Online master’s in social work programs

Students should consider whether or not the program will fit their professional goals and if the program offers the flexibility and support they want. Different online MSW programs have different emphases and strengths. The other thing to think about is when the classes are offered and how much time students have to commit to the program. Some programs may have more classes to choose from offered at different days and times that can accommodate varied work schedules and family commitments, while others may have fewer options. Programs will also vary in the advising and career support they offer to students, so it’s important to ask about the services that programs provide beyond just coursework.

In my experience the most challenging thing is keeping up with the work. If students can stay on track, online programs are great and offer accessibility that in-person programs cannot. But, I do find that overall more students tend to fall behind in online programs than in in-person programs.

This varies across programs, but is important to ask about. In some programs the responsibility for finding a field placement is largely the responsibility of the student. In other cases the program can offer support and assistance in finding and securing field placements. This is a great question to ask when exploring different programs.

In general, I think that the pandemic has put more stress on students as they manage their own experience of the pandemic and also work with clients who are highly impacted as well. It’s a challenge for us all, but I think we’ve tried to give students more flexibility and support as we all manage through this difficult time so that they can continue through the program as successfully as possible. Luckily, the online program was in an excellent position to continue through the pandemic given that the faculty and students were already highly skilled at navigating the program virtually. I think it’s been more challenging for field placements, but we also got creative and flexible with that so that students could get their training and continue to make progress.

MSW graduates find a great variety of jobs. That’s one of the strengths of the MSW — it’s flexibility. Many students go into direct practice social work, including mental health, education, child welfare, and veterans services. Others take positions in direct community programs, work in government positions, or engage in community organizing or advocacy.

Confirming that the MSW School you chose is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education will ensure that you are assessed and evaluated on the best standards and expectations to practice and that your degree can translate into a career. Equally important is that most states mandate CSWE accreditation as part of the educational requirement for licensing. Be sure that you research the curriculum so that you know the various course offerings as well as any special areas of focus you might be interested in.

One of the identified areas is that the students are missing the “campus connection,” the ability to meet face to face with their peers and faculty and forming those connections. Another challenging component is adapting to the technology expectations.

The fieldwork components of the MSW Program are the same regardless of which program you chose. The field expectations and hours needed remain the same. You chose the field location based on your interests and area you are willing to travel to.

I think the most important factors are the goodness of fit. What I mean by this is when you look at the curriculum, learn about the faculty and select a concentration that fits with where you are in your life stage and career goals. You should also explore the mechanism and structures for course delivery. Some questions to ask would be: Are the courses offered synchronous or asynchronous? Are courses developed by the faculty that teach them or are they purchased by the school by an outside source? Do the courses follow guidelines for excellence such as being certified by Quality Matters or incorporate Universal Design? What are the mechanisms available for connecting with faculty, such as virtual office hours? Is there a high level of student engagement, such as being able to use telepresence for incorporating simulations? What level of technical support is offered to students? Does the program allow online students opportunities to engage in on-campus activities such as special lectures, student group meetings and other campus events. Finally, what special training do faculty receive to conduct online education?

The most challenging aspect of online education is also one of the greatest benefits. Online education requires students to take charge of their learning and be responsible for engaging in the online environment. In a traditional classroom students can often just “show up” and be exposed to content. Online learning requires intentional action on the part of the student to engage in readings, lectures, assignments and discussions that direct the learning. While this can be a challenge for some students, it provides a critical skill set that is imperative once the students enter into professional practice.

The field component occurs much like it does in the traditional face-to-face model. Students are matched with an internship site that pairs opportunities with the student area of interest. Online students may be placed in field settings across the country and literally around the world, allowing the student to take classes online but participate in field in their hometown or any other geographic location. Students work closely with the program field director to identify sites that may be appropriate, entering into learning agreements that support students across agencies and locations.

The pandemic has been a challenge across academia, sometimes forcing education online where it was typically only offered face-to-face. At Samford University we already had an established online curriculum which made moving our face-to-face students to online a little easier. However, the pandemic also reinforced what we have always known about online education; that student-faculty engagement and interaction is key to a positive learning experience, especially as a faith-based institution. We were able to fully utilize conferencing applications such as Zoom and Webex, in addition to communication applications such as Pronto to stay connected with students. At Samford we are known for our high level of student-faculty engagement, however since we were all (students, faculty and staff) finding ourselves in the same situations of moving to home offices, we were also able to connect on a more personal level, sharing experiences about our new co-workers (children, pets, etc.) and adapting alongside each other.

There has never been more of a need for professional social workers. The pandemic has highlighted social issues in a way that has emphasized the need for social work on all levels, from micro practice (individuals and families) to macro practice (policy, advocacy and community development). Many of our graduates are finding immediate employment in a field with continued high levels of projected growth.

Options that pave a path for becoming the kind of social worker a student plans to become are critical for professional identity and professional achievement. For example, at Aurora University, the program provides a curriculum that specializes in clinical social work. We also have several tracks which allow a student to focus on specific career paths or maintain a path that is considered generalist in nature. Choices of areas of study are important.

