The Best Online Master's in Social Work (MSW) 2020

The University of Iowa is one of the longest-standing and largest higher education institutions in the Hawkeye State. The university offers diverse undergraduate and graduate programs on campus and online, including an online master's in social work program.

The online MSW program features a cohort format, allowing learners to progress through classes with the same group of approximately 25 peers. The program prepares students for macro-level social work careers. Classes include human behavior in the social environment, social welfare policy and practice, and advanced social policy. Students must also complete a field practicum in their community, gaining hands-on experience in a social work setting.

Online students must attend live video conferences in the evenings and attend campus for two or three days each summer. Applicants must live in Iowa or bordering states. They also need an accredited bachelor's degree with a minimum 3.0 GPA.

U of I offers many online learning opportunities, including Massive Open Online Courses and more than 90 online certificate, degree, and endorsement programs, such as an online master's in social work.

Students earning the master's degree in social work online can choose between blended and fully online courses. Learners who choose blended courses complete most coursework online but meet at the Urbana-Champaign campus on weekends. The program's 72-credit traditional track applies to learners with bachelor's degrees in subjects other than social work. The 44-credit advanced standing option allows learners with a bachelor's degree in social work to expedite graduation. All students can choose from concentrations in:

• School social work
• Advocacy
• Youth and family services
• Healthcare
• Mental health

Applicants need some human services experience through internships, paid work, or volunteering. They must also hold a minimum 3.0 GPA in the last 60 semester credits or 90 quarter credits of undergraduate work.

Ohio State offers accessible and affordable online programs through its Office of Distance Education and eLearning. All online learners pay in-state tuition rates regardless of where they live. The university offers an online MSW program for learners with and without bachelor's degrees in social work.

Learners who earned a bachelor's degree in social work within the past five years qualify for the Advanced Standing Alternative Plan (ASAP). The ASAP track starts in the summer semester and spans one year. The traditional track serves students with bachelor's degrees in areas other than social work. The traditional track begins in the fall semester and takes two years of full-time study to complete. Learners on both tracks can choose from two concentrations:

• Child and youth services
• Mental health and substance misuse

All learners complete courses on topics like evidence in social work practice, professional development, and mental health and substance abuse. Students also complete fieldwork requirements at an approved site in their community.

Applicants for the traditional track need at least 15 social science credits. ASAP applicants need a bachelor's degree in social work earned within the past five years. All applicants need a minimum 3.0 GPA.

Established in 1855, Michigan State University is a public research university that offers many online degrees and certificates for undergraduate and graduate students, including an online MSW program.

MSU's online master's in social work includes traditional and advanced standing tracks. Students who earned an accredited bachelor's degree in social work within the past six years with a minimum 3.25 GPA qualify for advanced standing. All other students pursue the traditional track.

Both tracks offer two concentrations:

• Clinical practice
• Organizational community leadership

Students take courses on topics like research methods, clinical assessment and diagnosis, and social work macro practice. Learners also complete fieldwork requirements to gain hands-on experience in a social work setting in their community.

Degree candidates take mostly asynchronous classes, but they must attend monthly video conferences. They must also visit the East Lansing or Flint campuses for several days during the summer. Applicants need a bachelor's degree with a minimum 3.0 GPA.

Mizzou offers online learners the same standing, resources, and top-notch education as on-campus students. Mizzou offers more than 125 online programs, including self-paced courses that candidates can start immediately. Students can use these courses to increase their GPAs and meet admissions requirements.

Mizzou's College of Human Environmental Sciences offers an online master's in social work program with traditional and advanced standing tracks. Applicants qualify for the 39-credit advanced standing track if they earned an accredited bachelor's degree in social work within the past seven years. All other students complete a 60-credit traditional track. All students take courses on topics like social work research, human behavior and psychopathology, and social agency management. They also complete fieldwork requirements.

Applicants must live in Missouri or one of eight bordering states. All online learners qualify for in-state tuition rates regardless of residency. Online students gain access to services and resources like tutoring, a career center, a writing center, and an online library.

With a 150-year commitment to academic excellence and research, KU earned its place in the prestigious Association of American Universities. KU offers a variety of online undergraduate and graduate programs through the Center for Online and Distance Learning, including an online master's in social work program.

The university's online MSW program features a blended learning format and traditional and advanced standing tracks. The traditional track includes 36 credits of coursework and 28 fieldwork credits. After completing core classes, degree candidates take concentration courses in clinical or macro social work.

Students with an accredited bachelor's degree in social work qualify for the 38-credit advanced standing track, which offers concentrations in clinical social work practice and social work administrative and advocacy practice. All students complete core courses on topics like social work research, social policy and program analysis, and human behavior in the social environment.

