance the demands of home and work life while pursuing their educational goals.

Saint Leo University MSW Program Details: Saint Leo’s four online MSW cohort tracks are some of the best online MSW programs in Florida. The programs are open to students in Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, Mississippi, New Jersey, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas and Virginia. Classes are synchronous: You’ll use your computer’s webcam to interact with your instructors and fellow students in real-time.

The full-time 62-credit MSW track was set up to be completed in two years, while the part-time track was designed to be completed in three years. Classes are generally taught on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday evenings as well as Saturday mornings, though this will vary from semester to semester. Courses must be taken sequentially.

The 32-credit Advanced Standing track can be completed in one year if you’re attending this MSW school in Florida full-time or five semesters if you’re attending part-time. This track is only open to students who’ve graduated from an accredited college or university with an undergraduate degree in social work. Classes are scheduled on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday evenings.

Saint Leo University is one of the MSW programs in Florida that offers an Advanced Clinical Practice concentration for Advanced Standing and second-year MSW students. If you’re enrolled in the 62-credit program, you’ll be required to complete 1,024 hours of fieldwork; if you’re enrolled in the Advanced Standing program, you’ll be required to complete 512 hours of fieldwork. Saint Leo helps students vet appropriate field placements, but identifying such agencies and organizations, and initiating contact, is your responsibility.

Saint Leo University MSW Admission Requirements: Successful applicants to Saint Leo University’s online MSW program will need a bachelor's degree from an accredited institution. Additionally, you’ll need to submit a personal statement and three professional references.

Key Highlights For Saint Leo University MSW Students

• Fieldwork assignments require the completion of a seminar integration paper and a journal article critique.
• All students completing their MSW degrees through Saint Leo University’s online program are required to attend one weekend-long seminar on campus.
• Seventy-seven students earned MSW degrees through Saint Leo University’s online program in 2020.


6) Florida International University - Miami


MSW Programs Offered: Standard Two-Year MSW (On-Campus) and Advanced Standing MSW (On-Campus)

Standard Two-Year MSW Concentrations Offered: Advanced Clinical Practice

Advanced Standing MSW Concentrations Offered: Advanced Clinical Practice


About Florida International University: Florida International University is another one of the MSW schools in Florida affiliated with Florida’s state university system. FIU’s School of Social Work operates under the aegis of the Robert Stempel College of Public Health & Social Work, located on the main campus in Westchester. Florida International University’s MSW in Florida stresses the interconnectivity of the social, biological and environmental factors that underlie health and wellness.

Florida International University MSW Program Details: Florida International University offers two MSW campus tracks: a traditional 60-credit MSW program and a 33-credit Advanced Standing program. Both programs are offered on the Westchester campus and can only be pursued full-time. The 60-credit program is designed to be completed in two years, while the 33-credit program is designed to be completed in one year.

If you’re enrolled in the 60-credit track, you’ll take a year of foundational, generalist classes before concentrating on the Advanced Clinical Practice track in your second year. If you’re an Advanced Standing student, you’ll begin the Advanced Clinical Practice concentration immediately. Florida International University’s Advanced Clinical Practice curriculum satisfies the requirements for clinical social work licensure in the Sunshine State.

The fieldwork requirement for the 60-credit MSW track is 920 hours, which is less than the requirement for several other MSW programs in Florida. Students have some input into field placements, but the final decision-makers in this process are the School of Social Work and the agency. FIU has fieldwork partnerships with numerous human and social service agencies throughout Miami-Dade County.

MSW students are expected to complete a capstone project before attaining their MSW. This capstone project is a 2-minute case presentation based on client interactions students have had during their fieldwork experience.

Florida International University MSW Admission Requirements: Admission into this MSW in Florida depends upon having a bachelor’s degree with a 3.0 GPA or higher in upper division classes. You’ll also need to complete a personal statement and provide three social work references.

