Online MSW Programs

Download Seal

See Schools

Link to this Page

There are plenty of ways for students to decide what are the top online msw programs. Here are some of the factors – job placement and career services, higher graduation rates, strong faculty and staff, accreditation, flexible online options, reasonable admissions rates, ease of completing fieldwork, challenging programs etc. Considering all these, we have created a list of the Best Online Master of Social Work Programs:

Source – Integrated Post Secondary Education Data System & University Data
*Tuition rates are for in-state and per year. Program specific rates may apply.
**NA – data not available

There are several factors to look into that determine which school is the right one for a student’s personal needs and career goals. But before students decide to pursue Online MSW Programs, it is essential to have a deep understanding of the programs and reason why anyone should get a masters in social work online degree. In this section we will walk you through all aspects of masters in social work online programs.

Who should earn a Master of Social Work?

A master’s degree is essential for anyone who wishes to move beyond macro-level social work. If a social worker wishes to switch gears and move on to micro-level work, such as helping individuals and small groups (clinical social work), then a master’s degree is required. There’s also the question of licensure; all states require clinical social workers to be licensed, and this almost always requires obtaining a master’s degree. This higher degree also opens opportunities for positions in leadership and administration.

Online Masters Programs play an important role in providing the lift for careers. Social Work professionals who want to see their careers grow or are looking to become social work professionals choose online Master of Social Work programs. But in today’s world, universities have strict admission requirements. This is especially true for masters in social work online programs. Most universities want to see a GRE test score along with the applications. Luckily, some universities do not need a GRE score for their online Master of Social Work programs. Here are a few online Master of Social Work programs no GRE programs:

California State University, Northridge

Through Tseng College, master’s students at California State University, Northridge (CSUN) can earn their Master of Social Work through a generalist curriculum approach. Instead of asking students to focus on concentration and risk pigeonholing their careers, Master of Social Work students at CSUN receive a comprehensive education that allows them to become fully prepared for any social work position. This might include working with individuals and families at the micro level, groups at the mezzo level or with societal and policy ideas at the macro level.

Coursework is available online through both asynchronous and synchronous learning. However, some of the synchronous learning is optional and provides a weekly opportunity for master’s students to engage in interaction with their instructor and classmates. Grad students with very busy schedules who have trouble attending these live weekly sessions need not worry and may watch the recorded lecture at a later time. Fieldwork components of the curriculum are not online, but program administrators are usually able to find approved fieldwork locations within a one-hour drive of the student’s home or office.

Designed as a full-time program, students usually take two years to earn their Master of Social Work degree. CSUN also utilizes a cohort model so students advance with fellow classmates and obtain a more collegial level of learning that fosters professional relationships. No GRE Requirement.

Case Western Reserve University

At the Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel School of Applied Social Sciences, Case Western Reserve University offers master’s students the opportunity to obtain an online Master of Science in Social Administration (MSSA), which is equivalent to the Master of Social Work. All the coursework is available through online course delivery methods. The only in-person portions of the curriculum relate to fieldwork requirements.

Incoming students can choose between two tracks. The traditional track consists of 60 credit hours and takes anywhere from two-and-a-half to three years to complete. Those with a bachelor of science in social work (BSW) are automatically placed in advanced standing status and may receive up to 24 credit hours toward their master’s degree. Many advanced standing students are able to complete the program in two years.

To help make the MSSA as affordable as possible, applicants are not charged an application fee. Additionally, everyone who applies will automatically be considered for a scholarship. Once accepted, master’s students are asked to choose between a concentration in direct practice and community practice for social change. The direct practice concentration can be further subdivided into children, youth and families and mental health with adults. No GRE Requirement.

Boston University

Boston University gives incoming students three ways to earn their Master of Social Work degree. There’s the traditional route at the Charles River Campus, an off-campus options and the Boston University School of Social Work Online MSW Program.

Incoming Master of Social Work students have three potential tracks to choose from. First, there’s the Human Services Experience (HSE) track, which is designed for incoming students who have at least two years of supervised human services experience. Grad students in the HSE track can tailor their 65 credit hours for a clinical or macro major and finish within three years.

