Online Master of Social Work (MSW) degree programs allow working students a wide range of 
flexibility in registering for courses, scheduling study time, interacting with professors and colleagues, submitting assignments and tracking coursework.
Students evaluating MSW online degree programs should emphasize accreditation. The Council on Social Work Education (CSWE), the national governing board for social work degree programs, has accredited all of the programs in our list.
Regulations established by CSWE require schools seeking CSWE accreditation to include a clinical practice element; the only component of the MSW curriculum students cannot complete online.
In general, the MSW online degree programs in our list provide both synchronous and asynchronous elements, with some activities requiring all students to participate online at specific times while participating in other activities at the students’ convenience. Based on current information, we’ve noted which programs have mandatory in-person requirements.
Beyond obtaining a MSW degree in social work from a CSWE-accredited institution, almost every state requires individuals pass an exam to obtain a license. Except for some specified and controlled work environments, practicing social work without a license is illegal.
Online MSW Degree Programs Ranking Guidelines
We selected the online MSW degree programs based on the quality of the program, the types of courses provided, the faculty, awards, rankings, and reputation, including the school’s reputation for effectively providing online degree programs.
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Check out our impressive list of the best online Master of Social Work degree programs:
#1 Fordham University
Founded in 1916, Fordham University, located in New York City, houses one of the largest social work programs in the world, including an online MSW degree program.
Online MSW Program Snapshot:
- Asynchronous instruction, 24/7 access to classes
- Two Entry Tracts: Traditional, three and a half years & Advanced Standing, one and a half years
- Clinical concentration
- Open to residents of New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut
- Field placements within students’ geographic areas
Applicants to the online MSW program must be residents of New York, New Jersey or Connecticut. Students can begin the part-time online MSW program in the Fall or Spring semesters.
Fordham University online programs are primarily asynchronous; students are not required to be online at specific times. Students have 24/7online access.
The online Master of Social Work program maintains the same high standards as the in-person program.
Fordham University provides a hybrid option at Molloy College, located on Long Island. Students take half of their coursework at Molloy College and the remaining coursework online.
The university offers two curriculum options for the online MSW program: Traditional, part-time, three and a half years and Advanced Standing, part-time, one and a half years. Transfer students and Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) graduates who achieved a high level of academic performance and a successful fieldwork experience in a CSWE-accredited program can take the Online MSW Advanced Standing Option. The Online MSW Advanced Standing Option assumes students have completed the first year of an MSW program and transfer students have completed their field practicum.
The MSW online degree program offers a clinical concentration to prepare graduates to provide social work services and treatment directly to individuals, families and groups. For field placements, students work in an agency within their home/work geographic area.
#2 Case Western Reserve University
Located in Cleveland, OH, Case Western Reserve University’s online Master of Science in Social Administration (MSSA) is part of the high-ranking Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel School of Applied Social Sciences. In 2012, the Mandel School ranked #9 by U.S. News & World Report, the only online graduate social work program to join its Top 10 list. In a survey of the members of the National Association of Social Workers (NASW), the school ranked #3 for the “Best Master’s Degree of Social Work” in the nation.
Case Western Reserve University has a firm history in social work education. Offering the first affiliated professional graduate school of social work in the U.S., the university played a key role in developing the core curriculum for all accredited schools of social work.
Online MSW Program Snapshot:
- 100 percent online coursework; 11 credit hours of field education
- Two Entry Tracts: Advanced (45 credits) and Traditional (60 credits)
- Two Concentrations: Community Practice for Social Change & Direct Practice (Child, Youth and Families or Mental Health, Adult)
The MSSA program features 100 percent online coursework and has two entry tracts: an Advanced Standing tract and a Traditional tract. Students who completed a BSW in the last seven years with social work course grades B or better receive Advanced Tract standing. The Advanced Standing Tract includes a total of 45 semester credits over 6 semesters and takes as few as 2 years to complete.
The Traditional Tract for Non-BSW students includes a total of 60 credits over 8 semesters and takes as few as two-and-a-half years to complete. Regardless of tract, all students must take two courses per academic term and participate in 11 total credit hours of field education throughout the program.
The program also offers two social work concentrations: Community Practice for Social Change and Direct Practice. The Direct Practice concentration has two specializations: Child, Youth and Families and Mental Health/Adult.