Key Highlights For Florida International University MSW Students

• The Robert Stempel College of Public Health & Social Work offers two MSW dual degrees: a combined MSW/MPH program and a joint MSW/JD degree program in conjunction with FIU Law. For the combined MSW/MPH dual degrees, the MPH concentration can be Health Promotion and Disease Prevention or Health Policy and Management.
• The School of Social Work offers a post-MSW certificate for practitioners who specialize in generalist practice but are interested in becoming licensed clinical practitioners.
• Florida International University offers specialized certificate training for MSW students interested in working in the fields of addiction, child welfare and gerontology.


7) Florida Atlantic University - Boca Raton


MSW Programs Offered: MSW (On-Campus) and MSW Advanced Standing (On-Campus)


About Florida Atlantic University: Florida Atlantic University has been heralded as the most ethnically and culturally diverse school in Florida’s state university system. The Phyllis and Harvey Sandler School of Social Work is part of the College of Social Work and Criminal Justice and is headquartered on the Boca Ratan campus. In addition to preparing professionals as social workers through its MSW program, the university does cutting-edge research in the field and was the first university in Florida to offer a Ph.D. in social work.

Florida Atlantic University MSW Program Details: Florida Atlantic University offers two MSW tracks: a 60-credit traditional Master’s of social work degree and a 30-credit Advanced Standing MSW degree. Both tracks are offered at the Boca Raton campus.

If you enroll in the 60-credit program full-time, you’ll finish in two years; if you enroll in the program part-time, you’ll finish in four years. The Advanced Standing program is only open to students who’ve completed a bachelor’s degree in social work at an accredited college or university. If you enroll in the Advanced Standing program full-time, you’ll finish in one year; if you enroll in the program part-time, you’ll finish in two years.

FAU’s program is one of the MSW programs in Florida that focuses on generalist training, which supports using a wide range of prevention and intervention methods. Courses include “Social Work Practice Using Solution-Focused Therapy,” “Advanced Context of Social Work Practice within Healthcare” and “Advanced Social Work Practice and Policy in Mental Health Settings.” You’ll also have the opportunity to set up independent study classes if there’s a social work topic you’re particularly interested in learning more about.

Fieldwork is important when you’re enrolled in Florida Atlantic University’s MSW program as it is when you are enrolled in any of the best MSW programs in Florida. Students enrolled in the 60-credit program are responsible for completing 1,000 hours of fieldwork. Students enrolled in the Advanced Standing program are responsible for completing 600 hours of fieldwork. Florida Atlantic University has fieldwork partnerships with more than 200 agencies in Indian River, St. Lucie, Martin, Palm Beach, Broward and Miami-Dade Counties.

Florida Atlantic University MSW Admission Requirements: You’ll need a bachelor’s degree from an accredited school with a GPA of 3.0 or higher in your last 60 credits if you want to enroll in Florida Atlantic University’s MSW program. Applicants must also provide three professional references.

Key Highlights For Florida Atlantic University MSW Students

• FAU MSW students interested in careers in child welfare, addictions or health aging have the opportunity to earn certificates in these fields.
• The Phyllis and Harvey Sandler School of Social Work is home to the Child Welfare Institute, the Healthy Aging Academy and the Robin Rubin Center for Happiness & Life Enhancement.
• You must maintain a 3.0 cumulative grade point average to remain enrolled in Florida Atlantic University’s MSW program.


8) Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University - Tallahassee


MSW Programs Offered: Full-Time MSW (On-Campus) and Part-Time MSW (On-Campus)

Full-time MSW Concentrations Offered: Social Work Administration, Policy, & Community Development

Part-time MSW Concentrations Offered: Social Work Administration, Policy, & Community Development


About Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University: Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University, which is part of the Sunshine State’s state university system, is Florida’s only public historically Black university. The Department of Social Work is housed in Florida A&M’s College of Social Sciences, Arts and Humanities. The Department of Social Work is committed to minority development and has an avowed mission to alleviate poverty and oppression in communities throughout Florida and the nation.

Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University MSW Program Details: Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University offers a single 67-credit traditional MSW track. The program must be pursued on campus, but it’s offered on both a full-time and part-time basis. Florida A&M is one of the few accredited MSW programs in Florida that doesn’t offer an Advanced Standing MSW to students who’ve graduated with an undergraduate degree in social work.

If you’re a full-time student, you can complete the MSW curriculum in two years. The first-year curriculum aims to build a strong foundation in social work theory and includes courses like “Human Behavior and the Social Environment,” “Social Welfare Policies and Programs” and “Dynamics of Oppression.”

In the second year of the program, your curriculum will be centered around the program’s Social Work Administration, Policy, & Community Development concentration. Social Work Administration, Policy, & Community Development focuses on systems-oriented interventions rather than client-oriented interventions. Courses include “Theories of Communities and Organizations,” “Program Design and Development” and “Resource Development and Management”.

Fieldwork is a critical component in all MSW programs in Florida, and Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University is no exception to that rule. MSW students are required to complete 900 hours of fieldwork. Fieldwork assignments are made by Florida A&M’s MSW Field Director and take place in human and social service settings throughout the Greater Tallahassee Metropolitan Area. Approved agencies include the Florida chapter of the National Association of Social Workers, the Division of Family Health Services within the Florida Department of Health and the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice.

Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University MSW Admission Requirements: Only students with a 3.0 or higher grade point average in the last 60 credits of their undergraduate degree can be admitted into Florida A&M University’s MSW program. Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University require all applicants to take the Graduate Record Exam (GRE).

Key Highlights For Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University MSW Students

• Florida A&M University’s MSW program is committed to helping people of color become social work professionals.
• If you receive a grade lower than “B” in any course in the MSW curriculum, you’ll have to repeat that course.
• In 2020, 19 students graduated from Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University’s MSW program.


9) Florida Gulf Coast University - Fort Myers


MSW Programs Offered: Regular Full Time - 2 Year MSW (On-Campus), Regular Part Time - 4 Year MSW (On-Campus), Advanced Standing Full Time - 1 Year MSW (On-Campus), and Advanced Standing Part Time - 2 Year MSW (On-Campus)

Regular Full Time - 2-year MSW Concentrations Offered: Medical Social Work

Regular Part-Time - 4-year MSW Concentrations Offered: Medical Social Work

Advanced Standing Full Time - 1 year MSW Concentrations Offered: Medical Social Work

Advanced Standing Part-Time - 2-year MSW Concentrations Offered: Medical Social Work


About Florida Gulf Coast University: MSW students at Florida Gulf Coast University will take their classes at the main campus in Fort Meyers, but the university also maintains satellite campus locations in Naples and Punta Gorda. The Department of Social Work is part of the Marieb College of Health & Human Services. FGCU’s Department of Social Work has one of the highest pass rates in the state for the LCWS licensure exam, and it’s particularly proud of the number of job offers its students get from the sites where these students have done their residencies.

Florida Gulf Coast University MSW Program Details: All four programs offered at this MSW in Florida are campus-based. The traditional MSW track takes 60 to 72 credits to complete depending on which electives you choose during your concentration year. The Advanced Standing track, which is only offered to students who’ve completed a bachelor’s of social work degree during their undergraduate studies, takes 33 to 45 credits to complete, depending on which electives you choose.

You should be able to complete the traditional MSW track in two years if you go to school full-time and in four years if you go to school part-time. You should be able to complete the Advanced Standing MSW track in one year if you go to school full-time and in two years if you go to school part-time.

This is the only one of the accredited MSW programs in Florida that offers Medical Social Work as a second-year concentration. Medical Social Work teaches students how to support clients and their families in hospitals, clinics and other healthcare settings. Courses associated with the Medical Social Work track include “Medical Social Work,” “Loss & Bereavement” and “Trauma-Informed Care”.