Second, there’s the traditional track, which is for students without any human services experience and who do not have a BSW. Like the HSE track, it consists of 65 credits, takes three years to complete and has both clinical and macro curriculum options available. The primary difference between the traditional and HSE track is that the former requires 1,200 fieldwork experience hours while the HSE track only requires 1,000 hours.

Finally, there’s the advanced standing track, which is for incoming master’s students who have a BSW. This degree allows advanced standing program students to finish their Master of Social Work in six consecutive semesters by completing either 40 or 43 credits hours, depending if the student can place out of the Research 1 Waiver Exam. No GRE requirement.

In today’s busy world, time is short, and tasks are long. Professionals that already have a job and a career are busy as well. Given all this, most people don’t want to spend many years trying to get an online MSW degree. Some universities will let students graduate from Master of Social Work online programs in 1-year. Here is a list of universities that offer 1 year Master of Social Work programs online:

The University of Southern California

Choosing from a variety of specializations is one of the major advantages of the graduate degree. So it’s no surprise that the multiple levels of specialization available at the University of Southern California’s Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work make it a popular choice among social work students.

Before master’s students even begin their studies, they must choose an area of academic focus from among the following three departments: adult mental health and wellness; children, youth and families; or social change and innovation. Students will plan their curriculum based on this decision. But the opportunity to specialize doesn’t stop here. Students have the option of choosing between the military social work and school social work program tracks.

Like many other online MSW degree programs, USC has two basic curriculum tracks: traditional and advanced standing. Traditional consists of 60 units and is for master’s students who do not have an undergraduate degree in social work. Advanced standing is only 37 units and is generally reserved for those with a bachelor’s degree in social work from an accredited post-secondary institution.

While the bulk of the coursework is available for completion online, all master’s in social work students must complete 790 hours of fieldwork at a program-affiliated site. Students who lack advanced standing must complete an additional 210 fieldwork hours for a total of 1,000 hours. However, to offer maximum convenience, students may complete those 210 additional fieldwork hours online. This is possible through the use of a virtual field practicum where students engage in clinical simulations utilizing an actor as a mock client. Can be finished in 1 Year

Capella University

At the Capella University School of Public Service Leadership, students can take full advantage of the benefits of an online education from one of the pioneers of distance learning at the post-secondary level. Capella University’s online MSW degree program provides for two tracks: traditional and advanced standing. The former consists of 17 courses while the latter is for students with a bachelor’s degree in social work and requires that students only complete 10 courses.

Regardless of tracks, Master of Social Work students must complete both the fieldwork and residency portions of their curriculums. The fieldwork requirements are similar to that of any other accredited online Master of Social Work program, where students may attend approved social work sites to demonstrate their knowledge of social work concepts under the supervision of a qualified professional.

However, Capella University is unique in that it requires students to complete two residencies. These are online courses with on-campus elements. Specifically, master’s students spend six days (including travel time) meeting with faculty members and classmates to further hone the student’s ability to apply classroom theory in a practical setting. During these residencies, students will participate in discussion, group exercises and role play simulations.

Upon program completion, graduates will be fully prepared to become licensed in their state of choice. To help make this licensure process go as smoothly as possible, online MSW students will have access to Capella University’s licensure team, which understands the licensure requirements for all 50 states and can provide guidance during the licensing process. Can be finished in 1 Year.

Walden University

Online learning is great for master’s students who demand the flexibility to fit learning into their busy schedules. Walden University’s Master of Social Work program is no different in this respect. Another form of flexibility offered through distance learning is the ability to self-pace. While students enrolled in a typical online MSW degree program can’t truly take as much or as little time as possible to graduate, there is a bit of flexibility built in, especially when completing the fieldwork requirements.

Most online MSW programs have traditional and advanced standing tracks available, and Walden University is no different. Where Walden University stands out is that graduate students without advanced standing can choose between an accelerated and standard option. The accelerated option is for students who can commit to a full-time course load and have little to no non-academic obligations to worry about. The standard option is for master’s students who have family or professional obligations and allows students to complete their coursework as part-time students. Regardless of their choice of track option, students can choose among four start dates throughout the year and among the following four areas of specialization:

1. Advanced clinical practice.
2. Military social work.
3. Social work in healthcare.
4. Social work with children and families.

