California – Featured Online Programs in Social Work

1. University of Southern California — Master of Social Work

A leading private research college, the University of Southern California enrolls more than 47,000 students each year. USC’s School of Social Work was one of the first research colleges to offer a master of social work online.

This MSW program offers a 60-credit traditional track and 37-credit advanced standing track. Faculty deliver the curriculum for this California social work degree through virtual classrooms that use breakout rooms for students to work together, opportunities for live chats, and document sharing.

The online MSW program incorporates a unique feature for students in the traditional MSW program: 210 hours of virtual field education in an intimate classroom. Students work in small group sessions role-playing with an actor who portrays a client. Students in both the traditional and advanced standing programs also complete 790 hours of field placements in their own communities.

USC’s School of Social Work works with students to ensure field placement sites meet the school’s standards.

Accreditation

• The University of Southern California is regionally accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC).
• The University of Southern California’s master of social work is accredited by the Council of Social Work Education (CSWE).

Admissions

• Minimum GPA: 3.0
• Prerequisites: Bachelor’s from a regionally accredited college
• GRE required?: No
• Other Admission Requirements: Experience providing service to people is preferred

Tuition

• Average Undergraduate Tuition per Credit (In-state/Out-of-State): $1,928 per unit/$1,928 per unit
• Average Graduate Tuition per Credit (In-state/Out-of-State): $1,928 per unit/$1,928 per unit

Academics

• Online Social Work Programs: Traditional MSW; advanced standing MSW
• Program Length: Traditional MSW: 2 years, 60 credits; advanced standing MSW: 1 year, 37 credits

Social Work Coursework

• Tracks/Concentrations: Adult mental health and wellness; child, youth, and families; social change and innovation; military social work; school social work
• Field Education/Practicum Required?: Traditional MSW program: 210 hours of virtual field education; advanced standing and traditional programs: 790 hours of community-based field education
• Capstone/Thesis Required?: No
• Core Courses: Science of social work; human behavior and the social environment; policy and advocacy in professional social work; integrative learning for social work practice; social work practice with individuals; families and groups; applied learning in field education; diversity, social justice, and culturally competent social work practice
• In-person Requirements: No

Student Support

• Technical Support: Yes
• Special Services Provided to Online Students: Online library services, tutoring and writing coaches, and virtual one-on-one writing sessions

2. California State University, San Bernardino — Master of Social Work

Set in the foothills of the San Bernardino Mountains, California State University, San Bernardino enrolls about 20,000 students each year. The school offers 70 programs, including online options.

Students can earn the school’s 90-quarter-unit master of social work online through the Pathway Distance Education Program. This three-year program offers an MSW generalist core in the first two years followed by a year of concentration courses. Concentration options include homeslessness, domestic violence, child abuse, immigrants and refugees, and correctional services.

Students complete 900 hours of field education at approved agencies in areas such as mental health, child welfare, school-based counseling, gerontology, and forensic social work. While faculty designed this California social work degree for nontraditional learners, the program’s rigor does not suit full-time professionals.

Accreditation

• California State University, San Bernardino is regionally accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC).
• California State University, San Bernardino’s master of social work is accredited by the Council of Social Work Education (CSWE).

Admissions

• Minimum GPA: 2.5
• GRE required?: No

Tuition

• Average Undergraduate Tuition per Credit (In-state/Out-of-State): $1,110 for 0-6 units, $1,914 for 6.1+ units; nonresidents pay an additional $264/unit
• Average Graduate Tuition per Credit (In-state/Out-of-State): $1,388 for 0-6 units, $2,392 for 6.1+ units; nonresidents pay an additional $264/unit
• Notes: The MSW program costs $400/unit.

Academics

• Online Social Work Programs: MSW; BASW
• Program Length: 3 years, 90 quarter units

Social Work Coursework

• Tracks/Concentrations: 31 concentration options include homeslessness, domestic violence, child abuse, children, elderly, immigrants and refugees, and correctional services
• Field Education/Practicum Required?: Yes, 900 hours
• Capstone/Thesis Required?: No
• Core Courses: Foundation micro practice I, II, III; foundation macro practice I, II, III; special work research; human behavior in the social environment: birth through adolescence; human behavior in the social environment: adulthood and aging
• In-person Requirements: No

Student Support

• Technical Support: Yes

3. San Jose State University — Master of Social Work

A large school with more than 32,000 students, San Jose State University offers 250 areas of study. In 1969, the university began offering an on-campus master of social work to train students to work with the area’s Spanish-speaking population. In 2016, the School of Social Work began offering an online MSW that emphasizes a transcultural perspective, including cultural knowledge, cultural competency, and positionality and self-reflexivity.

