A career in social work attracts people with a strong passion for helping others in need. Also, social work is all about understanding and striving to improve the lives of people in society. Becoming a social worker places you in a position of importance, and people will regard you for your efforts in making other people’s lives better.
There are several accredited Online schools for social work around the world for individuals aspiring to become social workers. Either through a Bachelor of Arts in Social Work (BSW) or Bachelor of Arts in Social Work (BASW) online and complete fieldwork in your home community.
Also, these accredited online schools for social work offer master’s degree programs and advanced certifications. Note that all undergraduate and graduate social work programs require students to complete an internship, externship, or field experience.
Nonetheless, in this article, we will provide a list of the best accredited online schools for social work, including other relevant information about the schools.
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Table of Contents
IS SOCIAL WORK A HARD COURSE TO STUDY?
Earning a Social work degree can be quite challenging and demanding because placement and university work are combined. This is because social work courses are too broad, and this could be hard and stressful for students.
Also, social work programs include different varieties of courses in areas such as sociology, social policy, psychology, and human development. Hence, most social work coursework can be highly intellectually challenging.
The program also requires research skills and critical thinking. To be successful in your social work career, you must be very patient, empathetic, knowledgeable, and have strong interpersonal and communication skills.
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HOW MANY CREDITS DOES IT TAKE TO COMPLETE AN ONLINE MSW PROGRAM?
Students are expected to complete about 60 to 66 credit hours to complete an online MSW program; some programs only have admission at certain times of the year, such as fall. Additionally, three different types of MSW programs have different program lengths:
- Full-time MSW: it takes 1 to 3 years to complete 60 credit hours.
- Advanced Standing MSW: 1 to 2 years, 30 credit hours
- Part-time MSW: 2 to 5 years, 60 credit hours
The amount of credits needed to meet the requirements varies depending on the program being selected, but these credits are not usually more than 60; the minimum is 60.
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HOW MUCH DOES A SOCIAL WORKER EARN?
The amount a social worker earns varies depending on the person’s experience, qualifications, and license being obtained. The average annual pay for a social worker in the United States is $76,266 a year. The hourly wage is $36.67; this is approximately $1,466 per week or $6,355 per month.
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TOP 5 HIGHEST-PAYING JOBS IN SOCIAL WORK
Some high-paying jobs pay more than usual compared to other job positions. These social work job positions are in settings such as clinics, human service agencies, schools, and hospitals. Note that to get such a good-paying job position, you may need to get a master’s degree.
Below are the top 5 highest-paying jobs in social work:
- Child and family social therapists: median salary: $78,943.
- Cooperate, social responsibility manager, median salary: $111,600
- Human Resources Coordinator, median salary: $53,987
- Social policy analysts, median salary: $74,700
- Medical social worker, median salary: $70,223
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IS PURSUING A SOCIAL WORK DEGREE ONLINE WORTH IT?
Yes! Pursuing a social work degree online is so worth it, especially if you’re looking forward to enhancing your skills, knowledge, and job prospects in the field. Considering earning a master’s in social work online opens doors for career advancement and development opportunities. Especially, for those looking forward to working in clinical or specialized areas in the future. Therefore, a master’s degree is highly recommended and vital for licensure or advanced positions.
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WHAT IS THE AVERAGE COST OF THE MSW ONLINE PROGRAM?
The average cost of the MSW online program varies depending on the type of school and the state. The average graduate tuition at public universities costs $12,394 per year. While non-profit private graduate schools cost $26,621 per year, Also, some MSW programs could cost less than $40,000, while others can cost more than $80,000. This cost is not fixed; it varies depending on the type of program you want to pursue.
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TOP 10 BEST ACCREDITED ONLINE SCHOOLS FOR SOCIAL WORK
Below are some of the best accredited online schools for social work:
1. UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
The University of Southern California is a highly respected private university in Los Angeles, California, that serves over 45,000 students through a wide range of undergraduate, graduate, and professional programs. It is one of the best accredited online schools for social work.
USC offers an online master’s program in social work. This social work program is fully accredited by the Council on Social Work Education. This online program can be completed in two years only as a full-time student, while part-time students take three to four years to complete this program.
The 60-credit online MSW program is a combination of synchronous and asynchronous learning formats. An advanced standing program for qualified BSW degree holders only requires just one year to complete.
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2. RUTGERS UNIVERSITY
Rutgers University is one of the best public land grant research universities in New Jersey. Rutgers University began offering social work programs in 1954; the program was accredited by the Council of Social Work Education. It is also one of the best accredited online schools for social work.
Rutgers University offers an online MSW program for students who are interested in pursuing a master’s degree online. Students who are interested in pursuing an online MSC have two options available to them: either a two-year full-time option or a three-year part-time option. Each of these options involves 60 credits.
