Part-time Online Master’s in Social Work (MSW) Programs for 2024

Applicants to Adelphi University’s part-time online master’s degree program in social work can complete their degree in three years and personalize their educational path by adding the university’s health across the life course specialization to their studies. Students are required to complete 950 field hours to graduate. Those students with a bachelor’s degree in social work who enter the program in advanced standing can complete their degree in as little as 15 months and are required to complete 475 field hours to graduate. Applications to the program are accepted on a rolling basis, with no GRE requirement.

Students enrolled in Alliance University’s online master’s degree program in social work choose between specializations of clinical social work practice, or leadership in organizations and communities. Students must complete 1,050 field hours to graduate, while advanced standing students are required to complete 600 field hours to graduate. Degree completion generally takes two years attending full-time, or one year for full-time advanced standing students. Part-time options are also available. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis and a GRE score is not required for application consideration.

Baylor University’s online master’s degree program in social work accepts applications on a rolling basis, with no GRE requirement, and offers three start dates per year in January, May, and August. Baylor’s online program offers an advanced and an accelerated program, which can be completed in as few as 12 to 20 months when attending full-time, however part-time options are available. Students can choose to specialize in clinical practice or community practice, and must complete 1,030 field hours to graduate. Students with a bachelor’s degree in social work who enter the program in advanced standing must complete 550 field hours to graduate.

Students enrolled in Boise State University’s online master’s degree program in social work will focus on a generalist practice which requires 1,000 field hours to graduate, or 500 field hours for students with a bachelor’s degree in social work who enter the program in advanced standing. The program can be completed in two years full-time, or one year for full-time advanced standing students, with part-time options available. There are three application deadlines per year: one in April for students entering the program in fall, one in August for spring, and a January deadline for summer. No GRE score is required.

Cal Poly Humboldt ’s part-time online master’s degree program in social work prepares students to become an advanced generalist with an emphasis working in rural and Indigenous communities. Students must complete 960 field hours to graduate, while advanced standing students are required to complete 480 field hours to graduate. Full and part-time options are available. The program requires students to visit campus for 3 days each January for orientation, community building and skill development. A GRE score is not required for application consideration, and the program has start dates in January or June.

Students admitted to the part-time online master’s degree program in social work at California State University, San Bernardino focus on a generalist practice which requires students to complete 1,080 field hours to graduate. The average degree completion time is three years. The advanced standing option is only available in-person and the online program offers fall admission only. The application deadline is in January for priority consideration, with a final deadline in March. No GRE score is required. The online MSW program at CSUSB is called the pathway distance education program.

The Catholic University of America’s online master’s degree program in social work prepares students to focus on clinical social work upon graduation. Students must complete 1,080 field hours to graduate, while advanced standing students are required to complete 600 field hours to graduate. Applications must be submitted in early December for a spring entrance into the program. Degree completion generally takes two years, or one year for students with a bachelor’s degree in social work who enter the program in advanced standing. Part-time options are available. No GRE score is required.

Cleveland State University’s online master’s degree progam in social work offers students an advanced generalist and clinical course of study. While there is no accelerated track offering, students with a bachelor’s of social work from an accredited institution may be eligible to participate in the advanced standing option, requiring 30 credits as opposed to the 60 credits required for the traditional track. There is a 900-hour fieldwork component for the traditional track program and a 500-hour requirement for the advanced option. The deadline to submit applications for the summer semester is April 1.

Students enrolled in Columbia University’s online master’s degree program in social work can choose from focuses in advanced clinical practice, advanced generalist practice and programming, policy practice, leadership, management, or entrepreneurship for social justice. Students must complete 1,200 field hours to graduate, or 600 field hours for students with a bachelor’s degree in social work who enter the program in advanced standing. It generally takes two years for full-time students to complete the degree and part time options are available. Admission is offered in fall only, with a February application deadline. Part-time students have an application deadline in October for a spring start. A summer start is offered to advanced standing students only. No GRE score is required.

Applicants to Delaware State University’s online master’s degree program in social work focus on a generalist practice which requires students to complete 900 field hours to graduate, with an average degree completion time of two years. A three-year part-time option is also available. Advanced standing students can complete the degree in one year and must complete 500 field hours to graduate. No GRE score is required for application consideration. There is a fall priority deadline in March and final deadline in July. Spring has a priority deadline in September, and a final deadline in October. Advanced standing students must apply by the end of May for a fall start and in September for a spring start. Part-time students have an August application deadline for fall, and a November deadline for spring.

