Program Overview

Introduction to the Howard University School of Social Work Online Master's Program

The Howard University School of Social Work is launching its nationally recognized Master of Social Work (MSW) degree online in partnership with 2U, Inc., a global leader in education technology. This program aims to equip more aspiring social workers from all backgrounds to serve Black and marginalized populations in a range of contexts and transform oppressive systems into ones that sustain and uplift their communities.

Program Details

• The online MSW program will launch in January 2022, with a full-time online degree to follow in September 2022.
• The program is part of Howard Forward, the institution's new strategic plan to extend Howard University's reach, impact, and 154-year legacy of academic excellence.
• The online expansion is designed to expand access to the MSW program and empower a new generation of social workers from across the nation to remain in their communities while positively impacting the lives of individuals and families.

Curriculum and Field Education

• The Howard School of Social Work's online MSW curriculum is grounded in the Black perspective, a framework that articulates how oppression, segregation, self-determination, and culture inform the service of individuals and communities.
• The program challenges students to engage with social justice, criminal justice reform, health care disparities, and other topics with attentiveness to their sociocultural and historical context.
• As students progress through the curriculum, they will participate in up to 1,000 hours of field education in settings within their own communities.

Partnership with 2U, Inc.

• Howard University is partnering with 2U to build, scale, and sustain the online program through an integrated digital transformation infrastructure called 2UOS.
• 2U will work hand in hand with Howard University's faculty to bring the School of Social Work's distinctive program to online students, incorporating best practices for online course delivery and supporting students in finding rewarding field placement opportunities.

About Howard University

• Founded in 1867, Howard University is a private, research university that is comprised of 13 schools and colleges.
• Students pursue more than 140 programs of study leading to undergraduate, graduate, and professional degrees.
• The University operates with a commitment to Excellence in Truth and Service and has produced numerous prestigious scholarship recipients.

Mission and Impact

• The mission of the online MSW program is to address the persistent inequalities in the African-American community and other marginalized communities and create enduring solutions.
• By expanding access to the MSW program, Howard University aims to train a diverse workforce of social workers equipped with the skills, knowledge, and cultural competence needed to serve their communities.