An Inside Look at Southern's MSW Degree Program

What it Means to Be a Modern Social Worker

Social work has evolved significantly in recent years, moving to the forefront of community support and care. Today, more than 60% of the nation’s mental health providers are social workers—a testament to the vital role they play.

The profession now extends far beyond traditional settings. Social workers are found in law enforcement, humanitarian organizations, schools, and many other areas. While they may have always been present in these spaces, their contributions are now more widely recognized. For example, the Department of Education has refined certification requirements for school social workers, underscoring the essential value they bring to students and learning environments.

Yet despite all this change, one truth remains: social workers are people motivated by a desire to make a difference.

The best social workers share common qualities, such as:

• Compassion and empathy

• Problem-solving skills

• Awareness and sensitivity

• A willingness to take action

• The ability to connect with people

• An openness to multiple solutions

You don’t need to have these strengths fully developed before beginning your journey. Southern’s MSW program equips you with both the technical expertise and the interpersonal skills to thrive in this meaningful career.

At the core, success in social work comes down to one thing: a genuine commitment to helping others.

How the MSW Program Works at Southern

The first thing you’ll notice at Southern is the welcoming, supportive environment you become part of. Our MSW program is designed to be student-centered, flexible, accessible, and personalized.

Faculty members are committed not only to teaching but also to mentoring, encouraging faith, and building lasting relationships. It’s common for our MSW community to celebrate birthdays, exchange handwritten notes, share meals, and truly get to know one another. At Southern, you’ll find a genuine sense of community that extends beyond the classroom.

We invest in our students holistically—academically, personally, and spiritually.

As a faith-based program, we integrate Christian values into how we practice compassion, empower others, and prepare for service-oriented careers. Students learn in a nurturing, relationship-driven environment and are encouraged to carry these same values into their professional practice. While courses are taught within a Christian framework, we warmly welcome students of all backgrounds and beliefs.

Southern’s advanced generalist MSW equips you to make an impact across all three levels of social work:

• Micro – working with individuals and families

• Mezzo – supporting communities, schools, and organizations

• Macro – shaping policy, legislation, and government initiatives

Whether your passion is helping people one-on-one or influencing change on a broader scale, our program gives you the knowledge and skills to thrive. The generalist approach also prepares you to explore new career opportunities as the field of social work continues to grow and evolve.

There are two enrollment options, with different timelines for graduation based on your previous education:

Advanced Placement

With a bachelor’s degree in social work (BSW) from a Council on Social Work Education (CSWE)-accredited institution, qualifying students can typically complete the master’s program in 12 months (three semesters) on a full-time basis.

Foundation Placement

With a bachelor’s degree in another discipline (or from a non-accredited BSW program), full-time students typically can complete the program in six semesters.

Whichever track you’re on, you’ll enjoy the flexibility that the program offers. You won’t need to worry about attending evening classes every night—classes are concentrated on Sundays so that you can shift your focus to your other responsibilities during the week.

In our MSW program, you’ll have the opportunity to choose from three different emphases (click to jump ahead to the emphasis section):

1. Mental Health Practice in Social Work
2. School Social Work
3. Crisis and Emergency Management

Field Placement

A key part of the MSW experience is putting classroom learning into practice through fieldwork. At Southern, our field placement program gives you the chance to gain meaningful, hands-on experience while making a real impact in the lives of others.

Here’s how it works: each student meets individually with our Director of Field Education, who takes time to understand your interests and career goals. From there, you’ll be matched with an agency that aligns with your aspirations.

This personalized matching process is rare among MSW programs, but we believe it’s essential. Social work is a deeply personal calling, and your fieldwork should inspire and motivate you.

Many of our students are even offered full-time positions at their placement sites after graduation.

In this guide, we’ll take a closer look at the three emphases of our MSW program—what you’ll learn, the career paths you can pursue, and how Southern prepares you for long-term success in social work.

Wherever you hope to take your career, our goal is to help you get there.