Students admitted to Dominican University’s online master’s degree program in social work can choose to focus in the specialty areas of aging, adulthood and gerontology, children, youth and family, or global social work practice for immigrants and refugees. The program also offers specialization in focus areas of health and well-being, military, and school social work. Students must complete 1,080 field hours to graduate, or 600 field hours for students with a bachelor’s degree in social work who enter the program in advanced standing. Degree completion generally takes between nine months to two years, and part-time options are available. For full-time students, applications are due in April for summer and fall. No GRE score is required.

Applicants to Howard University’s online master’s degree program in social work can choose to focus in a direct practice concentration, or a community, administration, and policy (CAP) practice concentration. Students must complete 1,000 field hours to graduate, or 777 field hours if they hold a bachelor’s degree in social work and enter the program in advanced standing. Application final deadlines are in April for a May start, with early and priority dates offered in February and March. The program offers three start dates in January, May, and September. No GRE score is required for application consideration.

Students enrolled in Indiana University’s online master’s degree program in social work can choose from six focus areas: health; mental health and addictions; school social work; children, youth, and families; special practice areas in social work; or community and organizational leadership. Students must complete 960 field hours to graduate, or 640 field hours for students with a bachelor’s degree in social work who enter the program in advanced standing. The fall application deadline is in May, with a summer application deadline in late January. No GRE score is required for application consideration.

Jackson State University’s online master’s degree program in social work prepares students to become social workers for advanced direct social work practice with children, youth, and families in both urban and rural areas. The two-year and part-time programs both require students to complete two field placements, while the advanced standing curriculum includes field placements in both the summer and spring semesters. Degree competition generally takes between one to two years, with a three-year part-time option also available. Application deadlines are in March for both summer and fall, and in October for spring enrollment. No GRE score is required.

Loma Linda University’s online master’s degree program in social work offers students an advanced clinical specialist curriculum. LLU’s online program option is for residents of California only. There is no accelerated track offering, but students with a bachelor’s degree in social work from an accredited institution may be eligible to participate in the advanced standing option. Regular standing requires 52 credit hours, while advanced requires 35. There is a 1,080-hour fieldwork requirement for the traditional track program and an 800-hour requirement for the advanced standing option. Applications for fall 2023 have closed.

Students enrolled in Louisiana State University’s online master’s degree program in social work can choose to focus in specialty areas of children and youth services, gerontology, social work practice in schools, or policy and macro practice. Students without a bachelor’s in social work must complete 960 field hours to graduate. For a July entrance into the program, the application deadline is in May. A GRE score is required for application consideration. Students without a bachelor’s degree in social work can finish the program in less than two years, or in as little as nine months for advanced standing students.

Students enrolled in Loyola University Chicago’s online master’s degree program in social work can choose between specialty focus areas of micro practice specialization or the leadership, mezzo and macro practice specialization (LMMP). Track options include: advanced clinical practice, certified alcohol and other drugs counselor training program (CADC), and migration. Students must complete 1,000 field hours to graduate, while advanced standing students are required to complete 600 field hours to graduate. The fall and summer application deadline is in May, with the spring application deadline in November. No GRE score is required.

Metropolitan State University of Denver’s online master’s degree program in social work has one admissions cycle annually. The application typically opens in early September, with a priority consideration deadline in late October and a final deadline in mid-January. Students can customize their degree program by choosing from the following pathways: mental health, leadership and management, children and families, school social work, gerontological, social work in healthcare, children and youth, or international social work. Students must complete 900 field hours to graduate, while advanced standing students are required to complete 500 field hours to graduate. No GRE score is required.

Applicants admitted to Missouri State University’s online master’s degree program in social work focus on a generalist practice, with the option to become a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW). Students must complete 900 field hours to graduate, while advanced standing students are required to complete 500 field hours to graduate. Regular standing students begin in the fall of their admission year, with a late January application deadline. Advanced standing students begin in the summer of their admission year. No GRE score is required.