As with all MSW programs in Florida, fieldwork is an essential part of Florida Gulf Coast University’s MSW curriculum. If you’re enrolled in the traditional two-year program, you’re expected to complete 1,000 hours of fieldwork; if you’re enrolled in the Advanced Standing program, you’re expected to complete 500 hours of fieldwork. FGCU maintains fieldwork partnerships with agencies and organizations in Manatee, Sarasota, Charlotte, DeSoto, Lee and Hendry Counties.

Florida Gulf Coast University MSW Admission Requirements: Florida Gulf Coast University doesn’t accept students into its MSW program unless they’ve earned a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university. You will need to take an undergraduate class in statistics, too.

Key Highlights For Florida Gulf Coast University MSW Students

• Florida Gulf Coast University offers an online certificate program in Medical Social Work for individuals who already have an MSW.
• As a student at this MSW in Florida, if there’s a topic that interests you but isn’t covered in classroom courses, you can pursue it as an independent study course.
• FGCU awarded 22 master’s degrees in social work in 2020.


10) University of North Florida - Jacksonville


MSW Programs Offered: Traditional Full-Time Two-Year MSW (On-Campus), Traditional Part-Time Four-Year MSW (On-Campus), and Advanced Standing MSW (On-Campus)


About University of North Florida: The University of North Florida is another school in Florida’s state university system. UNF is known as a science school that’s particularly strong in health-related research. The university has been consistently singled out as one of the most military-friendly schools in the nation. UNF’s MSW degree is offered under the auspices of the Department of Sociology, Anthropology and Social Work, which is part of the College of Arts and Letters.

University of North Florida MSW Program Details: The University of North Florida makes three master’s of social work tracks available to students. All three are offered on UNF’s campus in east Jacksonville.

The traditional 60-credit MSW course should take two years to complete if you go to school full-time and four years to complete if you go to school part-time. This MSW in Florida emphasizes a generalist treatment model that aims to enhance social and economic well-being among individuals who’ve experienced systematic marginalization.

UNF also has a 39-credit Advanced Standing MSW curriculum available to students who’ve graduated from an accredited college or university with an undergraduate degree in social work. Essentially, the Advanced Standing MSW track duplicates the second year of traditional MSW studies. The curriculum was designed to allow you to complete all requirements in a single year.

Coursework remains focused on generalist perspectives in social work, even during the second year when many other social work master’s programs in Florida offer specific concentrations. Students can explore a number of specializations, however, by taking electives like “Child Welfare and Social Work Practice,” “Social Work Practice with the Military, Veterans, and their Families” and “Hospice and Palliative Care”.

At the University of North Florida, fieldwork is vital to an MSW education. You’ll be expected to complete 900 hours of volunteer service if you’re enrolled in the traditional 60-credit MSW course and 500 hours of volunteer service if you’re enrolled in the 39-credit Advanced Standing track.

University of North Florida MSW Admission Requirements: Applicants must be graduates of an accredited bachelor’s degree program. They must also submit a resume, a personal essay and three references attesting to their suitability for a career in social work.

Key Highlights For University of North Florida MSW Students

• MSW classes are offered in the late afternoons and early evenings to accommodate the needs of working students.
• The Department of Sociology, Anthropology and Social Work houses the Northeast Florida Center for Community Initiatives, a think tank aimed at finding solutions to various social challenges faced by Jacksonville and Duval County.
• In addition to a social work curriculum, the University of North Florida also offers a social welfare curriculum for students more interested in a systemic approach to identifying and rectifying social issues.


11) University of West Florida - Pensacola


MSW Programs Offered: Traditional MSW (On-Campus), Advanced Standing MSW (On-Campus), Traditional MSW (Online), and Advanced Standing MSW (Online)


About University of West Florida: MSW students who enroll in the University of West Florida’s master’s of social work degree know they’ll get a great education because UWF has been ranked by U.S. News & World Report among the top 20 public regional universities in the U.S. If you decide to attend UWF’s campus MSW program, your classes will be held on the university’s main campus in Pensacola. UWF’s Department of Social Work is associated with UWF’s College of Education and Professional Studies.

