Syracuse University : Master of Social Work (CSWE accredited. Standard and Advanced Standing tracks. No GRE required.)
Fordham University : Master of Social Work (Earn an MSW online. Traditional and advanced standing online MSW options are available. Accredited by the CSWE.)
University of Southern California : Master of Social Work (Earn your MSW in under one year. No GRE required. Accredited by the CSWE. )
University of Denver : Master of Social Work (Earn an MSW in as few as 18 months. No GRE required. CSWE accredited)
Our Lady of the Lake University : Online Degrees in Social Work (Bachelors, Masters, and Dual MSW/MBA. CSWE accredited.)
Simmons University : Master of Social Work (Earn a master’s in as few as 16 months with the accelerated program. No GRE required.)
Howard University : Master of Social Work (Earn your MSW online in as few as 36 months part-time. No GRE required. Social Work in Pursuit of Social Justice.)
Liberty University : MSW: Social Work (100% online, 8-week courses)
Baylor University : Master of Social Work (Earn a Master of Social Work online program in as few as 12 months. No GRE required.)Online Accelerated Social Work Degree Requirements
An online accelerated program can help you earn the requirements for social work efficiently and conveniently.
You can repurpose wasted time into valuable learning that would otherwise be spent delayed in traffic on your way to school or attempting to fit education into your already packed schedule.
Furthermore, if you are currently employed, a parent, or have other responsibilities, an online accelerated program may fit perfectly into your lifestyle.
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| School and Program Information | Online Program? Entry Requirements | Course Information |
|---|---|---|
| Syracuse University Master of Social Work CSWE accredited | ✔ Online No GRE Required | Syracuse University’s CSWE-accredited online Master of Social Work program is preparing the next generation of social work leaders through an emphasis on digital innovation and social justice. Learn More |
| Fordham University Master of Social Work Accredited by the CSWE. | ✔ Online Bachelor's Degree | Fordham’s top-ranked Graduate School of Social Service offers a future-focused online MSW program, preparing students for integrated practice with all populations. Bachelor's degree required. Learn More |
| University of Southern California Master of Social Work Accredited by the CSWE | ✔ Campus, Online No GRE Required | Tailor your degree with specializations in mental health, children and families, or social change and innovation. Learn More |
| University of Denver Master of Social Work CSWE accredited. Designed to adhere to CACREP standards. | ✔ Campus, Online No GRE Required Minimum GPA 2.5 | Earn your CSWE-accredited MSW online from Denver's GSSW, a top-15 school of social work. GRE scores are not required. Students with a BSW can earn their MSW in as few as 18 months in the advanced standing track. Gain a strong foundation for social work practice with a concentration in Mental Health and Trauma or Health, Equity and Wellness. Learn More |
| Our Lady of the Lake University Online Degrees in Social Work Bachelors, Masters, and Dual MSW/MBA CSWE accredited | ✔ Online No GRE Required. Minimum GPA 3.0 | Earn a degree online from a university that's pioneered social work education since 1942. Earn your Bachelor's or Master's in Social Work & Graduate Ready to Apply for Licensure. OLLU also offers an online dual MSW/MBA program for students interested in pursuing leadership, administrative, and management positions. Our Lady of the Lake University is one of three schools in the nation that provides a focus on the Hispanic community in social work programs. Learn More |
| Simmons University Master of Social Work Accredited by Council on Social Work Education | ✔ Online No GRE Required Bachelor’s degree required | Clinically focused curriculum Learn MoreAccelerated, full-time, and part-time options Field placement support |
| Howard University Master of Social Work Social Work in Pursuit of Social Justice | ✔ Campus, Online No GRE Required | The Howard University School of Social Work — ranked #16 in the nation — is proud to offer an online Master of Social Work (MSW) program. Earn your degree from a leading HBCU on a full-time or part-time basis, and choose between Traditional MSW and Advanced Standing MSW tracks. Attend live, online classes and complete field education in your community. No GRE required. Best Schools for Social Work. U.S. News & World Report, ranked in 2022. Historically Black Colleges and Universities. U.S. News & World Report, ranked in 2022. Learn More |
| Liberty University MSW: Social Work SACSCOC | ✔ Online 100% online, 8-week courses | This program offers a general cognate and an individual and family clinical cognate. No matter which option you choose, you’ll receive advanced generalist training in social policy, research, and practice — as well as the opportunity to apply what you’ve learned in your field. Online and on campus. Training Champions for Christ since 1971. Learn More |
| Baylor University Master of Social Work | ✔ Online No GRE Required | Learn how to ethically integrate faith and social work practice in as few as 12 months. Serve populations in Texas and around the world while ethically integrating faith and social work practice. Learn More |
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Online CACREP Accredited programs | Online MPCAC Accredited programs
Bachelors in Social Work
Most social work occupations require a bachelor's degree in social work. A BSW degree prepares you for generalist practice where you engage with people, assess their needs, connect them to services and monitor their progress. Accredited BSW programs require a minimum of 400 hours of supervised field experience.
