Why Should You Get a Master of Social Work?
A master of social work (MSW) degree prepares you for clinical licensure, unlocking career pathways and higher earning potential. Pacific’s MSW provides students with the tools they need to become culturally competent professional social workers.
Why Earn Your MSW at Pacific University?
Pacific University’s MSW program is grounded in the values and ethical principles of social work to promote human and community wellbeing. It is one of only three programs in Oregon that is an approved pathway for school social work licensure in the state and has a small student-to-faculty ratio that allows for individualized instruction and mentoring. With options to enroll full-time or part-time, in-person or online, Pacific’s MSW students tailor their program experience to suit their specific goals and circumstances.
MSW students are eligible for financial aid, including federal direct loans, work study, veterans' benefits, and institutional scholarships and assistantships.
What Courses are Included in the MSW Curriculum?
Pacific MSW students focus on a generalist curriculum with coursework in health, wellness, Latino families and culture, and racism, oppression and power in social work practice. This broad curriculum, coupled with practicum placements throughout the program, provides students opportunities to explore the breadth of the social work field as they advance their careers.
Each year, students also have the opportunity to participate in travel courses that expand their knowledge and experience of international social work opportunities. Travel courses alternate annually between New Zealand and Uganda.
What is the Social Work Practicum?
The practicum experience is at the heart of the Master of Social Work program at Pacific University. From September to May of their first year, MSW students participate in a two-semester practicum consisting of 14-16 hours per week, totaling 420 hours. During their second year, students participate in another two-semester practicum consisting of 18-20 hours per week, totaling 500 hours.
Over the entire course of the MSW program, students participate in a total of 920 practicum hours. In addition to the time dedicated to practicum placements, students attend a weekly seminar class. Seminar is an interactive setting where students integrate classroom knowledge with practice and critically analyze and reflect on their practicum experiences and professional development.
What Can You Do with a MSW Degree?
Pacific graduates with a MSW degree go on to explore several different career paths and licensures in social work, often becoming licensed clinical social workers, licensed school social workers, healthcare social workers, mental health and substance abuse social workers, and marriage and family social workers.
How Much Do Social Workers Make?
According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median salary for social workers in 2025 was $61,780, with salaries in the top industries being:
- Hospitals: $77,440
- Educational Services: $68,850
- State and Local Government: $65,100
- Ambulatory Healthcare: $63,710
- Individual and Family Services: $51,980
Social Work Licensure in Oregon
After you’ve earned your MSW degree at Pacific, you can apply for a licensed master of social work (LMSW) in Oregon by passing the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) exam and paying the state licensing fee.
The most advanced level of social work practice is the licensed clinical social worker (LCSW). A LCSW enables you to practice independently and open your own social work practice. In addition to a MSW degree and passing the ASWB exam, LCSW requirements in Oregon include:
- 3,500 hours post MSW experience (2,000 of those hours are with a direct client)
- 100 hours of supervision (with at least 50 being on an individual basis)
- Minimum of 24 months of supervised experience
- Payment of the state licensure fee
School Social Work Licensure
Pacific's MSW program is also a great option for students interested in working in school settings. As an approved pathway for school social work licensure, the program includes all coursework required to meet the Oregon Teacher Standards and Practices Commission (TSPC) standards. School social workers make a difference in children's lives every day. They advocate for students and help to address challenges that affect academic and social-emotional well-being.
How Long Does It Take to Get An MSW Degree?
An MSW degree can take anywhere from one to four years, depending on the prior credits you bring to the program and what pathway of study you choose. The MSW at Pacific University is offered full-time or part-time and can be taken in-person or online to complete the required 66 credits. Pacific’s fast track MSW for advanced standing students is offered in-person or online and can be completed in as little as one year full-time, or part-time in two years. Students in the advanced standing program complete 35 credits.
In-Person MSW: Full-Time or Part-Time
Students in the in-person program take classes on our Forest Grove Campus and can choose to attend full-time for two years or part-time so they can continue to work while completing coursework.
Online MSW: Full-Time or Part-Time
Students in the online program take courses remotely with synchronous courses running weekday evenings alongside some asynchronous content. There are no weekend requirements for these courses. Online MSW students can take their classes from anywhere and can complete their practicum in-person in their communities.
Fast Track MSW: For Advanced Standing Students
A CSWE-accredited advanced standing track also is available to students who completed a bachelor of social work (BSW) from Pacific or another CSWE-accredited program in the last five years. The advanced standing pathway starts with a one-credit “tune up” course, followed by 32 credits. Full-time students complete the advanced standing track in just one year, while students also can choose a part-time schedule and continue working. The advanced standing track is available in-person or online.
What are the Admissions Requirements for the MSW?
Applicants to Pacific’s MSW program apply online through the SocialWorkCAS (Social Work Centralized Application Service). Your SocialWorkCAS application includes short essay questions, a professional resume/CV, and two letters of recommendation. Pacific’s MSW does not require the GRE.
The MSW program at Pacific is open to students who have completed a four-year undergraduate degree from an accredited university, in any course of study. A fast track advanced standing pathway is available for those who earned a bachelor of social work degree in their undergraduate studies.
All prospective MSW students —for both part-time and full-time — use the same application process.
An MSW with a Yellow Ribbon Program for Veterans
Pacific University is proud of its commitment to the Yellow Ribbon program, which covers tuition costs for veterans when G.I. Bill benefits are insufficient. U.S. News & World Report has recognized Pacific’s support for student veterans; Pacific was the only private university in Oregon on the publication’s list of best colleges for veterans. Pacific University was also named one of the West’s most supportive schools for military veterans by MilitarySupportiveColleges.com, a coalition of web publishers that provides guidance to veterans seeking college information.
The Veterans Affairs (VA) is the largest employer of social workers in the U.S. VA social workers rely on the same skills and motivations that all effective social workers exhibit but must also understand the unique challenges facing their clients as veterans, including military service-specific factors such as deployment, relocation, combat and reintegration post-deployment. As a result, a MSW degree is a good choice for many veterans transitioning out of the military.
Save Your Seat
The Pacific University Master of Social Work Program participates in Pacific’s Guaranteed Grad School Admission Program. Students may apply for the MSW Program as soon as they commit to Pacific as undergraduates or transfer students, or during their junior year.
MSW Program Admissions
2043 College Way
Forest Grove, OR 97116
The Pacific University Master of Social Work program is part of the Claire Argow Social Work Program. Pacific's MSW and BSW programs are both accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE). Our listing in CSWE's directory is available online. The MSW degree is one prerequisite designed to meet the educational requirements for applying for licensure in all 50 states to practice as a licensed social worker. Assessment results are available online. Student learning outcomes and additional curriculum information is available in the academic catalog. The MSW Program Manual is updated yearly and available online.
