Master of Social Work, Mental Health & Wellness

• Submitted Online Application. All online applications and materials must be received by the deadline. Paper applications are not available.
• Application fee: A non-refundable fee of $50 is required for each application. This fee must be paid online by credit card.
• Goal statement: 
  • The goal statement is your means of presenting yourself to the Graduate Admissions Committee. You should submit a short, typed statement of personal and professional goals as they relate to the certificate or degree program you are seeking.
  • Most applicants write about two typed pages, summarizing their work experience, the reasons they have chosen the program, why they want to attend Georgia State, and how the degree fits in with their career goals.
• International Applicants Only – TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) or IELTS (International English Language Testing Systems) academic scores: International applicants are required to submit official TOEFL or IELTS academic scores.
• Three letters of recommendation: All letters should be submitted through the online application.
• Upload Transcripts from each post-secondary college/university attended.
  • Request an official transcript from each institution to be sent to yourself (electronic preferred, paper must be scanned)
  • Supply transcripts before submitting the application by uploading each to the Academic History
  • Supply transcripts after submitting the application by uploading each on your application status page to the Upload Materials section.
  • Failure to follow these requirements will delay your application processing.  Learn more about transcript requirements.

The Master of Social Work (M.S.W.) program at Georgia State University, with a specialization in Mental Health and Wellness, offers a clinically-focused curriculum designed to prepare you for licensure and careers in mental health, behavioral health, and wellness services. The program includes comprehensive coursework and field education experiences aligned with real-world practice.

Key components of the curriculum include:

• Clinical Assessment and Intervention
• Mental Health Policy and Service Systems
• Trauma-Informed Practice
• Substance Use and Recovery
• Social Work Ethics and Cultural Competency
• Practicum Education in Mental Health Settings

This specialization equips you with the knowledge, skills, and licensure preparation needed to support individuals and families across the mental health continuum—from prevention to recovery.

Part -Time Plan of Study

Full Time Plan of Study

Affording Your Master of Social Work, Mental Health & Wellness Degree
Georgia State is dedicated to providing affordable and accessible programs for all prospective students because we value the investment each student makes in their education. We understand that the path to a student’s future shouldn’t be blocked due to finances, and we pride ourselves on offering financial assistance and scholarships that can support students through their education.

Learn more about the cost of a graduate degree, or use Georgia State’s Cost Calculator to get an idea of the investment required for your path of study.

Contact Student Financial Services
We are here to help you understand the cost of your program, the payment schedule and financing opportunities.

Use the Student Financial Services Guided Paths to walk you through the Financial Aid Process and learn about all our options for financing your education.

• New Students
• Continuing Students

Corporate Assistance
Consult your employer about the availability of tuition reimbursement or tuition assistance programs.

Military Assistance
Active duty military, veterans and military families should visit Veterans Educational Benefits to take full advantage of available financial assistance and educational benefits. Download our guide to How to Start Your VA Benefits.

University System of Georgia Tuition Assistance Program (TAP)
The purpose of TAP is to foster the professional growth and development of eligible employees. For more information, see TAP Tuition Assistance.

Practicum Education

Practicum education is the cornerstone of professional preparation in social work—and a defining strength of our M.S.W. program. Designed to integrate classroom learning with real-world experience, the practicum sequence equips you with the hands-on skills, supervision, and structured feedback needed to develop core social work competencies. Through thoughtfully matched placements, you’ll engage directly with the systems, clients, and challenges they’ll encounter in the field, translating theory into meaningful practice.

You’ll apply for a 900-hour practicum placement after completing pre-orientation, with the sequence beginning only in the fall semester. While evening and weekend placements are limited, the experience is intentionally immersive, offering access to high-impact settings and structured mentorship not typically available outside of a graduate program. You’ll review your course sequence to understand when to apply and plan ahead for this pivotal stage of the curriculum. Practicum education is not just a requirement—it’s a launchpad for your licensure, confidence, and career readiness.

Join the Social Work Club

The purpose of the Social Work Club at Georgia State University is to serve as a link between current social work students, prospective social work majors, faculty, and administration. The Social Work Club upholds the core values of the profession: service, social justice, dignity, and worth of the person, importance of human relationships, integrity, and competence while supporting the development of social, academic, and cultural awareness among undergraduate social work students. The Social Work club is also a community organization extending services beyond the limits of Georgia State, by providing needed services to groups within the University and the larger community.

To fulfill the mission of the School of Social Work, the M.S.W. program is designed to deliver the following student learning outcomes:

1. You will develop critical thinking and effective communication skills to apply clinical social work knowledge, trauma-informed care, and evidence-based interventions in diverse behavioral health and community settings.
2. You will build strong rapport with local organizations and engage in collaborative social work practice to promote mental health, substance use recovery, wellness, and access to care.
3. You will cultivate leadership abilities to advocate for health equity, integrated care, policy reform, and improved behavioral health outcomes as clinical social work professionals.