Online Master of Social Work
Next Start Date Spring 2025
Master of Social Work (MSW) Highlights
Tuition & Cost
$565 per credit hour
Standard Track
62 Credit Hours
Advanced Track
31 Credit Hours
Curriculum stats/highlights
Additional Courses
| Required MSW Courses | Credit Hours |
| Entering the Social Work Profession | 3 |
| Introduction to Social Welfare Policy | 3 |
| Direct Practice with Individuals, Families, and Groups | 3 |
| Social Work Macro Practice | 3 |
| Social Justice & Advocacy Practice | 3 |
| Culturally Competent Practice | 3 |
| Research Methods in Social Work | 3 |
| Human Behavior in the Social Environment Across the Lifespan | 3 |
| Foundation Practicum 1 | 3 |
| Foundation Practicum 2 | 3 |
| Foundation Seminar I (once every other week) | 0.5 |
| Foundation Seminar II (once every other week) | 0.5 |
| Total Hours | 31 |
ASAP Starts Here
| Advanced Clinical Social Work Skills | 3 |
| Global Social Problems | 3 |
| Spirituality in Social Work Assessment and Intervention | 3 |
| Psychopathology & Deviance | 3 |
| Evaluating Social Work Programs | 3 |
| Advanced Practicum I | 3 |
| Advanced Practicum 2 | 3 |
| Advanced Seminar I (once every other week) | 0.5 |
| Advanced Seminar II (once every other week) | 0.5 |
| 9 Hour Concentration | 9 |
| Total Advanced Track Hours | 31 |
| Total Standard Track Hours | 62 |
Master of Social Work is currently in pre-candidacy for accreditation by the Council on Social Work Education’s (CSWE) Board of Accreditation (BOA).
Pre-candidacy for a baccalaureate or master’s social work program by the BOA indicates that it submitted an application to be reviewed for candidacy and received approval of its Benchmark 1 from CSWE accreditation staff to move forward for a candidacy review within 1-year. A program that has attained pre-candidacy status has not yet been reviewed by the BOA nor verified to be compliant with the Educational Policy and Accreditation Standards (EPAS).
Students that are admitted to pre-candidate programs in the fall (or later) of the academic year in which the program is granted candidacy status will be retroactively recognized as graduates from a CSWE-BOA accredited program as long as the program attains initial accreditation. Candidacy is typically a 3-year process and attaining pre-candidacy does not guarantee that a program will eventually attain candidacy and initial accreditation.
Pre-candidacy applies to all program options, which includes locations and delivery methods.
Accreditation provides reasonable assurance about the quality of the program and the competence of students graduating from the program.
Review our program’s pre-candidacy status in CSWE’s Directory of Accredited Programs. For more information about social work accreditation, contact CSWE’s Department of Social Work Accreditation.
Careers in Social Work
Upon completion of the MSW, and with proper licensure, students will be prepared for the following careers:
School Social Worker: Use social work skills in a school setting to conduct assessments of children in need of support in accessing the curriculum, managing mental and behavioral health problems, and acquiring the resources needed to be successful in an educational setting.
Medical Social Worker: Apply your social work skillset to the medical field, working in a hospital or medical office. You'll conduct psychosocial assessments of patients, refer them to needed resources, and offer behavioral health support.
Clinical Social Worker/Therapist: An MSW degree and professional licensure prepares you to provide clinical social work skills, which can include assessing and diagnosing mental and emotional health problems, developing treatment plans, and providing psychosocial services, including counseling and therapy. Your work might involve serving individuals, groups, or families/couples. You might work with individuals with a substance use disorder, in addition to treating mental health disorders.
Social Work Supervisor: With a master's degree in social work, you'll be prepared to supervise the work of other social workers.
Social Work Administrator: An MSW provides sufficient preparation for serving as an administrator over a social or human services agency. You might become an administrator at a mental health clinic, a government agency, or a child welfare office.
Researcher/Faculty Member: A master's-level social work education is typically the minimum requirement for faculty positions at universities. You may be limited to adjunct positions, as some institutions require full-time and tenured faculty to obtain a doctoral degree, especially when teaching at the graduate level. An MSW prepares you for entry into research positions at hospitals, universities, and government agencies.
We can help you explore majors, discover internships, and plan your future as a professional. Our advisors welcome students at all levels and offer personalized guidance tailored to individual needs. From resume and interview preparation to networking advice, MVNU advisors provide a host of resources that can help you achieve a rewarding career after graduation.
School Social Work Track
- School Social Worker: Use social work skills in a school setting to conduct assessments of children in need of support in accessing the curriculum, managing mental and behavioral health problems, and acquiring the resources needed to be successful in an educational setting.
Behavioral Health Track
- Medical Social Worker: Apply your social work skillset to the medical field, working in a hospital or medical office. You'll conduct psychosocial assessments of patients, refer them to needed resources, and offer behavioral health support.
- Clinical Social Worker/Therapist: An MSW degree and professional licensure prepares you to provide clinical social work skills, which can include assessing and diagnosing mental and emotional health problems, developing treatment plans, and providing psychosocial services, including counseling and therapy. Your work might involve serving individuals, groups, or families/couples. You might work with individuals with a substance use disorder, in addition to treating mental health disorders.
Other areas you might be able to work in include:
Social Work Supervisor
With a master's degree in social work, you'll be on your way to becoming a supervisor of other social workers.
Social Work Administrator
An MSW provides sufficient preparation for serving as an administrator over a social or human services agency. You might become an administrator at a mental health clinic, a government agency, or a child welfare office.
Researcher/Faculty Member
A master's-level social work education is typically the minimum requirement for faculty positions at universities. You may be limited to adjunct positions, as some institutions require full-time and tenured faculty to obtain a doctoral degree, especially when teaching at the graduate level. An MSW prepares you for entry into research positions at hospitals, universities, and government agencies.
We can help you explore majors, discover internships, and plan your future as a professional. Our advisors welcome students at all levels and offer personalized guidance tailored to individual needs. From resume and interview preparation to networking advice, MVNU advisors provide a host of resources that can help you achieve a rewarding career after graduation.
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