Arkansas MSW Degree Programs

School	Program	Admissions
University of Kentucky	Online Master of Social Work CSWE Accredited, 100% online. Regular and Advanced Standing MSW tracks.	Website
University of West Florida	Online Master of Social Work CSWE Accredited, 100% online. Traditional and Advanced Standing MSW tracks.	Website
Campbellsville University	Online Master of Social Work No GRE or GMAT required. Traditional and Advanced Standing tracks available. Program can be completed in less than a year.	Website
University of Kentucky	Doctorate of Social Work Select one of four concentrations: Administrative Leadership, Clinical Social Work, Military Behavioral Health, and Social Work Education.	Website
George Mason University	Master of Social Work (MSW) Online CSWE accredited. Tracks include: Adults & Healthy Aging or Children, Youth, & Families.	Website

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Click to view online MSW programs that are taking applications for 2024.

Popular institutions offer graduate-level education in social work in the state of Arkansas. There is generally even employment in various specializations within the social work field.

Arkansas CSWE Accredited MSW Programs

The state of Arkansas has three institutions with accredited Master's degrees in social work by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE). The University of Arkansas school system features two programs with online opportunities at the main campus at Fayetteville and at Little Rock. Arkansas State University is the other institution with a Master's degree in social, and all three campuses provide undergraduate studies in this field.

Are there online MSW programs in Arkansas?

Yes, there are colleges in Arkansas with an online Master of Social Work degree program. Consider a featured online MSW program that is taking applicants right now, or move on to the list.

Click to see more accredited online MSW programs that are taking applications for 2024.

List of online MSW programs in Arkansas that are CSWE accredited

Finding a Campus Based Arkansas MSW Program

In addition to Fayetteville and Little Rock, Jonesboro hosts the social work program for Arkansas State University. All of them feature study in direct practice, where students have an opportunity to engage with patients to determine treatment procedure. Additional specializations to consider are rural social work at ASU and management positions at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock.

University of Arkansas' Online MSW

The School of Social Work offers a Master's degree that gives advanced theory and leadership skills when working with human behavior. Four program options are available for students, including the online advanced standing program that takes just one year to complete. Students can opt for an advanced standing program on campus, as well as the regular format for full-time and part-time enrollment.

Advanced Standing Format

All courses and field placement requirements can be completed at the student's local area through the online advanced standing program. Field work at a local agency will be approved by the program and there are no on-campus residencies or visits required. Prospective students must have a Bachelor's degree that was accredited by the CSWE.

Required in the 39 credit hour curriculum is an orientation, which will also be completed in a virtual setting. Internships will take place in all three semesters (summer, fall, and spring,) and pursued for three days each week. In total, 900 field clock hours will be registered in this format.

Extended Format

Students that require more time when taking courses can choose the extended program, which requires just two courses through the first four years, then ramps up considerably over the final year. A total of nine credit hours are reserved for elective courses in the curriculum. The regular two-year program is mostly based in the fall and spring semesters with one summer course over the first year.

University of Arkansas at Little Rock's Online MSW

The Master of Social Work available at UAR can be completed in a two-year time frame with online and on-campus options. Its curriculum requires 60 credit hours of work within the traditional format, but 32 credit hours worth of foundational courses can be cut from the degree if the student holds a Bachelor's degree in social work from a CSWE-accredited program.

Online Format

Students will utilize Adobe Connect for synchronous needs and the Blackboard learning management system for asynchronous coursework. Course format will be based on instructor and students will need to review if they meet at live sessions for classes or they can view lectures on-demand. Both on-campus and online programs have the same curriculum and requires at least a 3.0 GPA in the core courses.

Program Requirements

Students should gain 1,200 hours of field work by graduation, and this is completed at two different internships in the foundational and specialization years. Those with advanced standing will need to complete 1,000 total clock hours. Internships will need to be approved when pursuing the program online and may be located at government agency, nonprofit organization, or private practice.

Admission Requirements

In order to get into the program, prospective students will need to submit transcripts that show a 3.0 cumulative or higher, Graduate Record Examinations (GRE) or Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) scores within the last five years, statement of purpose, and three letters of recommendation. Those looking for advanced standing should have a 3.5 GPA in the last 60 hours of undergraduate work.

Review of campus-based Arkansas MSW programs

Careers, Licensures, and Salaries in Arkansas

Social work professionals are scattered fairly evenly among specializations based on information from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics. Over 1,000 workers have specializations in mental health, substance abuse, and overall health care. Many of these positions are available in the Little Rock metropolitan area.

Average Salary for Arkansas Social Workers

The highest-paid social workers in the state of Arkansas work in the health care sector with an annual estimated wage of over $50,400. Salaries are slightly higher than this amount in the eastern portion of the state.

Arkansas Social Work Licensure Requirements

Licensure can be received at the Master’s level and clinical level in the state of Arkansas. In order to receive the clinical designation, applicants must complete at least 4,000 clock hours in a post-graduate setting. This work must be completed under an already-established Licensed Certified Social Worker and requires at least two years.

Applicants must submit proof of a graduate program that was earned in social work and criminal background check to receive a temporary licensure. Through the Association of Social Work Boards, applicants must complete a clinical examination. There is an ability to get licenses from other states sponsored in Arkansas as long as the guidelines are similar.