MSW Programs in Arizona

Arizona is home to six MSW programs. Of the available options, three of them are traditional, campus-based programs, while three of them offer online MSW programs (either online only or hybrid options).

If you are looking for an MSW program in Arizona, check out the full school listings below, which provide the latest program highlights, tuition information, and other relevant details designed to help you compare and contrast degree options.

In this guide

• Online MSW listings
• MSW programs listings
• MSW overview
• Online MSW overview
• How to become a social worker
• License requirements
• Social work salaries
• Career outlook
• Expert advice

Online MSW program listings in Arizona

1. Arizona State University

   Phoenix, Tucson, Glendale & Yuma, AZ

   
   Credits: 60
   Cost per credit: $413 in-state | $1,143 out-of-state
   Plan of study: Full-Time, Part-Time, Advanced Standing, Multiple cohorts per year, Weekends/Evening
   Area of specialized practice: Advanced Generalist, Clinical or Direct Practice, Community Development and Social Systems, Management or Administration, Social Policy
   Dual degree options: Doctorate in Social Work, Public Administration, Public Policy
   Certification: Gerontology, Other, Trauma, Domestic Violence, Medical Social Work
   Program Highlights:
   

   • Follows a set sequence of courses and includes two professional seminars with synchronous elements
   • Teaches students to effectively implement practical solutions through a combination of coursework and hands-on experience
   • Offers the Standard MSW in two distinct online classrooms, asynchronous and synchronous

   Learn More: Program Details

2. Grand Canyon University

   Phoenix, AZ

   
   Credits: 62
   Cost per credit: $575
   Plan of study: Full-Time, Advanced Standing, Multiple cohorts per year
   Area of specialized practice: Advanced Generalist
   Program Highlights:
   

   • Designed to meet the academic requirements for Licensed Master Social Work (LMSW)
   • Prepares students to work in hospitals, nursing homes, clinics, schools, military bases and other facilities
   • Offers the interaction and discussion of a typical college classroom

   Learn More: Program Details

3. Northern Arizona University

   Flagstaff, AZ

   
   Credits: 54
   Cost per credit: $542
   Plan of study: Full-Time, Advanced Standing, Multiple cohorts per year
   Area of specialized practice: Advanced Generalist
   Program Highlights:
   

   • Offers coursework in topics such as social policy, clinical practice, research, cultural competence, social justice and administration
   • Promotes clinical and macro-level MSW coursework that allows students to apply their knowledge and skills
   • Allows students to have a versatile degree to work in many different settings

   Learn More: Program Details

MSW program listings

1. Arizona State University

   Phoenix, Tucson, Glendale & Yuma, AZ

   
   Credits: 60
   Cost per credit: $413 in-state | $1,143 out-of-state
   Plan of study: Full-Time, Part-Time, Advanced Standing, Multiple cohorts per year, Weekends/Evening
   Area of specialized practice: Advanced Generalist, Clinical or Direct Practice, Community Development and Social Systems, Management or Administration, Social Policy
   Dual degree options: Doctorate in Social Work, Public Administration, Public Policy
   Certification: Gerontology, Other, Trauma, Domestic Violence, Medical Social Work
   Program Highlights:
   

   • Accredited by the Council on Social Work Education
   • Prepares students for professional licensure with an emphasis on working with populations of the American Southwest
   • Has Advanced Standing and Standard MSW Options

   Learn More: Program Details

2. Grand Canyon University

   Phoenix, AZ

   
   Credits: 62
   Cost per credit: $575
   Plan of study: Full-Time, Advanced Standing, Multiple cohorts per year
   Area of specialized practice: Advanced Generalist
   Program Highlights:
   

   • Adheres to the social work standards and competencies established by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE)
   • Promotes innovative and responsible leadership with the goal of social and economic justice on a local, national and international level
   • Incorporates Christian worldview and values to encourage students to perform ethical and leadership practices

   Learn More: Program Details

3. Northern Arizona University

   Flagstaff, AZ

   
   Credits: 54
   Cost per credit: $439 in-state | $1,087 out-of-state
   Plan of study: Full-Time, Advanced Standing, Multiple cohorts per year
   Area of specialized practice: Advanced Generalist
   Program Highlights:
   

   • Committed to a social work practice model with diverse individuals and rural client well-being
   • Educates competent students with diverse populations and multi-level social systems in local, regional and global contexts
   • Incorporates theoretical perspectives that make-up a strengths-based framework

   Learn More: Program Details

MSW programs in Arizona

The good news is that there are plenty of avenues to acquire a master of social work degree. Although your options for a Council on Social Work Education-accredited degree are limited if you want to attend a traditional, campus-based university. And the CSWE accreditation is important because it is required to get a social work license in the state. In other words, not just any MSW will do.

