The 2020 Guide to Online Masters in Social Work (MSW) Programs

If you majored in a general mental health field such as psychology or sociology and are interested in working in a school setting, earning a Master of Social Work (MSW) may be the right choice for you. With this degree, you can dive into a field that makes a great difference in the lives of students.

A Master of Social Work from an accredited institution may be required to become a practicing school social worker and, along with state certification, would allow you to become a school social worker at any grade level. For many social work students, the idea of completing a degree program without having to relocate or sacrifice income is very appealing. This fact, coupled with advances in online education, has led to the emergence of online msw programs as a popular option for degree seekers. More specialized and technical roles may be available to you when you have a master's degree.

Jumpstart Your Career in Social Work, Explore Online MSW Programs:

Earn your MSW online from Fordham University
    • Pursue the degree on a full-time or part-time track.
    • Each term comprises two eight-week mini sessions.
Discover Fordham University
Earn your MSW online from The University of Denver
    • No GRE Required
    • Complete in as few as 18 months
Learn more about The University of Denver

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Social workers, in the most general sense, work to help needy or at-risk individuals of varying demographics through intervention and advocacy. They work to ensure the welfare of any population that might be vulnerable to hardship. School social workers, for example, play an integral role in the lives of children, helping students balance school, home and community to achieve academic success. They work in a school setting where they interact and communicate directly with students and their families. Through social, emotional and behavioral competence, social workers help individuals plan for and achieve success that suits their individual needs.

Masters in Social Work Online Degree Information

Online MSW Admissions Requirements

Each online MSW program has its own prerequisites, so you should contact your accredited institution for detailed information regarding its policies. Depending on your school, you may be required to submit some or all of the following:

  1. Application: Fill out an initial application, which you can find on the website of the accredited institution of your choice. Paper and online forms are both generally accepted.
  2. Bachelor’s degree: You should have a bachelor’s degree or the equivalent from an accredited institution prior to applying to an MSW program.
  3. Transcripts: Request transcripts in advance of the application deadline, and upload one official copy of each transcript from any postsecondary schools you have attended.
  4. Experience: Include any experience in social work that may be relevant.
  5. Personal statement: Write a personal statement, which is typically in the form of an essay. You may be required to submit multiple essays to fully express the intent and purpose of your application. Below are some common topics that should be mentioned in a statement.
    • Your main academic and personal interests
    • Experiences in school or work that have helped to prepare you for this course of study
    • Why you wish to study for the degree you’ve chosen
    • Why you wish to study at the university
    • Your plans for the future after you earn your degree
  6. Resume/CV: Upload a copy of your most recent resume or curriculum vitae as part of your application.
  7. Letters of recommendation: Submit your letters of recommendation. The number of letters required varies with each school. Be sure to request them well in advance of the deadline.
  8. Test scores: Mail in copies of your test scores. Many schools require GRE General Test scores or TOEFL/IELTS scores for international students; however, some programs do not require test scores at all.

Online MSW Program Curriculum

The curriculum and number of credits required to complete an online msw program vary widely depending on your school and specialization. However, a typical msw program online includes courses in:

  • Social work in a school setting
  • Mental disorders in children and adolescents
  • Behavior management and instruction

Typically, coupled with general and elective coursework are social work field experiences. For school social workers specifically, these will take place in a school system or school district setting, and will help train social workers using hands-on methods. Online MSW programs often partner students with surrounding area field sites to offer the same field experience as on-campus programs.

Types of Social Workers

Within the overarching umbrella of social work exist a multitude of types of social work that individuals can consider pursuing. There are social work paths that lead to schools, mental health facilities, and correctional facilities, to name just a few. Below are descriptions and resources for a few specific areas of social work.

School Social Work

A School social worker's primary job function is to look out for the best interests of students in both their home and in-school lives. Some of their main duties might be advocating on student’s behalves, ensuring that students have access to food and clothing, and working with parents and staff to create action plans for at-risk students. A school social worker might work in a single school, a district, or multiple districts depending on the size of the student population being served. Some example issues school social workers might deal with are student truancy, behavioral problems, and violence in student populations.

Many online msw programs even include specialized coursework that educates future school social workers on working with children and student populations.

The Department of Children, Youth and Families at USC offers an innovative online MSW that features courses that engage students in discussions on working with children and young adults in and out of school settings.