Students complete most coursework online but must attend some classes on one of KU's campuses. Applicants need a bachelor's degree with a minimum 3.0 GPA. Online students gain access to resources such as the KU Writing Center, online library services, tutoring, and technology support.

Fordham University is a Jesuit school that encourages students to fight for justice, strive for excellence, and care for others. The school offers diverse online and on-campus programs, all of which are rooted in Jesuit principles.

The school's online MSW program includes foundational coursework in social work theories and practice. After taking foundational courses, learners choose from four areas of advanced study:

• Individuals and families
• Organizations and community
• Evaluation
• Policy practice and advocacy

Students also complete fieldwork requirements at an approved site in their community. Online students must attend live video chats, but they can complete assignments on their own schedule throughout the week.

Applicants need an accredited bachelor's degree with at least 18 completed liberal arts credits. The university prefers applicants with at least a 3.0 GPA, but it is not required. Distance learners can access resources such as off-campus counseling, disability services, career services, and a writing center.

Established in 1794, the University of Tennessee was the first public university founded west of the Appalachian Divide. Today, the UT Knoxville campus serves as the state's flagship university and continues to lead the region in education.

The institution's College of Social Work offers an online master's in social work with a 60-credit traditional track and 37-credit advanced standing track. Degree candidates who earned an accredited bachelor's degree in social work within the past five years qualify for the advanced standing track.

All learners choose between two concentrations: evidenced-based interpersonal practice and organizational leadership. Through electives, students can earn certificates in areas such as:

• Forensic social work
• Trauma
• Gerontology
• Veterinary social work
• School social work license

In addition to coursework, learners must complete a 672-hour field placement. UT Knoxville only grants admission to the online advanced standing program to Tennessee residents. However, out-of-state learners can apply for the traditional track. All applicants need a minimum 2.7 GPA.

Founded in 1884, Temple University offers diverse on-campus and online programs for undergraduate and graduate learners, including an online master's in social work program that features a mix of asynchronous and synchronous courses.

The online MSW program includes traditional and advanced standing tracks. Students who earned an accredited bachelor's degree within the past five years qualify for the advanced standing track. All other students pursue the traditional track. Students on both tracks choose between two concentrations: clinical practice and macro practice. In addition to concentrations, students can pursue one of two specializations: children and families or health and mental health. Students may also design their own specialization.

All learners take core courses on topics like social work practice, social policy, and social work research. Learners complete mostly online courses, but during the summer between the first and second years of the program, students must attend an on-campus residency in Philadelphia.

Applicants to the traditional track need a bachelor's degree with a minimum 3.0 GPA; advanced standing applicants need a minimum 3.25 GPA. Distance learners gain access to resources and services like the Student Success Center, library services, and an online career center.

Florida State University is a student-centered comprehensive research university. FSU offers a variety of on-campus and online programs, including an online MSW program. The program offers traditional and advanced standing tracks.

The traditional track comprises 61 credits and typically takes three years to complete, while the advanced standing track comprises 39 credits and takes most students two years to complete. Both tracks cover foundational topics such as social work practice, research methods, and social policy. All students complete fieldwork requirements at an approved site in their community, gaining hands-on experience in a social work setting.

To qualify for the advanced standing track, applicants need an accredited bachelor's degree in social work with a minimum 3.0 GPA and at least 400 hours of field experience. Traditional track applicants need a regionally accredited bachelor's degree in any subject with a minimum 3.0 GPA. All applicants submit a resume, transcripts, and a statement of purpose. They must also submit GRE scores unless their academic background qualifies them for a waiver.

Case Western Reserve University is a private, nonprofit university that hosts 11,000 undergraduate and graduate students each year. With on-campus, online, hybrid, and Massive Open Online Course offerings, CWRU students can learn in the ways that work best for them.

CWRU offers an online master's degree in social work through the Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel School of Applied Social Sciences. Graduates earn a master of social sciences administration rather than an MSW. Students must attend weekly live virtual classes. Learners can pursue a generalist track or choose from eight specializations:

• Children, youth, and families
• Community practice for social change
• Mental health with adults
• Aging
• Health
• School social work
• Substance use disorders and recovery
• Individualized plan of study

The program requires 400 hours of fieldwork for generalist studies or 650 fieldwork hours for specialized tracks. Students with an accredited bachelor's degree in social work qualify for advanced standing, potentially graduating within one year. All other students typically graduate within two years. All applicants need a bachelor's degree with a minimum 2.7 GPA.

The state's flagship school, Louisiana State University offers diverse online and on-campus programs, including an online master's in social work program that takes a holistic approach to social work education.

