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Adelphi University’s Interdisciplinary Education and Training Experience (IDEATE) Fellowship has been awarded a $2.3 million grant renewal by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA).
Master of Social Work (MSW) Program
Join Adelphi University’s MSW program, one of the country’s highest-ranked master’s degree programs for social work—with flexible schedules, interesting social work courses, helpful learning options and generous new scholarships.
Starting in Fall 2026, this program will be offered at our new Manhattan Center.
Why Should I Enroll in Adelphi’s MSW Program?
Whether you choose to study on Long Island in Garden City (Nassau County), or Hauppauge (Suffolk County), in the Hudson Valley or in the New York City area, Adelphi’s Master of Social Work program opens the door to more career options and higher salaries.
The MSW program provides the preparation necessary for advanced professional social work practice. The social work master’s degree requires 61 credits. The generalist Master of Social Work curriculum provides the knowledge, skills, values and ethics essential to all forms and levels of generalist social work practice.
Why Earn a Master’s Degree in Social Work at Adelphi in New York?
- Save on tuition with substantial new Graduate Social Work Scholarships that make Adelphi affordable. Awards range as high as $20,000.
- Every admitted master’s degree in social work student at Adelphi University is considered for a scholarship of up to $20,000.
- Every admitted Advanced Standing MSW student at Adelphi University is considered for a scholarship of up to $10,000.
- Besides these scholarships, students may also qualify for additional stipends through our fellowship programs.
- Our online MSW students also save—their tuition is 30 percent lower.
- Take advantage of the graduate social work program’s flexible options: full or part-time, online or on campus in Garden City, Brooklyn, Hauppauge or the Hudson Valley. This allows you to balance work and family while earning the degree you need.
- Our MSW program is flexible; get your master’s in social work online or in-person.
- Join a dynamic community of scholars and become a voice for change, advocating for social justice and improving the lives of the people you serve.
- Apply for an IDEATE Fellowship in Behavioral Healthcare, which comes with a generous $12,500 stipend.
Learn from and interact closely with a distinguished team of faculty members that includes seasoned educators, accomplished researchers, experienced practitioners and advocates.
Master’s in Social Work Mission Statement
The Adelphi University School of Social Work prepares students to actively engage in antiracist and anti-oppressive social work practices to promote social justice and human rights for a diverse society. Students will learn to effectively and ethically apply social work knowledge, skills and values and to advocate for social, racial, economic and ecological justice among diverse and marginalized individuals, families, groups, organizations and communities regionally, nationally and globally. Through our student-centered curricula and community-engaged programs, we provide leadership to advance knowledge and skills to enhance human well-being and the profession.
Graduate Social Work Scholarships
Save on tuition with substantial new Graduate Social Work Scholarships, with awards as high as $20,000. Besides these scholarships, students may also qualify for additional stipends through our fellowship programs.
$20,000
every admitted MSW student at Adelphi University is considered for a scholarship of up to $20,000.
Our students are phenomenal leaders in the community and the profession. They head agencies and build alliances with organizations to promote well-being and security in society. We are nationally ranked, and that status causes our students to thrive in their fields of practice. Social work is a noble profession. Join us and see what you can aspire to become.
Diann E. Cameron-Kelly, PhD
Associate Provost for Student Success
MSW Program Flexibility (Full- and Part-Time Options)
Making Adelphi’s Master of Social Work program more accessible to all is our mission. We offer several options for completing your MSW, all of which follow the same sequencing of courses and requirements regardless of whether you are full or part-time, at our Long Island locations, the Hudson Valley, the New York City area or online. All programs require you to matriculate in four years and fulfill residency requirements by enrolling in 9 or more credits for two successive semesters. Explore our many social work master’s degree program options to find one that best fits your goals.
- Full-Time, Two-Year MSW Program—Our standard MSW program
- Part-Time Master’s Degree in Social Work Program—Complete a degree during evenings and/or weekends.
- BSW-MSW Advanced Standing Program—Earn an MSW in only one year.
- Bilingual School Social Work Program—Earn an MSW and a certificate in bilingual school social work.
- Online Master of Social Work—A low-residency, innovative and user-friendly alternative to distance learning
Adelphi Master of Social Work Certifications
Explore the options below to advance your specialization in social work with a graduate certificate program:
- Bilingual School Social Work—Earn certification in bilingual school social work.
- Human Resource Management—You’ll earn an Advanced Human Resource Management Certificate, offered with the Robert B. Willumstad School of Business.
- Continuing Education and Professional Development—Explore all of your options to see how you can advance your specialization in social work, from addiction to mental health and aging.
Exceptional Hands-On Learning for Social Work Students
Field education is a central component of Adelphi’s MSW graduate program. With this in mind, we offer fieldwork in more than 1,000 diverse health, mental health and social service agencies. Additionally, you’ll gain valuable experience right on our Garden City campus, where the Adelphi University School of Social Work hosts:
Adelphi’s Institute for Adolescent Trauma Treatment and Training Educates Providers Nationwide
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By training professionals to treat trauma in youth across the nation, the institute extends the School of Social Work mission far beyond campus.
I joined Adelphi’s MSW program at 53, amidst life challenges, including my daughter’s cancer diagnosis and a global pandemic. Despite uncertainties, the supportive community and dedicated professors made the journey fulfilling. Thanks to my MSW degree from Adelphi, I started working as a social worker at a comprehensive cancer wellness center.
How to Choose an MSW Program in New York
To decide which Master of Social Work degree program is best for you, you should look into accreditation, flexibility, faculty and other important factors.
