The Online MSW Program From USC

Earn a CSWE-Accredited Master of Social Work

The Online MSW Program From USC

Earn a CSWE-Accredited Master of Social Work

Accredited by the CSWE

A Master of Social Work (MSW) can open doors to fulfilling careers across a range of fields, such as mental health, family counseling, and military and community advocacy. Consistently top-ranked in the social work field, the USC Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work is the country’s most innovative social work graduate school. With part-time and full-time options, the MSW@USC is a Council on Social Work Education (CSWE)-accredited online MSW program that prepares you to become a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW).

Traditional MSW

The MSW@USC curriculum is designed to address 21st-century challenges with coursework rooted in strong social work principles as well as evidence-based practice and evidence-informed interventions. The program offers part-time and full-time program tracks, and you can focus your studies in areas such as families and children, mental health, military, substance abuse or social work in business settings.

Learn about the curriculum

Advanced Standing MSW

The 37-credit accelerated MSW program enables you to earn your degree in less time than the traditional program by waiving foundation courses. Advanced standing is available to exceptional applicants who already hold a Bachelor of Social Work. You can complete the program in as little as one year on a full-time basis, which means you can pursue leadership positions and advance your career faster.

Learn about advanced standing

Admissions

The MSW@USC offers multiple start dates throughout the year so you can begin classes when your schedule allows. The admissions standards for the online MSW program are the same as those of the on-campus MSW program, and all students complete the same academically rigorous curriculum. Applicants do not need to submit GRE scores when applying for admission to the program.

See admissions requirements

Both the online MSW and DSW programs offer multiple start dates per year and accept applications on a rolling basis.

Apply by November 13 to start MSW classes in January.
Apply by October 27 to start DSW classes in January.

Apply now

Military Social Work

The MSW@USC offers service members and their families the chance to study military social work no matter where life takes them. The program focuses on military culture and the unique challenges facing active-duty service members, veterans and their families, particularly in the areas of post-traumatic stress disorder, trauma, reintegration and crisis intervention.

Learn about military social work

Doctor of Social Work

Designed for those who already hold a master’s degree, the online Doctor of Social Work (DSW) program prepares scholar-practitioners to become innovative problem solvers in an era of rapid social change. Students tackle today’s greatest challenges through coursework, residencies and a capstone project.

Learn about the DSW

The Social Work Field Is Growing

Between 2014 and 2024, the Bureau of Labor Statistics expects the social work field to grow 12 percent, considered faster than the average for all occupations. This increased demand for social workers encompasses all social work practice areas, including families, children and youth; mental health; community organizing; advocacy; and health care.

Graduate Success

Whether you need help landing your first social work position or enhancing your on-the-job skills, the MSW@USC Office of Career and Professional Development is dedicated to providing you with the resources and services to realize career success. Career support ranges from career counseling and job searching to resume building and interview preparation to evaluating job offers and negotiating salary.

Learning Through the Online Campus

Offered both full time and part time, the online MSW program comprises both online and in-person learning experiences. As a student, you will log in to a virtual campus to complete coursework and attend weekly live classes taught by USC faculty. You will also work with a dedicated field placement coordinator who will get to know your goals and, based on your location and area of study, help you find successful placements that may be right for you.

Learning Through the Online Campus

What’s Different About the Online MSW?

The online MSW program has the same admissions standards, curriculum and graduation requirements as the on-campus program and confers the same degree: a Master of Social Work from the University of Southern California. The only difference is that you attend classes and complete coursework online. Your diploma will not indicate that you earned your degree through an online program.

Start the Conversation

Take the next step by requesting information today. We will then contact you to discuss the MSW@USC, tuition and financial aid, and how you can begin earning your credentials to practice as a social worker in your community.