The online master’s in social work is 100% online: no campus visits are required. However, a field practicum involves supervised work at an approved agency.
Students typically take two classes each semester. If you have regular standing (i.e., you have a bachelor’s degree in an area other than social work), you can complete the program in three years (nine semesters). Successful completion requires 60 credit hours: 21 credit hours of foundation courses, 30 credit hours of concentration courses and 9 credit hours of electives.
If you have advanced standing (i.e., you have completed a bachelor’s degree in social work within seven years of beginning MSW course work), you will need to complete 39 credit hours: a foundation course (SOC_WK 7952) of 3 credit hours, 30 credit hours of concentration courses and 6 credit hours of electives.
You will choose from one of two concentration areas: advanced clinical practice or policy, planning and administration in human services.
Completion of an approved college-level statistics course (e.g., SOC_WK 4310, STAT 1200, STAT 1300, ESC_PS 4170) with a grade of C- or higher is a prerequisite to admission to the program.
The chart below shows when the courses are traditionally offered. These courses are listed in numerical order only. Please speak to your advisor before enrolling in any course as to follow the proper plan of study. Courses are 3 credit hours each, unless stated otherwise. The University reserves the right to change or cancel courses as needed.
Students will complete two practicums. The first (SOC_WK 7971) must be completed at an agency within Missouri or the contiguous states. The final practicum (SOC_WK 8971) may be completed at an agency in or outside of the region.
Moving out of the region prior to the final practicum will result in program withdrawal.
It is important to note that practicums must be completed Monday through Friday during normal workday hours (not evenings or weekends).
States require that the University of Missouri-Columbia be authorized to deliver university-level distance/online education to their residents. Each state handles this process differently.
Please see our state authorization page for more information.
Students residing in some states are not eligible to enroll in this program. See our state authorization page for a full list of states in which this program is not authorized.
