1:1 Placement Support
Benefit from field placement support in New York and across the U.S.
Fast Completion Time
Complete the MSW Advanced Track in as few as 12 months.
Flexibility to Fit Your Life
Convenient, fully online courses with no campus visits and three annual start dates.
Uplift Your Community. Strengthen Your Future.
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. SBU’s online Master of Social Work – Advanced Track is designed for designed for BSW holders looking to take the next step in their social work career. Through dynamic online coursework and hands-on field experiences, students gain the skills and knowledge necessary for licensure.
The Advanced track offers:
- Convenient online courses and no on-campus requirements
- Flexible course options that can be completed part-time in five semesters (18 months) or full-time in three semesters (12 months).
- Three intakes per year (Fall, Spring, Summer)
- 30 credit hours with 500 total practicum hours
- Field placement support for sites in your local area
About The Program
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Through dynamic online coursework and hands-on field experiences, you will gain the skills and knowledge necessary to lead change in your community. Our fully online, asynchronous courses offer flexibility without compromising academic rigor or practical experience. Plus, with dedicated field placement support, you’ll graduate ready for licensure and equipped to make a meaningful impact
What Sets Us Apart:
- Fast Completion – Accelerate your journey to becoming a licensed social worker without compromising quality.
- Flexible, 100% Online Classes – Learn on your schedule with asynchronous coursework that adapts to your lifestyle.
- Field Placement Support – Gain hands-on experience through integrated field placements that support your readiness for professional practice.
- Prepared for Licensure – Graduate with confidence to take the Licensed Social Worker (LSW) exam through coursework that meets CSWE standards.
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Through dynamic online coursework and hands-on field experiences, you will gain the skills and knowledge necessary to lead change in your community. Our fully online, asynchronous courses offer flexibility without compromising academic rigor or practical experience. Plus, with dedicated field placement support, you’ll graduate ready for licensure and equipped to make a meaningful impact
What Sets Us Apart:
- Fast Completion – Accelerate your journey to becoming a licensed social worker without compromising quality.
- Flexible, 100% Online Classes – Learn on your schedule with asynchronous coursework that adapts to your lifestyle.
- Field Placement Support – Gain hands-on experience through integrated field placements that support your readiness for professional practice.
- Prepared for Licensure – Graduate with confidence to take the Licensed Social Worker (LSW) exam through coursework that meets CSWE standards.
Curriculum Highlights
Clinical Focus. Social Change.
The mission of the St. Bonaventure University MSW program is to cultivate a community of advanced clinical change agents who are dedicated to addressing the complex and unique needs of diverse and marginalized populations. In the Franciscan tradition, the program is grounded in commitment to service, respect for human dignity, and engagement in critical inquiry. Graduates of the program are prepared to be leaders in the communities they serve, equipped to promote social, political, racial, economic, and environmental justice.
Below are examples of the types of courses you’ll take throughout your online Master of Social Work – Advanced Standing degree program. To view a complete list, please fill out the form and download a program guide.
This course focuses on the role and impact of oppression on diverse populations and service delivery systems. Through the examination of theoretical frameworks related to dynamics of power, privilege, and oppression, students will develop knowledge and skills to enhance their ability to work effectively with diverse populations. Emphasis is placed on learning anti-racist strategies to dismantle oppressive systems, use of clinical practice as a platform for advocacy efforts, and engagement and empowerment of client systems for diversity and equity inclusion at the micro, mezzo, and macro levels.
The course introduces students to two powerful systems creating policy around social welfare and mental health: the legislative and judicial systems. Information on the structure, composition, and function of these systems, along with various forces that influence them, such as lobbyists, activists, social movements, religious groups, and wealthy benefactors is provided. Case examples will demonstrate how the two systems work (independently and in partnership). Through case examples, students will learn how legislative and judicial decisions impact clinical social work practice and how social workers can impact legislative and judicial decisions.
In this course, students will learn how evidence-based practice and evidence-informed decision-making in clinical practice can improve the effectiveness, efficiency, credibility, and ethical adherence of interventions and programming. This course is intended to prepare students with the knowledge and skills necessary to engage in clinical research and program evaluation that informs service delivery, measures treatment progress, and can serve as the basis of organization funding. Students have the opportunity to apply research strategies in a clinical setting, including conceptualization, design, implementation, analysis, and reporting.
This course focuses on theories and skills for effective, ethical, anti-oppressive, and trauma-informed practice with individuals. Clinical practice skills critical to the therapeutic process, including engagement, interviewing, termination, self-awareness, analytical inquiry, intersecting identities, and the therapeutic relationship will be examined.
This course is intended to provide students with the knowledge, values, skills, and cognitive and affective processes necessary to effectively and compassionately engage in clinical practice with trauma survivors and their families across the life span. The course begins with an overview of the types of trauma that can occur and its impact on the individual and family. Building off this foundation, the course covers the evidence-based and evidence-informed assessment and clinical treatment of trauma survivors and family members of trauma survivors. Considerations in the therapeutic relationship will also be addressed.
Ready to Learn More?
Next Term: Summer 2026
Start Date: May 18, 2026
Limited seats are available. Secure your spot today!
Field Placement Support for Clinical Hours
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
“My experience as an online student in the MSW program at St. Bonaventure University has been amazing. The flexibility of the program has allowed me to pursue my degree while still managing work and family life. I love that I can complete coursework on my own schedule, which makes it easier to stay on track without feeling overwhelmed. The online format keeps me connected with professors and classmates, and I never feel like I’m missing out on support or interaction. This program has given me the confidence to grow professionally while still being present for the people who matter most.”
Jana Rodgers
Career Outlook
- 7% - Projected job growth through 2033
- 54,700 - Projected employment increase by 2033
- $61,330 - Median salary for Social Workers nationwide
Sources: Lightcast Labor Insights, Bureau of Labor Statistics, IPEDS, CSWE 2021 Statistics on Social Work Education in the US
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
St. Bonaventure University is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.
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 who are dedicated to addressing the complex and unique needs of diverse and marginalized populations. Additionally, our trauma-informed, social-justice focused program is rooted in the Franciscan values of compassion and wisdom. We emphasize a commitment to service, respect for human dignity, and engagement in critical inquiry. Our curriculum teaches students not only how to assist individuals and families but also how to drive broader societal change.
Our online MSW students receive comprehensive support throughout their academic journey. They are guided by a student advisor, faculty members, and placement coordinators. Additionally, students have access to numerous resources designed to aid their academic and professional development.
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.
This program requires 30 credits of online coursework and 500 total field placement hours. It can be completed part-time in five semesters (18 months) or full-time in three semesters (12 months).
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 – Advanced Standing program costs $825 per credit hour for a total degree cost of $24,750, excluding fees. With fees, the program total is $25,200.