The curriculum for the online Master of Social Work (MSW) program at the Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel School of Applied Social Sciences combines the same rigorous academic approach from our on-campus program with a flexible format that fits your schedule.
Online MSW Curriculum
The online MSW curriculum:
- Is a 60-credit hour program
- Can be completed in two and a half years
- Features Council on Social Work Education-approved, competency-based curriculum that blends theory, practice and policy to prepare you for impactful work at clinical and community levels
View sample curriculum for various paths of study offered by our program. We encourage you to request more information if you have questions or, if you’re ready, start your application!
- Online Community Practice for Social Change
- Online Children, Youth and Families
- Online Mental Health Adults
Online Advanced Standing MSW Curriculum
The online advanced standing MSW curriculum:
- Is a 39 credit, 20 month program*
- If you earned a Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) from a CSWE-accredited program, you will automatically receive advanced standing
View sample curriculum for various paths of study offered by our program. We encourage you to request more information if you have questions or, if you’re ready, start your application!
- Online Advanced Standing Community Practice for Social Change
- Online Advanced Standing Children, Youth and Families
- Online Advanced Standing Mental Health Adults
Online Community Practice for Social Change (CPSC)
Year One
Semester One - 6 hours
- Change Agent Intensive (SASS 502, 1 credit)
- Foundations of Social Policy and Service Delivery (SASS 503, 2 credits)
- Theories of Human Development and Human Diversity (SASS 504, 2 credits)
- Collaborative Practice (SASS 551, 1 credit)
Semester Two - 7 hours
- Individual and Family Theory & Practice (SASS 508, 4 credits)
- Field Education: Organizational Theory and Practice Seminar (SASS 455, 1 credit)
- Field Education I (SASS 651, 2 credits)
Semester Three - 7.5 hours
- Community Theory & Practice (SASS 507, 2 credits)
- Group Theory and Practice (SASS 509, 2 credits)
- Evidence Informed Practice (SASS 528, 2 credits)
- Field Education II – A (SASS 652A, 1.5 credits)
Year Two
Semester Four - 8.5 hours
- Problems Identification, Screening and Assessment Diagnosing (SASS 547, 3 credits)
- Theory/Practice Approaches in Direct Practice Social Work (SASS 549, 3 credits)
- Field Education: Organizational Theory and Practice Seminar II (SASS 456, 1 credit)
- Field Education II - B (SASS 652B, 1.5 credits)
Semester Five - 7.5 hours
- Evaluating Programs and Practices (SASS 542, 3 credits)
- Assessing and Engaging Community for Social Change (SASS 566, 3 credits)
- Field Education III - A (SASS 653A, 1.5 credits)
Semester Six - 7.5 hours
- Nonprofit Financial Management (SASS 425, 3 credits)
- Planning and Implementing Social Change (SASS 569, 3 credits)
- Field Education III – B (SASS 653B, 1.5 credits)
Year Three
Semester Seven - 7.5 hours
- Nonprofit Revenue Planning and Development (SASS 407, 3 credits)
- Strategic Power Building with Communities (SASS 567, 3 credits)
- Field Education IV-A (SASS 654A, 1.5 credits)
Semester Eight - 8.5 hours
- Collaboration and Strategic Partnerships (SASS 531, 3 credits)
- Community Practice Policy: Analyzing & Changing Social Policy (SASS 561, 3 credits)
- Integrated Seminar (SASS 588, 1 credit)
- Field Education IV – B (SASS 654B, 1.5 credits)
Online Children, Youth and Families (CYF)
Year One
Semester One - 6 hours
- Change Agent Intensive (SASS 502, 1 credit)
- Foundations of Social Policy and Service Delivery (SASS 503, 2 credits)
- Theories of Human Development & Human Diversity (SASS 504, 2 credits)
- Collaborative Practice (SASS 551, 1 credit)
