Learn how to make a positive impact in the world with an online social work degree program. Explore the 10 best options for your career and education goals.
Social work is a rewarding and challenging profession that aims to improve the well-being of individuals, families, groups, and communities. Social workers help people cope with various issues such as poverty, abuse, addiction, mental health, disability, and social injustice. They also advocate for social change and social justice through policy, research, and community organizing.
If you are interested in pursuing a career in social work, you will need to obtain a degree from an accredited program. Accreditation ensures that the program meets the standards of quality and relevance set by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE), the national accrediting body for social work education in the United States. Accreditation also enables you to apply for licensure and certification as a professional social worker in your state.
There are many online social work degree programs available that can help you achieve your educational and career goals. Online programs offer flexibility, convenience, affordability, and accessibility for students who may not be able to attend traditional on-campus programs. Online programs also allow you to learn from diverse faculty and peers from different locations and backgrounds.
However, not all online social work degree programs are created equal. You will need to consider various factors such as accreditation, curriculum, faculty, cost, admission requirements, student support services, and career outcomes when choosing an online program. To help you with your decision, we have compiled a list of 10 best online social work degree programs based on these criteria. Here they are:
1. University of Southern California
The University of Southern California (USC) offers an online Master of Social Work (MSW) program that prepares students for advanced practice in various fields of social work. The program is accredited by the CSWE and ranked #12 by U.S. News & World Report among the best graduate social work programs in the nation. The program offers four concentrations: Adult Mental Health and Wellness; Children, Youth and Families; Social Change and Innovation; and Military Social Work.
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The program also offers a sub-concentration in School Social Work for students who want to work in educational settings. The program requires 60 credits for completion, which can be completed in as few as 12 months for full-time students or 24 months for part-time students. The program also requires 1,000 hours of field education at approved agencies near the students’ location. The program is delivered through an interactive online platform that features live classes, recorded lectures, discussion boards, and multimedia resources. The program also provides students with academic advising, career services, technical support, and access to USC’s library and alumni network.
2. Boston University
Boston University (BU) offers an online Master of Social Work (MSW) program that prepares students for clinical social work practice with individuals, families, groups, and communities. The program is accredited by the CSWE and ranked #10 by U.S. News & World Report among the best graduate social work programs in the nation. The program offers two tracks: traditional and human service experience. The traditional track is designed for students who do not have a bachelor’s degree in social work and requires 65 credits for completion, which can be completed in as few as 24 months for full-time students or 36 months for part-time students.
The human service experience track is designed for students who have a bachelor’s degree in social work or at least two years of relevant work experience and requires 43 credits for completion, which can be completed in as few as 18 months for full-time students or 30 months for part-time students. The program also requires 1,000 hours of field education at approved agencies near the students’ location. The program is delivered through an online platform that features asynchronous courses, synchronous seminars, webinars, podcasts, and videos. The program also provides students with academic advising, career services, technical support, and access to BU’s library and alumni network.
3. Columbia University
Columbia University offers an online Master of Science in Social Work (MSSW) program that prepares students for leadership roles in various fields of social work. The program is accredited by the CSWE and ranked #3 by U.S. News & World Report among the best graduate social work programs in the nation. The program offers three concentrations: Advanced Clinical Practice; Policy Practice; and Social Enterprise Administration. The program also offers four fields of practice: Health, Mental Health, and Disabilities; Family, Youth, and Children’s Services; Social Enterprise Administration; and International Social Welfare and Services to Immigrants and Refugees. The program requires 60 credits for completion, which can be completed in as few as 16 months for full-time students or 32 months for part-time students.
The program also requires 1,200 hours of field education at approved agencies near the students’ location. The program is delivered through an online platform that features live classes, recorded lectures, discussion boards, and multimedia resources. The program also provides students with academic advising, career services, technical support, and access to Columbia’s library and alumni network.
4. Fordham University
Fordham University offers an online Master of Social Work (MSW) program that prepares students for generalist and advanced clinical social work practice with diverse populations. The program is accredited by the CSWE and ranked #25 by U.S. News & World Report among the best graduate social work programs in the nation. The program offers three specializations: Individuals and Families; Organizations and Community; and Evaluation.
The program also offers four focus areas: Children and Families; Health/Mental Health; Leadership and Macro Practice; and Trauma. The program requires 66 credits for completion, which can be completed in as few as 16 months for full-time students or 32 months for part-time students. The program also requires 1,200 hours of field education at approved agencies near the students’ location. The program is delivered through an online platform that features live classes, recorded lectures, discussion boards, and multimedia resources. The program also provides students with academic advising, career services, technical support, and access to Fordham’s library and alumni network.
5. University of Denver
The University of Denver (DU) offers an online Master of Social Work (MSW) program that prepares students for advanced social work practice with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities. The program is accredited by the CSWE and ranked #17 by U.S. News & World Report among the best graduate social work programs in the nation. The program offers two tracks: traditional and advanced standing. The traditional track is designed for students who do not have a bachelor’s degree in social work and requires 90 credits for completion, which can be completed in as few as 27 months for full-time students or 36 months for part-time students. The advanced standing track is designed for students who have a bachelor’s degree in social work from a CSWE-accredited program and requires 60 credits for completion, which can be completed in as few as 18 months for full-time students or 24 months for part-time students.
The program also requires 1,080 hours of field education at approved agencies near the students’ location. The program is delivered through an online platform that features live classes, recorded lectures, discussion boards, and multimedia resources. The program also provides students with academic advising, career services, technical support, and access to DU’s library and alumni network.
