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Master of Social Work (MSW)

Flexible Options to Earn Your MSW Degree

Since opening its doors in 1969, Marywood's nationally recognized School of Social Work has educated more than 4,000 social workers, making it the leading provider of social work education in Northeast Pennsylvania. Our MSW program is perfect for both those entering the social work field and current practitioners looking for advanced education.

Convenient Full- and Part-time Programs

Earning a Master of Social Social Work is convenient and flexible. Full-time, part-time, and weekend programs are available:

  • Scranton (Marywood University)
  • Lehigh Valley (DeSales University)

Field Placements

Our MSW program pairs traditional classroom courses with hands-on field placements to provide you with the knowledge and skills necessary to assist diverse populations of people. Students are placed in a variety of social service agencies throughout Pennsylvania, New York, and New Jersey. We will assist you in selecting an appropriate and convenient field placement. If you work at a social service agency, you may be able to complete your field work there.

Dual Degree Programs

We also offer dual degree programs for those interested in both advanced social work training and expertise in administration and management. You can earn two master's degrees in less time than it would take to complete them separately, by pairing a Master's degree in Social Work with one of the follow related degrees:

Top Employers

  • United Nations
  • Federal Government
  • Crisis Relief Organizations
  • Community Service Centers

Top Career Paths

  • Social Worker
  • HR Coordinator
  • Health Counselor
  • Family Therapist

Dig Deeper Into the Program Details

If you have any questions about this program, we're here to help. 

FIND YOUR COUNSELOR

  • Bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university
  • “B” average during undergraduate study or demonstrated potential for graduate work
  • Completed application
  • Informal Statement (instructions below)
  • Official, sealed transcripts
  • Two or three letters of recommendation

Submit an informal statement of about 800 words (3 pages). This statement should include information about the following:

  • Development of your interest in social work, including educational work and personal experiences as relevant.
  • Your strengths in relation to social work practice.
  • Gaps or limitations in your experience or attributes that would need attention in preparing for social work practice.
  • Your preference for your future in social work.

Recommendation Letters
Send two letters of recommendation from persons familiar with your academic and/or professional background. If you have not attended college for three or more years, please contact the Office of University Admissions for guidance.

Please note the following:

  • MSW Applicants: At least one academic reference is needed if you have graduated within the last two years.

Recommendations can be submitted electronically via the online application.

All documents submitted in connection with the application become the property of the University.

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Social Work

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Immaculata Hall

104 Morgan Road
Map & Directions

In addition to the President's Office, Immaculata Hall includes faculty offices for the Philosophy, Religious Studies, Social Work, and Communication, Language, and Literature programs.

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The front of the McGowan Center with a metal fence serving as a railing over an edge

McGowan Center for Graduate and Professional Studies

1201 University Avenue
Map & Directions

The McGowan Center for Graduate and Professional Studies, located on the corner of University and North Washington Avenues, contains classrooms and related clinical/professional space for Communication Sciences and Disorders, Psychology and Counseling, Education, and Business students. Market Marywood is also located here.

Learn More  |  Take a Virtual Tour

Merit Scholarship!

No application! No essay! Simply apply to Social Work graduate program by April 15 to be considered for a Merit Scholarship. Prospective students selected to receive a merit scholarship will be notified soon after they receive their admission acceptance packet.

The Schierling Grant: Excellence in Global Education and
International Field Experience for the MSW students

The purpose of the Schierling Grant is to enable MSW students to understand global interconnectedness as a central aspect of their work and have an appreciation of the international perspective, an understanding of global events and influences, and a sense of how global and local events affect populations and culture through an experience of international field education.


Benefits: The Schierling grant annually provides $15,000 to sponsor international airfare and four weeks of room and board. The same MSW student’s and faculty member’s airfare and conference registration fees will be supported, if their papers are accepted for presentation at an international conference. In addition, participating students will receive field practicum hours.

Through the Schierling grant, in May, 2018, four MSW students and an MSW faculty member went to Kenya, for 4 weeks and in May, 2019, five MSW students and an MSW faculty member went to Romania for four weeks.

The 2022 International Field Experience in Romania is already determined.

The application submission information will be posted in mid-November, 2021.

Mrs. Angela Marie Hyo Jae Ryoo-Kim Memorial Scholarship

A brief biography of Mrs. Angela Marie Hyo Jae Ryoo-Kim:

It is a distinct honor and privilege to share the legacy of Mrs. Angela Marie Hyo Jae Ryoo-Kim who lived her life according to four principles: faith in God, love of family, the value of education, and service to others. Mrs. Ryoo-Kim married Mr. Joseph Man Hung Kim and they had six children, 3 boy sand 3 girls. Both Mr. and Mrs. Kim were born in North Korea and they fled from the NorthKorean Communist regime to South Korea in the early 1950s. Their plan was to escape for a few days and then return to their home for good. However, their few days became a permanent separation from the rest of their family members. Because, in July 1953, the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) was created and the North Korean Communist regime closed the border between North and South Korea which is still in effect today.

Mr. and Mrs. Kim’s unplanned resettlement in South Korea was not an easy transition. They lost their two oldest children (a daughter and son) and they were forced to accept their separation from the rest of their family in North Korea.

Mrs. Ryoo-Kim used to say “in spite of the hard life circumstance, we (her husband and she) were determined to start all over and believed that with the providential care of God, we will rewrite our story for the sake of our children.”

Their faith, steadfast spirit and life principles certainly paved a new pathway for their off-spring in South Korea and the United States. Mrs. Ryoo-Kim was an avid reader and a life-long learner. She attended her church sponsored senior programs, took English and health care classes, and participated in arts and crafts and senior yoga classes. Her other joy was traveling with her family and friends. She believed in the importance of education and encouraged and empowered all her children and grandchildren to attain higher education. She emphasized what education can do for an individual and how education can be a tool to make a difference for the common good. She ensured her children were well educated and became contributing members of society. Another guiding principle of Mrs. Ryoo-Kim was her faith in God. She read the entire bible three times, participated in bible study, actively attended Mass and faithfully prayed for the people who were on her prayer list. God was the core of her being and her family was the center of her life.

The Mrs. Angela Marie Hyo Jae Ryoo-Kim memorial scholarship is founded on her life principles: faith in God and love and care of one’s family with one’s whole heart, educating yourself and serving others with your knowledge and talents.Mr. and Mrs. Kim’s family is very grateful for Mr. and Mrs. Antonia and Hans Schierling’s thoughtful, meaningful and generous gift to memorialize Mrs. Ryoo-Kim’s legacy through MSW students’ education.Mrs. Angela Marie Hyo Jae Ryoo-Kim’s brief biography was written by her daughter,Sister Angela Kim, IHM

Mrs. Angela Marie Hyo Jae Ryoo-Kim Memorial Scholarship Criteria:

*Eligibility: Marywood University Scranton MSW Students

*Priority: Daughter or son of an immigrant family

            First generation college graduate

*Personal essay (3 to 5 pages/double spaced):

           Share your personal philosophy of education

           What do you plan to do with the MSW degree?

           What kind of community service project(s) would you like to engage in while a student and in the future?

Please submit your personal essay to Sister Angela Kim at akim@marywood.edu by September 24th

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From #DayOne, Marywood is here for you each step of the way.

MSW Handbook

MSW Field Manual

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