Social workers help people manage problems in their everyday life. They work in hospitals, schools, and mental health clinics. A master's degree in social work qualifies graduates for several careers, including substance abuse or mental health counselor, school or career counselor, social and community service manager, and health educator.
Master of social work programs focus on clinical assessment and management skills. Learners do not need a bachelor's degree in social work to become part of a master's program. Earning a master's in social work usually takes two years. However, some programs allow graduates with a bachelor's degree in social work to earn their master's degree in social work within a year.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that social work jobs will increase by 13% from 2019 to 2029. The projected need for social workers outpaces that for many other types of careers. The median earning potential for a social worker is $50,470 a year, or $24.70 an hour.
Featured Online MSW Programs
Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.
What Can I Do With a Social Work Degree?
A master's degree in social work provides graduates with many career opportunities. Most students completing a master's degree in social work aim to earn licensure so they can become a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW). This enables them to counsel others, usually one on one. However, graduates with a master's degree in social work may also choose not to focus on the clinical setting. Instead, they may work in administrative capacities. In both circumstances, a person must earn a master's degree in social work to fulfill these roles.
A master's degree in social work opens doors for a variety of jobs and work settings. This may include working as a clinical social worker in a hospital or as a non-clinical social worker with a grassroots or nonprofit group. Master of social work students may further specialize in one of several areas, such as community health education, medical settings; or working with children, families, or schools.
Best Online Master's in Social Work Programs
Accreditation for a Social Work Program
Colleges and universities receive accreditation to show they meet certain levels of quality compared with other colleges. These schools may receive both national and regional accreditation. Students should select an accredited college when choosing to complete an online program.
Although both national and regional accreditation are available, students and employees usually view regional accreditation in a more positive light. Regional accreditation helps ensure that credits earned at one school transfer to another regionally accredited school. Hiring companies may verify that employees have earned a degree from a school that is regionally accredited.
Programs for specific majors often have organizations that accredit them. Within social work, the Council on Social Work Education fills this role and accredits more than 800 bachelor's and master's degree social work programs.
The Council for Higher Education Accreditation's website allows users to verify if schools are accredited and what type of accreditation they have.
What Are the Requirements for a Social Work Program?
For a master's degree in social work, applicants must usually meet a few requirements no matter which program they choose. Applicants should hold a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university. Applicants share their college transcript and often must show the completion of some social sciences courses. Applicants need a GPA of 3.0 or higher.
Programs may require recommendation letters from professionals who can address the learner's ability to complete a graduate program. A master's program in social work may also ask for a personal statement, such as writing that reflects a commitment to social justice. Before completing the program, master of social work students must complete an internship of approximately 900 hours. This internship provides direct experience in a social work environment.
Courses in a Social Work Program
Courses for a master's degree in social work can cover a variety of fields, including psychology, social sciences, and social policy. Graduates can explore other areas related to social work, such as public health or sociology. Courses for a master's degree in social work will broaden research and analytical skills through special projects.
Some programs also may require a thesis to culminate studies. Social work courses also help to prepare students for state licensing exams. Here are a few courses common in many master's in social work programs. The following course descriptions provide a sampling of available classes, but they are not necessarily available with each program.
Human Behavior in the Social EnvironmentMany master of social work programs offer human behavior in the social environment as a foundational course. This course typically analyzes human development throughout life. It also analyzes the interchange of human behavior among families, individuals, and society. Students examine the role of culture, ethnicity, race, sex, sexual orientation, and socioeconomic environment as they relate to human behavior.
Social Work PracticeSocial work practice provides students with background on the professional roles of social work. The course may cover how to interact with various community members, including families and governmental or community agencies. Social work practice helps students learn how to apply their core social work values and ethics to on-the-ground social work.
Diversity and OppressionThis course prepares social workers how to engage and assist clients who come from a variety of backgrounds and life experiences. Students learn more about culture, power, privilege, and oppression. The course explores diversity at several levels, including ethnicity, gender, race, physical differences, and sexual orientation. Students also become more self-aware of their role in diversity or oppression.
