Western New Mexico University’s (WNMU) School of Social Work offers an online MSW program with an advanced generalist concentration. Students are able to customize their program through taking electives in specialized areas such as child welfare, gerontology, school social work, and military social work. WNMU aims to prepare students to provide support to individuals, groups, families, and organizations, and to assume leadership roles in developing social services within their communities.

Learn More: Interview with Dr. Beth Walker – Professor and Chair of Social Work at WNMU
“I know that we love our students, and we work hard to get them to succeed.” Read more from Dr. Beth Walker’s interview.

WNMU offers both a traditional standing program, which requires students to complete 60 course credits over the course of two to three years (depending on full-time or part-time enrollment), and an advanced standing program (program requires a Bachelor of Social Work) that is comprised of 39 course credits that students typically complete in a year and a half full-time, though some can do it in one year. Part-time is also available. WNMU’s online MSW program features a combination of asynchronous online courses and face-to-face instruction over desktop web conferences held during evenings and weekends.

Traditional standing students must complete 900 hours of field practicum, while advanced standing students must fulfill 450 hours of field practicum. Field education hours are divided across multiple semesters. Students collaborate with the field liaison to determine agency sites that fit their goals.

Applicants to either the traditional standing or advanced standing program must submit college transcripts, a professional resume, five letters of recommendation, and a personal statement essay. GPA on most recent 64 credits must be a 2.75 (3.0 in social work classes is also required for advanced standing students). Three of the letters of recommendation should include Professional references (an individual who supervised your performance in a work, field practicum, or volunteer setting.) and academic references ( a college professor or academic advisor.). For Advanced standing students, one reference must be from a full-time faculty member where the BSW was completed and one from your field instructor.

Western New Mexico University’s online MSW program is fully accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE). WNMU is also accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC).

Department: Western New Mexico University’s School of Social Work

Degree Types: Traditional and Advanced Standing

Concentrations: Advanced Generalist

Program Structure: Online with field instruction (no campus visits required)

Instruction Methods: Program allows some flexibility with classes and electives, so students are in loosely structured cohorts – classes use a combination of synchronous and asynchronous instruction.

Program Overview

Program Requirements

Program Length

Admission Requirements

Program Overview

Program Requirements

Program Length

Admission Requirements

Western New Mexico University’s MSW program information was last updated in March 2020. For more information, visit the university’s website above.

If you have additional information about this program, email us at contactus@onlinemswprograms.com.