Students pursuing a Master of Social Work degree may choose a specialization in military social work.
The Graduate Certificate in Military Social Work will prepare students to provide behavioral health services, including mental health counseling aimed at building psychological resilience; treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, anxiety, suicide risk assessment and prevention techniques; and family therapy for strengthening military, veterans and their families during and after deployment.
The Military Social Work certificate is open to current UCF MSW Traditional and Advanced Standing students and a limited number of Counselor Education students only. Educational standards for all social work programs are established by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE), the national accreditation body for professional social work education. Curriculum direction and content is regulated by the CSWE through its accreditation standards. The MSW program at UCF is fully accredited through CSWE.
The following courses are required for the certificate but may also be used as electives in the MSW program.
Total Credit Hours Required: 9 Credit Hours Minimum beyond the Bachelor's Degree
Program Prerequisites
Admission is open to current students in the UCF Master of Social Work program and a limited number of students in the UCF Counselor Education master's program. Students interested in admission to this certificate program should contact the MSW Admissions Specialist or by calling (407) 823-3474 for more information.
Degree Requirements
Required Courses
9 Total Credits
- Complete all of the following
- Complete the following:
- SOW6149 - Military Culture and Social Work Practice (3)
- SOW6608 - Understanding and Managing Combat Related Behavioral and Mental Health Disorders (3)
- SOW6610 - Clinical Practice with Military and Veteran Families or Groups (3)
- The listed courses are required for the certificate but may also be used as electives in the MSW program.
Grand Total Credits: 9
Application Requirements
Admission is open to current students in the UCF Master of Social Work program and a limited number of students in the UCF Counselor Education master's program. An application to the graduate certificate program and official transcripts must be submitted. Applicants must apply online. Please submit all requested material by the established deadline(s):
- One official transcript from each college/university attended (Graduate Studies should already have on file from your MSW application).
- Personal statement for Military Social Work. Applicants should write a personal autobiographical statement that is no more than two double spaced pages. Questions to answer include: What reasons or experiences led you to decide to apply for the military social work certificate? In completing the certificate, why is working with this population of interest to you?
- Up to date résumé
Application Deadlines
| Military Social Work Graduate Certificate | *Fall Priority | Fall | Spring | Summer |
| Domestic Applicants | | Jul 1 | Dec 1 | Apr 1 |
| International Applicants | | | | |
Admission to the Certificate Program is rolling--applying before the deadline is encouraged.
Financial Information
Graduate students may receive financial assistance through fellowships, assistantships, tuition support, or loans. For more information, see the College of Graduate Studies Funding website, which describes the types of financial assistance available at UCF and provides general guidance in planning your graduate finances. The Financial Information section of the Graduate Catalog is another key resource.