The 60-credit online MSW program covers topics like child welfare, human diversity and oppression, and advanced social policy. Classes include differential diagnosis, human behavior and the social environment, and social work research. In addition to coursework, students complete fieldwork hours, gaining hands-on experience in a social work setting. Students can choose between thesis and non-thesis tracks.

Applicants need a regionally accredited bachelor's degree with a minimum 3.0 GPA and at least 12 credits of completed social and behavioral sciences courses. Applicants must also submit a letter of intent and three letters of recommendation for consideration.

More than 130 years ago, Pope Leo XIII chartered The Catholic University of America. Today, the university provides an education rooted in the Catholic tradition to more than 5,000 learners annually. The university's online MSW program offers many of the benefits of a small university, including classes with no more than 25 students and responsive faculty members.

The Catholic University of America offers two tracks for online learners seeking MSWs: advanced generalist and advanced standing. The advanced generalist program welcomes learners from many academic backgrounds. Students with an accredited bachelor's degree in social work can apply for the advanced standing program. Advanced standing applicants need a minimum 3.5 GPA in all social work courses, a 3.2 in all undergraduate courses, and at least 480 hours of field experience.

Both tracks prepare graduates for clinical social work careers. Degree candidates can customize the degree to their interests and goals through fieldwork placements. While specific placements are not guaranteed, the university works hard to place students in the areas of social work in which they plan to practice. Potential fieldwork specializations include trauma treatment, therapy, case management with homeless individuals, and play therapy with children.

IU Bloomington hosts more than 94,000 students annually and boasts a global alumni network of more than 690,000 graduates. Much of the university's recent growth comes from online learners; between 2014 and 2020, IU Bloomington increased its online program offerings by 77%.

The 60-credit online master's degree in social work covers social policy and clinical social work. Learners take classes on topics such as diversity, human rights, and social justice; assessment in mental health and addictions; telehealth; and military social work. Students also complete a practicum to gain hands-on experience in a social work setting. The program features mostly asynchronous courses, but some classes may require students to attend live video sessions.

The broad curriculum prepares graduates to work in diverse roles such as family services worker, adult protective services agent, hospital social worker, and geriatric case manager.

Applicants must hold a bachelor's degree and submit official transcripts, three letters of recommendation, a writing sample, a personal statement, and a resume.

Established in 1831, the University of Alabama is the state's flagship university. The school offers a variety of online and on-campus programs for undergraduate and graduate students, including an online master's in social work.

The School of Social Work's online MSW program offers two tracks: a 42-credit advanced standing track and 60-credit traditional track. While both tracks feature mostly online courses, students must meet for in-person sessions on some Saturdays. The school offers meeting places throughout the region, including many in Alabama. Students may also attend these sessions in Jackson, Mississippi, or Atlanta, Georgia. Degree candidates can choose between two concentrations:

• Children, adolescents, and their families
• Adults and their families

Students pursuing the traditional track take foundational social work courses during their first year, followed by concentration courses. Advanced standing students need an accredited bachelor's degree in social work and begin the program over the summer, taking 12 credits of bridge courses before taking one year of concentration courses.

All students can choose from electives on topics like psychopathology, crisis intervention, and family preservation. Advanced standing students complete 500 fieldwork hours, while traditional students complete 1,000 fieldwork hours. Applicants to both tracks need a minimum 3.0 GPA.

The University of Houston has offered distance learning programs since 1953. Today, UH offers more than 1,250 online courses and 25 online graduate programs, including a master's degree in social work.

The online MSW program features a cohort model, with about 25 learners per cohort. The traditional MSW program consists of 63 credits and takes three years to complete. Applicants with a bachelor's degree in social work can apply for advanced standing, allowing them to bypass the first year of courses, graduating within two years.

Learners on both tracks choose between macro and clinical social work concentrations. Within those concentrations, degree candidates can further specialize in:

• Health and behavioral health
• Social work practice with Latinos
• Political social work

Learners can also create an individualized specialization. Students must complete 900 fieldwork hours at an approved site in their community, gaining hands-on experience in a social work setting. UH is authorized to teach online courses in states that participate in the National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (NC-SARA).

Tulane University opened as a medical school in 1834. Today, the school serves undergraduate and graduate students through diverse areas of study, including social work. Aspiring social workers can choose between online and on-campus programs.

During the online master's in social work program, learners must attend weekly live video conferences. Students learn how to promote social and economic justice, evaluate social policies and programs, and affect social change.

The university features a "clinical-community" curriculum that covers macro and micro social work concepts. Learners study topics like organizational and community practice, theories of human behavior across the life course, and intro to direct social work practice. Learners also complete 948 fieldwork hours at an approved local site.