University of West Florida MSW Program Details: UWF offers its MSW in Florida degree both as a traditional MSW track and as an Advanced Standing track. The two tracks are offered both online and on campus. The traditional track consists of 60 credits and can be completed in two years if you enroll in the program full-time. The Advanced Standing track consists of 30 credits and can be completed in one year if you enroll in the program full-time. Only students who’ve completed an undergraduate social work degree are eligible to enroll in the Advanced Standing program.

Online MSW classes at UWF are primarily asynchronous so that students have the opportunity to learn at their own pace. The University of West Florida doesn’t require its distance learning students to do any campus residency requirement.

UWF is one of the MSW programs in Florida that is designed to meet the needs of students who wish to attain clinical social licensure in Florida. The MSW program’s second-year concentration is Clinical/Behavioral Healthcare, which emphasizes the importance of one-on-one therapeutic interventions with individuals, families and other groups. Classes include “Psychopathology for Social Work,” “Clinical Practice With Individuals” and “Clinical Practice With Families.”

The University of West Florida’s Department of Social Work maintains relationships with more than 100 agencies throughout adjacent coastal Alabama and the Florida Panhandle. Students in the 60-credit MSW program must complete 900 hours of fieldwork, while students in the Advanced Standing MSW program must complete 600 hours of fieldwork.

University of West Florida MSW Admission Requirements: To be admitted into this program, you’ll have to hold a baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution of higher learning. You must also submit a personal statement that speaks to how you hope the University of West Florida will help you meet your professional goals.

Key Highlights For University of West Florida MSW Students

• MSW students at the University of West Florida may qualify for positions as teaching assistants.
• All MSW students must complete a capstone project before they can graduate. The capstone will consist of a case presentation inspired by an individual you encountered during your fieldwork instruction.
• Applicants with a grade point average of 3.0 or higher will not have to take the Graduate Record Exam (GRE) for admission consideration.


12) Southeastern University - Lakeland


MSW Programs Offered: Traditional MSW (On-Campus) and Advanced Standing MSW (On-Campus)


About Southeastern University: Southeastern University is a private Christian university located 35 miles east of Tampa. The school is affiliated with the Assemblies of God, and while it’s open to students of all religious denominations, it is a Christ-centered school. Campus press releases have described Southeastern University’s MSW program as “the first evangelical Master of Social Work degree (MSW) in the state of Florida.” The university’s MSW degree enables graduates to meet Florida’s Licensed Clinical Social Work licensure requirements.

Southeastern University MSW Program Details: SEU offers a traditional 65-credit master’s degree in social work and a 32- to 33-credit Advanced Standing master’s degree in social work. Both programs are taught at SEU’s Lakeland campus. This may be one of the best MSW programs in Florida for people who are in a hurry to get their degree because you can complete the traditional program in five semesters and the Advanced Standing program in two semesters.

First-year traditional students will take foundational classes designed to orient them to the generalist social work perspective. Courses you can expect to take during your first year include “Foundations of Social Work Practice,” “Interviewing and Helping Skills” and “Engaging Diversity and Difference in Practice.” Second-year and Advanced Standing students will focus on a Clinical specialization that aims to impart counseling and psychotherapy skills they can use in client interventions. Classes you can expect to take during your second year include “Advanced Clinical Practice With Individuals,” “Advanced Clinical Practice With Couples, Children, and Families” and “Clinical Practice With Substance Use Disorders”.

Like all MSW programs in Florida, fieldwork plays an essential role in Southeastern University’s MSW program. If you’re enrolled in the 65-credit program, you’ll be responsible for completing 900 hours of fieldwork. If you’re enrolled in the Advanced Standing program, you’ll be responsible for completing 500 hours of fieldwork. Southeastern University maintains fieldwork partnerships with human services agencies and organizations throughout the Greater Tampa Metropolitan Area.

