Grounded in an ecosystems perspective, the program teaches students to apply advanced critical thinking skills at micro, mezzo, and macro levels while addressing human rights and promoting social, racial, economic, and environmental justice in both local and global contexts. The curriculum emphasizes the importance of understanding and addressing the pervasive effects of complex trauma, preparing students to engage in trauma-informed clinical practice while also influencing macro-level policy and systems change. Its comprehensive and integrated structure provides a strong foundation for developing advanced clinical knowledge, values, skills, and cognitive and affective processes, along with the capacity to lead social work efforts at the policy and organizational levels.

The first year of the program (two semesters) is rooted in CSWE’s nine generalist competencies, offering a robust foundation in academic and professional skills essential for generalist social work practice at the master’s level. The second year (three semesters) focuses on a justice-informed, clinically and systemically oriented curriculum, based on nine specialized competencies. This approach equips students with the expertise needed to excel in clinical settings, engage in macro-level advocacy, and drive systems-level change, all while incorporating a nuanced understanding of trauma and its impact across diverse populations and contexts.

The rigorous curriculum meets the Minnesota Board of Social Work's clinical content requirements across six designated areas (differential diagnosis, clinical treatment planning, clinical intervention methods, evaluation methodologies, social work values and ethics, and culturally specific assessment and intervention) necessary to sit for the ASWB clinical licensure exam.

Bethel University’s MSW Graduate School curriculum is thoughtfully designed to sequence concepts, techniques, and assignments to align with the developmental progression of social work students. The justice-informed MSW program emphasizes professional, ethical, and clinical practice; working with diverse populations; advancing social, racial, economic, and environmental justice; engaging in trauma-informed agency-based research; influencing social policy; and applying justice-informed practice across individuals, families, groups, communities, and organizations.

Additionally, the program includes a two-credit supervision course, which fulfills the Minnesota Board of Social Work's requirement for supervision, further enhancing the professional and leadership preparedness of graduates.

Admission Requirements

The Master of Social Work: Full Program will consider applicants who:

• Meet the general requirements for admission to the Graduate School.
• Submit an official transcript (U.S. schools) or NACES or AICE evaluation (international schools) showing an earned baccalaureate or higher degree and official transcripts or NACES or AICE evaluations from all graduate schools attended.
• Have earned a baccalaureate or higher degree from an institutionally accredited (or internationally recognized as equivalent) institution.
• Have earned a GPA of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale on the highest degree completed.
• Submit three current professional Admission References.
• Submit a written Statement of Purpose.
• Submit a current resume.
• Interview with the program director if requested. 

Students who have not achieved the minimum GPA, grade standards, or other assessment criteria may still apply to be considered for provisional acceptance. See Admission Categories.