Students accepted to New Mexico State University’s online master’s degree program in social work focus on an advanced generalist practice. Students must complete 950 field hours to graduate, while advanced standing students are required to complete 500 field hours to graduate. No GRE score is required for application consideration. The early decision deadline is December 1 for fall admission. The priority deadline is February 1 for fall admission, with a final deadline of April 1. Applications received after February 1 will be reviewed only on a space-available basis.

Students attending Ohio State University’s online master’s degree program in social work can choose to focus in specialty areas of: aging and health, mental health and substance misuse, child and youth services, or community and social justice. Students must complete 920 field hours to graduate, while advanced standing students are required to complete 672 field hours to graduate. No GRE score is required for application consideration. The MSW program application opens annually on September 1 for both the advanced standing and traditional MSW program applications. To be considered for fellowships, the application and all supporting materials must be received by December 1. The final application deadline is July 1.

Ohio University’s online master’s degree program in social work prepares students for providing social work service in rural environments. Degree completion requires 62 credits and generally takes two years when attending full-time. Full-time advanced standing students generally complete the 36-credit advanced program in one year. Part-time options are also available to complete the program in three to four years. The application for summer is due April 21, and a GRE score isn’t required for application consideration.

Students enrolled in Rutgers University’s online master’s degree program in social work focus on an advanced generalist practice, with the option to become a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW). Students must complete 1,125 field hours to graduate, while advanced standing students are required to complete 675 field hours to graduate. Fall applications are due on May 15 for advanced standing and two-year students. Rutgers University also offers a blended online MSW program, which allows students to begin their MSW online asynchronously, with in-person courses commencing in the third year. A synchronous online field seminar will begin in the third semester. The blended program has a fall application deadline of February 15. No GRE score is required.

Salem State University’s online master’s degree program in social work provides students with a specialization on integrated health and behavioral health practice. There is no accelerated track offering or online advanced standing option. Regular standing requires at least 62 credit hours. There is at least a 900-hour fieldwork requirement for the program and fieldwork must be completed in the state of Massachusetts. The fall application deadline for the part-time program remains open until April 3.

Samford University’s online master’s degree program in social work prepares students to work in an advanced clinical practice upon graduating. Applicants with a GPA less than 2.8 during their last 60 hours of undergraduate coursework may submit an application for consideration with a MAT or GRE score. Students with a GPA above 2.8 don’t need to submit MAT or GRE scores for application consideration. Students must complete 900 field hours to graduate, while advanced standing students are required to complete 500 field hours to graduate. The application is due on June 1 for an August entry into the program. Advanced standing students must apply by April 1 and enter the program in May.

Spalding University’s online master’s in social work degree provides students with a social work practice centered around social and economic justice and an “anti-oppressive” clinical practice approach. There is no accelerated track offering, though students can pick between part- and full-time status to accommodate their schedules. There is a 900-hour fieldwork requirement for the regular program and the program is a total of 60 credit hours. The fall 2023 application deadline is June 30.

St. Ambrose University’s online master’s degree program in social work provides students with an advanced generalist social work practice with an emphasis on empowerment. While there is no accelerated track offered, students may be eligible for the advanced standing track if they already hold a bachelor’s in social work, reducing the required 60 credit hours to 36 hours. A total of 912 hours of fieldwork practicum is required to complete the traditional track. Only the one-year advanced standing program and the part-time traditional MSW offerings are available online. The advanced standing summer start application deadline is April 1 while the application deadlines are May 1 and Aug. 1 respectively for fall enrollment in the full- and part-time programs.

Stephen F. Austin State University’s online master’s degree program in social work prepares students for an advanced generalist practice in a rural context upon graduation. Students must complete 980 field hours to graduate, while advanced standing students are required to complete 500 field hours to graduate. Degree completion generally takes two years, or one year for advanced standing students. Part-time options are also available. The application is due on April 15 for both summer and fall. No GRE score is required.

Syracuse University makes admissions decisions a rolling basis for its online master’s degree program in social work. The program offers three start dates each year in January, May, and August. For an August entry into the program, the application is due on May 8 for early priority consideration, on June 5 for priority consideration, and there is a final deadline on July 3. Students can choose to focus on advanced integrated practice (AIP) or advanced clinical practice (ACP). Students must complete 1,000 field hours to graduate, while advanced standing students are required to complete 500 field hours to graduate. No GRE score is required for application consideration.

