As a student in the Master of Social Work (MSW) program—whether you’re taking courses on campus, online or over weekends—you’ll be able to select a specialized path of study to further sharpen your expertise in the field. These paths of study involve both clinical (direct) and macro (community) practice.
The 60-credit-hour master's program at the Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel School of Applied Social Sciences is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) and meets the educational requirements for clinical social work licensure in all 50 states.
Choose Your Speciality
All curriculum is taught by our expert full-time and adjunct faculty who set the standard for how other schools of social work are measured. You’ll be prepared to be a leader in the field, no matter what path you choose.
Children, Youth and Families
You’ll provide a range of services to individuals and families, including marital therapy, family counseling, parent education and child welfare. Common themes explored in courses include autism, adoption, child abuse, childhood trauma, transitions to adulthood and LGBTQA+ youth. The Children, Youth and Families path of study is available online and in-person.
Find out more about the Children, Youth and Families Path of Study.
Community Practice for Social Change
As a community practice student, you will develop an understanding of the context of social challenges and difficult human problems while making a visible impact on people and their communities. You’ll promote justice and advocate for vulnerable populations. The Community Practice for Social Change path of study is available online and in-person.
Discover more about the Community Practice for Social Change Path of Study.
Mental Health
The mental health specialization will prepare you for community‐based mental health practice in a variety of professional settings, such as hospitals, schools, child and family service agencies, substance abuse treatment programs and mental health centers. You’ll be an advocate for community-based mental health practices in a range of settings. The Mental Health path of study is available online and in-person.
See more about the Mental Health Path of Study.
School Social Work
After completion of all coursework and field requirements in the school social work program, and with an Ohio LSW, you become eligible to apply for a pupil services license in school social work granted by the State of Ohio Department of Education. You’ll identify at-risk students and work with them to overcome factors including emotional problems, discrimination and poor self-esteem. The School Social Work path of study is available only in-person.
Find out more about the School Social Work Path of Study.
Substance Use Disorders and Recovery
Training in the Mandel School’s substance use disorders and recovery specialization will provide you with knowledge and skills to be a leader in substance use prevention as well as treatment of substance use disorders. You’ll work to diagnose substance use and dependence, and treat them using a range of treatment options. The Substance Use Disorders and Recovery path of study is available online and in-person.
Discover more about the Substance Use Disorders and Recovery Path of Study.
Design Your Own Path
Working closely with your advisor and academic support staff, you can carve out an individualized path of study that reflects your goals. Explore how to design your own path of study.