Master of Social Work

College of Social Work

Embrace difference. Seek justice. Be the change.

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.

Career outlook: According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of social workers is expected to grow 13 percent from 2019 to 2029.

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.

MSW Advanced Standing Alternative Program (ASAP) pathway
Students who earned a Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) in the last 5 years, a 3.0 undergraduate GPA and a "B" or better in all required social work courses are eligible for the ASAP Master of Social Work program, which provides an accelerated path to your degree. The ASAP 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 MSW pathway
Students who have earned a bachelor's degree in any discipline 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.

Campus Requirements:

None. Field placement will be completed at an agency within a student's local area.

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Alyssa Warner

Current Student

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

Tuition and Fees

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Application Info

Master of Social Work Video

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Top 4 Things to Ask When Considering an Online Program

Using the GI Bill® for Online Programs

Program Tracks

MSW Advanced Standing Alternative Program (ASAP) pathway

Our Advanced Standing Alternative Plan (ASAP) Master of Social Work program begins each summer semester and is available on campus and online. It is designed for students who have earned their Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) within the last five years and achieved a 3.0 undergraduate GPA for your Social Work degree and a “B” or better in all required social work courses. The ASAP plan can be completed in three semesters going full-time, or you can choose to go part-time.

Traditional Online MSW pathway

Our traditional Online Master of Social Work program begins each Autumn semester and is available on campus and online. It is designed for students who have earned an undergraduate degree in something other than social work or who received the Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) more than five years ago. Our Traditional MSW degree can be completed in two years going full-time or you can choose to go part-time.

Sample Courses

SWK 7630 & 7631

Integrative Seminar on Child & Youth Services

This area of emphasis prepares social workers to be employed in schools, child welfare agencies, juvenile court systems, or community-based youth development settings to serve children, youth, and their families. Area of Emphasis: Child and Youth Services

SWK 7620 & 7621

Integrative Seminar on Mental Health & Substance Abuse

This course provides a comprehensive survey of social work practice, policy, program, and organizational issues and outcome evidence related to the delivery of mental health services. Area of Emphasis: Mental Health and Substance Abuse

SWK 7400

Evidence in Social Work Practice

This course is designed for ASAP students to develop the requisite values, skills, and knowledge for beginning to apply evidence in identifying, selecting and evaluating social work practices at all levels of intervention.

SWK 6189 & 7189

1st and 2nd Year Field Practicum

Two semesters of internships in a social work agency; integration of classroom knowledge and practice skills within a practice area specialization.

Featured Faculty

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Jerry Bean

Lecturer

Susan Yoon, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor

Shannon Jarrott, Ph.D.

Professor

Joe Guada, Ph.D.

Associate Professor

Is this program offered in my state?

The selected program is available in the following states

Authorized

Meets state standards to offer distance education through approval or exemption by the state regulatory agency and by the Board of Social Work

Limited Authorization

Please contact Ohio State Online for more information about the limited authorization status in this state

