1:1 Placement Support
Benefit from field placement support in New York and across the U.S. for your required field hours.
Flexibility to Fit Your Life
Convenient, fully online courses with no campus visits and three annual start dates.
Two Tracks Available
A traditional and advanced standing track allows you to find the perfect pathway to fit your experiences.
Earn your MSW online in a way that fits your life. St. Bonaventure offers one of the fastest, most flexible paths to becoming a licensed social worker—fully online, asynchronous, and supported with field placement—all at an affordable cost.
There are two tracks available for students: The Traditional track is designed for those without their Bachelor of Social Work degree, and the shorter Advanced Standing track is for those who already possess their BSW.
In the Franciscan tradition, the program is grounded in commitment to service, respect for human dignity, and engagement in critical inquiry. Students graduate prepared to take the Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW) exam, as well as with the confidence to be leaders in their communities.
Tracks
Online MSW - Traditional
The traditional track program is designed for those without a BSW and can be completed in seven semesters part-time. The program promotes values grounded in commitment to service, respect for human dignity, and engagement in critical inquiry.
Admission Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college/university within the U.S. or Canada
- Cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher
- Two letters of recommendation
- Application essay
- Transcripts
Online MSW - Advanced Standing
The advanced standing track is designed for those who already possess their BSW, with students able to complete the program in as few as 12 months. The program is perfect for those looking to take the next step in their social work career.
Admission Requirements
- Baccalaureate degree in social work (BSW) earned within the past 7 years from a regionally accredited and CSWE-accredited program
- Cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher
- Two letters of recommendation
- Application essay
- Transcripts
- BSW field evaluation
Field Placement Support for Clinical Hours
01
What Placement Support is Available for Practicum?
Students receive personalized support to secure a placement that aligns with their career goals—at no extra cost. St. Bonaventure University will guide the entire process, connecting you with an on-site practicum supervisor at an agency to ensure a structured, meaningful experience as you complete your required hours.
02
How do Placement Services Help me?
Practicum placements provide the 500 hours of hands-on social work experience required for graduation. Your Student Success Coach will provide resources to help guide you in your search for a placement site. Behind the scenes, SBU’s Placement Team will handle the necessary paperwork to ensure you’re prepared and able to start on time.
03
How Far Will I Need to Travel for Clinical Placements?
Your dedicated SBU placement team collaborates with you to secure quality experiential learning sites that reflect your educational goals and desired practice specialty. They ensure all experiences meet accreditation standards, and the agencies and instructors are approved before your practicum begins.
04
What is Involved with Clinical Experiences?
Start by considering the type of site and experience you want. If you have specific sites in mind, research their services and the professionals who work there. This will help you understand each facility and, when you meet with your Student Success Coach, determine whether they’re a good fit for your practicum.
Learn From Our Dedicated Faculty
Alexis Speck Glennon
Associate Professor
A licensed clinical social worker, Dr. Speck Glennon brings over 20 years of combined practice, teaching, and leadership experience in higher education and clinical social work settings.
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Pruitt Doyle
Program Director and Associate Professor
Dr. Doyle's clinical practice has included a specialized focus on children, youth, and families; interpersonal trauma; and juvenile delinquency in both community based and residential settings.
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Jessica Hare
Assistant Professor, MSW Practicum Director
Dr. Hare’s teaching philosophy is to inspire students to develop increased awareness of their interest, strengths, and values, so that they will be well-equipped to confidently represent their expertise in inter-professional work settings.
Learn MoreFrequently Asked Questions
Our Master of Social Work program, which launched in 2024, is currently in Candidacy status and actively moving through the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE)’s three-year accreditation process. Programs in Candidacy are expected to enroll students while completing the accreditation process.
St. Bonaventure University’s MSW mission is to cultivate a community of advanced clinical change agents that are dedicated to addressing the complex and unique needs of diverse and marginalized populations. Additionally, our online MSW is rooted in the Franciscan values of compassion and wisdom and is grounded in commitment to service, respect for human dignity, and engagement in critical inquiry. Our students are supported by a student advisor, faculty members, placement coordinators and have access to many resources to aid your academic journey.
A primary objective of this program is to advance social justice by embracing human diversity, understanding the impact of inequity across multilevel systems, and mitigating the effects of oppression through anti-oppressive practices.
The traditional track is an eight-semester program which requires 60 credits of online coursework and 900 total practicum hours (400 hours during foundation year and 500 hours during advanced year). It can be completed in 20 months full-time or 28 months part-time. The Advanced Standing track can be completed in as little as 12 months / three semesters full-time or 18 months / five semesters part-time with 30 credit hours and 500 total practicum hours.
Yes. Upon completion of the program, graduates will be eligible to take the Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW) examination given by the New York State Education Department. Individuals who live in other states should consult with their state's requirements.
The online Master of Social Work program costs $825 per credit hour.
The total degree cost for the traditional track is $49,500, excluding fees. With fees, the program total is $50,400. For the Advanced Standing track, the total degree cost without fees is $24,750, and $25,200 with fees.
TOP 8
St. Bonaventure University is ranked by the U.S. News & World Report 2025 as the #8 Best Value School in the North.
15:1
The online programs average a 15:1 faculty to student ratio.
30%
As a military-friendly college, St. Bonaventure University offers a 30% tuition discount to all active military.