The MSW trains social workers to address the needs of Latinos and other marginalized groups. The online MSW is a part-time program that students complete in two years. Students can complete all courses online. Courses feature asynchronous and synchronous components. The program begins with a foundation year that provides students with generalist skills.

The second year focuses on a transcultural, multi-systems practice concentration. Students integrate theoretical learning, models, and professional values with a transcultural emphasis at the micro, mezzo, and macro levels. Learners engage in 900 hours of field experience at California agencies.

Accreditation

• San Jose State University is regionally accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC).
• San Jose State University’s master of social work is accredited by the Council of Social Work Education (CSWE).

Admissions

• Minimum GPA: 2.5
• Prerequisites: A liberal arts foundation and experience working or volunteering with marginalized groups
• GRE required?: No
• Other Admission Requirements: This program only accepts California students.

Tuition

• Average Undergraduate Tuition per Credit (In-state): $3,300 for 0-6 units, $5,742 for 6.1+ units; nonresidents pay an additional $396/unit
• Average Graduate Tuition per Credit (In-state): $4,164 for 0-6 units, $7,176 for 6.1+ units; nonresidents pay an additional $396/unit
• Notes: The MSW program costs $475/unit.

Academics

• Online Social Work Programs: MSW
• Program Length: 2 years, 60 units
• Information Relevant for Transfer Students: Students may transfer in up to 12 credits from a CSWE-accredited master’s program.

Social Work Coursework

• Tracks/Concentrations: Transcultural multi-systems practice
• Field Education/Practicum Required?: Yes, 900 hours
• Capstone/Thesis Required?: No
• Core Courses: Social policy and services, social policy analysis, human behavior in the social environment I and II, transcultural generalist practice I and II, transcultural multi-systems practice I and II, multi-systems practice: a Spanish/English framework
• In-person Requirements: No

Student Support

• Technical Support: Yes

4. California State University, Northridge — Master of Social Work

Situated on a 356-acre campus in San Fernando Valley, California State University, Northridge features a diverse learning community of about 38,000 students. The school was one of the first colleges to offer distance education programs in the U.S., and faculty and staff continue to receive training and support to ensure distance learning excellence.

Students can pursue a master of social work online. This 60-unit program prepares students to address the needs of vulnerable and at-risk populations at the individual/family, group/community, and societal/policy levels. The MSW emphasizes the social service needs of residents in the Greater Los Angeles and Southern California regions.

The Department of Social Work delivers the program in two- and three-year formats for full-time and part-time students, respectively. Students can meet for live online classes one night each week or watch recordings of the class at their convenience. MSW participants complete 400-600 hours of field education in their foundation year and 500-700 hours in their concentration year. Students enroll in the program as a cohort to facilitate on-time completion, student interactions, and community building.

Accreditation

• California State University, Northridge is regionally accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC).
• California State University, Northridge’s master of social work is accredited by the Council of Social Work Education (CSWE).

Admissions

• Minimum GPA: 2.5; 3.0 desired
• GRE required?: No
• Other Admission Requirements: Competitive candidates should hold a bachelor’s degree in sociology, psychology, or a similar program.

Tuition

• Average Undergraduate Tuition per Credit (In-state/Out-of-State): $1,665 for 0-6 units, $2,871 for 6.1+ units; nonresidents pay an additional $396/unit
• Average Graduate Tuition per Credit (In-state/Out-of-State): $2,082 for 0-6 units, $3,588 for 6.1+ units; nonresidents pay an additional $396/unit

Academics

• Online Social Work Programs: MSW
• Program Length: 2-3 years (full-time or part-time basis), 60 units

Social Work Coursework

• Field Education/Practicum Required?: Yes, 400-600 hours in the foundation year and 500-700 hours in the concentration year
• Capstone/Thesis Required?: Yes, capstone research project required
• Core Courses: Human behavior and social environment I and II, psychosocial assessment and diagnostic formulation, generalist social work theory and practice, social work practice in multicultural contexts, generalist social work theory and practice II, foundations of field education I and II, social welfare policy and services, advanced social work practice with urban families I and II, family crisis trauma and grief
• In-person Requirements: No

Student Support

• Technical Support: Yes
• Special Services Provided to Online Students: Students enjoy ongoing support from a designated program manager from the beginning of the program to graduation.

5. California State University, Stanislaus — Master of Social Work

California State University, Stanislaus enrolls almost 10,000 students annually and operates two campuses in Turlock and Stockton. The master of social work is the school’s second most popular graduate program.

