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Online master’s in social work programs

An online master’s degree in social work is a great way for people interested in the profession to specialize and become dedicated therapists, rehabilitators, or counselors. Social work is a field in high demand for new talent, particularly as mental health issues are on the rise.

For these professions and more, you’ll need an advanced degree. In the day of digital communication, online social work master’s programs are just as effective and even more accessible than traditional campus options.

Seven steps to pick the right online master’s in social work program

Research

First off, be sure to do some heavy research before settling on an online program. You won’t be visiting the campus in-person and you won’t have an opportunity (or as many opportunities) to talk with people face-to-face compared to going to a university in real life.

This involves checking out everything that the degree offers, including concentrations or required work experience components. Many online programs at the graduate level still require that students complete an internship or have prior work experience in the field in order to receive the degree. This means many of these programs are not “completely” online, just mostly.

Additionally, you should always make sure that a given master’s in social work program is CSWE-certified. This means that the program is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education. It’s essentially a stamp of authenticity and academic value. A degree from a university with this seal of approval will be more valuable to future social work employers.

Prerequisites

Next, consider any possible prerequisite that a degree program may have. For instance, the vast majority of all master’s level degrees require a bachelor’s degree before you can apply. Alternatively, some online programs may allow you to compress the bachelor’s plus master’s curriculum into a 5-year plan if you start the graduate courses during your senior year of a bachelor’s degree.

For a social work program, you’ll need a bachelor’s degree in at least a field related to social work, if not social work itself. Acceptable degrees are usually in the humanities, communication, psychology, or similar majors.

Many online master’s in social work programs also demand that you have specific grades or classes completed in order to apply for the program. Sometimes, depending on what degree you have, you might need to take a few catch-up courses before you can dive into the master’s level.

School requirements

The university you plan to apply to may also have its own unique requirements for all applicants regardless of major. For instance, some universities only allow you to apply during certain months of the year. Others have flat GPA requirements or GRE requirements.

The GRE, or Graduate Record Examinations, are a series of exams taken over the computer that measure your critical thinking and reasoning skills. Lots of master’s programs, including many master’s in social work programs, have certain GRE section thresholds you have to meet before being accepted into the program.

Degree requirements

After double-checking all these aspects, investigate the degree requirements for graduation. As mentioned above, some online programs do involve some in-person components, whether it’s a work internship or some seminars you need to attend at one or more points over the curriculum. A really common example is an orientation seminar and a wrap-up seminar at the end of your studies.

Furthermore, some online master’s in social work programs require that you complete a project or thesis, depending on the school in question. For some online students, doing a project is easier than writing a thesis and vice versa for others. This requirement is also dictated by the type of degree you earn: a Master of Science will likely need to do a thesis as part of the research component of the curriculum.

Consider scheduling

Online degrees of all majors are useful for many people thanks to their schedule flexibility and largely asynchronous educational opportunities. But you should double-check what a given program offers before sending in your application.

Some online programs are only partly asynchronous; this means you’ll still need to attend web chats or video conferences every now and again. Others are completely online and flexible and are perfect for those who need to work a busy schedule while completing their education.

Keep the application deadlines in mind as well. Some programs follow a cohort format, meaning there’s only one application deadline per year and all students proceed through the curriculum in lockstep with one another. Other universities may have multiple start dates every year, allowing you to jump in when it works best for your needs.

Part-time online MSW programs can usually be completed within three to four years while full-time programs can be completed in two years or less.

Apply

Once you’ve done all your research and found out what a particular online master’s in social work program provides, go ahead and apply. This involves putting together a portfolio showcasing your GPA, GRE scores, and other academic merits along with any required letters of recommendation. Many master’s programs need at least two letters of recommendation from either your former faculty or your current boss.

You can also make your application more attractive by adding work experience in the social work or communication fields.

Look at financial aid

Finally, be sure to check out financial aid if and when you get accepted into the program. Many online programs are quite affordable, but you might still need a little aid in order to pay for everything. The FAFSA is the first step in applying for financial aid overall, and you might be eligible for certain grants or loans backed by the federal government.

Alternatively, you can check out social work scholarships and financial aid pages at the university you’ve applied to. 

Online MSW admission requirements

Like most master’s degrees, online MSW programs usually have a set of minimum admission requirements. These include GPA minimums like 2.5 to 3.0 depending on the school. Many others include GRE thresholds, as well as a certain number of undergraduate semester hours or credits that count toward liberal arts classes or competencies.