There are also some advanced standing program options for students who have a BSW or equivalent undergraduate degree; these programs are 39 credits. All online courses at Rutgers University use asynchronous delivery methods.
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3. BOSTON UNIVERSITY
Boston University is one of the leading universities that has been offering degrees in social work since 1918. The university is situated in Boston, Massachusetts, and it is one of the best accredited Online Universities for social work.
Boston University offers a master’s degree in social work with two major options. These major options are a major clinical option and a major macro practice option. The clinical major option prepares students for social work practice and state licensure, while the macro practice major focuses more on policy and changes that occur in a community and organization structure.
The online MSW program offered by Boston University is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education. Also, applicants who are applying for a program fall into one of the three tracks. The course curriculum consists primarily of asynchronous classes. Students must attend one synchronous class session each week.
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4. COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY
Columbia University is a private Ivy League research university in New York City. The university is considered the oldest undergraduate college in the U.S. It is one of the leading accredited online schools for social work.
Columbia University offers a master’s in social work online; this program is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education. Full-time students have the opportunity to complete the 60-credit online MSW program within two years.
The MSW program is designed specifically to focus on economic and social justice for at-risk populations. Also, an advanced standing program is available for students holding an accredited BSW, and it typically requires one year of coursework to complete the program.
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5. UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS AT URBANA-CHAMPAIGN
The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign is a public research university in the Champaign Urbana metropolitan area, Illinois, United States. It is one of the best accredited online schools for social work.
The University of Illinois offers MSW degree options that allow students to earn a degree while working full-time in social service. The Department of Social Work has been accredited by the Council of Social Work Education.
The school also offers a social and leadership change program, which requires four semesters of online classes and a field practicum.
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6. UNIVERSITY OF DENVER
The University of Denver is a highly reputable private research university in Denver, Colorado. The university was founded in 1864. It is one of the best accredited online schools for social work. The University of Denver online social work program is fully accredited by the Council on Social Work Education.
The University of Denver offers an MSW online in social work. The university provides students with two MSW options. A health and wellness option is designed to provide students with an integrated learning experience in healthcare focused on the mind-body connection.
The school also offers a mental health and trauma program that prepares students for clinical practices and focuses on advanced assessment interventions.
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7. UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA
The University of South Florida is a public research university founded in 1956. The university offers about 80 undergraduate majors and 130 graduate and professional programs, including a Master’s in Social Work (MSW).
Students who apply for the full-time USF’s 60-credit online MSW can complete the degree in three semesters. Part-time students take an average of five semesters to finish the program. The master’s in social work online is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education. All courses are live and synchronous.
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8. UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT ARLINGTON
The University of Texas at Arlington is a public research university in Arlington, Texas. The university was established in 1895, and it is one of the best accredited online schools for social work.
UTA offers 180-degree programs and also full-time and part-time MSW online options. Students who are interested in pursuing the online MSW program can select one of the three options: mental health and substance abuse, aging, or children and families.
UTA offers both cohort and non-cohort tracks, as well as accelerated training options for advanced-standing students who have earned BSW. The program is accredited by the Council of Social Work Education.
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9. UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL FLORIDA
University of Central Florida is a public research university established in 1963. UCF provides two social work master’s programs online. This option emphasizes child welfare and behavioral health services.
The online MSW program is accredited by the Council of Social Work Education. The 62-credit MSW is designed for students without a BSW. Students with a BSW earned within the last six years can enroll in the 32-credit, advance-standing MSW program. All online MSW students pay the same tuition rate.
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10. FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY
Florida State University is a public research university in Tallahassee, Florida, founded in 1851. The university offers an online MSW program that is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education. It is one of the best accredited online schools for social work.
FSU has developed a part-time online MSW program to meet the requirements of working with professionals. The advanced standing MSW program and the traditional option are designed to provide a clinically focused curriculum and field placement that help students obtain Florida State licensure upon graduation.
CAN I STUDY SOCIAL WORK FROM AN ACCREDITED ONLINE SCHOOLS FOR SOCIAL WORK?
Yes! You can study social work online, regardless of your country. Also, there are several accredited online schools for social work where you can earn a degree and become a professional social worker.
WHAT ARE THE TYPES OF SOCIAL WORK DEGREES?
There are typically four levels of social work degrees: bachelor’s degree (BSW), master’s degree (MSW), doctor of social work, and doctor of philosophy in social work. Each degree has its functions and needs.
CONCLUSION
Social workers listen to people’s needs by helping people overcome difficult situations in their lives. With the best accredited online schools for social work, you can choose to earn any type of degree you want. This article has listed some of the best accredited online schools for social work, and we hope it is helpful to your search.
REFERENCE
- onlinecolleges.net
- socialworkdegreecenter.net
- collegecensus.com
- Wikipedia.org