Social Work
Men
Master of Social Work
Program Overview
Accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE), the Wurzweiler Master of Social Work program is an affordable and rigorous graduate program designed for a student who wishes to enter the field of Social Work. This 60-credit graduate degree will shape your passion for social work through a methods-based curriculum and guide you toward new opportunities to live your purpose in social and clinical casework, social group work, and community social administration.
The program features dedicated and exceptionally culturally sensitive professors with years of expertise in the field of social work and the Jewish community. This ensures a program that is practical, rigorous, and appropriate for the frum individual. If social work is in your future, this is the program for you, and you can earn your degree in just four semesters (16 months).
Wurzweiler’s experienced practicum coordinators maintain a vast network of contacts and do their utmost to ensure suitable placements for you. We recognize that the quality of the practicum experience is important to you from a professional and hashkafic standpoint, and every effort is expended to locate opportunities for our students that will complement their needs and standards. Students will also benefit from ongoing contact and support from our highly attentive practicum coordinators.
Tip: Complete Your Application Early!
Submitting your application sooner gives you a clear advantage — your file will be processed earlier, and you’ll have access to the most desirable internships, many of which are secured on a first-come, first-served basis.
Prerequisites
Conferred Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited institution
Admission
Undergraduate Transcript (minimum 3.5 GPA*)
Two References
Two Letters of Recommendation
Essay
Personal Photograph
Non-refundable Application Fee
*Students with a lower GPA may have their application considered for provisional acceptance
Courses
Possible Career Paths
Faculty & Instructors
Adam Schachar
LCSW, PhD Candidate
Adam Schachar is the founder of Campus DBT, a dialectical behavior therapy program geared towards college
students and young adults. Prior to founding Campus DBT, he ran the young adult program at an adherent
DBT practice on Long Island and worked as a clinician for OHEL in the Far Rockaway Clinic. He also maintains
a private practice in Cedarhurst, NY. Adam has been intensively trained and supervised in wide-ranging aspects ofDBT,
CBT and Coping Cat by renowned figures like Dr. Charles Swenson, Dr. Melanie Harned, Dr. Lorie Ritschel, Dr. Alec Miller,
Dr. Jill Rathus Dr. Elissa Brown, Dr. Phillip Kendall, and Dr. Judith Beck. Adam graduated cum laude with his BA from Yeshiva
University, went on to earn his MSW from Long Island University and was awarded the Dean’s Scholar Award for Academic
Excellence. He is currently earning his PhD in social work at Adelphi University, with DBT as his research focus.
Read Full Bio
Akiva Perlman
PhD
Akiva Perlman, PhD., is a professor, lecturer on topics of abuse, addiction, and trauma, and fellow traveler for
those suffering in silence. He has educated more than a thousand frum social workers from our community and
is currently serving as professor at Wurzweiler School of Social work. Dr. Perlman is the clinical director of ODA’s
Wellness Center, a clinic which serves the chasideshe community in Williamsburg. He maintains a practice on Long Island
where he resides with his wife Tamar and children.
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Akiva Schmookler
LCSW
Akiva Schmookler comes with a decade of experience working with clients of all backgrounds. He has an
extensive understanding of the needs of the Jewish community and maintains practices in both Waterbury and
Monsey. His engaging style and demeanor have made him a sought-after therapist. He has trained in various
modalities and constantly seeks to build on his knowledge by attending training sessions from top therapists in the field.
Akiva enjoys teaching the practicum class, working with the students as they go out and begin the first cases in their careers.
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Alexander Rand
LCSW-R, CASAC
Alexander Rand is a licensed clinical social worker and addiction therapist. He received his master’s degree
from Fordham University. He currently maintains a private practice in Brooklyn, NY, where he specializes in
trauma, addiction and couples. In addition, he serves as an assistant professor at Wurzweiler School of Social
Work and as an adjunct professor at Brooklyn College.
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Chaim Ellis
LCSW
Rabbi Ellis is a talmid of Yeshivas Mir Yerushalayim and a graduate of Cleveland State University. For over
fifteen years, he has divided his time between the classroom, school social work, and private practice. Rabbi
Ellis recently relocated from Ohio to New Jersey. He currently works as a school social worker at Yeshiva
Ketana of Passaic and maintains a private practice. His area of practice includes treating children and adolescents who
struggle with ADHD, anxiety, OCD, grief, and behavioral and relationship issues. He is also an adjunct faculty member at
the Wurzweiler School of Social Work. He provides training and consultations to schools, organizations, and mental health
agencies throughout the United States and Canada. Rabbi Ellis extended his practice to children all over the world through
his advice column “Dear Rabbi Ellis” in Mishpacha Junior.
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Chaim Fried
LCSW, CASAC-T
Chaim Fried graduated with honors from Long Island University. He maintains a private practice treating children,
adolescents, and adults with a wide variety of issues, including abuse, trauma, depression, anxiety, OCD, and grief.
He provides private and group supervision for therapists at the ODA wellness center. He serves as the clinical supervisor of the Chai Lifeline Crisis Intervention team. Chaim has a rich background in education, having taught teenage boys and
served as an assistant principal for many years. He frequently presents on subjects related to mental health and provides trainings and consultations to schools and organizations. He is also an adjunct faculty member at the Wurzweiler School of Social Work.
