Online MSW in Human Services Social Work Degree Programs

For those interested in working with people, in the field of social work in particular, but have not narrowed it down to a specific area in which they'd like to work, or for those who want to keep their post-graduate employment options as broad as possible, it may be beneficial to explore earning an Online MSW in Human Services.

School	Program	Admissions
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.	Website
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).	Website
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.	Website

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

Are there Online MSW Programs in Human Services

Yes, there are 92 online MSW programs that offer a concentration in human services, or what is most often referred to as advanced generalist practice. This MSW degree prepares graduates to practice both broadly and deeply. They have a wide range of skills and can practice social work at the micro, mezzo and macro levels. Keep reading for an in-depth review of some of the top MSW programs in Human Services.

In-Depth Review of Top Online MSW Programs in Human Services

Arizona State University Online MSW in Human Services

One of the unique features of the Arizona State University Online MSW in Human Services program is that they offer two distinct online classrooms. Students can decide whether they want classes that are offered synchronously, where classes are live online at the same day and time each week, or asynchronously, where courses are completed according to their own schedule. The Advanced Generalist concentration is what those interested in an MSW in Human Services would complete, and this is offered through asynchronous classes. This program is completed in two or three years, depending on how many classes are taken each semester.

Required courses include both Micro and Macro Human Behavior classes, and Social Work Skills Seminar in addition to courses on research, policy and social work practice. Electives include Mental Health and Sentencing, Behavioral Health Services, Legal Issues in Social Work, LGBTQ Issues, Traumatic Death: Theory, Counseling & Practice, Critical Incident Stress Management, Ecological Approach to Practice with Children, Youth & Families, Program Planning in Social Services, Social Work Administration, Community Participation Strategies and Ancient Healing Traditions. A spring break study abroad program to Hermosillo, Mexico to learn about Pathways to Global Social Work is also available to students. In addition, two separate internships are required, with each consisting of 480 hours of hands-on work experience to students.

Arizona State University boasts that more than 40% of all students (across all departments) graduate debt-free. Arizona residents earning the online MSW will pay $9200 per semester of the program, while non-residents will pay $9,835 per semester.

Columbia University Online MSW in Human Services

Columbia University's online MSW program is fully online, with most classes offered synchronously. Multiple pathways to earning the degree are offered, including part-time, full-time, advanced standing, part-time to full-time, and a one-year residency for working professionals. Each of these pathways have different start dates. The traditional 2 year full-time program begins in the fall semester only.

The part-to full-time program has students take one or two courses per term with no practicum placement for the first year, and ramp up to full time status along with practicum hours in their remaining years. This pathway takes three to four years to complete. The Reduced Residency for Working Professionals Pathway is for those currently working in direct practice work in a social services/human services agency who also have a minimum of two years of full-time or four years of part-time work in social services. These students may choose to complete their practicum at their place of employment while following a similar coursework timeline in those students in the part-to full-time pathway.

Full time students complete a total of 60 credits for the degree. Twelve hundred hours of practicum experience are gained across two different practicum placements. Students spend about 21 hours per week at their practicum site. Core courses include Advanced Generalist Practice and Programming, Motivational Interviewing, Decolonizing Social Work and Changing Organizations and Communities by Influencing Social Policies and Political Processes. There are multiple electives offered, depending on the specialization area the student is most interested in pursuing. Some examples include Intro to Loss and Grief, Program Evaluation in Social Services, Restorative Justice Theory and Practice, Services to Immigrants and Refugees, Alcoholism and Other Chemical Dependencies, Social Work and Domestic Violence, Financial Management for Advanced Generalist Practice, Microeconomics and Policy Analysis, and Federal Policy.

Adelphi University Online MSW in Human Services

Adelphi University offers a part-time online MSW program, making it a great option for working professionals. The 64-credit program can be started in the fall or spring semesters and consists of weekly live and asynchronous online class sessions and twice-yearly intensive learning residencies which are also held online. The program can be completed in three years. Courses span 8 to 15 weeks, depending on the semester. Weekly synchronous classes are held on Thursday evenings from 6:30 to 9:30 pm ET. Classes are taught by the same full-time faculty members and adjunct instructors who also teach the on-campus courses.

Core courses include Inequality, Inequity and Social Justice, History and Philosophy of Social Welfare, Human Behavior Theory, Oppression, Diversity and the Struggle for Human Rights, Organization Context for Professional Practice, and Social Work Research. Practicum placement consists of 900 hours in a site based setting. Students must also earn 25 professional development hours each academic year through approved practicum education workshops and the School of Social Work's annual social action initiative.

Three electives are completed as part of the program. Examples of elective courses include: Immigrants & Refugees: Issues & Interventions, Social Work Practice in Health Care, Practice in End of Life Care, An Integrative Approach to Contemporary Social Work, and Stress, Crisis, Trauma & Coping. Certificates that can be earned alongside the online MSW include Bilingual School Social Work and Human Resource Management. Tuition for the part-time MSW program is $1,345 per credit hour.

Tuition is $29,074 per semester for all online MSW students enrolled between 10.5 and 19 credits in a term. In addition to scholarships, the School of Social Work has a limited amount of institutional loans available for students who are unable to secure a Federal Direct Graduate PLUS loan or a private educational loan. These loans range from $2,000 to $25,000 and have a 5% interest rate, with a 10-year repayment period.

Click to view all online MSW programs that are currently accepting applications.

Review of Some Campus-Based MSW in Human Services Programs

If learning and studying online isn't of interest, there are plenty of in-person, on campus programs to earn an MSW in Human Services. Below are some of the top programs in this area.

