Program Overview

Overview of the Online Master of Social Work (MSW) Program

The online Master of Social Work (MSW) program at Arizona State University is designed to empower students to support individuals, families, and communities with compassionate care. The program focuses on promoting equity, advancing social justice, and developing real-world solutions to society's most difficult challenges.

Program Details

• The program consists of 20 classes, with each class lasting 7.5 weeks.
• The total credit hours required for the program are 60.
• The program includes a sequence of courses that address today's most pressing social issues.
• Students will participate in 960 hours of required applied practicum education at two distinct internship sites.

Career Opportunities

• Upon graduation, students will be prepared for a variety of roles in public and private human service agencies, research organizations, schools, nonprofits, governments, private practice settings, and hospitals.
• Potential career paths include:
  • Child welfare social worker
  • Community services manager
  • Forensic social worker
  • Hospice and palliative social worker
  • Macro social worker
  • Medical social worker
  • Mental health counselor
  • Military social worker
  • Recreation worker

Admission Requirements

• Competitive applicants typically have a 'B' (3.00 on a 4.00 scale) cumulative GPA in the last 60 semester hours or 90 quarter hours of their undergraduate coursework.
• All applicants must submit:
  • Graduate admission application and application fee
  • Official transcripts
  • Program-specific admission essay
  • Up-to-date curriculum vitae or resume
  • Three letters of recommendation, including academic and professional references
  • Proof of completion of 240 hours of social work or human services experience within the past five years

Statement of Education and Career Goals

• The statement should be four to six pages double-spaced using a 12-point font and one-inch margins.
• The statement should address all five guideline statements, including:
  1. Experience, background, and relationships that influenced the selection of social work as a professional career
  2. Understanding of the responsibilities of the social work profession and the role and responsibilities that the student wishes to assume as a professional social worker
  3. Reasons for selecting the ASU School of Social Work program and how the mission statement addresses short- and long-term career goals
  4. Understanding of social justice as it relates to social work and how to address the inadequacies of social systems to combat racism
  5. Plan for managing the rigorous demands of graduate education with the required 960-hour professional field practicum, employment, and personal obligations

Faculty and Research

• The faculty in the School of Social Work includes:
  • 7 Fellows of the American Academy of Social Work and Social Welfare
  • 11 Fellows of the Society for Social Work and Research
  • 5 Fulbright Scholars
• The faculty are among the most prolific social work researchers in the country, and many of the texts used in social work programs across the country were written by faculty who teach in the school's online social work programs.

Accreditation and Licensure

• The online master's of social work is accredited by the Council of Social Work Education (CSWE).
• As a graduate, students may be eligible for licensure through their state's licensing agency.
• Completing an ASU program may not fulfill educational requirements for licensure or certification in other states.

Tuition and Financial Aid

• The tuition calculator can be used to estimate full-time or part-time tuition fees for the program prior to any financial aid.
• Most students receive financial aid, which can reduce out-of-pocket costs.

Courses

• The program includes a range of courses, such as:
  • Advanced Generalist Social Work Practice
  • Advanced Social Work Practice
  • Assessment of Mental Disorders
  • Diversity, Oppression and Social Justice in Social Work
  • Foundation Practice I
  • Foundation Practice II
  • Human Behavior/Social Environment
  • Human Behavior/Social Environment II

Additional Information

• The School of Social Work is a part of the Watts College of Public Service and Community Solutions, a comprehensive public service college dedicated to addressing social problems through teaching, research, and service.
• The college is ranked #11 in social work research, according to the National Science Foundation, 2023.
• ASU is ranked #1 in the U.S. for innovation for 11 consecutive years, ahead of Stanford and MIT.