If you’re a non-native English speaker, you may need to pass a Test of English as a Foreign Language, or TOEFL, exam.

Additionally, if you’ve already earned a bachelor’s degree in social work, your school may waive the first year of classes, as these are often foundational in nature. These are called advanced standing programs. Not only does this save you money, but it makes you a more attractive applicant for admissions teams. Be sure to mention this on your application if possible! 

Regardless, you’ll at least need a bachelor’s degree. You will have a much easier time getting into the program if your major is in the humanities or social studies. Both of these broad major umbrellas relate more to social work than STEM fields.

Online social work program curriculum

Online MSW programs have rigorous and somewhat interdisciplinary curriculums that cover several major topics and ideas, including economics, human behavior, philosophy, ethics, and clinical/real-world social work practice.

In general, the first year of these programs covers foundational social work knowledge to shore up your expertise on these subjects or explain them to you for the first time. Some of these introductory courses may have titles like:

  • the dynamics of racism and systemic oppression
  • human behavior and their environment
  • introduction to social work
  • social work services for children
  • couple and family therapy

Second-year curriculums usually focus on a concentration or specialization if the program in question offers these opportunities.

Social work program concentrations normally identify where a student has his or her interest and what type of social work they are particularly qualified for. A few examples of these concentrations include:

  • child and family studies
  • mental health
  • older adults and aging populations
  • marriage counseling
  • and more

You’ll also likely take a few research-oriented classes depending on the focus of your degree. Many online MSW programs also qualify you for clinical or macro social work.

Clinical social work takes place within medical practices or in direct intervention situations like social services organizations. In essence, these graduates will directly help individuals and families who need their services. On the other hand, macro social work is more concerned with creating interventions to facilitate social change. It’s much more political and based on affecting the underlying societal causes of many social issues.

Some online MSW programs give you fieldwork opportunities despite their digital nature, and many may even require it. These can help you identify where your interest lies and help you figure out the kind of social work that you want to concentrate in.

As mentioned before, online programs usually incorporate at least a single in-person seminar or component at some point during your studies. These will usually be included within your tuition costs, and they normally take place over a weekend so you can continue to work even while attending the seminar or work experience class.

If you do need to take a field educational internship, this can be completed at a local agency organization near your location; you won’t need to visit the university in person. Local agencies you can earn the required credits from include mental health facilities, family counseling centers, and addiction treatment centers.

But the majority of online master’s in social work programs will feature asynchronous courses that have material that can be reviewed and work that can be turned in whenever it works best for you. Most programs will have you discuss things with your professors or peers via message boards and other educational portals.

Most online MSW programs allow students to pick their classes with a great degree of flexibility. Others that follow the cohort model will require you to take the same courses as your peers, which allows for greater networking and connectivity with your fellow students.

Tuition for online master’s in social work programs

Master’s in social work programs normally require between 30 to 60 credits depending on university policy and prior experience of the student. According to US News and World Report, credits can cost anywhere between $300-$650. A student should expect to pay between $11,000 and $39,000 in total tuition for the entire master’s program.

Several things can affect the total cost of your degree:

  • Location: generally, most online programs are attended by out-of-state students. Try to attend an online program within your state or find a university that doesn’t charge higher tuition for out-of-state students
  • Part or full-time: while the degree will cost of the same in the end, taking it on a part-time basis may make it more affordable if you need to pay for some costs out-of-pocket
  • Size: many larger universities charge more for their credits because they offer more diverse class options

Ultimately, there are several things you can do to lower your tuition costs across the board. Fill out the FAFSA to get started; if that doesn’t cover your tuition, there are some scholarship opportunities you can take advantage of. Some of the best are:

  • Student funding opportunities from the CSWE. They provide several scholarships and awards, many of which are based on demographic or economic need. These are exclusive to social work program students, so the competition is less high than for generalized scholarships
  • American School Health Association Scholarship. This scholarship is ideal for students looking to pursue careers related to helping children. It’s an annual scholarship opportunity and is given to two winners each year
  • Cenie Jomo Williams Tuition Scholarship. This award is open to African-American college students that are enrolled in a full-time social work program. It provides up to $2500 for two students who show commitment toward improving their communities through social work

Master’s in social work career opportunities

Those with master’s degrees in social work usually end up specializing in more advanced occupations than regular social workers, who earn average salaries of about $50,000 per year according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

For instance, marriage and family therapists earn about $51,000 per year and are growing at a rate of about 22 percent over the next 10 years. This normally requires an MSW degree with a marriage counseling specialization.