Can be finished in 1 Year.

For most online MSW students, the primary sources of financial aid will be scholarships, grants and loans. Scholarships and grants, while technically two different things, are very similar in practice in that they are usually awarded based on academic merit or financial need (or sometimes both). These are the best forms of financial aid because they do not need to be paid back. Scholarships tend to be offered by colleges, universities and charitable organizations, while grants can come from the same institutions, as well as the state and federal government.

Loans are the next primary financial option. While private loans are always available for consideration, most master’s students will want to apply for state or federal school loans. These tend to have more favorable terms than most private loans, such as deferred payments or low interest.

Regardless of how a graduate student seeks to pay for the online MSW degree, there are two things they need to keep in mind. First, they need to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA ® ). This is required for anyone seeking not just federal financial aid, but state and school based financial aid as well. And in some cases, scholarship organizations require the FAFSA  ® (especially those that are need-based).

Second, online MSW program students must ensure their school is accredited. Almost all forms of financial aid, especially government-based aid, will require attendance at an accredited school. To find out if a particular school is accredited, students can go to the U.S. Department of Education’s Database of Accredited Post secondary Institutions and look for their school. Keep in mind that the U.S. The Department of Education itself doesn’t accredited schools but does recognize independent organizations that provide accreditation of schools and programs.

Scholarships for online MSW program Students

Paying for online masters programs can get very expensive. Online MSW programs are also not inexpensive. The tuition fee can get expensive. Luckily there are scholarships available for online MSW program students. It is important to note that these scholarships may not fully pay the entire tuition fee, but they reduce the burden. Here are a few scholarships for which online MSW program students can apply for.

• Verne LaMarr Lyons Memorial MSW Scholarship
• Consuelo W. Gosnell Scholarships
• Paul & Daisy Soros Scholarships
• Elizabeth J. Davis Scholarships

Social workers seeking employment in clinical social work, school social work, and similar fields need licenses. Each state issues its own social work licenses and sets specific licensure requirements. Generally, a licensed social worker (LSW) needs to hold an MSW and meet supervised experience requirements, though some states only require a bachelor’s degree.

Social workers licensed in one state can often apply for a reciprocal license in other states, but reciprocity isn’t automatic. They may need to meet additional requirements, depending on the state. Learn more about social work licensure with the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) licensing guide.

Most graduates of an online MSW program will probably seek licensure after graduation. While the exact eligibility requirements vary by state, students can expect to possess the following elements for licensure:

• Be of a certain minimum age, usually 21.
• Possess sound moral character as defined by the state’s licensing authority.
• Complete a licensure registration application and pay the requisite fee.
• Possess a master’s degree in social work from an accredited or state-recognized institution.
• Pass an examination, such as the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB).
• Complete the required number of hours of supervised postgraduate clinical experience.

Almost all jurisdictions will require licensed social workers to take continuing education courses for license renewal. However, each state will have its own requirements as to the number of hours needed and the types of courses licensees should take. For example, some states require 20 hours each year while others require 25 hours every other year. States may also require a certain number of the continuing education hours to be in ethics. Then there’s the fact that states differ in how they define an “hour”, such as a clock hour or a contact hour. To learn more, students should visit their state licensing board.

Advanced Generalist Master’s in Social Work Online What is an advanced generalist program?

Advanced generalist programs are designed for students who wish to engage in both micro and macro social work, and who want to learn about and gain training in a number of different social work fields.

In general, this type of program helps prepare students to implement interventions External link at the micro, mezzo, and macro levels, and to work with both individual clients and larger communities. In this way, advanced generalist programs may be considered an intermediate between direct practice/clinical social work programs, which typically focus on individual work with clients, and community planning and organization programs, which focus mainly on larger communities and macro-level change.

Prospective students who wish to enroll in an advanced generalist program should research the exact curricula and course offerings of the programs that interest them in order to choose a program that meets their academic and professional goals.