In addition to CSWE’s accreditation, the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools has provided accreditation for the Master in Social Administration online degree program.
Note: Because of state regulations, Case Western Reserve University is presently unable to accept admission applications from Alabama residents to its online degree programs.
#3 University of Southern California (USC)
The University of Southern California (USC)’s School of Social Work, in Los Angeles, CA, was the first among leading research universities to offer its MSW degree online. Available nationally through its Virtual Academic Center, the MSW program at USC engages students in web-based learning and hands-on, supervised traditional field instruction in the communities where they live and work.
In 2012 U.S. News & World Report, highly ranked USC’s School of Social Work among the accredited social work graduate programs in the nation.
Online MSW Program Snapshot:
- Multiple start dates
- “Live” classrooms facilitated online
- Five concentration area, with various sub-concentrations
- Open to students anywhere in the United States; field placements in students’ local communities
The learning examples and case studies within the curriculum are rich with the real-life scenarios of Southern California, home to some of the largest school districts, hospitals, mental health and child welfare agencies, military installations, correctional facilities, Fortune 500 companies and grassroots organizations in the country.
The MSW curriculum reflects the academic rigor of the on-campus program. Beyond the CSWE accreditation, the Western Association of Colleges and Schools (WASC) also accredited USC’s MSW online degree program.
The program affords multiple start dates to accommodate a person’s scheduling needs. The Master in Social Work degree program provides “live” lectures in an interactive classroom environment.
The foundation-year curriculum provides a common base of knowledge, skills and values through introducing theories, issues and practice methods which deal with individuals and their environment.
The second half of the curriculum offers advanced training to develop expertise and skills in a concentration area such as:
- Families and Children
- Community Organization, Planning and Administration (COPA)
- Social Work and Business in a Global Society
- Health
- Mental Health
With additional coursework, students can establish a sub-concentration in Military Social Work and Veteran Services, Older Adults, Public Child Welfare School Settings and Systems of Mental Illness Recovery.
#4 Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU)
Located in Richmond, VA, Virginia Commonwealth University features a Master of Social Work degree students can obtain through VCU’s Distance Education program. The four-year, part-time program has a concentration in clinical social work practice.
U.S. News & World Report ranks VCU’s School of Social Work’s graduate programs highly among the nation’s top social work programs.
Online MSW Program Snapshot:
- Structured four-year, part-time distance education program for clinical concentration
- Hybrid model: Students can complete most coursework online but the program includes several mandatory in-person requirements
- More than 450 field internships in Virginia, Washington, D.C. and near-by Maryland counties
The MSW Distance Education (DE) program is a hybrid model: Students have access to most of the coursework online but the program includes some mandatory in-person classes. All DE students must complete field internships in assigned community agencies in both the foundation and concentration years of the program. Field internships are offered only in Virginia or the metropolitan area of Washington D.C., including close-in counties in Maryland.
Students must attend two mandatory in-person classes per semester at VCU’s School of Social Work in Richmond. Those classes take place on Saturdays, usually at Week 8 and 15 in the semester. Students are required to take an in-person program orientation prior to year one.
The online program features the same curriculum as the campus-based MSW program and the part-time model permits students to complete the beginning (foundation) year of the program in two years including summers and the second (concentration) year in two years.
#5 Boston University
Boston University located in Boston, MA, is an internationally recognized institution and one of the U.S.’s largest and most respected private research universities. Boston University has engaged in social work education since 1937.
The university’s School of Social Work has a mission which furthers social and economic justice in the urban environment. The Master of Social Work online degree program, which allows students to participate in the program from wherever they reside, fits strongly into the mission.
Online MSW Program Snapshot:
- Part-time, online program
- Clinical Social Work Practice Concentration
- Open to people anywhere in the United States
The online MSW degree is identical to the degree offered on campus. The part-time online Master of Social Work Program has a focus in clinical social work practice in a variety of settings including health and mental health centers, schools and community-based and residential programs.
Applicants with a minimum of two years of supervised human services work can apply for the Human Service Experience Track (HSE); other applicants are eligible to apply for the Traditional MSW Track (TT) track.
Students in the online Master of Social Work program take required and elective courses online, attend live classroom sessions on Sunday or Monday evening, and, depending on relevant work experience, complete one or two field internships within or near their geographic area.
