Fordham University Social Work Programs
Fordham University, a prestigious Jesuit institution in New York City, brings 180 years of academic excellence to its students. The university’s two campuses – Lincoln Center in Manhattan and Rose Hill in the Bronx – create unique urban learning spaces where rigorous academics blend with real-life experience.
The principle of cura personalis—care for the whole person—is the foundation of Fordham’s educational approach. This philosophy particularly strikes a chord within the Graduate School of Social Service (GSS), which has become the core of quality social work education in the Northeast. GSS weaves Jesuit values of social justice and service throughout its curriculum to prepare students who can tackle complex social challenges with compassion and expertise.
The School of Social Work has earned praise for its complete approach to education. Students combine classroom theory with extensive field work and serve communities across New York City and beyond. This hands-on experience helps graduates develop professional skills they need to work effectively in different settings.
The Social Work Department faculty includes accomplished scholars and practitioners who bring both their academic knowledge and real-life experience to students. Their mentorship helps students develop critical thinking and evidence-based approaches to mental health care, community organization, policy development, and clinical practice.
The university’s steadfast dedication to training skilled social workers shows in its program variety. Students can choose between traditional on-campus classes and flexible online options, making quality social work education available to professionals with different schedules and commitments.
GSS stands out for teaching ethical practice and cultural competence. Students learn to guide complex social systems while supporting vulnerable populations. The curriculum combines human behavior studies, social policy, research methods, and field practice—giving future mental health leaders a well-rounded foundation for their careers.
Social work programs offered
Fordham University’s Graduate School of Social Service (GSS) provides a detailed suite of social work education programs. These programs cater to students with different needs and career aspirations.
The Bachelor of Arts in Social Work (BASW) program gives you foundational skills through flexible learning schedules and supervised hands-on fieldwork experience. Students benefit from integrative seminars, dedicated field advisors, and networking at professional events. The program runs at both Manhattan and Westchester campuses. BASW graduates can enter any Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) accredited MSW program with advanced standing status.
The core Master of Social Work (MSW) program has earned its place in the top 10% nationally. The program requires 62 credits—48 for coursework and 14 for fieldwork experience. Students complete a generalist phase (31 credits) before moving to a specialist phase (31 credits). The specialist phase lets them focus on areas like individuals and families, organizations and communities, evaluation, or policy practice and advocacy.
BSW graduates can take advantage of the Advanced Standing MSW option. This path lets them skip foundation coursework and finish their degree in just eight months full-time or 16 months part-time, potentially saving over $30,000. Students with non-social work bachelor’s degrees can complete the traditional MSW in 16 months full-time or 24-32 months part-time.
Students looking to stand out in specific practice areas can earn specialized certificates in Health and in Crisis & Resilience on campus. The program offers multiple study options. Students can choose full-time or part-time study at Lincoln Center and Westchester campuses, a hybrid option at Molloy University for Long Island residents, or a fully online MSW program.
Fordham’s Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Social Work shapes scholars into academic and research leaders in the field.
Online program options
Fordham’s online social work education puts flexibility first by offering multiple delivery formats that adapt to students’ needs. Students in the online Master of Social Work program benefit from weekly interactive sessions with professors and classmates. They can also access course content at their own pace to fit their schedules.
Students can start the program in fall, spring, or summer terms through three annual intake periods. Each term has two eight-week sessions. This setup helps students balance their coursework and field education better. Full-time students take two courses in each eight-week session.
The Advanced Standing Online MSW gives BSW graduates a faster route with 31 credits of advanced direct-practice coursework. Students with non-BSW bachelor’s degrees can take the Traditional Online MSW path which includes 62 credits of both generalist and advanced direct-practice coursework.
Fordham also offers a hybrid MSW option to Long Island residents through collaboration with Molloy University. Students attend face-to-face classes at Molloy’s campus and take online courses. This combination gives them both remote learning convenience and campus community experience. The hybrid program is just as flexible with full-time, part-time, and Advanced Standing study plans. Students can begin in fall or spring.
Each program format reflects Fordham’s steadfast dedication to blending the profession’s historical values with current theory and practice.
Admissions
Fordham’s Graduate School of Social Service looks for candidates who excel academically and share social work values. Candidates must have a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution. They should also complete 18 undergraduate credits in liberal arts subjects. Students will be glad to know that GRE is not required for admission.
The school takes a comprehensive approach to review applications, which creates a student body with diverse academic and professional backgrounds. Students need to submit several documents: an online application, personal statement, transcripts, one letter of recommendation, current résumé, and a $60 application fee.
Different programs and terms have specific application deadlines. The Spring 2026 program has a priority deadline of November 1, while the standard deadline falls on December 1. Students applying for Fall admission should submit their applications by February 1 for priority consideration and April 1 as the final deadline.
BSW degree holders can benefit from advanced standing admission. This option lets them skip foundation coursework and earn their MSW in nine months, which could help them save over $30,000.
Students applying from other countries have additional requirements. They must get their transcripts evaluated through NACES-member organizations and prove English proficiency with minimum scores of 7 on IELTS or 100 on TOEFL. These students must also submit an Affidavit of Support form since scholarships usually cover only 10% of tuition costs.
Tuition
The Fordham University Graduate School of Social Service charges $1,098.00 per credit for the 2025-2026 academic year. Students’ total costs depend on their chosen Master of Social Work program duration. A traditional two-year plan costs $34,038.00 yearly for 31 credits. The three-year plan splits the costs differently: $13,176.00 in year one, $20,862.00 in year two, and $34,038.00 in year three.
Students need to budget for several additional fees. The yearly costs include a general fee of $260.00 and a technology access fee of $712.00. They also need to pay for field placement insurance at $70.00 and a one-time Tevera fee of $220.00 in their first year. Health insurance adds another major expense, costing $1,805.00 for fall term and $3,189.00 for spring/summer coverage.
Fordham helps students find ways to pay for their education. Students can qualify for federal aid programs like Direct Subsidized/Unsubsidized Loans or Graduate PLUS Loans. The requirements include maintaining a 3.0 GPA, taking at least six credits each term, and completing the MSW within five years. The university suggests trying interest-free monthly payment plans before taking loans.
Students can also look into other funding options. These include scholarships, fellowships, graduate assistantships, and private grants available through Fordham’s social work graduate program.
Other information
The Council on Social Work Education fully accredits Fordham’s B.S.W., M.S.W., and Ph.D. programs through strict professional standards. Students achieve remarkable results that exceed the 80% measure in all nine competencies. Their evaluation scores range from 93.03% to 98.82% in specialist areas. The Graduate School of Social Service, 108 years old, ranks among America’s oldest and largest social work schools.
Fordham is ranked 28th out of 319 nationwide social work programs in 2024. This prestigious ranking helps attract students of all backgrounds. The university’s impressive 2021-2022 statistics show 16 bachelor’s degrees, 1,036 master’s degrees, and 9 doctoral degrees in social work. These numbers make it the nation’s most popular school for social work master’s degrees.
The program’s graduate population showcases a strong commitment to diversity. Women make up 88% of students while men represent 12%. The ethnic composition includes 44% White, 27% Hispanic/Latino, 21% Black/African American, 4% Asian, and 3% other races. Graduate salaries tell a success story too – this is a big deal as it means that their median earnings of $56,761 surpass the national average of $51,347.
The school complements traditional education with specialized research centers. These include the Beck Institute on Religion and Poverty, Children and Families Institute, Fordham Center for Nonprofit Leaders, Institute for Women and Girls, and Henry C. Ravazzin Center on Aging. Students must complete 900 internship hours under experienced social workers’ supervision to gain practical skills.