Southeastern University MSW Admission Requirements: To be accepted into this MSW in Florida, you’ll need a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited institution of higher learning. Advanced Standing applicants must possess a bachelor’s degree in social work.

Key Highlights For Southeastern University MSW Students

• Southeastern University offers MSW courses two evenings a week.
• Southeastern University is one of the few MSW programs in Florida that will allow students to accept payment for their work during fieldwork assignments.
• In 2020, 35 students graduated from Southeastern University with master’s degrees in social work.


13) Ana G. Mendez University - Orlando


MSW Programs Offered: MSW (On-Campus & Online)


About Ana G. Mendez University: Graduate and undergraduate social work programs are offered at Ana G. Mendez University’s new, 33,000-square-foot facility in Orlando. This university is a favorite for MSW students whose professional ambitions may involve working with Hispanic populations; the university’s main campus is actually located in San Juan, Puerto Rico, but the school also maintains campuses in Dallas, the Maryland suburbs of the District of Columbia and Orlando, and master’s degrees in social work are offered at all of them.

Ana G. Mendez University MSW Program Details: The master’s of social work program at Ana G. Mendez University is unique among MSW programs in Florida because it’s offered both in English and Spanish to satisfy the needs of bilingual students. Another thing that makes this MSW program stand out from other MSW programs in Florida is that its curriculum is informed by Latin American theories of social work as well as by American theories.

This 54-credit traditional MSW in Florida is offered in a distance learning format as well as on the Orlando campus. You will have to pass a comprehensive examination at the end of your first year to move on to the program’s second year. First-term studies focus on teaching the skill sets associated with the generalist social work model. Required courses include “Social Policy Analysis,” “Human Diversity and Social Justice” and “Theories and Models of Human Development and Behavior.”

The specialization option for second-term students is Clinical Social Work. Required courses include “Research Analysis” and “Clinical Intervention, I and II”. Each of the terms takes eight weeks to complete.

As with all MSW programs in Florida, fieldwork is a vitally important part of Ana G. Mendez University’s graduate social work curriculum. Students are required to perform 900 hours of fieldwork. The university maintains a network of human services agencies and organizations in the Orlando area for fieldwork placements.

Ana G. Mendez University MSW Admission Requirements: To be admitted into this program, you must have a baccalaureate degree with a grade point average of 2.25 or higher. If you’re considering enrolling in one of the university’s bilingual MSW programs in Florida, you may be required to take a language proficiency examination.

Key Highlights For Ana G. Mendez University MSW Students

• Supervised practice is an essential component of Ana G. Mendez University’s MSW program, and students will be graded on how well they perform in classroom scenarios modeled after fieldwork experiences.
• Students must spend at least 50 percent of their fieldwork hours interacting directly with clients.
• Ana G. Mendez University’s MSW program in Florida is still in the pre-candidacy stage of accreditation. Still, any student who graduates from it before full accreditation is attained will be recognized as having graduated from one of the accredited MSW programs in Florida.


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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS


What Are The Total Number Of Accredited MSW Programs In Florida?

As per the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE), currently, there are 14 accredited Master Of Social Work programs in Florida.

Total MSW Programs
in Florida
14


How Much Does An MSW Graduate Make Per Hour In Florida?

The average salary of an MSW graduate per hour in Florida is $28.09.


How Much Does An MSW Graduate Make Per Year In Florida?

The average salary of an MSW graduate per year in Florida is $58,420.


Pattie Trumble, MPP, MPH
Pattie Trumble is a nurse who worked in both California and New York for many years as an emergency room nurse. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Economics from the University of California, Berkeley, and an Associate Degree in Nursing from the Samuel Merritt Hospital School of Nursing. After 10 years of providing direct care, she went back to school and earned concurrent Master’s degrees in both public policy and public health from the University of California, Berkeley. Thereafter, she worked for various public health agencies in California at both the community and state levels providing economic and legislative analysis.



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