Applicants may apply to enter the online Master of Social Work program in September, January, or May. The online program is available for applicants living in the U.S. except those from New Hampshire, Maryland and those residing within the Massachusetts Route 128 corridor.
#6 Rutgers University
Rutgers University, based in New Brunswick, NJ, offers a 100% online MSW degree program. Students can begin the part-time program in the fall or spring and complete the program within three years.
U.S. News & World Report ranks Rutgers’ MSW program among the top 12% of “Best Grad Schools” for Social Work.
Online MSW Program Snapshot:
- Fully online three-year, part-time program
- Fall or Spring starts
- Clinical social work concentration
- Open to students nationwide
The online Master of Social Work curriculum, built around a clinical social work concentration, focuses on the delivery of social work services to individuals, couples, families, and small groups.
The online MSW program provides asynchronous classes with no fixed meeting time. Students and faculty interact via web-based technologies. Third-year students may take their advanced clinical courses in an asynchronous or synchronous format.
Students in the online MSW program complete 1,125 hours of field work during the program: 450 in the first three semesters of placement and 675 in the following four semesters of placement.
#7 Indiana University
The School of Social Work at Indiana University (IU), in Indianapolis, founded in 1911, offers an online MSW degree program named MSW Direct.
Applicants with a BSW from a CSWE-accredited social work program they received within five years of the date they start the MSW Direct program, must apply for Advanced Standing. These applicants, if admitted, take 45-credit-hours instead of 60. They need to complete one field practicum.
Online MSW Program Snapshot:
- Three to five year MSW Direct program; part-time and full-time scheduling
- Advanced standing and regular tracts
- Advanced generalist concentration
Only MSW Direct students can take the Advanced Generalist concentration. The Advanced Generalist concentration prepares students for multi-faceted practice with individuals, families, groups, organizations and communities within diverse systems and settings. Students taking two classes per quarter term can complete the program in about three years; students need to complete all program requirements within five years of study.
MSW Direct is a hybrid of synchronous and asynchronous coursework. Students are required to come to campus only once for a mandatory three-day orientation; all other classes meet online. All classes have a synchronous element; just like the traditional class meetings, students meet online in class using a webcam and microphone on their computer. Minimally students synchronically meet three times during the term. All classes also have an asynchronous dimension, allowing students to work independently.
Field placements occur in or near their local community. IU’s MSW Direct graduates engage in multi-faceted roles as community organizers, clinicians, group facilitators, supervisors, policy analysts and advocates.
#8 Portland State University
Portland State University (PSU), located in Portland, OR, offers an online Master of Social Work program, with a focus on Community and Organizational Practice. In 2012 Portland State University’s online education programs rated among the best in the country, according to rankings by U.S. News & World Report.
Online MSW Program Snapshot:
- No Advanced Standing option for online MSW program
- Community and Organizational Practice concentration
- Primarily online program; three-day on-campus intensives prior to the beginning of each academic year
- Three-year cohort model; synchronous and asynchronous delivery
- Open to students nationwide
The online program is designed to provide access to an MSW degree for working students, those who live in rural locations, nontraditional students, and others who need flexibility in an academic learning environment. The online MSW program does not have an Advanced Standing option.
The online MSW program is a 78-credit program focusing on Community and Organizational Leadership Practice, which prepares students for careers in human services administration, community practice, policy practice and advocacy.
Utilizing web-based technologies, the program includes collaborative learning and individual-directed learning. The school expects students to attend a three-day (Thursday – Saturday) intensive on the Portland campus at the start of each school year, to allow for some course delivery and community building between faculty and students.
PSU’s learning management system, D2L, is similar to systems such as “Blackboard” and its 11-week courses are broken into smaller learning modules which require students to actively engage in learning about 10 hours per week per course. The program uses a cohort model, in which students participate with a specific set of peers from various locations throughout the program.
#9 University of Tennessee, Knoxville
The School of Social Work at the University of Tennessee at Knoxville, in Knoxville, TN, offers an online MSSW degree program. The Tennessee Alliance for Continuing Higher Education (TACHE) awarded the school’s online MSW program the “Innovative Credit Programming Award”.