6. Arizona State University
Arizona State University (ASU) offers an online Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) program that prepares students for generalist social work practice with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities. The program is accredited by the CSWE and ranked #38 by U.S. News & World Report among the best undergraduate social work programs in the nation. The program requires 120 credits for completion, which can be completed in as few as 24 months for full-time students or 48 months for part-time students. The program also requires 480 hours of field education at approved agencies near the students’ location.
The program is delivered through an online platform that features asynchronous courses, synchronous sessions, discussion boards, and multimedia resources. The program also provides students with academic advising, career services, technical support, and access to ASU’s library and alumni network.
7. Rutgers University
Rutgers University offers an online Bachelor of Arts in Social Work (BASW) program that prepares students for generalist social work practice with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities. The program is accredited by the CSWE and ranked #34 by U.S. News & World Report among the best undergraduate social work programs in the nation. The program requires 120 credits for completion, which can be completed in as few as 24 months for full-time students or 48 months for part-time students. The program also requires 400 hours of field education at approved agencies near the students’ location.
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The program is delivered through an online platform that features asynchronous courses, synchronous sessions, discussion boards, and multimedia resources. The program also provides students with academic advising, career services, technical support, and access to Rutgers’ library and alumni network.
8. Florida State University
Florida State University (FSU) offers an online Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) program that prepares students for generalist social work practice with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities. The program is accredited by the CSWE and ranked #36 by U.S. News & World Report among the best undergraduate social work programs in the nation. The program requires 120 credits for completion, which can be completed in as few as 24 months for full-time students or 48 months for part-time students. The program also requires 450 hours of field education at approved agencies near the students’ location.
The program is delivered through an online platform that features asynchronous courses, synchronous sessions, discussion boards, and multimedia resources. The program also provides students with academic advising, career services, technical support, and access to FSU’s library and alumni network.
9. Indiana University
Indiana University (IU) offers an online Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) program that prepares students for generalist social work practice with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities. The program is accredited by the CSWE and ranked #26 by U.S. News & World Report among the best undergraduate social work programs in the nation. The program requires 120 credits for completion, which can be completed in as few as 24 months for full-time students or 48 months for part-time students. The program also requires 448 hours of field education at approved agencies near the students’ location.
The program is delivered through an online platform that features asynchronous courses, synchronous sessions, discussion boards, and multimedia resources. The program also provides students with academic advising, career services, technical support, and access to IU’s library and alumni network.
10. University of North Dakota
The University of North Dakota (UND) offers an online Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) program that prepares students for generalist social work practice with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities. The program is accredited by the CSWE and ranked #64 by U.S. News & World Report among the best undergraduate social work programs in the nation. The program requires 120 credits for completion, which can be completed in as few as 24 months for full-time students or 48 months for part-time students. The program also requires 450 hours of field education at approved agencies near the students’ location.
The program is delivered through an online platform that features asynchronous courses, synchronous sessions, discussion boards, and multimedia resources. The program also provides students with academic advising, career services, technical support, and access to UND’s library and alumni network.
Conclusion
These are some of the best online social work degree programs that you can consider if you want to pursue a career in this rewarding and challenging profession. Online programs can offer you many benefits, but they also have some drawbacks that you need to be aware of. You should always do your research and compare different programs before making your final decision.
You should also check the accreditation status, admission requirements, curriculum, cost, and career outcomes of any program that you are interested in. Online social work degree programs can help you achieve your educational and career goals, as long as you are committed, disciplined, and motivated to learn and grow as a social worker. We hope that this article has been helpful and informative for you. Thank you for reading and good luck with your online social work degree journey!
FAQs
Here are some frequently asked questions about online social work degree programs:
What are the admission requirements for online social work degree programs?
The admission requirements vary depending on the level and type of the program. Generally, you will need to have a high school diploma or equivalent for bachelor’s programs, a bachelor’s degree in any field for master’s programs, and a master’s degree in social work for doctoral programs. You may also need to submit transcripts, letters of recommendation, personal statements, resumes, test scores, and other documents as required by the specific program.
How much do online social work degree programs cost?
The cost of online social work degree programs depends on several factors such as the tuition rate, the number of credits, the type of program, the financial aid options, and the additional fees. According to U.S. News & World Report, the average tuition for online bachelor’s programs in social work was $13,400 per year in 2020-2021, while the average tuition for online master’s programs in social work was $19,200 per year in 2019-2020.
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How long do online social work degree programs take to complete?
The duration of online social work degree programs varies depending on the level and type of the program, the number of credits, the pace of study, and the field education requirements. Generally, online bachelor’s programs in social work take four years to complete, online master’s programs in social work take two years to complete, and online doctoral programs in social work take three to five years to complete.
What are the advantages of online social work degree programs?
Online social work degree programs offer many benefits such as flexibility, convenience, affordability, and accessibility. Online programs allow you to study at your own pace and schedule, without having to commute or relocate. Online programs also tend to be cheaper than on-campus programs, as you can save on transportation, housing, and other expenses. Online programs also enable you to access quality education from anywhere in the world, as long as you have a reliable internet connection and a compatible device.
What are the disadvantages of online social work degree programs?
Online social work degree programs also have some drawbacks such as lack of face-to-face interaction, technical issues, self-discipline, and accreditation. Online programs may not provide the same level of social and academic support as on-campus programs, as you may have less opportunities to interact with your instructors and peers. Online programs may also encounter technical problems such as internet outage, software glitches, or hardware failures, which can disrupt your learning process.
Online programs also require a high level of self-motivation, organization, and time management, as you will have to manage your own workload and deadlines. Online programs also need to be accredited by the CSWE to ensure their quality and relevance, as well as their eligibility for licensure and certification. You should always check the accreditation status of any online program before enrolling.
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