Master of Social Work

Social worker assisting a client.
Next Application Deadline:
November 1, 2025
Credit hours: 63
Next Term Start Date:
January 12, 2026

Be the change you want to see in the world

Ranked among the best by U.S. News & World Report, the Master of Social Work (MSW) curriculum at The Ohio State University is designed to prepare you to be a social work leader, ready to address regional, national, and global issues. Our Online Master of Social Work curriculum ensures that you possess the competences to successfully practice in a variety of fields such as mental health, substance abuse, and child and youth services. You will be equipped with the ability to intervene through direct services, administrative practice, advocacy, community change and policy reform.

The online MSW program offers two pathways to the master’s degree. In both Master of Social Work options, you can attend part-time or full-time, and no GRE is required. All courses are asynchronous, which means you can take online courses on your own schedule, and many courses offer live sessions that provide opportunities to engage in real time with faculty and other students.

Master of Social Work Advanced Standing Alternative Program (ASAP) pathway

If you have earned a Bachelor of Social Work (BSW or BSSW) in the last 5 years with a 3.0 undergraduate GPA and a “B” or better in all required social work courses, you are eligible for the Advanced Standing Master of Social Work program, which provides an accelerated path to your degree. The Advanced Standing MSW program typically takes 3 semesters (1 year, including summer semester) to complete for full-time students and 6 semesters (2 years, including summer semester) for part-time students.

Traditional Master of Social Work pathway
If you have earned a bachelor’s degree in any discipline, you are eligible for the traditional Master of Social Work program. The traditional program typically takes 4 semesters (2 years) to complete for full-time students and 8-11 semesters (3-4 years) for part-time students.

Frequently Asked Questions

Recognition & Accreditation

Council on Social Work Education Logo square.

CSWE Accreditation

The Council on Social Work Education’s Board of Accreditation is recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation as the sole accrediting agency for social work education in the United States and its territories.

#12 ranking number for Ohio State in U.S. News & World Report's ranking of Best Social Work Schools.

National Recognition

Ohio State’s Master of Social Work is ranked the #12 Social Work School by U.S. News & World Report (2024).

Academic Calendar

For your convenience, multiple start dates are offered during the academic calendar year for the Master of Social Work program. Social Work has a long and rich tradition at Ohio State; we offered our first social work course in 1875 and awarded our first Master’s degree in 1923. Accredited in 1919, Ohio State is the country’s oldest continuously accredited social work program in a public university.

More than 9,000 alumni serve as leaders and change agents across the United States working as direct practitioners, administrators, evaluators, and analysts in a wide range of public, private, and government agencies.

Academic Calendar

For your convenience, multiple start dates are offered during the academic calendar year for the Master of Social Work program. Social Work has a long and rich tradition at Ohio State; we offered our first social work course in 1875 and awarded our first Master’s degree in 1923. Accredited in 1919, Ohio State is the country’s oldest continuously accredited social work program in a public university.

More than 9,000 alumni serve as leaders and change agents across the United States working as direct practitioners, administrators, evaluators, and analysts in a wide range of public, private, and government agencies.

Admission Criteria

Master of Social Work Program Eligibility
All applicants to the Master of Social Work Program are required to have:
  • Any baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university.
  • Grade-point average (GPA) of 3.0 or higher (based on a 4.0 system) for last highest degree earned is preferred. Applicants who do not meet the 3.0 GPA will be reviewed for admission on a case-by-case basis.
  • At least 15 quarter or 10 semester credit hours of coursework in the social sciences (examples of approved subjects are typically: Anthropology, Communications, Criminology, Economics, Geography, Globalization Studies, International Studies, Political Science, Psychology, Sociology, Speech and Hearing Science, and World Politics). If you believe you have taken a social science course, but it is not directly from one of the departments listed, a course syllabus will be needed for review.
Advanced Standing Alternative Plan (ASAP) Program Eligibility
All applicants to the Advanced Standing MSW must have:
  • Bachelor of Social Work within the last five years from an accredited college or university by the Council on Social Work Education.
  • “B” or better in all social work required courses (a “B-” does not meet eligibility requirements).
  • Cumulative grade-point average (GPA) of 3.0 or higher (based on a 4.0 system) for the Bachelor of Social Work degree.
  • Successful completion of field evaluation/learning agreement from their undergraduate program.
  • At least 15 quarter hours or 10 semester hours of coursework in the social sciences (examples of approved subjects are typically: Anthropology, Communications, Criminology, Economics, Geography, Globalization Studies, International Studies, Political Science, Psychology, Sociology, Speech and Hearing Science, and World Politics). If you believe you have taken a social science course, but it is not directly from one of the departments listed, a course syllabus will be needed for review.
NC-SARA Participating Institution logo

The Ohio State University participates in the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (SARA).

SARA is a national initiative that increases student access to distance education courses and programs while maintaining compliance with state regulations. Institutions participating in SARA can offer educational opportunities in all 49 SARA member states, the District of Columbia, the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico without seeking individual approval in each state.

