The online Master of Social Work (MSW) program at the Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel School of Applied Social Sciences is designed to help you balance personal and professional commitments as you pursue a graduate-level education with the same rigor as our on-campus weekly and weekend options.
With an emphasis on educating social work leaders, our online MSW program is designed for individuals who want to address the needs of their communities by driving large-scale social change. As an online student, you’ll be prepared to engage in direct clinical practice, support individuals and families in achieving their goals and improving their quality of life.
Online MSW Program Overview
60 credit hours Traditional | 39 credits Advanced Standing | No campus visits required
Advanced Standing
Applicants who hold a Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) are automatically considered for advanced standing status. The advanced standing track allows online MSW students to earn their degree in as little as two years.
Online MSW Paths of Study
We are committed to preparing you for a diverse range of social work careers through specialized coursework. For online students, we offer three paths of study—two clinical practice and one macro—to hone your skills and prepare to serve a specific population.
- Children, Youth and Families: Provide a range of services to individuals and families, such as marital therapy, family counseling, parent education and child welfare.
- Mental Health with Adults: Lead change as a clinician in community-based mental health practice settings, such as hospitals, substance abuse treatment programs and mental health centers.
- Community Practice for Social Change: Advocate for vulnerable populations by addressing society’s biggest social issues, such as poverty, human and women’s rights, and more.
The Online MSW Learning Experience
Our Digital Classroom
The Mandel School’s online MSW program features weekly live classes, in-person field education, and continuous support. Using Zoom—an intuitive online learning platform available on desktop and mobile devices—you will also have opportunities to collaborate closely with faculty and peers.
Access to Social Work Education Leaders
You'll learn from the same distinguished faculty who teach in our on-campus programs: social work education leaders passionate about shaping social work discourse and forming the next generation of change leaders.
Student Support
During the program, you'll have full access to our dedicated student-support staff. From technology support to academic advising and field placement assistance, our team will help address any problems that may arise. We also offer career services such as career coaching and networking opportunities to prepare you for success after graduation.
Field Education
An essential component of a master’s degree in social work, field education is a structured space for you to develop clinical skills, build your confidence in the field and translate what you learn in online classes to a professional setting.
Our field placement team will work with you to find placement sites in or near your community. You will gain experience through fieldwork while also taking online classes, so you can apply classroom topics during your practice as you learn them. Students in our traditional track will complete 900 hours of fieldwork, and advanced standing students will complete 500 hours of fieldwork.
Admissions Requirements
The admissions standards for our online Master of Social Work program are the same as our full-time, on-campus degree and weekend degree programs. All applicants must hold a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university and have earned an undergraduate GPA of 2.7 or higher. The GRE is not required to apply, and there is no application fee.
Need a Different Program Format?
We offer the same high-quality MSW degree in both full-time and weekend formats, providing flexible options to fit your career, family and lifestyle needs.