All in all, a CSWE-accredited program is important as it indicates the program meets a certain level of rigor and includes modern social work classes and concepts. These programs include:

• coursework that covers the fundamental concepts you’ll need to succeed as a social worker, including topics like ethics, sociology, and social work research practices
• more specialized classes that will let you become one of four broad types of social workers
• clinical practice experiences. Even after graduation, you’ll need to attend more clinical practice hours, many of which are under the supervision of an already licensed social worker, in order to achieve your own license
• extra electives you can take to round out your education

At this time, only Arizona State University offers a full MSW program. Fortunately, this program is one of the best in the country. It can be completed in two years of full-time study after acquiring a bachelor’s in social work, or you can complete it over three years with a part-time schedule. This allows both busy professionals and dedicated social work students to complete the program depending on what works best for them.

The program’s focus is on specific issues that affect southwestern US communities, making it a good fit for the challenges faced by Arizona’s future social workers. This university also allows students to complete a dual degree with a focus on law or public administration: an ideal pathway if you want to become an administrator at a social work clinic in the future.

You’ll also need to specialize your MSW degree to focus on children, youth and families, mental health or behavior health with adults, public child welfare, or another specialization.

Online MSW programs

There are, of course, tons of other online MSW programs you can attend while living in Arizona. Many schools actually prioritize out-of-state students to encourage diversity. Online MSW programs are often convenient if you need to finish your education while working in Arizona or if you just moved to Arizona and want to stick with the same university to finish your education.

Regardless, any online program will require you to complete a number of extra clinical practice hours. While campus-based universities will have you complete these clinical hours at a medical center or hospital partnered with the university in question, online students will be allowed to complete their clinical hours at any qualifying medical center that works for their geographic needs.

ASU is the only online CSWE-accredited MSW program you can find from Arizona schools. Like its in-person counterpart, this program focuses on southwestern exclusive issues and is a great training program for future Arizona social workers.

How to become a social worker in Arizona

There are three major types of social workers in Arizona. Each of these social work license levels requires approval from the Arizona Board of Behavioral Health Examiners.

Licensed Bachelor Social Worker (LBSW)

This starter social worker position is usually a stepping stone for advancement along the social work career track. Such professionals are allowed to participate in social work clinics but cannot run their own practices.

• Apply for a license from the Arizona Board of Behavioral Health Examiners after attaining a bachelor’s degree in social work. You’ll also need to pay a $290 fee
• Take the Association of Social Work Board’s Bachelor’s exam. This constitutes 170 multiple-choice questions and a $230 fee
• If you pass the exam, you’ll receive LBSW license

Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW)

This type of social worker is one step above the last and allows social workers to practice non-clinical social work or practice clinical social work under the supervision of a licensed partner.

• Apply to the Board for a license and pay the $250 fee. You must have a CSWE-accredited MSW
• Take the ASWB Master’s exam. This is comprised of 170 multiple-choice questions and costs $230
• Receive your license if you pass the exam, and pay an additional $100 fee

Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW)

This social worker is fully licensed and qualified to practice social work in a clinical context. Such professionals can also set up their own social work practices or businesses.

• Apply for a state license from the board, and fulfill all postgraduate experience requirements. You must also have an MSW and pay a $250 fee
• Take the ASWB Clinical exam. It’s a 170 multiple-choice test and the fee is $260
• If you pass the test, you’ll receive the LCSW license in Arizona.

After becoming licensed to practice social work in Arizona, you’ll have to renew your license every two years. This involves completing 30 hours of continuing education and paying a renewal fee of $325. 

Social work license requirements in Arizona

Arizona requires all LCSWs to complete 3,200 hours of supervised postgraduate clinical experience within a two-year period. Furthermore, the experience has to be in actual clinical social work, and must include 1,600 hours of direct client contact. Of these hours, 100 must be supervised, and 50 of those hours must be supervised by an LCSW.

Social worker jobs and social worker salary in Arizona

The Bureau of Labor Statistics provides wage and occupation data for Arizona and other states in the US. It breaks down social workers into four broad categories:

• Child, family, and school social workers in Arizona can expect an average salary of $43,660 per year or an hourly wage of $20.99. There are currently around 7,740 in the state
• Healthcare social workers in Arizona number 3,670 and can expect an annual salary of $60,790 or an hourly wage of $29.23
• Mental health and substance abuse social workers in the state earn an average salary of $43,720 and an hourly wage of $21.02. There are 3,030 in Arizona at this time
• All other social workers make up a catch-all group of social workers that include researchers, non-profit managers, or others that don’t fall neatly into one of the other categories. There are 1,250 in the state and they make an average annual salary of $61,360 or an hourly wage of $29.50.

As you can see, social workers that focus on health care tend to make the most money. However, child, family, and school social workers hold more positions – this is likely to stay the same or increase, and their wages may rise as their importance does as well over the next decade.

Job outlook for social workers in Arizona

As described earlier, the general job outlook for future social workers in Arizona is good. Because the state faces such strong immigration pressure, future social workers, particularly those who are bilingual, will find plenty of employment opportunities. New social work clinics and practices will undoubtedly be needed.

This tracks with country-level data, which indicates that social work employment is supposed to grow by many thousands of positions over the next eight years. While Arizona’s specific future employment projections aren’t known, total country-wide employment is set to increase by over 80,000 positions. Some states, like Arizona, will need more of these future social workers than others.

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