Program Not Available

Researching state requirements to offer distance education

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State/Territory	Status	Description	Disclosures Info
Alabama	Authorized	Meets state standards to offer distance education through approval or exemption by the state regulatory agency and by the Board of Social Work	View Disclosure information for Alabama
Alaska	Authorized	Meets state standards to offer distance education through approval or exemption by the state regulatory agency and by the Board of Social Work	View Disclosure information for Alaska
Arizona	Authorized	Meets state standards to offer distance education through approval or exemption by the state regulatory agency and by the Board of Social Work	View Disclosure information for Arizona
Arkansas	Authorized	Meets state standards to offer distance education through approval or exemption by the state regulatory agency and by the Board of Social Work	View Disclosure information for Arkansas
California	Authorized	Meets state standards to offer distance education through approval or exemption by the state regulatory agency and by the Board of Social Work	View Disclosure information for California
Connecticut	Authorized	Meets state standards to offer distance education through approval or exemption by the state regulatory agency and by the Board of Social Work	View Disclosure information for Connecticut
Delaware	Authorized	Meets state standards to offer distance education through approval or exemption by the state regulatory agency and by the Board of Social Work	View Disclosure information for Delaware
District of Columbia	Authorized	Meets state standards to offer distance education through approval or exemption by the state regulatory agency and by the Board of Social Work	View Disclosure information for District of Columbia
Florida	Authorized	Meets state standards to offer distance education through approval or exemption by the state regulatory agency and by the Board of Social Work	View Disclosure information for Florida
Georgia	Authorized	Meets state standards to offer distance education through approval or exemption by the state regulatory agency and by the Board of Social Work	View Disclosure information for Georgia
Hawaii	Authorized	Meets state standards to offer distance education through approval or exemption by the state regulatory agency and by the Board of Social Work	View Disclosure information for Hawaii
Idaho	Authorized	Meets state standards to offer distance education through approval or exemption by the state regulatory agency and by the Board of Social Work	View Disclosure information for Idaho
Illinois	Authorized	Meets state standards to offer distance education through approval or exemption by the state regulatory agency and by the Board of Social Work	View Disclosure information for Illinois
Indiana	Authorized	Meets state standards to offer distance education through approval or exemption by the state regulatory agency and by the Board of Social Work	View Disclosure information for Indiana
Iowa	Authorized	Meets state standards to offer distance education through approval or exemption by the state regulatory agency and by the Board of Social Work	View Disclosure information for Iowa
Kansas	Authorized	Meets state standards to offer distance education through approval or exemption by the state regulatory agency and by the Board of Social Work	View Disclosure information for Kansas
Kentucky	Authorized	Meets state standards to offer distance education through approval or exemption by the state regulatory agency and by the Board of Social Work	View Disclosure information for Kentucky
Louisiana	Authorized	Meets state standards to offer distance education through approval or exemption by the state regulatory agency and by the Board of Social Work	View Disclosure information for Louisiana
Maine	Authorized	Meets state standards to offer distance education through approval or exemption by the state regulatory agency and by the Board of Social Work	View Disclosure information for Maine
Maryland	Authorized	Meets state standards to offer distance education through approval or exemption by the state regulatory agency and by the Board of Social Work	View Disclosure information for Maryland
Massachusetts	Authorized	Meets state standards to offer distance education through approval or exemption by the state regulatory agency and by the Board of Social Work	View Disclosure information for Massachusetts
Michigan	Authorized	Meets state standards to offer distance education through approval or exemption by the state regulatory agency and by the Board of Social Work	View Disclosure information for Michigan
Minnesota	Authorized	Meets state standards to offer distance education through approval or exemption by the state regulatory agency and by the Board of Social Work	View Disclosure information for Minnesota
Mississippi	Authorized	Meets state standards to offer distance education through approval or exemption by the state regulatory agency and by the Board of Social Work	View Disclosure information for Mississippi
Missouri	Authorized	Meets state standards to offer distance education through approval or exemption by the state regulatory agency and by the Board of Social Work	View Disclosure information for Missouri
Montana	Authorized	Meets state standards to offer distance education through approval or exemption by the state regulatory agency and by the Board of Social Work	View Disclosure information for Montana
Nebraska	Authorized	Meets state standards to offer distance education through approval or exemption by the state regulatory agency and by the Board of Social Work	View Disclosure information for Nebraska
Nevada	Authorized	Meets state standards to offer distance education through approval or exemption by the state regulatory agency and by the Board of Social Work	View Disclosure information for Nevada
New Hampshire	Authorized	Meets state standards to offer distance education through approval or exemption by the state regulatory agency and by the Board of Social Work	View Disclosure information for New Hampshire
New Jersey	Authorized	Meets state standards to offer distance education through approval or exemption by the state regulatory agency and by the Board of Social Work	View Disclosure information for New Jersey
New Mexico	Authorized	Meets state standards to offer distance education through approval or exemption by the state regulatory agency and by the Board of Social Work	View Disclosure information for New Mexico
New York	Authorized	Meets state standards to offer distance education through approval or exemption by the state regulatory agency and by the Board of Social Work	View Disclosure information for New York
North Carolina	Authorized	Meets state standards to offer distance education through approval or exemption by the state regulatory agency and by the Board of Social Work	View Disclosure information for North Carolina
North Dakota	Authorized	Meets state standards to offer distance education through approval or exemption by the state regulatory agency and by the Board of Social Work	View Disclosure information for North Dakota
Ohio	Authorized	Meets state standards to offer distance education through approval or exemption by the state regulatory agency and by the Board of Social Work	View Disclosure information for Ohio
Oklahoma	Authorized	Meets state standards to offer distance education through approval or exemption by the state regulatory agency and by the Board of Social Work	View Disclosure information for Oklahoma
Oregon	Authorized	Meets state standards to offer distance education through approval or exemption by the state regulatory agency and by the Board of Social Work	View Disclosure information for Oregon
Pennsylvania	Authorized	Meets state standards to offer distance education through approval or exemption by the state regulatory agency and by the Board of Social Work	View Disclosure information for Pennsylvania
Puerto Rico	Authorized	Meets state standards to offer distance education through approval or exemption by the state regulatory agency and by the Board of Social Work	View Disclosure information for Puerto Rico
Rhode Island	Authorized	Meets state standards to offer distance education through approval or exemption by the state regulatory agency and by the Board of Social Work	View Disclosure information for Rhode Island
South Carolina	Authorized	Meets state standards to offer distance education through approval or exemption by the state regulatory agency and by the Board of Social Work	View Disclosure information for South Carolina
South Dakota	Authorized	Meets state standards to offer distance education through approval or exemption by the state regulatory agency and by the Board of Social Work	View Disclosure information for South Dakota
Tennessee	Authorized	Meets state standards to offer distance education through approval or exemption by the state regulatory agency and by the Board of Social Work	View Disclosure information for Tennessee
Texas	Authorized	Meets state standards to offer distance education through approval or exemption by the state regulatory agency and by the Board of Social Work	View Disclosure information for Texas
Utah	Authorized	Meets state standards to offer distance education through approval or exemption by the state regulatory agency and by the Board of Social Work	View Disclosure information for Utah
Vermont	Authorized	Meets state standards to offer distance education through approval or exemption by the state regulatory agency and by the Board of Social Work	View Disclosure information for Vermont
Virgin Islands	Program Not Available	Researching state requirements to offer distance education	View Disclosure information for Virgin Islands
Virginia	Authorized	Meets state standards to offer distance education through approval or exemption by the state regulatory agency and by the Board of Social Work	View Disclosure information for Virginia
Washington	Authorized	Meets state standards to offer distance education through approval or exemption by the state regulatory agency and by the Board of Social Work	View Disclosure information for Washington
West Virginia	Authorized	Meets state standards to offer distance education through approval or exemption by the state regulatory agency and by the Board of Social Work	View Disclosure information for West Virginia
Wisconsin	Authorized	Meets state standards to offer distance education through approval or exemption by the state regulatory agency and by the Board of Social Work	View Disclosure information for Wisconsin
Wyoming	Authorized	Meets state standards to offer distance education through approval or exemption by the state regulatory agency and by the Board of Social Work	View Disclosure information for Wyoming