Earn a CSWE-Accredited Online Master’s in Social Work

Licensure prep

$525 per credit

Advanced standing: 32 credits

Traditional track: 63 credits

Learn More Today

Get more information about Highlands’ MSW in Clinical Practice.

Curriculum Admissions Careers

Succeed as a Culturally Responsive Clinical Social Worker

Pursue your Master of Social Work in Clinical Practice online with New Mexico Highlands University to gain skills for working with diverse communities throughout the southwestern United States. Our program includes traditional and advanced standing tracks, each with a clinical focus that enables you to thrive as a clinical social worker. Get started now to learn from experienced faculty members with expertise in relevant practice areas and social work research.

  • Traditional track (2 to 3 years): Available to students with a bachelor’s degree. 
  • Advanced standing (1 to 1.5 years): Ideal for students who earned a CSWE-accredited BSW in the last five years. 
  • Licensure preparation: Pursue the degree required for licensure as you get ready to take the ASWB national exam. 
  • Personal attention: An academic advisor will assist you throughout your online MSW in Clinical Practice program. 

Develop Comprehensive Skills to Succeed in a Multicultural World

Our online MSW focuses on multicultural practice, preparing you to meet the needs of underserved communities. Your experience will include field practicum courses, providing opportunities to apply classroom theory to real-world situations.

DSM for Clinicians

Get introduced to DSM-5 classifications and various contexts for the expression and assessment of client conditions.

Advanced Clinical Research

Build quantitative and qualitative skills for evaluating clinical practice and assessing the implications of research findings.

Social Work Practice in Rural Communities

Explore social work practice in rural contexts, including the cultures of rural clients and their unique social problems.

Master’s in Social Work Admissions Requirements

Our traditional and advanced standing tracks offer multiple paths to an MSW in Clinical Practice. In addition to the criteria listed below, all applicants must submit an online application, official transcripts, professional references and a personal essay. Request information to discuss the complete requirements with our admissions team.

Traditional MSW TrackAdvanced Standing MSW Track
Bachelor’s degree from an accredited schoolCSWE-accredited BSW earned in the last five years
Minimum 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 scaleMinimum 3.5 GPA in your social work major

Discover the Difference You Can Make in Clinical Social Work

Earn your MSW in Clinical Practice to expand your career opportunities. You’ll gain advanced competencies for supporting individuals, groups and families in an employment sector with faster-than-average job growth.1

Career Opportunities for MSW Graduates

Social Worker $58,380 median annual salary1

Social Services Director $69,000 median annual salary2

“The Facundo Valdez School of Social Work not only provided me with the education necessary to begin my career as a social worker, but also helped me grow as an individual. The support received from the Staff, Professors, and Dean was just as critical in my development as a professional as the knowledge I gained in the courses.”

– Jessica Estrada, May 2020 Graduate

Awards and Accreditations

The online MSW program at Highlands University is CSWE accredited, and the university is HLC accredited. Our affordable tuition earned us a Best Bang for the Buck recognition from Washington Monthly magazine.

Accredited by the Council Council on Social Work Education C S W E

Council on Social Work Education (CSWE)

Higher Learning Commission

Higher Learning Commission (HLC)

New Mexico Highlands University – Transforming Lives

At New Mexico Highlands University, we foster creativity, critical thinking and research in the liberal arts and sciences. As a premier comprehensive university, we transform lives and communities through education with our range of on-campus and online programs.

  • Multicultural focus
  • Accessible education
  • Family atmosphere
  • Opportunity for all

The University is fully accredited by and in good standing with the Higher Learning Commission (HLC).

Ready to Get Started?

Complete the form to learn how the MSW in Clinical Practice program at Highlands University can transform your life.

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Sources

  1. Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor. Occupational Outlook Handbook. “Social Workers.” Retrieved December 10, 2024, from https://www.bls.gov/.
  2. Glassdoor. “Social Services Director Salaries.” Retrieved December 10, 2024, from https://www.glassdoor.com/.