Online MSW Program Snapshot:
- Designed for in-state & out-of-state students; cohort learning model
- Full-time, part-time, advanced standing and extended study options
- Primarily online with very limited face-to-face meetings
- Clinical or macro concentrations
The online program has three program options: Full-time online MSW students begin classes in the fall semester and complete the program (60 semester hours) in two years, or four semesters; Advanced Standing students begin classes in the summer term and can complete the program on a full-time (12 months) or part-time (18-24 months) basis for a total of 36 semester hours, including one field placement (672 hours). Applicants to this program must have a BSW or BSSW degree from a CSWE-accredited school of social work and a GPA of 3.0.
The Extended Study online MSSW Program is a part-time program, and students take six credit hours per semester and complete the MSSW degree requirements (60 credit hours) in three to four years. Extended Study students begin coursework in the fall term and complete two field placements. The foundation placement (352 hours) occurs during the second year of study and the concentration placement (672 hours) can occur in the third or fourth year, depending on course of study. Applicants must have a minimum GPA of 2.7 or higher to be considered for this program.
The online MSSW program includes both asynchronous and synchronous formats. Students may choose from weekend classes or all online courses.
The online MSSW program offers two areas of concentration: Evidence Based Interpersonal Practice (EBIP), to acquire skills in clinical evidence-based treatments for use with individuals and groups, and Management, Leadership and Community Practice (MLCP), to build skills in assessing and promoting the social well being of at-risk and diverse populations across practice settings.
Online MSSW students also take a course to further advance their learning on a population of their choice: Children/Adolescents, Families, or Older Adults.
#10 University of Louisville
The Kent School of Social Work at the University of Louisville, educating social workers since 1936, offers a completely online MSSW degree. The school’s online MSSW program focuses on practices promoting social justice.
The MSSW degree program ranked among the top 16% of all master’s programs in the country, and among the top 28 public university social work programs in the country by US News & World Report.
Online MSW Program Snapshot:
- 100 percent online cohort program model
- Open to persons in the U.S. with a bachelor’s degree; open to U.S. citizens living abroad in rare circumstances
- Starting in fall 2014, Advanced Standing program for students who have BSW degrees from CSWE-accredited programs
- Part-time and full-time programs, including three-year and four-year curriculum plans
Online learning focuses on skills and knowledge around 1) children and families, 2) health and mental health, and 3) community and international practice.
The school’s online MSSW program provides specializations in Psychosocial Oncology, Mental Health, Alcohol and Drug Counseling and Gerontology.
The Kent School of Social Work’s Practicum office helps students find suitable placements in their local communities.
The online program allows for two distinct options: Standard 60-hr MSSW launches every fall (one start per year). Current and future social work professionals who have a bachelor’s degree in any area of study other than social work can complete the 60-credit-hours program.
Advanced Standing 30-hr MSSW starts summer and fall (two starts per year). Standard 60-hr students can complete their MSSW in two, three, or four years; Advanced Standing 30-hr students can complete their MSSW in one-two years.
Online MSSW students are required to participate in synchronous “real time” learning sessions at designated times in some or all of the online courses.
#11 Florida State University
The online MSW program at Florida State University in Tallahassee, FL, is the first of its kind in the nation.
Online MSW Program Snapshot:
- Part-time Advanced Standing option only; must reside in a qualifying coverage area
- Clinical concentration
- Asynchronous instruction; six-semester/two-year program
The online MSW degree program is only for students who have a BSW from a CSWE-accredited university or students interested in transferring from a two-year traditional CSWE-accredited MSW program who completed their first year of studies to include a generalist field placement and who reside in one of the seven-state qualifying MSW coverage areas. Students can only earn the Advanced Standing model in a part-time schedule. The model involves the school’s curriculum for clinical concentration.
The program allows students to participate asynchronously (at their own pace and convenience) in their instruction via the Internet. FSU’s online MSW degree students are never required to come to Tallahassee during their studies.
The online Master of Social Work degree students generally take six hours per semester. Students can complete the advanced clinical field placement over two semesters in a part-time format in the student’s residential area. It usually takes a student six semesters or two years to complete the 39-credit-hour program.
#12 Catholic University of America
The Catholic University of America’s National Catholic School of Social Service (NCSSS), the leading, clinical social work program in the nation’s capitol, offers an online MSW degree program. The online program includes the same features as the on-campus program such as small class sizes (usually up to 25), student input in identifying field placements, understanding and application of theory in evidence-based practices and responsive, hands-on faculty.
