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Master of Social Work in Healthcare & Behavioral Health, MSW

Whitworth University
CMS
Academics
Master of Social Work (MSW)

Applications are now open for a fall 2027 start.

Prepare for a career in social work through a flexible, professionally focused Master of Social Work program that combines extensive field experience with intentional, in-person community. With an emphasis on healthcare and behavioral health, Whitworth's MSW prepares students to serve in one of the fastest growing social work fields.

Degree Snapshot:

Total credits: 64 minimum (Standard Track) | 36 credits (Advanced Standing)
Completion time:
- Standard Track: Two years full time or four years part time
- Advanced Standing: One Year
Modality: Hybrid (both online and in-person courses)
Cost per credit: $800
Rolling admissions
Program is cohort-based, starting every fall
Seeking CSWE accreditation candidacy

Program Benefits

Located in Spokane, Whitworth University places students in a region with a growing healthcare and social services sector. The MSW program's healthcare and behavioral health focus prepares graduates for a range of social work settings and supports a pathway toward clinical licensure.

Students in this program will benefit from:

1,000 hours
of supervised field experience
Focused professional preparation
in healthcare and behavioral health
Connections in Spokane + Beyond
Home to a growing social services community

Holistic Approach

Social work is meaningful work – and demanding work. The Whitworth MSW experience is designed with the whole person in mind. The program intentionally incorporates self-care, reflection, community and opportunities for spiritual formation to help students develop practices that support resilience throughout their careers.

Students can also choose a pace that fits their lives. See program options below.

Program Pathways

Whether you’re entering graduate school directly after completing an undergraduate degree or returning to graduate study after years in the field, the Whitworth MSW offers multiple pathways.

Direct MSW Entry | Two Years
For students with a bachelor's degree who are ready to begin professional social work education on a full-time schedule.
Cost: $51,200 (64 credits)

Advanced Standing | One Year
For bachelor of social work (BSW) graduates who meet the requirements for the one-year Advanced Standing pathway.
Cost: $28,800 (36 credits)

Part-Time MSW | Four Years
For working professionals and others seeking a flexible path to the MSW while balancing graduate study with work and personal responsibilities.

Cost: $51,200 (64 credits)

Admission Requirements for the Master of Social Work in Healthcare & Behavioral Health Program

Requirements for All Applicants:

Successful completion of a bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited institution (prior to enrollment)
A cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale; applicants with a GPA between 2.7 and 2.99 may be considered for conditional admission with an academic context statement
Three academic survey recommendations (ideally current professor, professional supervisor and professional colleague)
Personal statement questions
Current résumé or curriculum vitae
Participation in an admissions interview

Additional Requirements for Advanced Standing Applicants:

Graduation from a CSWE-accredited bachelor of social work (BSW) program with a GPA of 3.0 or higher in social work coursework
Completion of a minimum of 400 hours of supervised BSW field practicum
One additional academic survey recommendation from the BSW Field Instructor or Program Director

Explore MSW Program Courses

Through our hybrid program, you'll build an advanced professional skill set across two integrated years of coursework and field education. The curriculum is organized around CSWE's nine core competencies plus a Whitworth-specific competency in faith integration, equipping graduates to practice with both clinical expertise and cultural humility.

Generalist Year (Standard Track)
– Year 1:

SW 501: Social Work Theory & Practice I – in-person
SW 502: Social Work Theory & Practice II – in-person
SW 503: Human Behavior in the Social Environment – in-person
SW 504: Human Rights, Social Justice & Social Work Ethics – online
SW 505: Social Work Research & Evaluation – online
SW 506: Faith Integration, Spirituality & Religion in Social Work – online
SW 599: Field Practicum (8 credits across two semesters)

Concentration Year (Healthcare & Behavioral Health)
– Year 2 / Advanced Standing:

SW 601: Social Work Practice in Health Care – in-person
SW 602: Mental Health Assessment & Intervention – in-person
SW 603: Substance Use Disorder Assessment & Intervention – in-person
SW 604: Policy Practice & Advocacy in Health Care – online
SW 605: Advanced Social Work Research – online
SW 599: Field Practicum (8 credits across two semesters)
Electives: Two required electives (students may take January Term or additional electives)

Total credits: 64 minimum (Standard Track) | 36 credits (Advanced Standing)

Accreditation Status for the Master of Social Work in Healthcare & Behavioral Health

Whitworth University's MSW is currently in pre-candidacy for accreditation by the Council on Social Work Education's (CSWE) Board of Accreditation (BOA).

Pre-candidacy status indicates that it submitted an application to be reviewed for candidacy and received approval of its Benchmark 1 from CSWE Accreditation Staff to move forward for a candidacy review within 1-year. A program that has attained pre-candidacy status has not yet been reviewed by the BOA nor verified to be compliant with the accreditation standards. Students that are admitted to pre-candidate programs in the fall (or later) of the academic year in which the program is granted candidacy status will be retroactively recognized as graduates from a CSWE-BOA accredited program as long as the program attains initial accreditation. Candidacy is typically a 3-year process and attaining pre-candidacy does not guarantee that a program will eventually attain candidacy and initial accreditation.

Pre-candidacy applies to all program options, which include locations and delivery methods. Accreditation provides reasonable assurance about the quality of the program and the competence of students graduating from the program.

Review our program’s pre-candidacy status in CSWE’s Directory of Accredited Programs. For more information about social work accreditation, contact CSWE’s Department of Social Work Accreditation.