Adelphi MSW Program Info
Handbooks and Manuals
Adelphi MSW Application Requirements
Applicants for the Master of Social Work must have a minimum cumulative 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale and should submit the following:
- Graduate application and $60 fee
- Two letters of recommendation (professional and/or academic)
- Personal essay
- Paid or volunteer experience in human services preferred
- Official transcripts from all prior institutions and proof of bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited four-year institution
- English proficiency exam (TOEFL, IELTS, or DET) scores: We require a minimum score of 80 on the TOEFL iBT, 6.5 on the IELTS, and 110 on the web-based Duolingo English Test (DET). We will accept TOEFL MyBest scores. If your scores fall below our minimum requirements, you may be considered for one of our pathway programs
- Course-by-course evaluation: All graduate applicants with undergraduate-level work completed outside of the United States will be required to send a course-by-course evaluation of their academic work prepared by a NACES member organization. Adelphi recommends you use The Evaluation Company (TEC) or IEE (discount provided for Adelphi applicants), ECE, or WES, but any NACES member evaluation would be acceptable.
Note that an interview may also be required at the discretion of the School of Social Work’s Admissions Committee.
All MSW applicants are required to have:
- A baccalaureate from an accredited college or university with a strong background in the liberal arts and sciences, earned within the last five years
- Personal characteristics and qualifications related to successful professional performance as consistent with the National Association of Social Workers Code of Ethics
Additional Requirements
Additional information is required from applicants with degrees from non-native English-speaking countries as well as an official TOEFL score of 80 or higher OR IELTS score of 6.5 or higher.
Learn more about the requirements for international students.
Submit evidence of the following:
- An undergraduate degree from a Council on Social Work Education (CSWE)–accredited social work program within the past five years
- One letter of recommendation from your faculty field liaison or field instructor
- A second letter of recommendation, preferably from a faculty member
- Grades of B or better in all social work courses (in some cases, additional courses may be required)
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January 21
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Virtual via Discord
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February 5
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Frequently Asked Questions About Master of Social Work Programs
With an MSW, you can pursue a career as a clinical social worker, school social worker, healthcare social worker, mental health counselor, substance abuse counselor, family therapist, social and community services manager, or child welfare specialist. You can also consider a career in research or education or private practice.
Yes. Adelphi’s School of Social Work offers the BBSW-MSW Advanced Standing Program in New York, with which you can earn an MSW in only one year. Only candidates holding a BSW from a Council on Social Work Education (CSWE)-accredited program are eligible for advanced standing.
Every admitted campus-based social work graduate student at Adelphi is considered for a scholarship. MSW students are eligible for up to $20,000 and Advanced Standing students are considered for a scholarship of up to $10,000. There is no application required; you will be notified at the time of your admission decision.
Our online MSW students, including Advanced Standing, also save—their tuition is 30% lower.
Second-year students or incoming Advanced Standing students are eligible to apply for our fellowships.
Besides these scholarships, you may also qualify for additional stipends through our fellowship programs.
We offer several options for completing your MSW. All follow the same sequencing of courses and requirements regardless of whether you are full or part time, at our Long Island locations, the Hudson Valley, the New York City area or online. All programs require you to complete within four years and fulfill residency requirements by enrolling in 9 or more credits for two successive semesters.
Here are options available at Adelphi:
- Full-Time, Two-Year MSW Program
- Part-Time Master’s Degree in Social Work Program – evenings and/or weekends.
- Advanced Standing Online MSW –for students who graduated from an accredited BSW program in the last five years
Advanced Standing is offered both on campus and online. Online has a summer start only and completes in 15 months. Campus programs may be completed full-time, start in the fall and complete in two academic semesters. Part-time can begin in fall, spring or summer and is completed in 12 to 15 months.
Awards & Recognition
U.S. News & World Report: Graduate Social Work
The Adelphi University School of Social Work’s graduate programs are ranked No. 67 overall in the United States, placing it well within the top quarter of more than 300 schools nationwide.
See How We Rank
Council on Social Work Education
Adelphi’s baccalaureate and master’s social work programs have earned accreditation from the prestigious Council on Social Work Education since 1951, reflecting the institution’s steadfast pursuit of excellence and adherence to rigorous educational benchmarks.
CSWE Accredited
Top Picks for Social Work Degrees
Our School of Social Work is the only school in the state to have its BSW and on-campus, online and hybrid MSW degree programs recognized as Top Picks by NewYorkSocialWorkEDU.
Top Bachelor’s & Master’s Degree Programs
NC-SARA Approved
Adelphi University participates in the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements.
Approved Distance Education
Forbes
For the third consecutive year, Adelphi University has been recognized as the highest-ranked private university on Long Island on Forbes’ 2026 America’s Top Colleges list.
Adelphi’s Ranking
Colleges of Distinction: Career Development
Adelphi is recognized as a Career Development College of Distinction for the exceptional way that we equip students with skills to succeed in their lifelong career journey.
Expert Career Guidance
Top School for Veterans
Adelphi’s School of Social Work is one of only 13 programs in the state recognized as a top school for veterans, based on our Yellow Ribbon status, CSWE accreditation and active on-campus chapter of the Student Veterans of America.
One of NY’s Best
Wall Street Journal/College Pulse
Adelphi earned national recognition in the 2026 Wall Street Journal/College Pulse rankings for its strong student outcomes. The University ranked highly in social mobility and best salaries, reflecting the lifetime return on investment it provides to students.
Ranked one of the best
U.S. News & World Report
Adelphi University has been named a Best College among National Universities for eight consecutive years. Adelphi remains the top-ranked private university on Long Island.
Celebrate Our Rise
Colleges of Distinction: Military Support
Adelphi is recognized as a College of Distinction for our dedication to building a campus environment where military-affiliated students can thrive personally and professionally.
Military-Friendly
Elizabeth Szpilka
MSW•LMSW
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Social Work Building 219
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