University of Maine MSW in Human Services

The University of Maine's MSW program requires 63 credits to complete. Applications are accepted typically until January for the following fall. MSW cohorts begin only in the fall semester.

First year students complete standard core social work classes to prepare students to intervene at the individual, family, group, organization and community levels. The second year curriculum prepares graduates for advanced generalist social work practice. Electives include Adult and Child Psychopathology, Expressive Therapies in Social Work Practice, Grant Writing, Group Work in Health and Mental Health Settings, and Gerontological Practice in Rural Communities. Some electives are also available through other University departments. Certificate options with this degree include Leadership in Rural Gerontological Practice, Disabilities Studies or Gerontology.

During the first year, students spend about 16 hours a week over the course of the academic year in their practicum setting, gaining 400 hours of experience. The second year consists of about 20 hours per week at a different practicum placement for a total of 500 hours at that placement site.
Maine and Canadian residents pay $557 per credit hour, and non-residents pay $1,193 per credit hour. The NEBHE program allows students from New England states to enroll in the University of Maine MSW program at a reduced tuition rate. These students pay $721 per credit hour for their classes.

University of Oklahoma MSW in Human Services

The University of Oklahoma offers part-time, advanced standing and full-time enrollment options to pursue the MSW in Human Services degree. They also offer a full-time only online MSW program. Advanced standing students complete 33 hours, and part and full-time students complete 60 hours in their respective programs. Cohorts begin in either the fall or spring semesters. All classes are held in the evenings or on Saturdays, making this an excellent fit for those working or with family commitments during regular workday hours. Students can also elect to earn certificates in Social Work with American Indians, Women & Gender Studies, or Restorative Justice Administration as part of their studies. There is also an option to enroll in a dual-degree program in Public Health or International Studies.

Core courses in this program include Professional Social Work, Human Diversity and Social Oppression, Client Centered Practice, and Macro Systems in Practice. Practicum placements provide 400 hours of experience in the first year of the program, while students in the second year gain an additional 500 hours of hands-on experience. Examples of electives offered include Human Services Administration, Forensic Social Work, Social Work with Older Adults, Seminar on Community Health, Biopsychosocial Aspects of Health and Behavior, and Tribal-U.S. Child and Family Welfare Policy and Practice. Tuition at the University of Oklahoma is $389.70 per credit hour for Oklahoma Residents. Non-residents are charged $1087.70 per credit hour.

Colorado State University MSW in Human Services

In addition to their fully on-campus MSW program, Colorado State University offers a hybrid program that blends both on-campus and online coursework. The on-campus program is a full-time program that starts in the fall semester only. It takes two years to complete the 64-credit hour degree, unless the student has already earned a BSW from a CSWE-accredited program. In that case, the student can be approved for their advanced standing program and can finish the degree in just one year of full-time study after starting in the summer semester. The program also offers a dual MSW and Master of Public Health (MPH) degree that can be completed in three years or less.

In addition to the core social work courses in theory, research, ethics, policy, practice with individuals and families and practicum placements, students in this program also complete Anti-Oppressive Social Work Practice and Advanced Community Practice courses. Students also select from an extensive list of electives including Trauma Informed Care, Grant Writing for Human Services and Research, Risk and Resilience, Intimacy and Human Sexuality, Family Policy and Programming, Advanced Public Administration, Perspectives in Global Health and Social Work Skills for Addictions Practice. Graduates also complete a minimum of 945 hours across two practicum placements in order to develop advanced generalist competencies and skills.

This program also offers students the opportunity to earn certificates in the following areas: Conflict Resolution and Mediation, Advanced Clinical Behavioral Health, School Social Work, Nonprofit Administration, and Social Aspects of Human-Animal Interactions. Two study abroad opportunities are also available - one in Costa Rica during the Winter session, and one in India during the Summer session.

Tuition for a full-time, Colorado resident is $13,967 for an academic year. Non-residents pay $30,656 for tuition per academic year. Several social work scholarships are awarded annually to students demonstrating outstanding academic achievement.

What Kinds of Courses are Required for an Online MSW in Human Services?

In order to be accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE), MSW programs must all require core courses to align with CSWE’s competency requirements. So each school will require courses on Human Development, Social Work Practice with Individuals and Families, Social Work Policy, Social Work Theory, Research, Ethics, and Practicum placement. While the titles and area of focus may differ slightly from school to school, each program will have courses that teach these competencies.

Electives offered in an online MSW in Human Services program may include: Spirituality and Social Work Practice, Life Transitions and Health in Aging, Maintaining Empathy and Skills with Challenging Clients, Disability Policy, Group Strategies in Health/Mental Health Settings, PTSD/Toxic Stress, Neuroplasticity, Mood Disorders and Clinical Interventions, Social Work in Juvenile Justice, and courses in nonprofit administration or community leadership.

What are the Career Options for Someone with an MSW in Human Services?

The career options for an MSW in Human Services graduate are quite broad. Potential roles include:

• Community Organizer
• Child Welfare Worker
• Medical Social Worker
• Social Services Manager
• Substance Abuse Counselor
• School Social Worker
• Victim Advocate in a Prosecutor’s Office
• Housing Supervisor

The list can go on and on. The beauty of this degree is that one can work with different groups or populations, and can change this area of focus over time. A person is not locked into a narrow career field. In fact, it is the opposite – the advanced generalist education prepares graduates to work in a multitude of settings at the micro, mezzo and macro levels.

CSWE Accredited Programs

CSWE (Council on Social Work Education) is the top accrediting board for Master of Social Work programs. Below, you will find a list of all of the CSWE accredited social work programs.