Online Master of Social Work by MVNU in Ohio
Master of Social Work is currently in candidacy for accreditation by the Council on Social Work Education’s (CSWE) Board of Accreditation (BOA).
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 candidacy does not guarantee that a program will eventually attain initial accreditation.
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 candidacy status in CSWE’s Directory of Accredited Programs. For more information about social work accreditation, contact CSWE’s Department of Social Work Accreditation.
Master of Social Work (MSW) Highlights
Tuition & Cost
$565 per credit hour
Standard Track
62 Credit Hours
Advanced Track
31 Credit Hours
Masters in Social Work (MSW) Curriculum
The MSW concentration in Behavioral Health includes the following courses:
SWKR6503
Clinical Social Work in Addictions
This course provides students with an in-depth exploration of clinical social work practice with individuals with addictions. Students will learn about theories of addiction, including theories related to the reasons people use drugs. Finally, students will learn about the impact of family systems on addiction, including the effects of growing up with parents who misuse substances.
SWKR6523
Clinical Social Work in Mental Health
This course provides students with an in-depth exposure to evidence-based clinical social work practices in mental health settings. It will cover concepts such as cultural competency, social work ethics, biopsychosocial assessment, and feminist perspectives in clinical social work. It will also provide skill development in the areas of treating clients with specific diagnoses, including anxiety, depression, serious mental illness, and co-occurring substance use disorders and mental health disorders.
SWKR6543
Trauma-Informed Social Work Practice
This course provides students with an in-depth exposure to trauma-informed social work practice. Students will learn about the effects of trauma on the brain and body, as well as how trauma can influence behavior. Students will learn about evidence-based practices for treating individuals with trauma and learn about topics such as multigenerational trauma, longitudinal effects of trauma, and ACE scores.
The MSW concentration in School Social Work includes the following courses:
SWKR6403
Social Work Practice in Schools
This course is the first of three specialized courses required for students in the school social work track. Students will be introduced to the role of the school social worker, including the ethical requirements of the role. They will learn about the school environment, the role of supervision in school-based practice, and evidence-based practice in the schools. Students will also learn about assessment and intervention methods in school social work, including exposure to specific methods, such as the functional behavior assessment (FBA).
SWKR6423
Special Education Policy
This course is the second of three specialized courses required for students in the school social work track. Students will understand the role of the social worker in the special education system and learn about the IEP process, including how to write a measurable annual goal for an IEP. Students will also be prepared to engage in anti-racist policy practice within the schools, through exposure to historical policies affecting the schooling of African American children in the United States.
SWKR6443
Social Work Practice with Children
This course will train social work students to use an ecological framework to assess and intervene with children in the context of their environments. Students will be exposed to models for helping children, including specific modalities such as play therapy and group work. They will also learn how to engage and intervene with children facing special challenges, such as parental substance abuse, growing up in the foster care system, or being victims of bullying.
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 | 1.5 |
| Foundation Practicum 2 | 1.5 |
| Foundation Practicum 3 | 1.5 |
| Foundation Practicum 4 | 1.5 |
| Foundation Seminar I (once every other week) | 0.25 |
| Foundation Seminar 2 (once every other week) | 0.25 |
| Foundation Seminar 3 (once every other week) | 0.25 |
| Foundation Seminar 4 (once every other week) | 0.25 |
| 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 | 1.5 |
| Advanced Practicum 2 | 1.5 |
| Advanced Practicum 3 | 1.5 |
| Advanced Practicum 4 | 1.5 |
| Advanced Seminar I (once every other week) | 0.25 |
| Advanced Seminar 2 (once every other week) | 0.25 |
| Advanced Seminar 3 (once every other week) | 0.25 |
| Advanced Seminar 4 (once every other week) | 0.25 | 9 Hour Concentration | 9 |
| Total Advanced Track Hours | 31 |
| Total Standard Track Hours | 62 |
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.
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.
Steps for Applying to MVNU Online
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