Online MSW Program Snapshot:
- Open to applicants across the US and internationally
- Clinical concentration
NCSSS’s Clinical MSW concentration prepares students for a wide range of professional roles including school social work, community-based work with the elderly, clinical work with at-risk families, play therapy, trauma treatment, mental health counseling/therapy and case management with homeless individuals.
The online MSW coursework consists of 60 credit hours, 30 at the foundation level and 30 at the advanced level.
NCSSS students can access the online MSW learning site 24/7 and complete coursework at their own pace, as long as they meet the deadlines set by an instructor.
The foundation year is a generalist practice internship where students learn micro, mezzo, and macro skills applicable across various agency settings and populations. In their second internship, students learn advanced clinical skills.
The school offers conditional admission to students who do not meet all of the requirements for admission to the MSW program but whose application reflects serious potential for graduate study and professional practice. Students with conditional status must maintain at least a GPA of 3.0 (B) and earn no more than one grade of C or below, for the first 18 credit hours of the foundation curriculum. At the end of this period, the student’s performance is assessed to determine if the student continues or is asked to withdraw from the program.
The 100 percent online program is open to applicants across the US and internationally; international applicants and those for whom English is a second language must meet specific admission requirements.
#13 California State University, Northridge
The Tseng College for Graduate, International and Midcareer Education at California State University, Northridge (CSUN), is one of the first U.S. universities to offer graduate degrees online. CSUN offers a 100 percent online MSW degree program which does not require students to come to the CSUN campus or any other affiliate university campus during the four-semester online MSW program.
As well as CSWE accreditation, the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) has accredited the program.
Online MSW Program Snapshot:
- Open to students anywhere in the US and internationally
- two-year, four-semester full-time program
- Online cohort format; generalist approach
- Mostly asynchronous learning, with weekly synchronous field education class and field internships
The CSUN MSW program identifies students as either Conditionally Classified or Classified. Students who do not meet all CSUN’s requirements at the time of admission are accepted as Conditionally Classified and are subject to meeting various requirements.
The two-year/four-semester full-time program, delivered in a cohort format, allows participants to enter the program and proceed through the course of instruction as a group. It is an asynchronous program, with the exception of a weekly synchronous field education class; students must attend a weekly, one-hour (synchronous) online field education class.
Students take two 8-week courses at a time for a total of 20 classes (60 graduate units), plus ongoing 16-week field education classes. Students complete 16 field hours per week during the entire duration of the program. Students must be available for field placement Monday-Friday, 9-5pm; evening and weekend field placements are unavailable and field internships at students’ place of employment are not acceptable. Students admitted to the CSUN online Master of Social Work program must successfully complete a field internship interview.
CSUN’s MSW program expands students’ career possibilities through a Social Work Generalist approach. The curriculum prepares students with skills and perspectives to work at any level: individual/family (micro), group/community (mezzo) and societal/policy (macro).
#14 Our Lady of the Lake University (OLLU)
Our Lady of the Lake University (OLLU), located in San Antonio, TX, is a Catholic institution based on its founders, the Congregation of Divine Providence; it’s distinctive in its personalized teaching style and well-known programs on Mexican-American culture.
As the very first school of social work in the state of Texas, OLLU’s Worden School of Social Service has educated social workers since 1942. In 2009, the school earned the Presidential Award for Excellence from the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE), an annual honor reserved for only one of the nearly 500 social work degree programs in America.
Online MSW Program Snapshot:
- One of only three MSW programs in the U.S. focusing on Hispanic children and families across the life spectrum
- 100 percent online; 54-hours coursework
- Open to students anywhere in the US
- Advanced Standing & Regular options
Our Lady of the Lake’s online Master of Social Work degree program at the Worden School of Social Service prepares graduates to help change the lives of children and families in need. The school’s graduate program is one of three social work master’s degree programs in the U.S. with an emphasis on serving Hispanic families and children. Additionally, the online MSW program at OLLU concentrates on social work across the life span.
This program is cutting-edge in its future focus: The Hispanic population is the fastest-growing demographic community nationally and service to elderly adults currently represents the largest single community of social service recipients. As both trends are expected to continue, the understanding and expertise gained in dealing with the Hispanic culture can benefit social workers from all over the country.