Applicants to Temple University’s online master’s degree program in social work can choose to focus on clinical practice with individuals and families, macro practice in organizations, or communities and policy arenas. Students must complete 1,050 field hours to graduate, while advanced standing students are required to complete 600 field hours to graduate. The Application is due on June 1 for a fall entry into the program, or November 1 for spring. Advanced standing students apply by April 1 to begin in summer. No GRE score is required.

The School of Social Work at ​​Texas State University only accepts applicants each fall semester, with no spring or summer admits. Applications are due on January 15 for priority consideration, with a final deadline on March 15. Students can choose to focus on advanced practice leadership. Students must complete 900 field hours to graduate, while advanced standing students are required to complete 540 field hours to graduate. Degree completion generally takes two years, or one year for students with a bachelor’s degree in social work who enter the program in advanced standing. Part-time options are available. No GRE score is required.

The online master’s degree program in social work at Tseng College at California State University, Northridge prepares students to become an advanced generalist with a focus on urban communities. The field hours requirement is 16 hours per week the first year and 24 hours per week the second year. The application deadline is in January for entrance into the program in fall. Degree completion generally takes two years, or one year for students with a bachelor’s degree in social work who enter the program in advanced standing. Part-time options are available. No GRE score is required.

Students enrolled in Touro University’s hybrid master’s degree program in social work will first study an advanced generalist curriculum that prepares applicants for a social work career with specializations in aging populations, mental illness, or military social work. Touro University offers a 16-month accelerated track for the traditional program, which only accepts applicants in the spring. Further, some students may be eligible for the advanced standing track if they already hold a bachelor’s degree in social work. A total of at least 1,200 hours of fieldwork practicum is required to complete the traditional track and 65 credit hours are required. The advanced standing status has fewer requirements. Touro is currently accepting applications.

Tulane University’s online master’s degree program in social work prepares students to engage in relationship-centered, clinical-community practice upon graduation. Students must complete 316 field hours each semester. Degree completion generally takes 16 to 32 months, depending on enrollment status. The deadline to submit an application for Fall is June 1 for priority consideration, with a final deadline on July 1. Summer has a priority deadline of March 1, with a final deadline on April 5.

The University at Albany, State University of New York’s master’s degree program in social work provides students with a social work cirriculum that prepares students for a career with either a specialization in clinical or macro social work. While there is no accelerated track offered, students may be eligible for the advanced standing track if they already hold a bachelor’s degree in social work, reducing the required 60 credit hours for the traditional program. Advanced standing students are awarded up to 21 credits toward their MSW degree. There is a 1,000-hour fieldwork practicum required to complete the traditional track and 500 hours are required for the advanced standing track.

Students enrolled in the University at Buffalo, State University of New York’s online master’s degree program in social work will study a generalist curriculum that prepares applicants for a social work career with an emphasis on trauma-informed and human rights perspectives. While there is no accelerated track, some students may be eligible for the advanced standing track if they already hold a bachelor’s degree in social work. A total of 900 hours of fieldwork practicum is required to complete the traditional track and 60 credit hours are required. The advanced standing status requires 35 credit hours and 480 fieldwork hours. The application for the online traditional program opens in September 2023 for fall 2024 admission. Spring 2024 admission opens in May 2023.

The University of Alabama’s online master’s degree program in social work allows students to focus in specialty areas of children, adolescents, and their families or adults and their families. Students must complete 1,000 field hours to graduate, while advanced standing students are required to complete 500 field hours to graduate. The fall application deadline is due on December 1 for priority consideration. Degree completion generally takes two years for students attending full-time, or one year for advanced standing students. Part-time options are available. Applicants wiith a GPA below 3.0 in last the 60 hours of a degree program must provide a GRE or MAT score.

At the University of Arkansas, the online MSW option is only available for advanced standing students. The 12-month, full-time program prepares students to become an advanced generalist upon graduation. Students are required to complete 660 field hours to graduate. The deadline to submit an application is January 15. Applications are accepted and reviewed once a year, and a GRE score is not required for application consideration.

