School of Social Work

School of Social Work

Turn your passion for helping others into your career. At Adelphi University’s School of Social Work, we live our mission of social justice.

The Adelphi University School of Social Work is:

  • A top-ranked school, with a distinguished 70-year history, offering undergraduate, master’s and doctoral degrees with an outstanding education that is both affordable and accessible
  • A highly diverse community of students and faculty members who value social justice, equity, inclusion and a sense of belonging in everything we do
  • A school dedicated to helping you afford your education, offering scholarships of up to $20,000 to help save on tuition
  • A dedicated partner to many local organizations across New York state
  • Located in four convenient locations around New York—Garden City, Manhattan, Poughkeepsie in the Hudson Valley, and Hauppauge in Suffolk County

Top-Rated Social Work Programs in New York

Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) and minors

Choose an undergraduate major or minor in social work and find unique benefits at Adelphi: small classes, hands-on learning in real-world community settings, valuable internship experiences in the New York City area. Plus, you can save on tuition with a generous scholarship as high as $18,000 annually.

BSW and Minors

Master of Social Work (MSW)

With four locations in New York state—including our new Manhattan Center in New York City—and options for full or part-time, online or in-person study, this program provides exceptional flexibility for working adults. Cost is a top priority, with scholarship awards as high as $20,000 a year.

MSW Program

PhD in Social Work

Become a social work leader by earning your doctorate in our highly regarded program. You will be prepared to serve in social service organizations, teach in colleges or engage in social research. You will save on tuition with substantial new doctoral social work scholarships of up to $16,600.

Doctorate in Social Work

Doctor of Social Welfare (DSW)

Become a social work leader-practitioner in just three years—without putting your career on hold with our flexible Doctor of Social Welfare (DSW).

DSW Program

Postgraduate Social Work Certificate

Earn a Postgraduate Bilingual School Social Work certificate and help bilingual students and their families overcome language and culture barriers. You will earn New York state certification in bilingual school social work, giving you an affordable and accessible pathway to career advancement.

Advanced Study
Adelphi student holding a bullhorn stands in front of a crowd

The School-Wide Social Action Initiative

Each spring, Adelphi’s Social Action Initiative helps prepare undergraduate and graduate social work students for their role as advocates for social change, engaging them in projects like Being Anti-Racist, Racism and Criminal Justice, and #StopAsianHate. Social action is integral to social work education.

Jessica Karim sitting on a bench at Adelphi University's Garden City campus.

Jessica Karim has demonstrated academic excellence and active pursuit of the values, knowledge and skills of the social work profession

A Dynamic, Diverse Community

Resilient. Persistent. Committed. That description can apply to any Adelphi student in our social work program, but especially to Jessica Karim ’22, MSW ’23, who was named the 2021 BSW Student of the Year by the New York state chapter of the National Association of Social Workers. Karim, who describes herself as a physically disabled woman of color, is a fierce advocate for others with disabilities. She continued on to earn her MSW at Adelphi.

Counseling with a minor child in a clinical setting

Awarded for Innovation in Social Work

To better serve at-risk children and young adults in underserved communities, Adelphi spearheaded a collaborative project to train social work and nursing graduate students in the interdisciplinary area of behavioral healthcare. Adelphi received a substantial federal grant to implement this life-changing social work initiative.

Student Success Stories

Stay Current, Stay Licensed

Are you looking to stay ahead of the curve in mental health practices and tackle social issues impacting your clients and agency? Join Adelphi’s School of Social Work as we explore cutting-edge techniques and strategies that will empower you to make a real difference in the lives of those you serve.

Ways to Save on Tuition

Getting a degree from our top-ranked New York social work programs does not mean having to pay top dollar. With scholarships of up to $20,000, substantial fellowship stipends and generous transfer credit policies, we ensure that our programs are within reach of all students.

Awards & Recognition

Location, Location, Location

Adelphi offers four convenient New York locations, along with online options, for students interested in earning a degree in social work.

FAQs: Social Work Degrees

Adelphi University offers social work degrees at all levels of study. Bachelor of Social Work (BSW), Master of Social Work (MSW), PhD in Social Work, and Doctor of Social Welfare (DSW).

The School of Social Work has a distinguished 70-year history and is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education.

Degree Options
  • BSW
  • MSW
  • PhD
  • DSW
  • CSWE accredited since 1951
Explore Our Programs

The MSW program offers exceptional flexibility. You can choose full-time or part-time study, online or in-person at four New York locations: Garden City, Manhattan, Hauppauge (Suffolk County), and Poughkeepsie (Hudson Valley).

The online MSW program is part-time only, and tuition is significantly lower.

Flexible Study
  • full or part-time
  • online or in-person
  • 4 NY locations
About the MSW

Most students receive financial aid. Every admitted MSW student is automatically considered for a substantial scholarship, and BSW and PhD students also qualify for significant awards.

Adelphi has partnered with agencies and organizations to provide discounts off the published tuition rate to association members who enroll in Adelphi social work programs.

Additional fellowships and stipends may be available through programs like the IDEATE Fellowship in Behavioral Healthcare.

If you’re a transfer student from NY, NJ, CT, or MA with strong grades, the $10,000 Transfer Tuition Guarantee offers a private education at a rate comparable to a public institution.

Cost & Aid
  • program and transfer awards
  • tuition discount partnerships
Ways to Save

Yes. All social work students complete a field practicum— 900 hours for MSW students, 300-400 hours for BSW students—working directly in human service agencies with individuals, families, group, and communities. Placements are assigned by the practicum education department, and students can apply to use their current human services employment as a placement.

Work in Real-World Settings
  • get placed at top human services organizations
Practicum Learning

Yes. Adelphi University offers an accelerated Advanced Standing MSW program for students who already hold a BSW from a CSWE-accredited program. Students can complete the program in as little as one year on campus or 15 months online.
Admitted Advanced Standing MSW students are automatically considered for scholarships of up to $10,000, with no separate application required.

Fast-Track Your MSW
  • get up to $10k scholarship
  • complete in 12 or 15 months
About the MSW

Absolutely! Adelphi’s School of Social Work offers a wide range of for-credit professional development certificates, seminars, and workshops for practicing social workers and mental health professionals. Virtually all of our postgraduate programs are taught online to fit your busy schedule.

Continuing Education
  • CE credits available
  • online and self-paced options
Maintain your license

Start Your Journey at the School of Social Work

Location
Social Work Building, 201
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