Applicants should demonstrate a commitment to social justice and experience giving back to the community. They also need a bachelor's degree with a minimum 3.0 GPA.

Wayne State University hosts more than 27,000 students from over 70 countries. The university offers many on-campus and online programs, including an online MSW program.

Online students take courses full time, completing the program in about two years. During their first year, learners study foundational social work principles and practices. They also begin an internship at an approved local site, which they participate in throughout the duration of the program.

During their second year, students build on first-year foundational knowledge and take more specialized courses. Degree candidates can choose between two concentrations:

• Interpersonal practice
• Innovation in community, policy, and leadership

Students may qualify for advanced standing if they hold an accredited bachelor's degree in social work. These learners apply their previous experience toward first-year foundational requirements, expediting graduation.

All applicants need a bachelor's degree with at least 30 credits of humanities, social sciences, and biological sciences courses. Candidates must submit transcripts, three references, a statement of purpose, and a resume. Online learners gain access to resources such as a writing center, online advising, and assistance in finding counseling.

The University of Maine offers diverse on-campus and online programs for undergraduate and graduate students. Distance learners can choose from a variety of online degree programs, including an online master's in social work.

Residents of Maine, Vermont, and New Hampshire can pursue the online MSW program. The hybrid program includes online courses, on-campus meetings with cohorts, and fieldwork requirements at approved sites in students' communities.

The curriculum is divided into four parts: bridging, generalist, specialist, and elective courses. Advanced standing students with a bachelor's degree in social work complete bridging, elective, and specialist classes for a total of 46 credit hours over two years. All other learners take 63 credits of generalist, elective, and specialist courses, graduating in three years. The curriculum prepares graduates to work as clinical social workers.

Degree candidates can customize the degree through electives on topics like:

• Trauma: theory, assessment, and treatment
• Expressive therapies in social work practice
• Substance abuse assessment and intervention
• Group strategies in health/mental health settings

Applicants need a bachelor's degree with a minimum 3.0 GPA and completed social and behavioral sciences and statistics or research methods courses. Candidates also need volunteer, internship, or work experience in human services or social welfare.

The University of Denver serves diverse students through undergraduate and graduate programs, including online options. Aspiring social workers can pursue an online master's degree in social work that features a 90-credit traditional track and 60-credit advanced standing track.

Regardless of their track, all learners take foundational and concentration courses. However, advanced standing degree candidates don't take as many foundational courses as traditional learners. All students can choose from two concentrations:

• Mental health and trauma
• Health and wellness

Both concentrations prepare graduates to work in social work roles such as case manager and counselor. Online learners gain hands-on experience through a practicum at an approved site in their community. Courses follow a synchronous format, requiring students to attend live weekly chats for each class.

For more than 50 years, Colorado State University has provided distance learning programs. Today, CSU offers more than 40 fully online degrees. The online master's in social work features an advanced generalist curriculum that prepares students for a variety of social work careers. Degree candidates can pursue optional certificates in:

• PreK-12 school social worker
• Advanced clinical behavioral health
• Nonprofit administration
• Conflict resolution and mediation
• Military and veteran culture

The program features mostly online courses, but learners must attend face-to-face sessions on campus in Fort Collins twice per year. Students also complete 1,000 hours of fieldwork experience at an approved local site. Learners with a bachelor's degree in social work can pursue the advanced standing track, which takes two years to complete. Students with other bachelor's degrees pursue the traditional path, graduating in about three years.

Applicants need at least 400 hours of paid work or volunteer experience in human services. They also need a bachelor's degree with a minimum 3.0 GPA and at least 18 completed credits of social, biological, and behavioral sciences courses. All online students pay the same tuition rate regardless of residency. Online students gain access to resources such as online advising, career services, and library services.

The University of Arkansas hosts students in Fayetteville and online through its Global Campus. The Global Campus offers a variety of undergraduate, graduate, and certificate programs, including an online master's degree in social work.

The 39-credit online MSW program is exclusively for learners with accredited bachelor's degrees in social work. Degree candidates must pursue full-time study, graduating within one year. In addition to social work courses, students must complete 22 hours of fieldwork per week at an approved site in their community. In some cases, learners may complete internships at their current workplace.

This MSW program uses asynchronous learning for individual classes; however, learners must attend live online seminars every Tuesday evening. The program features a cohort model, allowing degree candidates to build connections and network with peers. The curriculum prepares graduates for social work careers and doctoral programs.

Applicants need a minimum 3.0 GPA and a completed undergraduate statistics course. Prior coursework must also demonstrate proficiency with computers. Candidates must submit three professional references, a personal statement, and social needs papers. Faculty from U of A may interview applicants remotely.