Students enrolled in the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign’s online master’s degree program in social work can choose from an advanced clinical concentration, or a leadership and social change concentration. Advanced clinical concentration students can choose from the following focus areas: health care, mental health, children, youth and family services, or schools. However, only Illinois residents are able to choose the schools focus area. The program is referred to as iMSW. Students must complete 900 field hours to graduate, while advanced standing students are required to complete 600 field hours to graduate. Degree completion generally takes two years for students attending full-time, or one year for full-time advanced standing students. Part-time options are also available. A GRE score is not required for application consideration. The spring application is due on February 15, or November 15 for advanced standing students.

The University of Iowa’s online master’s degree program in social work admits students every other year into the part-time program. The next online MSW cohort will begin in summer 2024. Online students must live in Iowa or bordering states, who because of geography or life circumstances, cannot access the Des Moines, Iowa City, Quad Cities or Sioux City learning centers. Students must participate in a required two-day summer institute in Iowa City during the second and third summers of the program. Graduates are prepared to become advanced generalists upon earning the degree. There is no advanced standing or accelearated option available, and the program generally takes three years to complete. A GRE score is not required.

The University of Michigan’s online master’s degree program in social work provides a social work curriculum that prepares students for a career as a licensened clinical social worker (LCSW), with focus on interpersonal practice in integrated health, mental heatlh, and substance abuse. While there is no accelerated track offered, students may be eligible to begin with the advanced standing track if they already hold a bachelor’s degree in social work, reducing the required 60 credit hours for the traditional program to 45 for the advanced track. The university’s traditional program is offered via its MasterTrack system, which requires students to complete a separate four-month program which then grants eligibility for students to proceed to the advanced standing track. A total of 938 hours of fieldwork practicum is required to complete the traditional program and 684 hours are required for the advanced standing track. The final application deadline for the advanced standing program full-time is July 1 and the part-time deadline is Dec. 1. The part-time MasterTrack program application deadline is Aug. 1.

The MSW program at the University of Utah provides a specialization in advanced generalist practice. Areas of focus include: aging, forensic, health, child welfare, global, mental health, or substance misuse. Students must complete 900 field hours to graduate, while advanced standing students are required to complete 550 field hours to graduate. The application cycle begins August 1 every year, with a September 1 deadline for advanced standing students, or an October 15 deadline for students entering in regular standing. There is no GRE score requirement.

Virginia Commonwealth University’s online master’s degree program in social work prepares students to become a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW). Students must complete 14 to 22 field hours per week in the program. The final application for full-time attendance in fall is May 31. For full-time advanced standing students, the final deadline is June 7. Students attending full-time can complete the degree in as few as 16 months, however part-time options are also available. A GRE score is not required for application consideration.

West Virginia University’’s online master’s degree program in social work is offered on a part-time basis, and generally takes three years to complete or two years for students with a bachelor’s degree in social work entering the program in advanced standing. Students must complete 900 field hours to graduate, while advanced standing students are required to complete 600 field hours to graduate. The program focuses on an advanced integrated practice (AIP) or prepares students to become a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW). A GRE score is not required for application consideration.

Western Kentucky University’s online master’s degree program in social work prepares graduates for an advanced generalist practice. Degree completion generally takes two years for students attending full-time, or one year for full-time advanced standing students. Part-time options are also available. Field hours are offered concurrently with academic study. The next deadline to submit an application is April 1, and a GRE score is not required for application consideration.

Western New Mexico University’s online master’s degree program in social work prepares graduates for an advanced generalist practice. Students must complete 900 field hours to graduate, while advanced standing students are required to complete 450 field hours to graduate. Degree completion generally takes two years for students attending full-time, or one year for full-time advanced standing students. Part-time options are also available. A GRE score is not required for application consideration. For students planning to begin in August, apply by May 1, for those planning to begin in October, apply by July 1. For students planning to begin in January, apply by October 1, and for those planning to begin in March, apply by December 1. The summer application deadline is April 1.

Yeshiva University’s online master’s degree program in social work offers a joint MSW and Credentialed Alcohol and Substance Abuse Counselor (CASAC) Credentialing program, and a Gerontology & Palliative Certification. Students must complete 1,200 field hours to graduate, while advanced standing students are required to complete 600 field hours to graduate.The program lets you alternate between full-time and part-time each term if needed. Degree completion generally takes two years for students attending full-time, or one year for full-time advanced standing students. A GRE score is not required for application consideration, and the next final deadline application is May 2.