Semester Two - 7 hours
- Individual and Family Theory & Practice (SASS 508, 4 credits)
- Field Education: Organizational Theory and Practice Seminar (SASS 455, 1 credit)
- Field Education I (SASS 651, 2 credits)
Semester Three - 7.5 hours
- Community Theory & Practice (SASS 507, 2 credits)
- Group Theory and Practice (SASS 509, 2 credits)
- Evidence Informed Practice (SASS 528, 2 credits)
- Field Education II – A (SASS 652A, 1.5 credits)
Year Two
Semester Four - 8.5 hours
- Problems Identification, Screening and Assessment Diagnosing (SASS 547, 3 credits)
- Theory/Practice Approaches in Direct Practice Social Work (SASS 549, 3 credits)
- Field Education: Organizational Theory and Practice Seminar II (SASS 456, 1 credit)
- Field Education II - B (SASS 652B, 1.5 credits)
Semester Five - 7.5 hours
- Evaluating Programs and Practices (SASS 542, 3 credits)
- Assessing and Engaging Community for Social Change (SASS 566, 3 credits)
- Field Education III - A (SASS 653A, 1.5 credits)
Semester Six - 7.5 hours
- Family System Interventions (SASS 517, 3 credits)
- Social Work with Groups (SASS 585, 3 credits)
- Field Education III – B (SASS 653B, 1.5 credits)
Year Three
Semester Seven - 7.5 hours
- Integrated Health and Wellness Specialized Policy (SASS 540, 3 credits)
- Cognitive Behavioral Interventions (SASS 579, 3 credits)
- Field Education IV-A (SASS 654A, 1.5 credits)
Semester Eight - 8.5 hours
- Trauma Informed Social Work Practice with Children & Families (SASS 550, 3 credits)
- Social Work Practice with Child Abuse and Family Violence (SASS 582, 3 credits)
- Integrated Seminar (SASS 588, 1 credit)
- Field Education IV – B (SASS 654B,1.5 credits)
Online Mental Health Adults (MHA)
Year One
Semester One - 6 hours
- Change Agent Intensive (SASS 502, 1 credit)
- Foundations of Social Policy and Service Delivery (SASS 503, 2 credits)
- Theories of Human Development and Human Diversity (SASS 504, 2 credits)
- Collaborative Practice (SASS 551, 1 credit)
Semester Two - 7 hours
- Individual and Family Theory & Practice (SASS 508, 4 credits)
- Field Education: Organizational Theory and Practice Seminar (SASS 455, 1 credit)
- Field Education I (SASS 651, 2 credits)
Semester Three - 7.5 hours
- Community Theory & Practice (SASS 507, 2 credits)
- Group Theory and Practice (SASS 509, 2 credits)
- Evidence Informed Practice (SASS 528, 2 credits)
- Field Education II – A (SASS 652A, 1.5 credits)
Year Two
Semester Four - 8.5 hours
- Problems Identification, Screening and Assessment Diagnosing (SASS 547, 3 credits)
- Theory/Practice Approaches in Direct Practice Social Work (SASS 549, 3 credits)
- Field Education: Organizational Theory and Practice Seminar II (SASS 456, 1 credit)
- Field Education II - B (SASS 652B, 1.5 credits)
Semester Five - 7.5 hours
- Evaluating Programs and Practices (SASS 542, 3 credits)
- Assessing and Engaging Community for Social Change (SASS 566, 3 credits)
- Field Education III - A (SASS 653A, 1.5 credits)
Semester Six - 7.5 hours
- Social Work Practice in Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse (SASS 564, 3 credits)
- MSW Elective (3 credits)
- Field Education III – B (SASS 653B, 1.5 credits)
Year Three
Semester Seven - 7.5 hours
- Integrated Health and Wellness Specialized Policy (SASS 540, 3 credits)
- Cognitive Behavioral Interventions (SASS 579, 3 credits)
- Field Education IV-A (SASS 654A, 1.5 credits)
Semester Eight - 8.5 hours
- Social Work Interventions in Co-occurring Mental and Substance Abuse (SASS 562, 3 credits)
- Social Work Practice in Mental Health: Adults (SASS 583, 3 credits)
- Integrative Seminar in Mental Health (SASS 588, 1 credit)
- Field Education IV – B (SASS 654B, 1.5 credits)
Online Advanced Standing Community Practice for Social Change (CPSC)
Year One
Semester One - 6 hours
