Concordia College’s Office of Graduate and Post-Baccalaureate Education is launching a Master of Social Work program to address the growing need for clinical social work providers.

The MSW program offers both one- and two-year pathways to accommodate a range of educational backgrounds.

The one-year Advanced Standing Program, beginning in summer 2025, is designed for individuals with a bachelor’s degree in social work and features online evening courses to support working professionals. Applications open on Nov. 15, with a priority deadline of Jan. 15.

The two-year Foundation Program provides a pathway for those with undergraduate degrees in fields other than social work. Students in this track will complete one year of on-campus coursework and an in-person clinical practicum before advancing to the second-year curriculum. The Foundation Program is set to begin in January 2026.

Graduates will be eligible to pursue licensure as Licensed Clinical Social Workers (LCSWs), enabling them to provide diagnostic assessments, treatment planning, and direct mental health care. This credential also allows clinicians to bill insurance and serve in a range of settings, including hospitals, mental health agencies, schools, and public service organizations.

Concordia’s MSW program emphasizes personalized instruction and small class sizes, offering students direct mentorship with faculty who are all clinically-trained social workers.

The new MSW program builds on Concordia’s established reputation for excellence in social work education, said program director Dr. Kelli Gast, a graduate of Concordia and clinical therapist of 20 years.

“The foundation of social work is relationships, and I think that’s modeled so beautifully at Concordia,” she said. “It’s a really supportive and practice-based environment.”

Addressing workforce gaps

With a projected 22 percent increase in demand for mental health professionals over the next decade, Concordia’s MSW program seeks to meet a critical workforce need, particularly in underserved areas.

“In rural areas, there are often limited social work resources, despite unique community needs,” Gast said. “We hope organizations can ‘grow their own’ clinical staff to support these communities.”

Gast says the program is also designed to help graduates recognize and treat trauma symptoms which could help prevent children from entering the juvenile justice system.

“It opens a lot of doors and answers a lot of needs,” added Gast.

For more information on the MSW program, visit www.ConcordiaCollege.edu/MSW.