College of Liberal Arts & Social Sciences
Social Sciences Department
Master of Social Work (MSW)

The Master of Social Work Program at the University of the Virgin Islands (UVI) provides a robust curriculum that supports the Advanced Generalist social work practitioner. The curriculum is designed to provide students with an in-depth knowledge of trauma-informed practices across the lifespan from a Caribbean cultural perspective. There is an emphasis on working with populations who have been exposed to intergenerational trauma and adverse childhood experiences as a result of experiencing natural disasters in the region. Moreover, all of the coursework and field experiences include an explicit focus on social institutions such as child welfare and the needs of people belonging to the Caribbean diaspora.

The program is designed to provide students with the necessary academic knowledge base, problem-solving skills, and experiential opportunities to work in a variety of social service settings with a specialization in working with children, youth and families. This graduate Social Work Program does not itself lead to licensing but does seek to prepare practitioners for licensure throughout the US and abroad. The minimum academic credential required to obtain licensure to practice as a social worker in most states is a Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) or Master of Social Work (MSW) degree from a program accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE). UVI’s MSW program is currently in Pre-Candidacy for Accreditation by the Council on Social Work Education’s Commission on Accreditation.

The MSW program is offered on the Albert A. Sheen Campus on St. Croix and the St. Thomas Campus.  Courses are conducted via video conferencing with face to face attendance on either campus. Some class components will only be held face to face for simulation hands-on learning. The MSW Program provides a flexible, affordable path to an MSW degree. The faculty and staff of the MSW Program foster a community, rooted in creativity, innovation, and excellence in teaching, student learning, research, and community engagement.


The University of the Virgin Islands' MSW program has achieved Candidacy for Accreditation by the Council on Social Work Education’s (CSWE) Commission on Accreditation. Please view a summary of our latest student learning outcomes.

 Please contact our Financial Aid Office for specific questions regarding tuition and fees. 

For more information about the program contact:

Title Name
MSW Field Director Anna Clarke, DSW, MSW M.Ed  anna.clarke@uvi.edu
Administrative Specialist Debbie Joseph  debbie.joseph@uvi.edu

Other program administrators include:

Title Name
Dean Kimarie Engerman, Ph.D
Department Chair Elizabeth Jaeger, Ph.D