Social WelfareThis course focuses on the history, development, and philosophy of social welfare in the U.S. This includes structures used to deliver social services and barriers to the achievement of social justice among some groups in the U.S. The class will often focus on groups typically affected by political and economic advances, including children, those with economic disadvantages, older population groups, racial and ethnic minorities, and women. The background provided in social welfare provides insights to the social system in which social workers must understand for their career.
Social Work ResearchSocial work research prepares master's degree of social work students to follow a process to conduct research within their chosen field. This includes learning how to design a research study, form a hypothesis, collect and process data, analyze statistics and other research results, and write a summary of research. Social work research also helps students to critically understand other research within the field so they can evaluate its strengths and weaknesses.
Professional Organizations for Social Work Students
Professional organizations for master's in social work students provide the chance to network with others, advance their career, and broaden their education within social work. Several professional organizations for social work will accept students as members. This enables the students to attend special trainings or receive professional publications. The list below includes a few professional organizations for social work students.
National Association of Social Workers
With more than 120,000 members, the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) formed in 1955 and touts itself as the largest organization in the world for social workers. Its student membership offers a way to connect with colleagues and advocate for social issues. Student members of the National Association of Social Workers pay a reduced fee.
Clinical Social Work Association
Geared toward licensed clinical social workers (LCSWs), the Clinical Social Work Association provides LCSWs with legislative advocacy, up-to-date clinical information, and a free consultative service for legal and ethical questions. The organization opens its student membership to those enrolled in a degreed social work program.
School Social Work Association of America
The School Social Work Association of America focuses on the professionals and students who work in school settings. Members at both the professional and student levels receive access to legislative alerts, liability insurance, and an e-newsletter, among other benefits.
Scholarships for Social Work Students
Online master of social work students can take advantage of several available scholarship opportunities. Some programs offer scholarships specifically for those in social work. Others offer scholarships to students regardless of their major. The following list shares information about a few scholarships available to online master's in social work students.
The Cenie "Jomo" Williams Tuition Scholarship
Who Can Apply: Offered by the National Association of Black Social Workers, this scholarship bears the name of the group's first elected president. Applicants need a GPA of at least 3.0, be African American, and demonstrate an interest in working with the Black community. The scholarship requires enrollment in an accredited U.S. social work program for the semester that the student will use the funds.
Amount: $1,500
Verne LaMarr Lyons Scholarship
Who Can Apply: Master's degree candidates in social work with an interest in working with African American communities may apply for this scholarship. Applicants must belong to NASW. Another requirement is acceptance into an accredited master of social work program. The NASW Foundation offers this scholarship. Students already in a master of social work program for more than a year can apply again for part or all of their second year of study.
Amount: $4,000, plus an additional $1,500 for conference attendance and professional development
The Consuelo W. Gosnell Memorial Scholarship
Who Can Apply: Master's degree candidates in social work with a commitment to working with American Indian/Alaska Native and Hispanic/Latino populations may apply for this scholarship. The NASW Foundation also offers this scholarship to those with a demonstrated commitment to working with public or voluntary nonprofit agencies or with local grassroots groups. Applicants must belong to NASW.
Amount: Up to $4,000
Online Master's in Social Work FAQs
What exactly does a social worker do?
A social worker helps people manage problems in their everyday life. Clinical social workers can diagnose and treat mental and behavioral problems.
What kind of jobs can you get with a degree in social work?
With a degree in social work, you can become a social worker, substance abuse counselor, health educator, probation officer, correctional treatment specialist, or school/career counselor.
How long does it take to get a master's in social work?
It usually takes two years to earn a master's degree in social work. In some programs, students with a bachelor's degree in social work can earn a master's in the field in a year.
Is getting a degree in social work hard?
Most people who study for a degree in social work find it challenging. However, they believe that their efforts ultimately help many people.
