West Virginia social work programs prepare students for generalist and advanced careers in the social work profession. A Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) degree accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) is the minimum requirement for licensure in the state, while a Master of Social Work (MSW) degree will help you progress to independent and clinical social work practice. There are four types of social work licenses in West Virginia; read our West Virginia licensure page for more information on these licenses. Social work schools in West Virginia offer various specializations to help you prepare for a rewarding career.
Quick Facts
- 10 schools offering social work programs in West Virginia are in our database (see below)
- Of the social work schools in West Virginia, 2 offer associate’s degrees or certificates, 8 offer bachelor’s degrees, and 2 offer a master’s or advanced degree1
- No schools ranked in Kiplinger’s Best Values in Public Colleges
- 1 school ranked in US News Best Graduate Social Work Programs
- No schools ranked in Social Work Guide’s Top Online MSW Programs4
- Across 7 schools, 10 bachelor’s and master’s social work degree programs in West Virginia are accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE)5
Featured Online Programs in Social Work
Top-Ranked Schools with Social Work Programs in West Virginia
US News Best Graduate Social Work Programs
- West Virginia University (#75 tie)
Schools with Social Work Programs Accredited by the CSWE
- Bethany College
- Concord University
- Marshall University
- Shepherd University
- West Liberty University
- West Virginia State University
- West Virginia University
Schools in West Virginia with Social Work Degree Programs
BSW and Other Undergraduate Programs
Marshall University
Marshall University is a public university offering a BSW program at its Point Pleasant campus. Ranked #45 among regional universities in the South by US News & World Report in 2016, the university has more than 13,000 students and many active clubs and sports teams. The BSW program within the Department of Social Work prepares students for many different social work career paths in child welfare, healthcare, criminal justice, and addictions. Students must take liberal arts courses in English, math, science, and politics and social work courses in human behavior, social welfare, research, and policy. In their senior year, students complete a field education placement and a capstone project to apply classroom learning to practice. The social work department also offers a CSWE-accredited MSW degree with specializations in behavioral health, rural social work, and military social work.
West Liberty University
West Liberty University is a public institution located in a rural area close to the Ohio and Pennsylvania borders. The school’s BSW program is accredited by the CSWE and includes a broad range of social work courses, including politics, statistics, diversity, counseling theories, and macroeconomics. Students in the College of Liberal Arts Department of Social & Behavioral Sciences also choose social work electives from among criminal justice, child welfare, disaster intervention, and family relations. In order to graduate students must achieve at least a 2.5 GPA in all social work courses and at least a 2.0 GPA overall. In their senior year, students complete at least 400 supervised hours in a field education placement at a social service organization. During the program, students can be involved in community projects through the Social Work Club or in the National Social Work Honor Society, Phi Alpha. The university was tied for 60th place among regional colleges in the South by US News & World Report in 2016.
MSW and Other Graduate Programs
Concord University
Located in the rural town of Athens in southern Virginia, Concord University offers CSWE-accredited BSW and MSW degrees. The MSW program in Concord’s Department of Social Work has an advanced generalist, rural focus and prepares students to work in diverse communities. The university offers an advanced standing program for applicants who already have a CSWE-accredited BSW degree with at least a 3.0 GPA in social work classes and a 2.75 GPA overall. Candidates who do not meet these requirements may still be eligible for exemptions based on courses taken in the BSW curriculum. Traditional students begin the program in the fall term while advanced standing students begin the program in the summer term. Field education placements are completed in both years of the program. In 2016 Concord University was ranked #47 in the Regional Colleges (South) category by US News & World Report.
West Virginia University
Located in Morgantown, close to the West Virginia-Pennsylvania border, West Virginia University is a large, public institution with an MSW program that offers either a Direct Practice concentration or a Community Organization and Social Administration concentration. The Morgantown program is offered full-time. The university’s School of Social Work also offers the MSW program part-time at its campuses in Beckley, Charleston, Keyser, Martinsburg, and Wheeling. Students complete two field education placements; the first placement is at least 312 hours of supervised generalist practice, while the second placement is at least 600 hours of advanced practice. It is also possible to complete a dual degree in social work and public administration. In 2016, US News & World Report ranked the university #175 among national universities.
