Online Master of Social Work and Master of Science in Disaster Resilience Leadership Dual Degree Program (MSW/MS-DRL)

Building Resilient Communities, TUgether

Shaping Well-Rounded Leaders in Disaster Resilience

 

Natural and human-made disasters don’t just take a physical toll in our communities — they can also impact the mental health and well-being of those in the wake of these disasters.

The Master of Social Work and Master of Science (MSW/MS) in Disaster Resilience Leadership is a dual-degree program that prepares you to take the lead in disaster resilience by identifying what makes individuals and communities vulnerable, as well as the various systems and programs that can instill resilience.

Offered both online and on-campus, the MSW/MS in Disaster Resilience Leadership program can be completed in five semesters, or you can extend completion across eight semesters.

Dual Degree icon
Interdisciplinary Focus

This dual degree combines disaster resilience expertise with Tulane’s fully accredited MSW program to create community-centric leaders.

On Campus degree icon
Valuable Field Experience

With the field internship program, you’ll have the opportunity to apply social work skills in disaster risk management settings.

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Global Resilience Partner

This degree is offered through Tulane’s Disaster Resilience Leadership Academy, the first U.S. institution to be admitted to the Global Resilience Partnership.

What Will You Learn?

Three sitting students with an instructor standing behind them

The MSW/MS in Disaster Resilience Leadership program teaches principles in disaster and risk management alongside interdisciplinary leadership skills, preparing you to address community challenges while promoting social and environmental justice.

The first academic program of its kind to blend social work and disaster resilience leadership, this dual degree prepares you to make an impact in areas such as:

  • Human behavior and the social environment
  • Clinical social work practice
  • Organization and community practice
  • Policy advocacy
  • Economics of disasters

What Can You Do With an MSW/MS in Disaster Resilience Leadership?

Smiling woman working on laptop

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects the employment of social workers to grow seven percent from 2023 to 2033, which is faster than the average for all occupations.

Graduates of this dual degree program are equipped for community-focused roles in disaster management and resilience, as well as social work-related roles in hospitals, schools, community centers, nonprofit organizations, and government agencies.

Take a look at some potential outcomes within the field of community food and housing, and emergency and other relief services:

General and Operations Manager*
Median Annual Salary: $101,280

Social and Community Service Manager*
Median Annual Salary: $77,030

FEMA Federal Coordinating Officer**
Median Annual Salary: $70,821

Graduates of this program can also explore social work roles in the following fields:

Local Government (Excluding Education and Hospitals)*
Median Annual Salary: $64,550

Educational Services (State, Local, and Private)*
Median Annual Salary: $62,980

State Government (Excluding Education and Hospitals)*
Median Annual Salary: $54,600

Individual and Family Services*
Median Annual Salary: $48,550

*Salary data from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
**Salary data from Payscale

Explore the MSW/MS in Disaster Resilience Leadership Curriculum

The MSW/MS in Disaster Resilience Leadership program requires a total of 84 credit hours and is available for both full-time and part-time students. Students who wish to enroll in the part-time program must complete coursework online.

 

Curriculum & Courses

The full-time curriculum requires 300 hours of practicum over three semesters, for a total of 900 hours.

The part-time dual-degree MSW/MS-DRL program, available online only, requires from six to nine credit hours per semester over eight semesters, for a total of 60 credit hours. Each student completes 150 hours of practicum over six semesters, for a total of 900 hours.

Review our brochure for more curriculum information.

[Helping those in crisis] is just a part of me, which makes this work really important to me.

— Julia Edwards, current MSW/MS-DRL student and CEO of Quigley House
Robed students at graduation raising hands in the air.

Academic Excellence in Social Work

Tulane School of Social Work is fully accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE), a recognition reserved for social work programs aligned with the competencies required to prepare students for professional practice.

Funding Your MSW Degree

 

For a full list of application steps for financial aid, please review the 2025-2026 MSW/MS-DRL aid application checklist.

Graduate students seeking financial aid are assigned a counselor committed to helping them understand how financial aid works and identifying the resources necessary to make their education affordable. Call (504) 988-6135 or email hscfinaid@tulane.edu

United States citizens and Permanent Residents should complete the FAFSA to determine eligibility for federal financial aid and work-study. Tulane’s school code is 002029. Tulane School of Social Work financial aid can provide additional assistance.

The National Association of Social Workers (NASW) Foundation offers graduate school scholarships and doctoral fellowships.

The National Association of Black Social Workers (NABSW) offers scholarship resources.

The Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) offers funding opportunities for students.

Phi Alpha Honors Society for social work offers scholarships.

The Social Science Research Council offers a variety of fellowship programs that foster the innovation of new policy solutions to meet our most pressing needs.

The National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine share fellowship opportunities for graduate and doctoral students.

Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education hosts a wide variety of opportunities, ranging from graduate scholarships to postdoctoral fellowships.

The Population Council offers fellowships for students studying social sciences.

The Leopold Schepp Foundation provides educational scholarships to full-time undergraduate and graduate students with professional goals that benefit society and who demonstrate a combination of fine character, academic excellence, financial need, compassion, and a commitment to volunteerism.

The Harry S. Truman Scholarship Foundation is the premier graduate fellowship in the United States for those pursuing careers as public service leaders.

The Davis-Putter Scholarship Fund is for students who demonstrate active participation in civil rights, economic justice, international solidarity, or other progressive issues. These need-based scholarships are awarded to those able to do academic work at the university level and who are part of the progressive movement on the campus and in the community.