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For more information about the role of social workers in schools, consult a guide created by the The National Association of Social Workers that outlines trends and practices within the field.

Clinical Social Workers

Clinical Social Workers are a specialized type of social worker who focus on treating and diagnosing mental illness and help individuals who suffer from psychological challenges overcome barriers. The ultimate goal of a clinical social worker is to provide patients with the best quality of life they possibly have, and they employ a variety of methods to help patients achieve this.

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Clinical Social Workers practice in a wide range of settings including, but not limited to: hospitals, correctional facilities, substance abuse and addictions clinics, schools, and community health centers.

Social Work Career Outlook

After completing an online master’s program in social work, the next step is to get licensed. This certification will enable you to officially work in the field of your choice. Every state has its own licensure requirements for becoming a school social worker. The average annual salary for family, child, and school social workers in 2018 was $49,760.

Finding the Best Online MSW Program For You

In searching for the best online msw programs that might fit your needs, carefully consider the structure of the coursework, the admissions requirements, and the campus visit requirements. Once you are armed with all of the information available to you about a specific program, you will be in the best position to choose an MSW online degree program that works for you.

Featured No GRE Required MSW Online Masters Programs

Featured No GRE Requried Online MSW Programs
School Name GRE Requirement Live Coursework? Campus Visit Required?
Fordham University No GRE Required Live Coursework No Campus Visit Required
University of Denver No GRE Required Live Coursework No Campus Visit Required
Simmons University No GRE Required Live Coursework No Campus Visit Required
Baylor University No GRE Required Live Coursework No Campus Visit Required
University of Southern California No GRE Required Live Coursework No Campus Visit Required

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All Online Masters in Social Work Programs

Teach.com has compiled a comprehensive list of all the online MSW masters programs in the United States along with their GRE requirements, coursework type, and campus visit requirement information. Find a school that interests you and find out what it takes to graduate with from one of these online MSW programs! Below are the online MSW programs of 2019.

All Online EdD Programs
School Name GRE Requirement Live Coursework? Campus Visit Required?
Arizona State University GRE Required
if last 60 credits GPA is 3.2 or lower
Not Live No Visit Required
Baylor University (sponsored) No GRE Required Live No Visit Required
Boise University No GRE Required Not Live No Visit Required
Boston University
GRE Required
if undergraduate GPA is below 3.0
Live No Visit Required
GRE Required
for students with a GPA lower than 3.0
Live No Visit Required
GRE Recommended
if GPA is between 2.8 and 3.0
Not Live Three Visits Required
No GRE Required Live No Visit Required
Columbia University No GRE Required Live Two Visits Required
Edinboro University
GRE Required
if GPA is below 3.0
Not Live No Visit Required
Florida State University GRE Required Not Live Two Visits Required
Fordham University (sponsored) No GRE Required Live No Visit Required
Humboldt State University
GRE Recommended
if GPA is below 3.0
Live
One to Two
Visits Required
Per Year
Indiana University No GRE Required Not Live One Visit Required
Louisiana State University
GRE Required
if undergraduate GPA is below 3.2
Not Live No Visit Required
No GRE Required Not Live No Visit Required
Our Lady of the Lake University No GRE Required Not Live No Visit Required
Portland State University No GRE Required Live One Visit Required Per Year
Rutgers University No GRE Required Not Live No Visit Required
Simmons University (sponsored) No GRE Required Live No Visit Required
Temple University No GRE Required Live One Visit Required
No GRE Required Not Live No Visit Required
No GRE Required Not Live No Visit Required
University at Buffalo (SUNY) No GRE Required Not Live No Visit Required
University of Arkansas No GRE Required Live No Visit Required
University of Central Florida No GRE Required Live No Visit Required
University of Denver (sponsored) No GRE Required Live No Visit Required
University of Houston GRE Required Live No Visit Required
University of Nevada, Reno No GRE Required Live One Visit Required
University of New England No GRE Required Not Live No Visit Required
University of New Hampshire No GRE Required Not Live No Visit Required
University of North Dakota No GRE Required Not Live One to Two Visits Required
University of South Florida No GRE Required Live No Visit Required
No GRE Required Live No Visit Required
GRE Required Live No Visit Required
Western New Mexico University No GRE Required Live No Visit Required
Widener University No GRE Required Not Live No Visit Required