You can alternatively become a rehabilitation counselor, which has an average annual salary of about $36,000 per year. These individuals will help addicts overcome their problems and reintegrate into society over time.

Or you could become a school and career counselor, whose members earn about $56,000 per year. These individuals can find jobs at schools, career centers, and even within companies to help people maneuver within an organization to the spot that fits them best.

Online Master’s in Social Work Programs

School Location Program Name
Adelphi University Garden City, New York Master’s in Social Work
Appalachian State University Boone, North Carolina Master of Social Work
Arizona State University Tempe, Arizona Online Master of Social Work
Augsburg University Minneapolis, Minnesota Master of Social Work Program
Auroa University Auroa, Illinois Master of Social Work Online
Austin Peay State University Clarksville, Tennessee MSW Degree Program
Ball State University Muncie, Indiana Master of Social Work
Barry University Miami Shores, Florida Master of Social Work
Baylor University Waco, Texas MSW Online
Binghamton University, State University of New York Binghamton, New York Master of Social Work
Boise State University Boise, Idaho Online MSW Degree Program
Boston University Boston, Massachusetts Master of Social Work
Bowling Green State University Bowling Green, Ohio Master of Social Work
Brandman University Irvine, California Master of Social Work
Brescia University Owensboro, Kentucky Master of Social Work
California State University , San Bernardino San Bernardino, California Master of Social Work (MSW)
California State University, East Bay Hayward, California Masters of Social Work
California State University, Northridge Los Angeles, California Master of Social Work
California State University, San Bernardino San Bernardino, California Master of Social Work
California State University, Stanislaus Turlock, California Master of Social Work Hybrid
Campbellsville University Campbellsville, Kentucky Online MSW
Capella University Minneapolis, Minnesota Master of Social Work
Case Western Reserve College Cleveland, Ohio Online Social Work Master’s Degree
Case Western Reserve University Cleveland, Ohio Online Social Work Master’s Degree
Catholic University of America Washington, District of Columbia Master of Social Work
Clarke University Dubuque, Iowa Master of Social Work
College at Brockport, State University of New York Brockport, New York Master of Social Work
College of Saint Rose Albany, New York Master of Science in Social Work
College of Saint Scholastica Duluth, Minnesota Master of Social Work
Colorado State University Fort Collins, Colorado Distance Hybrid Part-Time Master of Social Work
Colorado State University-Pueblo Pueblo, Colorado Master of Social Work
Columbia University New York, New York Master of Social Work
Concord University Athens, West Virginia Master of Social Work
Concordia University Wisconsin Mequon, Wisconsin Master of Social Work
Daemen College Amherst, New York Master of Social Work
Dominican University River Forest, Illinois Master of Social Work
East Carolina University Greenville, North Carolina Master of Social Work
Eastern Washington University Cheney, Washington Master of Social Work
Edinboro University of Pennsylvania Edinboro, Pennsylvania Master of Social Work
Fairfield University Fairfield, Connecticut Master of Social Work
Florida State University Tallahassee, Florida Master of Social Work
Fordham University New York, New York Master of Social Work
Gallaudet University Washington, District of Columbia Master of Social Work
George Mason University Fairfax, Virginia Master of Social Work
Greater Miami Valley MASW Collaborative (Miami University and Wright State University) Dayton, Ohio Master of Arts in Social Work
Hawai`i Pacific University Kaneohe, Hawaii Master of Social Work degree program
Humboldt State University Arcata, California Masters Degree in Social Work
Indiana University Indianapolis, Indiana Master of Social Work
Indiana University-Bloomington Bloomington, Indiana Master of Social Work
Indiana Wesleyan University Marion, Indiana Master of Social Work degree program
Indiana Wesleyan University-National & Global Marion, Indiana Master of Social Work
Jackson State University Jackson, Mississippi Master of Social Work Program
Keuka College Keuka Park, New York Master of Social Work
Kutztown University Kutztown, Pennsylvania Master of Social Work
Kutztown University of Pennsylvania Kutztown, Pennsylvania Master of Social Work (MSW)
Loma Linda University Loma Linda, California Social Work (MSW)