The completely online MSW program offers two tracts: Students with a bachelor’s degree in social work from an accredited program with a minimum GPA of 3.0, can take an advanced-standing MSW program they can complete in two – two and a half years. Students who hold other undergraduate degrees can take the full Master of Social Work program, which they can complete in three – three and a half years.
#15 University of New England
The School of Social Work at the University of New England in Portland and Biddeford, Maine offers an online MSW degree program which reflects its mission of supporting “sustainable and diverse communities committed to universal human rights and social and economic justice.” In addition to CSWE accreditation, the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC) has regionally accredited UNE. US News & World Report has recognized UNE as one of the “Best Universities” in the North.
Online MSW Program Snapshot:
- Open to students anywhere in the US and internationally
- 100 percent online; no campus visits required
- Asynchronous learning; regular and accelerated options available
- Individual, Family, and Group Practice (clinical-based) or Organizational and Community Practice (policy-based) tracts
Courses are 100 percent online with three starts per year in spring, summer and fall. The online Master of Social Work program provides asynchronous courses taken one at a time.
The program has two tracks: Traditional and Advanced Standing, for applicants who obtained a bachelor’s degree from a CSWE-accredited program within the last seven years. The MSW program is open to applicants across the U.S. and internationally.
The program includes two concentrations: 1. Clinical Practice: The Individual, Families, and Groups (IFG) concentration is designed for students interested in advanced skills in health and mental health, substance abuse, trauma and other relevant clinical and case management arenas. 2. Community Practice: The Organizational and Community Practice (OCP) concentration is designed for students who want to develop advanced skills in program management, policy analysis, advocacy, community development, and related areas.
It should be noted that UNE also offers a Hybrid/Flipped course option for the MSW degree that blends online and classroom learning for maximum flexibility while still retaining classroom relationships. Hybrid/flipped courses have two weeks of online learning to one week of campus face-to-face interaction.
#16 Edinboro University
Located in Edinboro, PA, Edinboro University offers an accelerated and completely online MSW degree program which, in addition to coursework, requires a minimum of 900 clock hours of supervised internship. The online students are not required to attend campus. Students are required to take courses year-round, including winter and summer sessions.
Online MSW Program Snapshot:
- Concentration in family social work practice
- Offered as an accelerated program only
- Advanced standing & regular tracts
- Open to students anywhere in the United States
The Master of Social Work program provides one concentration: advanced social work practice at all service levels with an emphasis on families. However, the family concentration prepares students for a wide range of practice settings, including foster care and adoption agencies, mental health care agencies, addiction treatment centers, schools, family based agencies, hospitals, medical care facilities, rehabilitation facilities, psychiatric facilities, veteran’s agencies, correctional facilities, nursing homes and senior centers.
The online program offers two tracts: Regular tract and Advanced Standing tract. The Advanced Standing tract requires a completed baccalaureate degree in social work received within the last five years from a CSWE-accredited program with a minimum GPA of 3.0. Advanced Standing students must complete between one and three prerequisite courses. All three prerequisite courses are offered in the summer preceding the fall entry into the program. Also, students with Advanced Standing must take the pre-entry/bridge course, Principles of Advance Social Work Practice with Families, with a grade of B or better. This course is offered online only.
#17 Texas State University
Located halfway between Austin and San Antonio in San Marcos, TX, Texas State University (TSU) offers an online MSW degree program in which online students follow the same curricular requirements and syllabi as on-campus students. Applicants who reside more than 50 miles from an accredited MSW program receive priority.
Online MSW Program Snapshot:
- Advanced standing and regular track options; Foundation and Administrative Leadership curriculum options
- Priority given to applicants who reside more than 50 miles from an accredited MSW program; open to anyone in the US and abroad
- Online program, augmented by webcasting and periodic face-to-face skills institutes
- Students must complete an exit project managed by School of SW
Regular track students complete 62 credit hours to receive the MSW degree: core requirements (41), concentration electives (15), and unrestricted electives (6). Advanced Standing track students complete 36 credit hours: core requirements (15), concentration electives (15), and unrestricted electives (6). Both tracks involve 500- 600 clock hours of agency work.
The School of Social Work offers interesting electives in subjects such as health care, working with the elderly, international social work, diversity and other subjects.