The Paul D. Coverdell Fellows Program (formerly known as Fellows/USA) is a graduate fellowship program that offers financial assistance to returned Peace Corps Volunteers.

MSW/MS in Disaster Resilience Leadership Admissions

 

Both the MSW Admissions Committee and the DRLA Faculty Steering Committee evaluate all applications for admission.

We encourage prospective applicants to communicate with admissions faculty via phone and/or email and secure answers to any questions they might have regarding the program. When feasible, a face-to-face meeting and campus tour may be arranged.

Applicants to Tulane’s MSW/MS-DRL program must meet the following requirements:

  • Demonstrate a strong performance in the junior and senior years of undergraduate study or in a postgraduate degree program or have strong employer references.
  • Possess a bachelor’s degree.
  • A grade-point average of 3.0 or better on a 4-point scale (preferred).

Applicants to the MSW/MS-DRL dual degree program must submit the following documents with their electronic application:

  • Statement of Interest for MS-DRL - Three to five double-spaced pages that should explain your reasons for applying to the MS-DRL program, past relevant professional experience, future career goals, and practice interests. While we appreciate the context of the personal journey that led you to pursue an MS-DRL, the majority of your writing (more than 50 percent) should be dedicated to:
    1. Your practice interests and previous disaster-related work.
    2. Personal/career goals that the MS-DRL will help you to achieve.
    3. Anticipated contributions to the profession of disaster resilience.
  • Statement of Interest for MSW - Three to five double-spaced pages that should address the following:
    1. race the origin and development of your interest in social work as a professional, including any significant influences or experiences./li>
    2. What qualifications do you bring to the classroom and social work practice? Do you have any limitations that might affect your ability to practice social work that you would like to disclose?
    3. Discuss your experience working with populations other than your own. This may include gender identity, race, religion, socioeconomic and/or cultural background./li>
  • Resume or Curriculum Vitae (CV) - If you are unsure how to format your resume, feel free to reference our guide.
  • Official Transcript(s) - One copy of official transcript(s) from each certificate, associate, bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral level institution you have attended.

    To be considered official, a transcript (1) must be sent directly from your institution to Tulane School of Social Work and (2) must show completion of coursework required for the degree, the degree earned, and the date of degree conferral.

    • If your overall GPA from your undergraduate degree-granting institution is 3.0 or higher, you are not required to submit transcripts from institutions where you received transfer credit toward your bachelor's degree.
  • References/Recommendations - A minimum of two (2) Letters of Recommendation (LORs) must be received. The recommenders will submit the letters of recommendation directly to the application portal. Applicants should select two individuals who know them well and have agreed to write a recommendation. As an applicant, keep the following guidelines in mind:
    • If you are presently working or have been engaged in volunteer work in human services, one of the letters should be submitted by your supervisor or employer.
    • If you are currently only a student, the two (2) letters should be submitted by a faculty advisor or professor in your major area who is familiar with your academic work.
    • NO personal references (family, friends, social acquaintances, co-workers) will be accepted.
    • We ask that applicants have the name, title, professional email address, phone number, and relationship of each recommender on hand.
    • If you need guidance on asking for letters of recommendation, please review our helpful tips.

 

Reference/recommendation letters can be submitted via the application website, mailed to the TSSW Office, or emailed:

Tulane University School of Social Work #8906
127 Elk Place
New Orleans, LA 70112

tsswtranscripts@wave.tulane.edu

Online MSW (Traditional and Advanced Standing) 

Full-time, accelerated and part-time options available. Terms begin in fall, spring, and summer.

 

Full-Time & Part-Time MSW/MS-DRL

Fall

 
Online (Part Time)
On-Campus (Full Time)
Application Open
December 1
August 1
Application Close
July 1
July 1
Deposit Due
August 1
July 1
Classes Start
August
August

 

Spring

 
Online (Part Time)
Application Open
May 1
Application Close
December 5
Deposit Due
January 2
Classes Start
January

 

Summer

 
Online (Part Time)
Application Open
August 1
Application Close
April 5
Deposit Due
April 25
Classes Start
May

 

Advanced Standing MSW/MS-DRL

Fall

 
Online (Part Time)
Application Open
August 1
Application Close
April 5
Deposit Due
April 25
Classes Start
August

 

Spring

 
Online
On-Campus
Application Open
December 1
August 15*
Application Close
July 1
July 1
Deposit Due
August 1
July 1
Classes Start
January
January

*Application opens the prior year

Summer

 
Online (Part Time)
Application Open
May 1
Application Close
December 5
Deposit Due
January 2
Classes Start
May

Applicants who have earned a Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) degree within the past five years from a Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) accredited program may be granted advanced standing, enabling them to qualify for a MSW in three semesters of full-time study.

Advanced standing requirements include:

  1. Cumulative GPA of 3.3 or better on a 4.0 point scale
  2. 3.0 GPA in all undergraduate substantive courses
  3. B+ average in their field practicum

The MSW can only accept transfer credits from other MSW programs that were accredited by the Council on Social Work Education at the time the student attended. Review our Transfer Credit Policy here.

About Tulane School of Social Work

Streetcar and bus in front of the Social Work building.

With over 100 years of innovation and impact in New Orleans, the South, and across the U.S., Tulane School of Social Work has remained committed to its motto, “not for oneself, but for one’s own.” Continuing with this tradition, Tulane School of Social Work offers industry-focused graduate degrees and a certificate program for purpose-driven professionals to do work that matters — in the New Orleans community and beyond.

Ready to do work that matters? Take the next step with Tulane’s MSW/MS in Disaster Resilience Leadership program.