Louisiana State University Baton Rouge, Louisiana MSW Program
Louisiana State University and A&M College Baton Rouge, Louisiana Master of Social Work Online
Loyola University Chicago Chicago, Illinois Master of Social Work
Madonna University Livonia, Michigan Master of Social Work
Marshall University Huntington, West Virginia Master of Social Work
Marywood University Scranton, Pennsylvania Master of Public Administration/Master of Social Work
Metropolitan State University of Denver Denver, Colorado Master of Social Work
Michigan State University East Lansing, Michigan Master of Social Work
Middle Tennessee State University Murfreesboro, Tennessee Social Work, M.S.W.
Missouri State University Springfield, Missouri Master of Social Work
Morgan State University Baltimore, Maryland Master of Social Work
Nazareth College Rochester, New York Master of Social Work Program
New Mexico State University Las Cruces & Albuquerque, New Mexico Master of Social Work
North Central University Minneapolis, Minnesota Master of Social Work
Northcentral University La Jolla, California Master of Social Work
Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff Flagstaff, Arizona Social Work, Master of Social Work
Nyack College New York City, New York Master of Social Work
Ohio State University Columbus, Ohio MSW
Ohio University Athens, Ohio Online Master of Social Work
Our Lady of the Lake University San Antonio, Texas Online Master of Social Work
Portland State University Portland, Central Oregon, Oregon Master of Social Work
Ramapo College of New Jersey Mahwah, New Jersey Master of Social Work
Regis College Weston, Massachusetts Master of Social Work
Regis University Denver, Colorado Online Master in Social Work
Rutgers University New Brunswick, New Jersey MSW Online
Rutgers University-New Brunswick New Brunswick, New Jersey Master of Social Work (M.S.W.)
Sacred Heart University Fairfield, Connecticut Master of Social Work Advanced standing
Saint Leo University Saint Leo, Florida Master of Social Work
Saint Louis University St. Louis, Missouri Master of Social Work
Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota Minneapolis, Minnesota Master of Social Work
Salisbury University Salisbury, North East, California, Hagerstown, & Wye Mills, Maryland Master of Social Work
Samford University Birmingham, Alabama Master of Social Work
San Jose State University San Jose, California Online/Hybrid Masters of Social Work
Seton Hall University South Orange, New Jersey Master of Social Work
Simmons University Boston, Massachusetts Master’s in Social Work
Southern Adventist University Collegedale, Tennessee Master of Social Work / Master of Business Administration
Southern Connecticut State University New Haven, Connecticut Master of Social Work
St Catherine University Saint Paul, Minnesota Master of Social Work
St. Ambrose University Davenport, Iowa Master of Social Work
St. Catherine University St. Paul, Minnesota Master of Social Work
Tarleton State University Stephenville, Waco, and Fort Worth Master of Social Work
Temple University Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Master of Social Work
Tennessee State University Nashville, Tennessee Master of Social Work
Texas A & M University-Commerce Commerce, Texas MSW – Social Work
Texas A&M University-Commerce Commerce, Texas Master of Social Work
Texas State University San Marcos, Texas Master of Social Work
Texas State University – San Marcos San Marcos, Texas MSW Program
The College of Saint Rose Albany, New York Master’s Degree in Social Work
The College of Saint Scholastica Duluth, Minnesota Master of Social Work Degree
Touro College New York, New York Master of Social Work
Troy University Troy, Alabama Masters of Social Work
Tulane University New Orleans, Louisiana Online Master of Social Work
Tulane University of Louisiana New Orleans, Louisiana Master of Social Work
UNC Charlotte Charlotte, North Carolina Master of Social Work (MSW)
University at Buffalo Buffalo, New York Master of Social Work (MSW)
University at Buffalo, State University of New York Buffalo, New York Online Master of Social Work
University of Alabama Tuscaloosa, Alabama Master of Social Work (MSW)
University of Arkansas Fayetteville, Arkansas Online Advanced Standing Master of Social Work
University of Arkansas at Little Rock Little Rock, Arkansas Master of Social Work
University of Buffalo Buffalo, New York Online MSW Program
University of California at Berkeley Berkeley, California FlexMSW Advanced Standing
University of Central Florida Orlando, Florida Online MSW Program