Curriculum Details for Advanced Generalist Programs

Accredited online advanced generalist programs have similar curriculum structure, courses, and field education requirements as on-campus programs. As with other types of MSW programs, advanced generalist programs are generally comprised of a core set of foundational courses, and a set of concentration or elective courses (also known as advanced standing courses). While course titles and content vary across programs, sample classes may include:

Foundational Courses:

• Human Behavior in the Social Environment:
  Human psychological, emotional, and social development across the lifespan. How humans interact with different social environments (ex. family, school and work settings, friends), and how these environments in turn affect human thought, behavior, and development.
• Clinical social work practice:
  Clinical social work is a specialty within the broader profession of social work. The American Board of Clinical Social Work (ABCSW) defines clinical social work as “a healthcare profession based on theories and methods of prevention and treatment in providing mental-health/healthcare services, with special focus on behavioral and bio-psychosocial problems and disorders
• Social Welfare Policy:
  The history of social services and social welfare policy in the United States. Current social work and welfare policies are analyzed from historical, political, and economic perspectives. How current policies affect social workers’ practice.
• Foundations of Advanced Generalist Practice:
  The fundamental concepts, principles, and methods of working with individuals, groups, and larger communities to address a variety of common social, psychological, emotional, and cultural issues. Professional ethics, communications skills, and therapeutic methods are discussed and applied to different client scenarios.

Concentration/Elective Courses:

1. Social Work Practice in School Environments:
   • The principles and methods of social work practice in a school setting.
   • The different federal and state laws that impact school settings and school social work practice.
   • Understanding school communities as a whole, and how to work with students and school personnel to address different issues on and off campus that affect student learning.
   • How to counsel students at different grade levels and help them with such challenges as learning disabilities, bullying, poverty, truancy, and family conflict.
2. Advanced Clinical Practice with Families:
   • How social workers can help address common emotional, psychological, and social issues that family members face individually and as a unit.
   • Addressing spousal, parental, and sibling relationships, marital conflicts, different emotional disorders (ex. depression, anxiety) and how they affect the family unit, domestic abuse, and child neglect.
3. Advanced Clinical Practice with Older Adults:
   • How social workers can assist elderly individuals from multiple economic, social, and cultural backgrounds.
   • Helping elderly clients navigate the process of applying for government benefits, addressing elderly abuse.
   • Helping the families of elderly individuals manage long-term elderly care.
   • For a full list of online MSW programs with a clinical social work concentration, see our online LCSW degree programs page.
4. Community Planning and Administrative Leadership:
   • The essential concepts and theories of effective community planning and organization.
   • How to use structure, leadership, education, and program development to create positive change at the community level.

Online Master’s in Social Work — What is a Cohort Model?

Some online Master of Social Work (MSW) degree programs use a cohort model of instruction where students enter as a group and take a predetermined schedule of classes. There are some online programs that have flexible scheduling that allow students to pick and choose which classes they take each quarter or semester. With the exception of programs that offer multiple concentrations or electives, where students have the option to customize their degree program during the advanced standing year.

Advantages of the Cohort Model of Instruction

A cohort functions as a student’s support group during the program, allowing opportunities to form closer bonds with their classmates, and often starts their professional network following graduation. In addition, several programs that use a cohort model have some class sizes and limit the number of students per cohort to create a cohesive student group. Finally, with a set curriculum of classes, students do not have to worry about getting the classes they need to graduate.

Disadvantages of the Cohort Model of Instruction

One disadvantage of the cohort model is that all classes in the program may not be offered every semester or quarter. Therefore, if a student needs to take a leave of absence for personal reasons, they may have to wait sometime before continuing their degree program. This is typically true for online MSW programs that only accept incoming students once a year. This is not as much of a concern for programs that have multiple start dates as there is a higher chance that courses will be offered more than one time per year.

Synchronous VS Asynchronous Instruction

For students who are not familiar with the terms synchronous versus asynchronous, online programs typically use one of three methods for instruction:

• Synchronous Instruction: Programs that use synchronous instruction methods require students to log on at specific times to attend classes in “real-time”. Some programs require students to log on for a set schedule of classes each week, while others may only require students to log on for real-time instruction a couple of times per semester. Students typically know well in advance when they are required to log on for classes.
• Asynchronous Instruction: Programs that use asynchronous instruction methods do not require students to log on at specific times to attend classes. Students are given deadlines to watch lectures and complete assignments. For these programs, students can still interact with teachers and classmates through their school’s online learning portal.
• Combination of Synchronous and Asynchronous Instruction: Several programs actually use both types of instruction method depending on the class and professor. Again, students typically know well in advance when they are required to log on for real-time classes.