The College of Education, Kinesiology, and Social Work offers a hybrid MSW that students can complete in two years. This 60-unit program trains social workers in core social work practice competencies with a built-in specialization in integrative clinical practice in health and behavioral health settings. The program cultivates social workers who can advance social justice.

Students complete the program mostly online, attending in-person class sessions one Saturday per month. Participants complete 40 hours of field education per week for three consecutive summer months, totalling 1,000 hours. Students receive field placements primarily in the central California region. Learners cannot work during this practicum period.

Students pursuing this California social work degree are admitted in the fall.

Accreditation

• California State University, Stanislaus is regionally accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC).
• California State University, Stanislaus’s master of social work is accredited by the Council of Social Work Education (CSWE).

Admissions

• Minimum GPA: 2.5; 3.0 in the last 60 units preferred
• Prerequisites: Academic coursework in behavioral and biological sciences related to the human condition. Voluntary and/or paid experience in human services.
• GRE required?: No

Tuition

• Average Undergraduate Tuition per Credit (In-state/Out-of-State): $1,665 for 0-6 units, $2,871 for 6.1+ units; nonresidents pay an additional $396/unit
• Average Graduate Tuition per Credit (In-state/Out-of-State): $2,082 for 0-6 units, $3,588 for 6.1+ units; nonresidents pay an additional $396/unit
• Notes: Tuition for the entire MSW program is $35,000.

Academics

• Online Social Work Programs: MSW
• Program Length: 2 years, 60 units

Social Work Coursework

• Tracks/Concentrations: Integrative clinical practice in health and behavioral health settings
• Field Education/Practicum Required?: Yes, 1,000 hours
• Capstone/Thesis Required?: Students complete a comprehensive exam in their final term.
• Core Courses: Social welfare policy and services for social justice I and II; psycho-social assessment; human behavior and the social environment I and II; social work practice with trauma survivors; social work research methods; generalist social work practice using a strengths perspective; advanced integrative social work practice with children, adults, and families; advanced integrative social work practice with client-centered groups; advanced social work practice with communities and organizations
• In-person Requirements: Students attend in-person class sessions one Saturday per month.

Student Support

• Technical Support: Yes
• Special Services Provided to Online Students: Online tutoring

6. Humboldt State University — Master of Social Work

Founded in 1913, Humboldt State University is part of the 23-campus California State University system. The school enrolls almost 8,000 students annually. Humboldt State offers an online master of social work delivered through the Distributed Learning Community system. The program addresses the needs of individuals in rural communities who are interested in earning an MSW to help strengthen tribal and other communities.

Students complete the degree mostly online with one four-day campus session each year. The part-time MSW offers traditional and advanced standing programs. Faculty deliver live web sessions every Thursday night, and students complete weekly modules on their own schedule.

The traditional MSW requires students to complete 960 hours of field education. Learners in the advanced standing program need only complete 480 hours. Humboldt State provides field placements within a network of more than 200 placement settings in Humboldt, Lake, Del Norte, Mendocino, Trinity, and Shasta counties. One of the best online social work programs in California, the program enrolls students in January and June.

Accreditation

• Humboldt State University is regionally accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC).
• Humboldt State University’s master of social work is accredited by the Council of Social Work Education (CSWE).

Admissions

• Minimum GPA: 3.0, traditional program; 3.5, advanced standing
• Prerequisites: Applicants must pass a Native American Peoples of America course with a “C” or better
• GRE required?: No
• Other Admission Requirements: Advanced standing students must hold a CSWE-accredited BSW.

Tuition

• Average Undergraduate Tuition per Credit (In-state/Out-of-State): $1,665 for 0-6 units, $2,871 for 6.1+ units; nonresidents pay an additional $396 per unit
• Average Graduate Tuition per Credit (In-state/Out-of-State): $2,082 for 0-6 units, $3,588 for 6.1+ units; nonresidents pay an additional $396 per unit
• Notes: The MSW program costs $510/unit.

Academics

• Online Social Work Programs: Traditional and advanced standing MSW tracks, BASW
• Program Length: Traditional, 3.5 years; advanced standing, 2 years

Social Work Coursework

• Field Education/Practicum Required?: Yes; 960 hours for the traditional program and 480 hours for the advanced standing program
• Capstone/Thesis Required?: No
• Core Courses: Distributed learning community courses; social policy; generalist social work practice; qualitative and indigenous research methods; social work practice in Native American and rural communities; human development, diversity, and relationships; generalist social work policy; the dynamics of groups, agencies, organizations, and communities
• In-person Requirements: One four-day campus session each year