California is not a SARA member state, however, OSU may offer online courses and programs to students located in California under the California Private Post-Secondary Act of 2009.

The Application Process

Once you understand your program’s admission criteria, please note the application deadline. You’ll need a quiet space and a variety of materials for your application. To learn more, please see our Admissions page for the full process. Ready to Apply? Find your application here.

Career Outlook

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, overall employment of social workers is projected to grow 7 percent from 2022 to 2032, faster than the average for all occupations. One of the reasons for this growth? Social workers are everywhere. If you complete our online Master of Social Work program, you will be able to serve your community in a variety of industries and workplace settings, including but not limited to:

  • Schools
  • Hospitals
  • Courts
  • Correctional facilities
  • Mental health and addiction centers
  • Foster care and adoption agencies
  • International aid organizations
  • Military bases
  • Private practice
  • Community centers
  • Child welfare agencies
  • Nursing homes and adult day centers
  • Policy

Completion of the online master in social work will prepare you to sit for your social work licensure exam, subject to state educational requirements for licensure and certification.

Top Occupations by Median Income

National occupational information in Ohio State Online’s Career Outlook tool is sourced from O*NET Online and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). The median annual wage displayed to the right of each occupational title above is based on the BLS Employment Projections program. Outlook and percent change indicate projected growth or decline over the next 10 years.

Curriculum

Experience top-tier curriculum in our online master’s in social work program, structured to provide graduates with expertise in social work to help their community and advance their careers.

Understanding Online Course Types

As you research the right online program for you, you likely will come across the terms “asynchronous” and “synchronous.” Learn what these terms mean and how they’re important to consider when understanding how a program will fit into your life.

Learn More

Diagram explaining the differences between synchronous and asynchronous online courses.

Vincent Sabino, MBA, MSW, LISW-S, LICDC-CS

Community Lecturer, Assistant Director of the Mental Health Recovery Board for Licking and Knox Counties
Master of Social Work Community Lecturer Vincent Sabino.

Linda Helm, MSW, PhD, LISW-S

Community Lecturer, State Director of the University Partnership Title IV-E Child Welfare Training Program (OUCCAS)
Master of Social Work Community Lecturer Dr. Linda Helm.

Jerry Bean

Lecturer
Jerry Bean of the College of Social Work's Online Master of Social Work program.
Online Master of Social Work program graduate Kelsey Parker.

"My overall experience with the College of Social Work has been amazing. Being in the online program and not on campus, I still feel like a part of the college and have all of the support as if I was on campus."

Kelsey Parker Community-Based Clinician
Online Master of Social Work graduate Alyssa Warner.

"As a student of the first cohort, it has been beneficial to stay in contact with classmates for a sense of community."

Alyssa Warner Social Worker

Tuition Fee Overview

Investing in your future with a higher education degree is one of the best investments you can make for your future success. At Ohio State, we know understanding your program’s cost is an important part of your decision-making process. Below are the tuition fees you can expect with your program. Please note that the estimates provided are for the Master of Social Work program, which totals 63 credit hours for completion. The 43-credit Master of Social Work Advanced Standing Alternative Plan (ASAP) accelerated pathway can be completed full-time in three semesters or part-time in six semesters, likely decreasing the total cost of program completion.

Tuition Fees Per Credit Hour (unless otherwise noted) Cost Per Semester, Full-Time (8+ credit hours)
Instructional Fee $829.75 $6,638.00
General Fee $32.63 $261.00
Distance Learning Fee $100.00 (per semester) $100.00
Non-Resident Surcharge (if applicable) $200.00 (per semester) $200.00
International Surcharge (if applicable) $200.00 (per semester) $200.00

Estimated Total Cost of Completion

Below are the estimated total costs of completion for the Master of Social Work. The 63-credit Master of Social Work is typically completed in 4, 8, or 11 semesters, while the 43-credit Advanced Standing Master of Social Work is typically completed in 3 or 6 semesters. Estimates below include Instructional Fees, General Fees, and Distance Learning Fees. They do not include the Non-Resident Surcharge of $200 per semester, International Surcharge of $200 per semester, or course materials.

Pathway and Completion Timeline Per Semester Total Cost of Completion
MSW in 4 Semesters $6,999.00 $27,996.00
MSW in 8 Semesters $5,274.28 – $6,999.00 $51,680.22
MSW in 11 Semesters $3,4549.52 – $6,136.66 $55,429.94
Advanced Standing MSW in 3 Semesters $6,999.00 $20,997.00
Advanced Standing MSW in 6 Semesters $4,411.90 – $6,999.00 $35,957.50

Get Started

Connect with a knowledgeable Enrollment Advisor who can help answer your questions and explain different aspects of the more than 80 online degrees and certificates offered at Ohio State. They are here to help you on your education journey.

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Lady smiling typing at a laptop on a desk.