- Problem Identification, Screening and Assessment/Diagnosing (SASS 547, 3 credits)
- Theory/Practice Approaches in Direct Practice Social Work (SASS 549, 3 credits)
Semester Two - 8.5 hours
- Evaluating Programs and Practice (SASS 542, 3 credits)
- Assessing and Engaging Communities for Social Change (SASS 566, 3 credits)
- Advanced Field Seminar and Organizational Theory and Practice (SASS 457, 1 credit)
- Field Education III – A (SASS 653A, 1.5 credits)
Semester Three - 7.5 hours
- Collaboration and Strategic Partnerships (SASS 531, 3 credits)
- Community Practice Policy: Analyzing and Changing Social Policy (SASS 561, 3 credits)
- Field Education III – B (SASS 653B, 1.5 credits)
Year Two
Semester Four - 7.5 hours
- Nonprofit Financial Management (SASS 425, 3 credits)
- Planning and Implementing Social Change (SASS 569, 3 credits)
- Field Education IV – A (SASS 654A, 1.5 credits)
Semester Five - 9.5 hours
- Nonprofit Revenue Planning and Development (SASS 407, 3 credits)
- Strategic Power Building with Communities (SASS 567, 3 credits)
- Integrative Seminar (SASS 588, 2 credits)
- Field Education IV – B (SASS 654B, 1.5 credits)
Online Advanced Standing Children, Youth and Families (CYF)
Year One
Semester One - 6 hours
- Problem Identification, Screening and Assessment/Diagnosing (SASS 547, 3 credits)
- Theory/Practice Approaches in Direct Practice Social Work (SASS 549, 3 credits)
Semester Two - 8.5 hours
- Evaluating Programs and Practice (SASS 542, 3 credits)
- Assessing and Engaging Communities for Social Change (SASS 566, 3 credits)
- Advanced Field Seminar and Organizational Theory and Practice (SASS 457, 1 credit)
- Field Education III – A (SASS 653A, 1.5 credits)
Semester Three - 7.5 hours
- Family System Interventions (SASS 517, 3 credits)
- Social Work with Groups (SASS 585, 3 credits)
- Field Education III – B (SASS 653B, 1.5 credits)
Year Two
Semester Four - 7.5 hours
- Integrated Health and Wellness Specialized Policy (SASS 540, 3 credits)
- Cognitive Behavioral Interventions (SASS 579, 3 credits)
- Field Education IV – A (SASS 654A, 1.5 credits)
Semester Five - 9.5 hours
- Trauma Informed Social Work Practice with Children and Families (SASS 550, 3 credits)
- Social Work with Child Abuse and Family Violence (SASS 582, 3 credits)
- Integrative Seminar (SASS 588, 2 credits)
- Field Education IV – B (SASS 654B, 1.5 credits)
Online Advanced Standing Mental Health Adults (MHA)
Year One
Semester One - 6 hours
- Problem Identification, Screening and Assessment/Diagnosing (SASS 547, 3 credits)
- Theory/Practice Approaches in Direct Practice Social Work (SASS 549, 3 credits)
Semester Two - 8.5 hours
- Evaluating Programs and Practice (SASS 542, 3 credits)
- Assessing and Engaging Communities for Social Change (SASS 566, 3 credits)
- Advanced Field Seminar and Organizational Theory and Practice (SASS 457, 1 credit)
- Field Education III – A (SASS 653A, 1.5 credits)
Semester Three - 7.5 hours
- Cognitive Behavioral Interventions (SASS 579, 3 credits)
- Integrative Health and Wellness Specialized Policy (SASS 540, 3 credits)
- Field Education III – B (SASS 653B, 1.5 credits)
Year Two
Semester Four - 7.5 hours
- Social Work Interventions in Co-occurring Mental and Substance Abuse (SASS 562, 3 credits)
- Social Work Practice in Mental Health: Adults (SASS 583, 3 credits)
- Field Education IV – A (SASS 654A, 1.5 credits)
Semester Five - 9.5 hours
- Social Work Practice in Substance Use Disorders (SASS 564, 3 credits)
- MSW Elective (3 credits)
- Integrative Seminar (SASS 588, 2 credits)
- Field Education IV – B (SASS 654B, 1.5 credits)
Please note that the sample patterns of enrollment on this page reflect the curriculum for students entering in fall 2025 and are subject to change in future terms. Our faculty may make enhancements or adjustments to the curriculum in future terms.