Read Full Bio
Tuition & Financial Aid
The full cost for this degree is $52,200 ($870 per credit x60) plus a $1500 university fee.
At the graduate level, financial aid is available in the form of loans that can cover the full cost of the degree. Wurzweiler offers a ten-month payment plan as well.
The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) can be completed online at this link. Wurzweiler’s FAFSA school code is 002903. Be sure to complete the correct year’s application.
Additionally, there are a number of scholarships open to Jewish graduate students for which we encourage you to apply:
Rose Biller Scholarship Fund – The Rose Biller Scholarship Fund is open to Jewish residents of NYC’s five boroughs, Westchester, and Long Island with financial need. It provides scholarships to Jewish men and women with significant economic need attending undergraduate, graduate, and professional schools.
HRSA Grant – The HRSA Grant is available for students entering their second year of fieldwork. Eligible students receive $10,000 towards their education. They are then placed with “At-Risk Adolescents” in several different settings/ agencies within NYC’s five boroughs and must commit to working with these adolescents for two years post-Master’s.
Helen B and Lewis E Goldstein Scholarship Fund – The Helen B and Lewis E Goldstein Scholarship Fund is open to Jewish full-time students enrolled in an accredited undergraduate or graduate school in the United States.
Samuel Lemberg Scholarship Loan Fund – The Samuel Lemberg Scholarship Loan Fund provides interest-free loans to aid Jewish undergraduate and graduate college students who exhibit exceptional academic achievement and face financial difficulties pursuing a higher education. These loans must be repaid within ten years of graduation or termination of studies.
To get more information on these scholarships, please reach out to each organization directly. Please check scholarship websites for availability and deadlines. Scholarships are not available every semester.
Please note: The listed tuition costs are accurate as of the time of writing, but are not guaranteed. Please ask our advisor for updated pricing.
FAQs
What is a Master of Social Work?
Accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE), the Wurzweiler Master of Social Work program is an affordable and rigorous graduate program designed for a student who wishes to enter the field of Social Work. This 60-credit graduate degree will shape your passion for social work through a methods-based curriculum and guide you toward new opportunities to live your purpose in social and clinical casework, social group work and community social administration.
Which college have you partnered with to offer this degree?
We are proud to have partnered with Wurzweiler School of Social Work, a prestigious college featuring a world-class Social Work department. Founded as part of Yeshiva University in 1957, the Wurzweiler School of Social Work is proud to be part of a university system that has ranked No. 1 in New York and No. 2 in the nation for students in advanced degree programs.
Will this degree lead to licensure?
The MSW degree program provided by Wurzweiler School of Social Work is fully accredited by NYS and the CSWE. Students in the MSW program at the Wurzweiler School of Social Work are continuously preparing for state license exams throughout their course of study, and both current students and graduates have access to their continuing professional education (CPE) programs. Immediately upon graduation, students are eligible to submit an Application for Licensure and First Registration. Once the application and fees are processed and approved, students are able to schedule and complete the licensure exam for their state.
Can I use my WSSW degree in Israel?
Wurzweiler School of Social Work is on the approved list of universities to receive Israeli licensure. Upon moving to Israel, Wurzweiler will assist its graduates with the process.
How long will it take to earn the degree?
The Wurzweiler 60-credit MSW offers two tracks:
Accelerated Track: 5 semesters (18 months)
Part-time/ Leadership Track: 7 semesters (24 months)
The Accelerated Track is geared towards individuals who are ready to earn their degree in the shortest amount of time possible. Students who join this cohort need to invest in the program and the internships time constraints in order to complete their degree at a faster pace.This program is five semesters long.
Please note: The Accelerated cohorts begin each January.
The Part-time/ Leadership Track is designed to accommodate individuals who are seeking to balance an existing career with a college workload at a manageable pace. While the Leadership program will take additional months to complete (7 semesters total), students will receive the same elite-level learning experience. If you are busy with a career but have your heart set on becoming a social worker, this is the entry point for you.
Please note: The Part-time/ Leadership cohorts begin each May.
What are the admission requirements?
• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution (Yeshiva degree/ BTL accepted)
• Minimum Undergraduate 3.5 GPA
*Students with a lower GPA may have their applications considered for provisional acceptance.
Students will be requested to demonstrate English language writing proficiency and reading comprehension via an English Placement Exam offered by Sara Schenirer.
Can I transfer credits from another institution toward this degree?
Unfortunately, we are unable to accept transfer credits at this time.
How is this program customized to meet the needs of a frum male?
The entire program is offered online. Additionally, the men’s cohort features only male professors and is designed to meet the busy schedules of frum men.
Where are classes offered?
To ease the travel burden on our students while retaining the essential in-class component of successful social work programs, this program is offered fully online utilizing our live-online platform.
At the commencement of the program, students are required to attend a two-day on-site orientation session in Lakewood, NJ. No exceptions will be granted to this policy. At the orientation, policies, practicum requirements, and program requirements are reviewed and discussed, and students meet their professors, fellow classmates, and senior Sara Schenirer and Wurzweiler faculty.
When are classes offered?
For the Accelerated Track: Depending on the semester, classes are offered two/ three weeknights.
For the Part-time/ Leadership Track: Depending on the semester, classes are offered one/ two weeknights.
Helpful Articles
Questions & Guidance
Reuven Pelberg
Men's Student Advisor