Some students may prefer classes with synchronous instruction so that they may interact with professors and classmates. Other students may enjoy the flexibility of asynchronous instruction; however, it is important to stay on track and keep up with coursework and assignments.

For students who are not sure which method is right for them, we suggest reaching out to a couple of schools to ask more questions about the different methods.

For students who are considering attending a full-time online MSW program, we recommend asking an admission advisor what happens if a student needs to take some time off during the program for an unforeseen circumstance.

Online Coursework

Core courses in master’s in social work online programs teach interpersonal and behavioral skills that expand on the building blocks of undergraduate courses and prepare graduate students for more advanced social work careers.

Course subjects include clinical and therapeutic services, community development, organizational planning and social policy analysis. These skills train students to meet the needs of citizens and clients.

The curriculum emphasizes core social work values of service, the importance of human relationships, and social justice and integrity. These skills help social workers find fulfillment in a wide variety of settings, including community mental health clinics and nonprofit organizations.

An online Master of Social Work program prepares students to work in many different settings, including schools. Students must earn an MSW to work in clinical, specialist and advanced practice roles. Social workers often find jobs through online job listings, but networking can boost their chances of finding a job that suits them perfectly. A good networking strategy includes joining a professional organization, such as the National Association of Social Workers or contacting alumni through the school’s alumni association. Another strategy is to apply for post-graduate fellowships. They provide decent pay, give valuable experience and allow graduates to establish connections that can be beneficial for years to come.

When most people think of a social worker, they think of professionals who help individuals, families or groups of individuals work through a specific problem, such as abuse, academic struggles, addiction or mental health issues. These are commonly referred to as micro-level and mezzo-level social workers. But there are also social workers who focus their time at the macro level. These include public policy, administrative and research social workers. These types of social workers look at the “big picture” and try to help society through programs and policies that affect large groups of people.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the job outlook from 2016 to 2026 is very promising for social workers, with an anticipated growth of 16 percent. This is more than double the national average for all occupations of 7 percent.

What kind of salary can social workers expect to make after they graduate? Though pay depends greatly upon where a person works, their geographical location, total amount of experience and specializations, among other factors, the following table provides a rough idea of what to expect:

Source: BLS (OES)

Students choose an online MSW program to grow careers. But it is also important to network with other social work professionals, organizations, and associations. By getting involved with the organizations, students can interact with other professionals to help students keep up with ongoing changes in the field and open up many career opportunities. Here are some resources that will help online MSW program students:

• National Association of Social Workers (NASW)
• Social Work Journal
• Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB)
• Social Work Policy Institution (SWPI)
• International Association for Social Work with Groups

Reviewing the basics of graduate-level social work programs, as this guide has detailed, is just the beginning. It’s important to continue researching the best online MSW program, tips for the most affordable programs, and ways to ensure a school is offering accredited programs. To learn more about these topics, check out these other resource guides on social work:

• Find out about the Cheapest online MSW program
• Find out about Accredited online MSW program

Professional Associations in Social Work Students and recent graduates of online master’s in social work programs could benefit from membership in professional organizations, which offer access to research and networking opportunities.

1. National Association of Social Workers: NASW is the largest social work association. Involvement with NASW can enhance professional growth through social advocacy policies. Members receive free issues of Social Work journal, discounts for continuing education, Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act compliance training and access to conferences.
2. Council on Social Work Education: CSWE is the nation’s social work education accrediting agency, recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation. It has more than 2,500 members. Members are offered an annual subscription to the Journal of Social Work Education, monthly newsletters and 10 percent off other CSWE publications.
3. School Social Work Association of America: SSWAA is known for developing the national social emotional learning Common Core standards and fits for social workers interested in enhancing educational communities. SSWAA members have access to practice tools, research findings, articles and other valuable tools. Members also receive the biweekly newsletter, E-Bell.