TSU’s online part-time MSW degree program, built on the liberal arts perspective, provides two curriculums. The Foundation curriculum, a graduate-level curriculum, which prepares students to work as generalist social workers, includes 29 credit hours. The Administrative Leadership Concentration curriculum prepares what TSU calls “future leaders for change.” Students enter the Administrative Leadership Concentration curriculum with a solid foundation of basic social work skills and use the program to build a specialized approach to practice in one of two concentrations: Administrative Leadership or Direct Practice. Advanced concentration students cover the same content areas as foundation students but they’re immersed in those areas at more sophisticated, complex, and focused levels.
TSU requires all graduate students complete an exit project. In the School of Social Work, this means a project in connection with Concentration Field; the integrative seminar for the field practicum oversees the project.
#18 University of New Hampshire
The University of New Hampshire (UNH), located in Durham, NH, launched its online Master of Social Work degree program in Fall 2013, with the first session of the online MSW beginning January 2014. The 28-month program — the only one in New Hampshire and one of just two in northern New England — is based on the same high-quality professional education as the on-campus MSW programs at the UNH’s Durham and Manchester campuses. (Note: The MSW online program made this list based on its well-established on-campus Master of Social work degree program.) In addition to accreditation by the CSWE, the New England Association of Schools and Colleges also accredits the online MSW program.
Online MSW Program Snapshot:
- Fully asynchronous; 24/7 access
- 20 courses; 28 months to complete
- Advanced generalist curriculum; option to earn certificate in Disabilities
The online program’s Advanced Generalist curriculum prepares students for effective leadership with social work client systems of varying sizes and settings. It’s comprised of 20 courses offered completely online with no campus visit requirements. Most courses are asynchronous, allowing students to participate in learning and access materials at any time. Students who take two courses in each of the five eight-week sessions can complete their degrees in 28 months.
Through a partnership with the UNH Institute on Disability, a unique feature of UNH’s online MSW program, includes an option for students to earn a graduate certificate in intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). Program administrators plan to roll out similar graduate certificate programs in areas such as child welfare.
#19 University of North Dakota
Located in Grand Forks, ND, the University of North Dakota offers a Master of Social Work online degree program, designed for completion in two – three years via online courses and intensive on-campus lab experiences. The program prepares graduates to work as an advanced generalist social worker.
Online MSW Program Snapshot:
- The MSW program has a focus on advanced generalist social worker
- Two options: BSW Students & Non-BSW Students
- Open to anyone in the United States; in-state tuition regardless of residency
Distance learning students follow the same curriculum, experience similar lectures, and have comparable deadlines for assignments and exams as on-campus students. The program offers two options: Students with a Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) degree and non-BSW Students.
Students participate in two – three weekly class sessions conducted “live” over the Internet. Typically, online classes have set times convenient for most students, such as the evenings and/or weekends.
During the first year of the program, students spend five – six days in an intensive on-campus lab session, the only mandatory on-campus component. The on-campus lab session generally occurs in early November.
The Distance MSW Program serves students throughout the U.S., with recent graduates and students from 33 states. UND offers a special bonus for online students: They receive the in-state tuition rate regardless of their state of residency.
#20 Humboldt State University
Humboldt State University, located in Arcata, CA, offers an online Master of Social Work degree program emphasizing advanced generalist practice in rural and Native American communities, with a commitment to mindfulness-based and decolonizing social work practices. The program prepares students to meet the professional standards of future social workers. The MSW program is dedicated to providing a “disciplined, compassionate presence to a caring and ethical practice.”
Online MSW Program Snapshot:
- Social work programs emphasize working with rural and Native American communities
- Part-time regular and part-time advanced standing options
- Most coursework online; annual three-day weekend intensive required, weekly live online presentations
Through online course work, The Humboldt State Distributed Learning (DL) MSW program offers a three and a half year part-time MSW program and a two-year part-time Advanced Standing MSW program (for candidates with an accredited undergraduate degree in social work with a minimum GPA of 3.0).
While most of the course content for DL students is fully online, MSW students must come to campus annually to participate in a January Intensive held over the Martin Luther King, Jr. weekend, just prior to the start of courses. Students should also plan to participate in a live online class presentation every Monday evening when courses are in session. These sessions include audio and video participation, best accessed via networked (not wireless internet) connections.
DL classes parallel academic semesters at Humboldt State University and cover the same content as their corresponding campus courses. The school expects online students to participate in group work, peer communication and dialogue outside of live sessions.
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