Masters in Social Work
MSW programs prepare students to conduct clinical evaluations, manage large caseloads, supervise others, advocate for legislative changes, and research new ways to use social services to meet the needs of clients and communities. MSW programs are approximately one to two years long and contain at least 900 hours of supervised field experience.
Doctorate in Social Work
A DSW prepares you for careers in practice-based and advanced social work. Although the practice doctorate curriculum varies per school, most students complete it within three years. Individuals with this degree work in community agencies and clinical settings as advanced clinicians and management and leadership positions.
Ph.D. in Social Work
The Doctor of Philosophy degree primarily prepares students for professions in research, theory, and academia. A typical Ph.D. in social work takes three to five years to finish, depending on whether you are a full-time or part-time student. Ph.D. graduates work as professors at universities, join a research center tackling social and health issues or seek development in leadership positions requiring research abilities.
Syracuse University - Master of Social Work (CSWE Accredited)
Fordham University - Master of Social Work (CSWE Accredited)
University of Southern California - Master of Social Work (CSWE Accredited)
University of Denver - Master of Social Work (CSWE Accredited)
Our Lady of the Lake University - Online Degrees in Social Work (CSWE Accredited)
Simmons University - Master of Social Work (CSWE Accredited)
Howard University - Master of Social Work (CSWE Accredited)
Liberty University - MSW: Social Work (SACSCOC Accredited)
Baylor University - Master of Social Work ( Accredited)What Do You Study in an Accelerated Social Work Program?
The coursework is the same whether you attend a traditional or accelerated social work degree online program. The only difference is the amount of time it will take you to finish the coursework. An accelerated online program allows you to complete coursework more quickly to complete your degree sooner.
To acquire a social work degree from an accredited program, each student must complete and pass the coursework satisfactorily. The required coursework includes, but is not limited to, social welfare history, policy analysis, human behavior, and the social environment, advocacy, social science research, generalist social work, social work practice, diversity and cultural competence, practice methodologies, and critical thinking and writing.
It’s important to note: You want to be sure that your time and effort were well spent by attending an accredited school, regardless of the level of degree you intend to achieve. You won’t be able to work as a licensed social worker unless you obtain a degree from an accredited institution or university.
Online Accelerated Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work Program Length
The length of time it takes to earn the required credits for coursework completion will vary. The following are four factors to consider:
- Obtaining credit for work and life experience
- Testing out of college coursework with a placement test
- Transferring existing college credits
- The level of degree you wish to achieve
It typically takes two years to complete a bachelor’s degree in social work. In comparison, you can earn an online accelerated bachelor’s degree in social work in as little as 18 months.
However, if you wish to enhance your career and subsequent degrees are required, the timetables below will help you determine which path may be best for you.
A master’s degree in social work usually takes one year in addition to the time it takes to get a bachelor’s degree in social work.
A doctorate-level degree in social work usually takes two years in addition to the time it takes to get a master’s degree in social work.
Certification and Licensing
Because social work is a licensed profession, you must first earn your degree from an approved institution, then apply and pass an exam to become a licensed social worker.
According to the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB), there are four steps you’ll need to take to become a licensed social worker:
- You must first apply for a social work license and be preapproved to take the licensing exam. You will apply to your state’s social work board, which is the state where you will practice.
- You can register with ASWB to take the exam and pay the necessary fee once your state or provincial social work board has approved your application.
- You will schedule your social work licensing exam at one of the many professional testing centers worldwide.
- You will take and pass your examination for social work licensure.
The social work board in your state or province regulates social work practice, determines eligibility, issues your license, and handles license renewal.
The Association of Social Work Boards does not regulate social work practice. The organization supports your state or province’s social work board by developing the licensing exam.
Please keep in mind that the ASWB and the social work board are two separate organizations.
When it comes time to take the licensing exam, all of your education and hard work will pay off. Exam content reflects what a social worker should know and what professional social workers within a specific scope of practice are already doing because the ASWB examinations measure entry-level practice competencies.
