Massachusetts – Featured Online Programs in Social Work
Explore and compare a list of accredited schools to enroll in your next program.
A master’s in social work (MSW) marks an important step on your journey to advanced licensure in Massachusetts. This page profiles multiple online MSW programs in Massachusetts that meet the state’s educational requirements. It also explains the accreditation process for MSW degrees and highlights the benefits of earning your degree online.
Popular Online Social Work Programs
Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.
Online MSW Programs in Massachusetts
- Boston University
- Areas of Practice: Clinical Practice, Macro Practice
- Enrollment Options: Part-Time, Advanced Standing
- Regis College
- Areas of Practice: Clinical or Direct Practice
- Enrollment Options: Part-Time, Advanced Standing
- Salem State University
- Areas of Practice: Integrated Health and Behavioral Health
- Enrollment Options: Part-Time
- Simmons University
- Areas of Practice: Mental Health Practice, Trauma Practice, Military Practice
- Enrollment Options: Full-Time, Part-Time, Accelerated, Advanced Standing
- Springfield College
- Areas of Practice: Advanced Generalist
- Enrollment Options: Part-Time
- Westfield State University
- Areas of Practice: Child, Youth, and Family; Health Social Work; Latinx Community Health; Substance Use and Addictions
- Enrollment Options: Full-Time, Part-Time, Advanced Standing
Accreditation for Online Social Work Programs in Massachusetts
In Massachusetts, state licensing requirements explicitly include the completion of a social work degree program accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE).
CSWE accreditation supports multiple important benefits. It ensures that all accredited programs build a comparable set of crucial professional competencies. Accredited programs also develop and foster:
- Socially responsive cultural sensitivities
- An equity-focused approach to social justice and inclusivity
- Advanced critical thinking, problem solving, and research literacy skills
Ensure that any online MSW program you enroll in holds an active CSWE accreditation. Also, double check to make sure the school that hosts the program is accredited by an agency recognized by the Department of Education.
Benefits of Studying Social Work Online in Massachusetts
Online learning offers considerable benefits. It has come a long way in the early decades of the 21st century, and many institutions and employers no longer distinguish between online and face-to-face degrees when evaluating academic credentials. Specific advantages of online education include:
- Scheduling flexibility that makes it easier to balance school with work and other outside commitments
- Cost advantages that may include tuition breaks or discounts along with savings on relocation, transportation, and parking costs
- Access to more schools, including those outside your immediate geographic location
The next section explores and compares some of the defining features of online programs.
Course Formats in Online Social Work Degrees
Online MSW programs in Massachusetts use various models and course formats in delivering education. As you research schools and programs, you will likely encounter several common terms. Knowing what they mean in advance will help you compare your options more accurately.
Key terms include:
- 100% Online: When a program has a 100% online delivery model, you can complete all academic coursework remotely. Campus residencies, even brief ones, are not part of the program design. However, 100% online programs may have additional features, such as internships or practicums, that fall outside the purview of distance learning.
- Hybrid: Also known as blended programs, hybrid programs combine online and face-to-face coursework. Some hybrid programs have rigid structures with firm requirements for online and in-person courses. Others afford students more freedom in balancing and configuring on-campus and online elements. Similarly, some hybrid programs have extensive campus-based components while others have very few.
- Asynchronous: Asynchronous literally means “not simultaneous.” In educational contexts, the term describes an online course modality centered on pre-recorded lessons or lectures. You can engage with your learning materials whenever it is most convenient. However, this convenience requires a trade-off, as you cannot ask questions or interact with peers in real time.
- Synchronous: Synchronous classes meet at set times, just like regular campus-based classes. They take place on teleconferencing platforms, with students attending virtually. Synchronous classes restore the real-time interactivity that asynchronous classes sacrifice, but they lack the flexibility of self-directed scheduling.
No matter what delivery format your online Massachusetts MSW program uses, you should plan to complete your fieldwork requirements in person. CSWE-accredited MSW programs all include at least 900 hours of field training, which you cannot complete online.
Massachusetts Social Worker Career and Salary Information
Social workers in Massachusetts have a generally favorable professional outlook. Across all four social work career paths tracked by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, social workers in Massachusetts earn salaries that exceed national averages.
Like many other U.S. destinations, Massachusetts appears poised for above-average social worker job growth rates. According to Projections Central, healthcare, mental health, and substance use social workers could see the strongest job growth rates over the coming decade.
The type of social work license you hold may impact your earning potential and employment access. Learn more about Massachusetts social work licensing requirements to compare available paths in more detail.
| Occupation | Average Annual Salary | Projected Job Growth (2022-32) |
|---|---|---|
| Child, Family, and School Social Workers | $64,750 | +7.3% |
| Healthcare Social Workers | $69,770 | +9.7% |
| Mental Health and Substance Use Social Workers | $64,810 | +9.6% |
| Social Workers, All Other | $81,530 | +7.4% |