University of Denver Denver, Colorado Master of Social Work
University of Georgia Athens, Georgia Master of Social Work
University of Hawai’i at Manoa Honolulu, Hawaii Masters of Social Work
University of Houston Houston, Texas Master of Social Work | Online
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Urbana, Illinois Master of Social Work
University of Iowa Iowa City, Des Moines, Sioux City, Quad Cities, Iowa Online Master of Social Work
University of Kansas Lawrence, Kansas Master of Social Work
University of Kentucky Lexington, Kentucky Master of Social Work
University of Louisville Louisville, Kentucky Master of Science in Social Work
University of Maine Orono, Maine Master of Social Work
University of Memphis Memphis, Tennessee Master of Social Work Advanced Standing
University of Michigan Ann Arbor, Michigan Master of Social Work
University of Michigan-Ann Arbor Ann Arbor, Michigan Master of Social Work
University of Missouri Columbia, Missouri Master of Social Work
University of Nevada, Reno Reno, Nevada Online MSW
University of New England Portland, Maine Online Master of Social Work
University of New Hampshire Durham, New Hampshire Master of Social Work
University of New Hampshire-Main Campus Durham, New Hampshire Social Work (M.S.W.)
University of North Carolina at Charlotte Charlotte, North Carolina Master of Social Work
University of North Carolina at Pembroke Pembroke, North Carolina Master of Social Work
University of North Dakota Grand Forks, North Dakota Social Work (MSW)
University of Norther Iowa Cedar Falls, Iowa Master of Social Work
University of Northern Iowa Cedar Falls, Iowa Master of Social Work
University of Oklahoma Norman, Oklahoma Online Master of Social Work
University of Oklahoma-Norman Campus Norman, Oklahoma Master of Social Work
University of Saint Joseph West Hartford, Connecticut Master of Social Work
University of South Dakota Vermillion, South Dakota Online Master of Social Work
University of South Florida Tampa, Florida Online Master of Social Work
University of Southern California Los Angeles, California Online Master of Social Work
University of Southern Maine Portland, Maine Master of Social Work
University of St Thomas Saint Paul, Minnesota Master of Social Work
University of Tennessee at Chattanooga Chattanooga, Tennessee Master of Social Work
University of Texas – Rio Grand Valley Edinburg, Texas Master of Science in Social Work Online – Administration and Community Practice (Advanced Standing)
University of Texas at Arlington Arlington, Fort Worth, Texas Fully Online Master of Social Work
University of Texas Rio Grande Valley Rio Grande, Texas Master of Science in Social Work (MSSW)
University of Utah Salt Lake City, Utah Masters of Social Work
University of West Florida Pensacola, Florida Online Master of Social Work
University of Wisconsin-Green Bay Green Bay, Wisconsin Master of Social Work
University of Wisconsin-Madison Madison & Eau Claire, Wisconsin Master of Social Work
University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh Oshkosh, Wisconsin Master of Social Work
Utah Valley University Orem, Utah Master of Social Work
Valdosta State University Valdosta, Georgia Master of Social Work Advanced Standing
Virginia Commonwealth University Richmond, Virginia Master of Social Work
Walden University Minneapolis, Minnesota Master of Social Work
Walla Walla University College Place, Washington Master of Social Work
Washburn University Topeka, Kansas Master of Social Work
Wayne State University Detroit, Michigan Master of Social Work
West Texas A&M University Canyon, Texas Master of Science in Social Work
West Virginia University Morgantown, West Virginia Online Master of Social Work
Western Carolina University Cullowhee, North Carolina Master of Social Work
Western Kentucky University Bowling Green, Kentucky Master of Social Work
Western New Mexico University Silver City, New Mexico Online MSW Program
Western Texas A&M Canyon, Texas Master of Science in Social Work (hybrid)
Westfield State University Westfield, Massachusetts Master of Social Work
Wichita State University Wichita, Kansas Master of Social Work
Widener University Chester, Pennsylvania Master of Social Work
Winona State University Winona, Minnesota Master of Social Work
Winthorp University Rock Hill, North Carolina Online Masters in Social Work
Wright State University Dayton, Ohio Master of Arts in Social Work
Yeshiva University New York, New York Online Master of Social Work
Youngstown State University Youngstown, Ohio Master of Social Work

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