One of the challenging aspects of enrolling in an online MSW program is a willingness to ask tough questions and to be intentionally vulnerable enough to use resources effectively. Successful students do not give up, they pursue information and assistance.

Fieldwork is the signature pedagogy of our clinical social work program. Students seek connections with agencies, governmental facilities, schools, hospitals, and community organizations while considering career goals. Settings are varied and may be located in urban or rural areas. The placement must be vetted by the field team and an affiliation agreement is required before the student may engage in the internship experience. Once the necessary documents are finalized, the student will meet regularly with a field supervisor and will maintain regular contact with a field liaison to ensure that the competencies set forth by the Council on Social Work Education are mastered during the process. Students complete documents tracking field hours as well as achievements. Upon completion of the required internship hours, the student and supervisor submit the evaluation tools. Field experiences include an understanding of micro, mezzo, and macro systems. The experience consists of learning that occurs while practicing social work skills outside of the classroom.

From my experience as a program director, students typically need to consider three important factors when choosing an online MSW program. The first factor to ask yourself is, “how well do I work independently?” This is important to consider, since programs vary in terms of how much interaction is built into the classes. For example, the program at Northern Kentucky University (NKU) values a high level of interaction between and among students, student peers, and faculty. If this is something that is helpful to your learning, it is well worth the time to find a program that offers this form of interaction in an online environment. The second factor to examine is “Are there required ‘live’ courses?” The program at NKU offers optional “live” courses, but they are not required. Therefore, depending on other responsibilities you may be managing simultaneously to being in school (working, caretaking, etc…), this may or may not be something you wish to have as part of your learning experience. Lastly, the third factor is “what type of support does the university provide in terms of academic success, and are they accessible to online students?” This is important to consider, in case you have technology or curriculum related issues during your time in a MSW program.

Social work is such a versatile field, that a MSW opens a wide variety of potential employment opportunities. We have student graduates who go on to do clinical mental health therapy, case management, and other direct-practice roles. We also have a number of graduates who pursue employment in hospitals and other medical social work settings. Additionally, a number of our graduates move into forensic social work positions that include but are not limited to: criminal justice settings, detention centers, juvenile justice, law enforcement, military, veterans, and/or child protection. You also have the option to go into mezzo and macro work that focuses more on research, policy, and advocacy-related positions of employment. Truly, the sky is the limit!

As a certified trauma specialist, I highly recommend reading Bessel van der Kolk’s Body Keeps the Score. I also recommend the Whole Brained Child, by Dr. Dan Siegel, and anything published by Dr. Bruce Perry.

There are many important things to consider when choosing an online MSW program. First and foremost, students should ensure that the institution offering the degree is regionally accredited. While accreditation doesn’t always guarantee quality, it does guarantee nationwide acceptance. Likewise, an MSW program should be accredited (or currently going through the process of accreditation) with the Council on Social Work Education. Discipline-specific accreditation is essential to ensure the degree will qualify the student for state licensure. Once these conditions have been satisfied, the student will want to seek out a degree in the area of specialization that will allow the student to pursue the career path the student desires. For instance, if a student wants to become a clinical social worker, the student will want to seek out a program with a specialization in clinical social work. Finally, students will want to evaluate each program to ensure that the program is compatible with their individual goals and life situation. These factors may include things like the overall cost of attendance, synchronous vs. asynchronous learning, theoretical orientations, residency requirements, and postgraduate support.

Online education can be both challenging and rewarding. While some students may lament the loss of the traditional classroom, others relish the flexibility and additional one to one attention from the instructor offered by online programs. Compared to the traditional classroom, online programs require students to take more responsibility for organizing their own time and setting aside time for their learning.

Online programs are similar to face-to-face programs with regard to fieldwork and the practicum experience. The field director will identify and certify agency field placements, and work with students to secure a field practicum placement. The program will work with the student, field instructor and agency throughout the placement to ensure a quality learning experience, and troubleshoot any problems that may arise.

Online programs differ in how they organize their curriculum. Some online programs are highly customizable, while others offer no customization. Each approach has benefits and challenges. In highly customizable programs, students may tailor their experience. On the other hand, these programs may not offer an experience that has been inclusively designed toward a particular specialization. Programs with few or no customization options have specialized the curriculum to address a specific area of practice and may have a more cohesive experience. However, students are not able to follow their own areas of interest.

Graduates of MSW programs are highly competitive across a wide range of positions. Since our program is clinical, our graduates tend to find jobs utilizing these skills. These positions tend to be in hospitals, community mental health centers, addictions treatment facilities, group psychotherapy practices, and other related agencies.

There are so many resources available to students! While I have favorites of my own, I would mostly encourage students to be curious in their pursuit of knowledge. More importantly, whatever resource a student chooses to augment their learning, the student should engage with a group of peers to discuss ideas, debate issues and share burdens. In a world rich with resources, it can be easy to immerse oneself in passive learning and isolate oneself from the benefit of a community of peers.