Accreditation Information for West Virginia Social Work Schools
| School | Graduation Rate1 | Transfer-Out Rate1 | Associate’s SW Program | Bachelor’s SW Program | Graduate SW Program | CSWE Accredited5 | US News Best Social Work Grad Schools Ranking3 | Net Price*1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bethany College | 47% | N/A | No | Yes | No | Yes | Not Ranked | $21,249 |
| Concord University | 34% | 26% | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Not Ranked | $7,224 |
| Marshall University | 44% | 33% | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Not Ranked | $8,738 |
| New River Community and Technical College | 13% | 13% | Yes | No | No | No | Not Ranked | $4,340 |
| Shepherd University | 40% | 11% | No | Yes | No | Yes | Not Ranked | $9,074 |
| University of Charleston-Beckley | 35% | 60% | No | Yes | No | Yes | Not Ranked | $17,954 |
| West Liberty University | 40% | 27% | No | Yes | No | Yes | Not Ranked | $11,290 |
| West Virginia Northern Community College | 9% | 10% | Yes | No | No | No | Not Ranked | $2,998 |
| West Virginia State University | 25% | 34% | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Not Ranked | $8,870 |
| West Virginia University | 57% | 29% | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | #75 tie | $9,380 |
*The net price is calculated by the National Center for Education Statistics by subtracting the average amount of aid (including grants and scholarships) from the total published cost of attendance for in-state/in-district students, which includes tuition, books, room and board, and other expenses. To gain a better understanding of how to interpret the statistics discussed in this table, see our list of important definitions.
Featured Online Programs in Social Work
Directory of West Virginia Social Work School Programs
Note: Student Reviews are based on the experiences of a few individuals and it is unlikely that you will have similar results. Please review the “Data, Student Reviews and Other Information” section in our Terms of Use and Disclaimers.
Schools with an asterisk (*) have programs accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE).
Bethany College*
31 E Campus Dr
Bethany, WV 26032
(304) 829-7000
http://www.bethanywv.edu
Concord University*
1000 Vermillion St
Athens, WV 24712
(888) 344-6679
https://www.concord.edu
Student Review: “The Concord University Social Work Program was interesting, challenging, and fun for me. The curriculum at Concord was challenging, but it was hands-on with faculty who had experience in the Social Work field. I could not have been as well prepared for my career as a Social Worker without the excellent staff of Concord University. The professors were proficient, knowledgeable, and available to me any time I needed help or clarifications. The program made sure I was prepared and offered a tutoring program to ensure no student was left behind. Concord’s Social Work Program gave me first-hand knowledge, experience, and even let me participate in rounds to have a real-life sense of my upcoming career. The program covered a variety of topics, however, the one aspect I felt could be improved was the “What to do if a client becomes hostile, suicidal, or homicidal” part of being Social Worker. You can never be prepared for everything, however, I would have liked some preparation through guest speakers, faculty recounts, or just “what-if” scenarios. The curriculum is well rounded, student-based, and is flexible enough to attend part time or full time and be successful.” – Student at Concord University
Marshall University*
1 John Marshall Dr
Huntington, WV 25755
(800) 642-3463
http://www.marshall.edu
New River Community and Technical College
280 University Dr
Beaver, WV 25813-8987
(304)
929-5450
http://www.newriver.edu
Shepherd University*
301 N King St
Shepherdstown, WV 25443
(304) 876-5000
http://www.shepherd.edu
University of Charleston-Beckley*
167 Dye Dr
Beckley, WV 25801
(304) 357-4800
www.ucwv.edu
West Liberty University*
208 University Dr
West Liberty, WV 26074
(304) 336-5000
http://www.westliberty.edu
West Virginia Northern Community College
1704 Market St
Wheeling, WV 26003-3699
(304)
233-5900
http://www.wvncc.edu
West Virginia State University*
5000 Fairlawn Ave
Institute, WV 25112-1000
(304) 766-3000
http://www.wvstateu.edu
West Virginia University*
1500 University Ave
Morgantown, WV 26506-6201
(304) 293-0111
https://www.wvu.edu
Student Review: “The WVU School of Social Work has a wonderful extended campus program for a Master’s of Social Work. The classes are convenient for those students that work full time or have families. The classes can be taken online or in various locations throughout the state of West Virginia. The instructors are knowledgeable and have had first-hand work experience in the field of Social Work. The Charleston West Virginia Campus can at times feel like a disconnected arm of the program, but the director for the WVU Charleston Social Work program is very helpful and will always keep you informed. The work is difficult but relevant to a meaningful career as a social worker and/or therapist. They work hard to ensure that you are placed in an active internship so that you get the most out of the experience. I would recommend this program to those interested in Social Work as well as those who would like a better understanding of humanity.” – Student at West Virginia University
Schools with an asterisk (*) have programs accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE).
References:
1. National Center for Education Statistics: https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/
2. Kiplinger’s Best College Values: https://www.kiplinger.com/tool/college/T014-S001-kiplinger-s-best-values-in-private-colleges/index.php?table=all
3. US News & World Report Social Work Best Grad Schools Rankings: https://www.usnews.com/best-graduate-schools/top-health-schools/social-work-rankings
4.
Social Work Guide’s Top Online MSW Programs: /degrees/masters/online/
5. Council on Social Work Education: https://www.cswe.org/Accreditation/Directory-of-Accredited-Programs.aspx