Fayetteville State University’s Master of Social Work (MSW) program serves as one of the region’s strongest pipelines for well-prepared social workers, particularly in high-need areas like child welfare and public health.

Fayetteville State’s hybrid MSW program has experienced a notable surge in interest in recent years. For the most recent incoming cohort, the program saw a 79.4% increase in enrollment. This growth is largely attributed to strategic enhancements to the student learning experience.

One of the most significant of those enhancements is the expansion of simulation-based learning. As of this spring, FSU has introduced advanced virtual reality and artificial intelligence-assisted training into its social work curriculum.

Historically, many new workers enter child welfare, stay for about a year, and then leave due to stress, burnout or misaligned expectations. By helping students build confidence and competence before they start, FSU aims to improve both retention and job satisfaction. The goal is to ensure that students’ first time understanding and learning about being in real-world scenarios is not on the job, but in the classroom, where faculty can guide and coach them without risk to real clients.

Through collaboration with the University of Utah and the Cumberland County Department of Social Services, FSU became the first academic institution in North Carolina to implement the Virtual Social Work Trainer, developed by the University of Utah’s Social Research Institute. The platform combines the Virtual Home Simulation and the Virtual Motivational Interviewing application, allowing students to engage in high-stakes decision-making within realistic home visit and client interview scenarios.

While child welfare is a key focus area, social work as a profession is far broader than many people realize. There is a persistent misconception that social work is synonymous with child protective services. In reality, social workers are embedded in nearly every corner of the community: hospitals, schools, public health departments, nonprofit organizations, policy and advocacy groups, private practices and even less obvious settings such as veterinary clinics. They work with survivors of domestic and intimate partner violence, support military families, shape legislation and provide therapy and mental health services in clinical settings.

FSU’s MSW program is structured to reflect and support that diversity of opportunity. The university’s proximity to Fort Bragg has allowed it to develop robust partnerships on post, including student placements and a Military Behavioral Health Certificate program. That certificate prepares students to work with active-duty service members and their families.

FSU’s partnership footprint continues to expand beyond child welfare and the military sphere. The School of Social Work collaborates with the Department of Public Health and organizations such as Southern Regional Area Health Education Center (Southern Regional AHEC) to expose students to public health roles for social workers. Through programs like the AHEC Scholars Program, students can explore what it means to serve in public health settings while receiving a small stipend to offset travel and related costs. These experiences reinforce the message that social workers are indispensable contributors not just to individual well-being, but also to community and population health.

To continue reaching more students, the university is also in the process of developing a fully online MSW program. This expansion is designed to serve students who want to be part of Fayetteville State’s program but are unable to attend face-to-face classes due to geography, work or family obligations.

Prospective students inspired by FSU’s commitment to innovative, hands-on social work education are encouraged to explore the programs that make this possible. Whether you are interested in the Bachelor of Social Work, Master of Social Work or the graduate certificate, the School of Social Work offers pathways to help you become a leader in the field.