Impactful Social Work Careers With an Online MSW
Grow Your Career Serving Populations in the U.S. Southwest
CSWE- Accredited
Comprehensive Clinical Training
- Coursework covers critical skills and knowledge for the changing, multicultural profession of social work.
- Experienced, diverse faculty bring real-world knowledge to the classroom.
- Upon graduation, students will have the degree required for social work licensure and be ready to take the ASWB national exam.
Prepare to make a real difference in the lives of others with an online MSW from New Mexico Highlands University. Upon graduation, you’ll be ready for social work careers that require an understanding of diverse cultures and social injustice.
What Makes Us Unique?
The Facundo Valdez School of Social Work’s program offers a culturally responsive clinical concentration. You’ll graduate ready to pursue roles impacting the Hispanic, Indigenous, rural and underserved communities of the Southwest.
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Prepare for Life-Changing Social Work Careers
Social Services Director $85,000 per year1
Social Worker $61,330 per year2
Outpatient Therapist $89,000 per year3
Meet Growing Workforce Needs
The need for social workers is increasing at a rate much faster than average for all careers. By 2034, the demand for social workers will have grown by 6%.2 From working in schools and child welfare to leading nonprofit organizations, our graduates are on the front line, working in social work careers that are changing lives and communities. New Mexico Highlands gives our students a multicultural perspective, empowering them to take on roles that impact communities in the Southwest in clinical settings and beyond.
- Between 2024 and 2034, employment of social workers is expected to grow 6%.2
- The growth in the industry will result in 44,700 new jobs by 2034.2
- An MSW is required for licensure to provide clinical behavior health services in a range of settings.
Program Outcomes: Skills with a Multicultural Focus
When you complete this program, you’ll be able to:
- Apply a culturally competent perspective to your work with the diverse communities of the U.S. Southwest.
- Advocate for improving social policy, advancing human rights and promoting social justice.
- Use ethical principles, critical thinking and knowledge of human behavior in your work with individuals, families and groups.
- Understand the needs of communities that are impacted by poverty, oppression, historical trauma, structural inequity and barriers to service.
- Collaborate with individuals, families and communities to build resilience and promote self-determination.
- Provide evidence-based clinical services to address the behavioral health challenges and environmental stressors facing children, adolescents, adults and elders.
Career Support
New Mexico Highlands offers the Center for Professional Development and Career Readiness that assists graduates with interview preparation, resume development and job prospects.
Licensure Preparation
Upon graduation, students will have the degree required for social work licensure and be ready to take the ASWB national exam.
Multicultural Environment
Our diverse community and multiethnic student body helps provide you with a multicultural perspective that will serve you well throughout your career.
Experienced Faculty
Our faculty has real-world experience in a variety of practice areas including clinical practice, rural social work, immigrant mental health, substance use and trauma-informed practice.
Personalized Attention
You’ll be assigned an academic advisor who will assist you through the duration of the program. Our advisors and instructors are committed to your success.
Answers to Common Questions
Explore our frequently asked questions. If you don’t find what you’re looking for, feel free to reach out to us for assistance or more information.
According to BLS Occupational Employment Statistics, the mean annual wage for social workers in New Mexico was approximately $57,000–$62,000 in 2024, modestly below the national median of around $61,000 but consistent with the state’s cost of living. Licensed clinical social workers (LCSWs) with years of post-licensure experience — particularly those in supervisory, private practice, or specialized clinical roles — typically earn $70,000–$90,000. Social workers in healthcare settings (hospitals, hospice, behavioral health) generally earn at the higher end of the range compared to those in community or child welfare settings.
LMSW (Licensed Master Social Worker) and LCSW (Licensed Clinical Social Worker) are sequential licenses. After completing your MSW from a CSWE-accredited program, you sit for the ASWB Master’s exam to earn your LMSW — which allows supervised social work practice but not independent clinical practice. After accumulating 3,000 supervised post-graduate hours (approximately two years of full-time clinical work under a licensed supervisor), you are eligible to sit for the ASWB Clinical exam to earn your LCSW, which allows independent clinical practice including psychotherapy and private practice billing. NMHU’s MSW curriculum is built to meet the educational requirements for both levels of licensure in New Mexico.
The Facundo Valdez School of Social Work’s explicit focus on preparing practitioners to serve rural, Indigenous, and Hispanic/Latinx communities of the U.S. Southwest is a genuine national differentiator. Employers including tribal governments, Indian Health Service, New Mexico’s Children, Youth and Families Department, Hispanic-serving community health organizations, and rural behavioral health agencies actively seek MSW graduates with this training focus — and NMHU alumni have a recognized track record in these settings. For students who plan to practice in New Mexico, the Four Corners region, or other parts of the rural Southwest, this community-specific training is a meaningful credential advantage that no coastal or large-state MSW program replicates.
If your BSW is from a CSWE-accredited program and was awarded within the past five years, the Advanced Standing track is generally the more financially efficient path: you save over $16,000 in tuition and complete the program faster. However, the traditional track may be the right choice if your BSW is older than five years, if your undergraduate social work foundation feels less solid, or if you want a more gradual transition into clinical coursework. Students with BSWs from programs without CSWE accreditation are not eligible for Advanced Standing and must complete the full 63-credit curriculum. NMHU admissions can evaluate your transcript and provide a clear recommendation.
An MSW from a CSWE-accredited program opens doors well beyond individual therapy. NMHU graduates work as medical social workers in hospitals and hospice settings, school social workers, child protective services investigators and supervisors, program directors at nonprofits and community organizations, policy advocates, military family services coordinators, employee assistance program (EAP) counselors, and hospice and palliative care social workers. At the LCSW level, private practice is also viable. In New Mexico specifically, tribal social work, public health social work, and rural community health roles are consistently in demand and well-aligned with the Facundo Valdez School’s curriculum focus.