Continuing Education
As a licensed social worker, continuing education requirements for license renewal are determined by your board. Regulatory boards recognize the value of lifelong learning in the field of social work. Your board determines the continuing education requirements for license renewal.
According to the Association of Social Work Boards, there are three ways to find continuing education credits:
- Approved continuing education providers listed on the ASWB website
- Approved individual courses and conferences
- ASWB enables select Joint Accreditation providers to award approved continuing education credit to social workers
Career Options
It’s finally here: the moment you’ve been waiting for. You’ve worked tirelessly to move the needle forward so that you could finally enter a profession that truly benefits communities, society, and the world. Social work may just be the most versatile career path, and with that, your options are vast.
The practice of social work is categorized into three interrelated systems: micro, mezzo, and macro social work. Individuals pursuing a career in social work must be aware of each level’s extensive opportunities.
Micro
Micro-level social work involves direct interaction with individuals to address individual problems. Here are ten examples of this type of work:
- Child welfare social worker
- City social services caseworker
- Clinical social worker
- Crime victim advocate
- Family therapist
- Gerontological social worker
- Healthcare social worker
- Military social worker
- School counselor
- Substance abuse counselor
Mezzo
Mezzo-level social work involves working with a group of people. Groups can be small or midsize, families, employees, support groups, and more. Here are ten examples of this type of work:
- Business social worker
- Community group leader
- Corrections social worker
- Drug and alcohol specialist
- Forensic social worker
- Group therapist
- Parenthood educator
- Rehabilitation specialist
- Support group counselor
- Trauma social worker
Macro
Macro-level social work entails large-scale interventions and advocacy that affect entire communities, states, or countries. Here are ten examples of this type of work:
- Advocate
- Community activist
- Community organizer
- Community outreach worker
- Diversity and inclusion specialist
- Field organizer
- Lobbyist
- Professor of social policy
- Program developer
- Researcher
What Is the Annual Salary of a Social Worker?
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the median annual salary for social workers was $51,760 in May 2020.
Please keep in mind that income is determined by a variety of factors, including location, work environment, experience, and the type of social work. For example, in California, mental health and substance abuse social workers earn a median annual compensation of $73,150, while in Pennsylvania, the same type of employment pays $39,510.
What Is the Job Outlook for Social Workers?
Between 2020 and 2030, the Bureau of Labor Statistics expects social worker employment to increase by 12 percent, faster than the national average. Approximately 78,300 job openings for social workers are projected each year, on average, over the next ten years.
The employment of child, family, and school social workers is projected to grow 13 percent from 2020 to 2030, faster than the average for all occupations.
The employment of healthcare social workers is projected to grow 13 percent from 2020 to 2030, faster than the average for all occupations.
The employment of mental health and substance abuse social workers is projected to grow 15 percent from 2020 to 2030, faster than the average for all occupations. Treatment centers are increasingly preferred over jail for drug offenses, and social workers staff these centers.
Skills
As a social worker, the skills you possess may be as expansive as the career opportunities of this profession. Whether your skills are attained naturally or through education and training, a career in social work requires a broad range of skills and qualities.
While this list isn’t exhaustive, a social worker who masters a core set of essential skills can succeed in almost any setting. We’ve compiled a list of 25 skills that we’re confident you already possess or are aiming to acquire.
- Active listening
- Advocacy
- Boundary setting
- Care planning
- Communication
- Conflict resolution
- Cooperation
- Critical thinking
- Cultural competence
- Emotional intelligence
- Empathy
- Ethical standards
- Information gathering
- Interviewing skills
- Organization
- Patience
- Persuasion
- Problem-solving
- Relationship building
- Selfcare
- Supervision
- Teamwork
- Technology skills
- Time management
- Workload management
Don’t worry if you don’t have every skill listed. This is just a sample list to get you started. Because being successful in social work requires lifelong learning, you will be well on your way to developing the necessary skills as you complete the required curriculum and obtain your fast-track social work degree online.
Pursue a Career in Social Work With a Fast Track Social Work Degree Online
Now that you understand what it takes to become a social worker, the next step is to explore which accredited accelerated social work degree online programs are available and which is right for you.
You may want to obtain an online fast-track social work degree for a variety of reasons. Because of their convenience and flexibility—and the opportunity to get your degree in as little as 18 months—you might choose these fully accredited degree programs over traditional programs.
When you choose a career as a social worker, you’ll contribute to the lives of others and the world—because the work you do as a social worker matters.
