When searching for the best online colleges for social work, potential students should consider their individual needs and career goals. While traditional brick-and-mortar schools may offer more in terms of hands-on experience and classroom learning opportunities, the flexibility of an online degree program can help make it easier to fit coursework into a busy schedule.
The University of Southern California (USC) is a great option for anyone looking for an online social work program. USC offers a Master of Social Work (MSW) degree from the Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work. The program emphasizes research that drives practice through courses such as social welfare policy, clinical practice, leadership and management, research methods, and human behavior across the life span. It also features field internships in which students gain practical experience with real clients in diverse settings.
Boston University (BU) is another top school for earning an MSW online. BU’s MSW program follows a hybrid format that combines both on-campus and virtual learning experiences with access to advanced internships near each student’s hometown. Its curriculum covers social justice issues, mental health and substance abuse counseling techniques, assessment strategies, research methods, and community engagement strategies -all designed to prepare graduates to become licensed clinical social workers or work in other areas of practice.
Fordham University’s Graduate School of Social Service offers an Online Advanced Standing Master’s Program in Social Work (OASP). This two-year program allows students who already have a Bachelor of Arts in Social Work from an accredited institution to fast track their master’s degree by completing 36 credits over two semesters instead of three semesters plus summer session. The OASP focuses on clinical skills required to help vulnerable populations overcome problems associated with poverty, mental illness and behavioral health issues, among other topics related to social work practice.
Finally, Stony Brook University’s School of Social Welfare has created an advanced standing MSW program entirely online except for one field internship requirement that must be completed near each student’s home location. This 42 credit hour curriculum consists of classes focused on areas such as human behavior in the social environment; advanced policy analysis; and ethical decision making strategies as well as specialized elective courses covering trauma intervention practices; multicultural therapy approaches; child welfare policies; international development; aging services; HIV/AIDS services; addictions counseling; school based programs; advocacy methodologies; gerontological services; health care policy planning & analysis; community organizing & development approaches among others potential topics related to professional practice within the profession of social work.
