Of the seven accredited Master of Social Work degrees offered in the state of Missouri, only the University of Missouri has an online program. Many careers in the state specialize and youth and family services.
Consider a sponsored online MSW program that is taking applications for 2025.
School | Program | Admissions |
---|---|---|
University of Kentucky | Online Master of Social Work
CSWE Accredited, 100% online. Regular and Advanced Standing MSW tracks. 7 different certificates available (Clinical, Child Welfare, School, Substance Abuse, Trauma, more). |
![]() |
Virginia Commonwealth University | Online Master's in Social Work
Part-time and full-time online options, with three intakes throughout the year, let you learn from anywhere in the country. |
![]() |
University of West Florida | Online Master of Social Work
CSWE Accredited, 100% online. Traditional and Advanced Standing MSW tracks. |
![]() |
University of Denver | Online Master of Social Work
No GRE Required. Top-ranked school of social work offers two online MSW tracks: traditional and advanced standing. Concentration offerings in Mental Health and Trauma or Health, Equity and Wellness. |
![]() |
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. |
![]() |
Click to view online MSW programs that are taking applications for 2025.
Missouri CSWE Accredited MSW Programs
The University of Missouri is the only institution in Missouri that offers a Master's degree in social work online and is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE). While the program can be fully completed without any campus visits, this education is limited for states in the Midwest and parts of the Southeast.
In total, there are seven institutions that offer accredited Master's degrees for this discipline.
Are there online MSW programs in Missouri?
Yes, there are colleges in Missouri 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.
School | Program | Admissions |
---|---|---|
Fordham University | Master of Social Work Online
CSWE Accredited |
Website |
University of Kentucky | Online Master of Social Work
CSWE Accredited |
Website |
Virginia Commonwealth University | Online Master's in Social Work
CSWE Accredited |
Website |
University of West Florida | Online Master of Social Work
CSWE Accredited |
Website |
Syracuse University | Online Master of Social Work
CSWE Accredited |
Website |
Click to see more accredited online MSW programs that are taking applications for 2024.
List of online MSW programs in Missouri that are CSWE accredited
School | Program | CSWE Accredited? |
---|---|---|
Missouri State University-Springfield | Master of Social Work (MSW) - Online | ✓ |
Finding a Campus Based Missouri MSW Program
St. Louis has the most opportunities hosting schools such as Washington University in St. Louis, University of Missouri-St. Louis, and St. Louis University. The latter institution on this list offers remote education in Kansas City, and Cincinnati and Sylvania in Ohio.
Kansas City also has the University of Missouri-Kansas City, where students can become an advanced generalist in the profession.
University of Missouri's Online Master of Social Work
The College of Human Environmental Sciences hosts the MSW offered at the university, which is also available 100 percent online. 60 credit hours are needed for the full program and 39 credit hours are needed for advanced standing, which can take as little as two years. Online education is only available in select states: Arkansas, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma, and Tennessee.
Students will learn how expert researching skills, policy making, and understanding human behavior when evaluating patients. While there are no campus requirements for online students, they will need to be approved for the field practicum requirements at a local facility. Graduates should be prepared for local state licensure through this curriculum.
Curriculum Format
The curriculum consists of foundational courses, electives, and a concentration for their career focus. Concentration options include Advanced Clinical Practice and Policy, Planning, and Administration in Human Services. Examples of courses in the Advanced Clinical Practice specialization include Strategies of Clinical SW Intervention, Fundamentals of SW Administration, and Advanced SW Practice in Integrated Healthcare.
For field work, the initial internship must be completed in the region where the online degree is allowed, while the second internship is more flexible. These sessions must be completed during normal workweek hours, which could interfere with traditional job opportunity when pursuing the degree. One prerequisite is a college-level statistics course that must be passed with a C- grade or higher.
Review of campus-based Missouri MSW programs
Missouri State University-Springfield - Master of Social Work (MSW) - Springfield
Requires 62 to 34 credit hours depending on prior academic background. Both options are available online with no extra out-of-state tuition. One elective option needed for further customization in advanced coursework. Students complete their education with a comprehensive exam. All grades received must be a B grade or higher. Admission background requires 3.0 GPA and courses in statistics and social sciences.
Saint Louis University - Master of Social Work (M.S.W.) - Saint Louis
57 total credit hours needed for the traditional format. Course distribution is in 15 weeks for fall/spring semester and 10 weeks during summer term. Some online and hybrid elective options are available. Concentrations include behavioral analysis, community development, and clinical practice. Leads to field experience options in gerontology, school, military veterans, and more. Application requirements include three recommendation letters and an interview with faculty members.
University of Missouri-Columbia - Master of Social Work (MSW) - Columbia
Available in traditional format or advanced standing with both on-campus and online options. Online option offered in Missouri and nearby states, including Iowa, Kansas, and Nebraska. All formats feature fall starts except regular pathway online with the summer term. Part-time students take two courses in each term across six or nine semesters. Concentrations provide emphasis in clinical study or policy and community development. Students may also blend public health in a dual-degree or combine with the PhD in social work.
University of Missouri-Kansas City - Master of Social Work (M.S.W.) - Kansas City
Students must maintain a 3.0 GPA during their studies to stay in the program. Four elective options provided in advanced study to focus curriculum toward various topics. Examples include community practice, health care, adolescent trauma, and administration politics. Certain electives only available after completing the foundational coursework. Understand importance of ethical standards and practice at the micro and macro levels.
University of Missouri-St Louis - Master of Social Work (MSW) - Saint Louis
Students explore topics within social change or family practice at the advanced level. Certifications available in nonprofit management, family violence prevention, and gender studies. Application requirements include Bachelor's degree with a statistics course and three recommendation letters. Incoming students without a statistics course need to complete one before pursuing degree. 2.75 GPA needed within the major, or 3.0 cumulative, and no GRE scores required.
Washington University in St Louis - Master of Social Work - Saint Louis
Eight different concentrations available to customize studies. Options include mental health research and practice, children and families, and economic development. Students can select their own unique pathway by selecting various electives. Recent graduates have studied immigrant advocacy and criminal justice reform. 600 hours needed in supervised advanced practicum sessions. University offers over 300 agency connections for field experience.
Careers, Licensures, and Salaries in Missouri
The state of Missouri generally has lower salaries than the national average in major social work professions (working with youth, substance abuse, and health care), sitting at around the $40,000 level. Other aspects of social work are closer to the average salary figure at $60,770 according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics. The Kansas City metropolitan area sees the higher amounts within the statewide average.
Missouri Social Work Licensure Requirements
There are three different licensures that can be gained once a graduate achieves the Master’s degree in social work:
- Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW)
- Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW)
- Licensed Advanced Macro Social Worker (LAMSW)
Hours of Experience Requirements
Obtaining the LMSW requires the completion of the Master-level exam through the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB). After obtaining this license, they are eligible to complete 3,000 hours of clinical supervised work that must be completed in two to four years. At least two hours of individual supervision is needed every two weeks.
Clinical Examination Requirements
An alternative to the LCSW is becoming a LAMSW, which gives additional designation in large-scale social work, which gives the professional the license needed to work with large organizations and communities. Similar to the LCSW, a background check is needed, but the ASWB examination for advanced generalist is taken instead.
30 credit hours of continuous education is needed to renew the license every two years. A total of five credit hours must be within professional ethics and suicide prevention. Missouri will recognize other state licensures if the individual has obtained the designation for at least five years and has no violations recorded.