Program Director: Kayti Protos, DSW, LCSW
Field Education Director: Michelle Brandt, MSW, LSW
Assistant Professor: Jen Norton, PhD, MSW
Adjunct Faculty: Wednesdae Reim Ifrach, REAT, ATR-BC, ATCS, LPC, NCC, CLAT, LCMHC, LPCC
The Moravian University Master of Social Work (MSW) program was designed to create educational and professional opportunities to educate and train healing-centered clinical and macro practice social workers dedicated to anti-racist, anti-oppressive, and healing-centered practice, with a commitment to enhancing the lives of all people, locally and globally, through innovative, value-oriented, and competency-based education. Our interdisciplinary, interprofessional training approach highlights theoretical, applied, field-based, person-centered, and topical knowledge, allowing students to specialize in working with marginalized populations as clinical social workers or macro-level practitioners.
The MSW degree requires 60 total credits over two years (full-time) or four years (part-time), including 900 hours of practicum/internship experience. The program is designed to meet the 2022 Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) Educational Policy and Accreditation Standards (EPAS) for competency-based education. Students will choose between two areas of specialization:
- Healing-centered clinical practice
- Going beyond trauma-informed care
- Anti-racism, diversity, equity, and inclusion infused perspectives throughout the curriculum
- Healing-centered macro practice
- Social justice and working with marginalized communities
- Advanced knowledge in working with the queer and trans community
Individuals seeking licensure (Licensed Social Worker, or LSW) will be eligible to take the initial exam as of Spring 2026. Individuals desiring advanced licensure status (Licensed Clinical Social Worker, or LCSW) will need to complete the required post-graduate hours of supervised practice, as well as an additional licensure exam. These requirements vary by state, with Pennsylvania guidelines managed by the Pennsylvania Department of State.
Practicum Placement
Practicum, formerly known as field education, is the cornerstone of social work education. Practicum offers students the opportunity to hone their skills in the professional setting while continuing to participate in their coursework. To assist in preparing students for their practicum placements, first semester students in their generalist year will engage with Moravian’s Simulation Center to begin practicing their skills of client/constituent engagement, assessment, intervention, and evaluation. This interactive experience provides students with real-time feedback with simulated clients to build confidence and prepare them for the challenges of client/constituency-facing positions.
At the masters level, students will complete 900 hours of practicum to satisfy the requirements of the degree, with 400 hours completed during the Generalist Year and 500 hours during the Specialization Year. Students participate in practicum concurrently with their classroom education. Before beginning practicum, students will meet with the Field Education Director to discuss areas of interest, skill development, and career goals. Most students interview at several sites before deciding where they want to do their practicum.
Examples of practicum sites include, but are not limited to: clinically oriented settings (ie. school social work, mental health treatment centers, hospice care, rape crisis centers) and macro-oriented settings (ie. homeless shelters, community advocacy organizations, political action groups, public policy institutes).
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