An MSW Degree Made for Advocates Pursuing Licensure

UMass Global's CSWE-accredited online Master of Social Work degree equips you with the knowledge and experience you need to succeed in this rewarding field. This flexible, affordable program is designed for working professionals. Our expert faculty consists of scholar practitioners with many years of practical social work experience. Outside your coursework, you’ll gain practical experience through hands-on field work at a service agency in your community.

Prepare to make a difference across a spectrum of settings, including child protective services agencies; criminal justice, legal service, and military organizations; local, state, and federal agencies; home- and school-based programs; hospitals and other healthcare settings; mental health and substance abuse treatment programs; and nonprofit, human rights, and advocacy organizations.

At a Glance

Online
69 Credits
Next Start Date
Summer II (Jun 23, 2025)

Two MSW Degree Paths

Classes are available fully online with two pathways to complete the Master of Social Work degree: advanced standing and standard. The majority of our students are working adults with busy lives, so University of Massachusetts Global ’s courses are designed to be both flexible and affordable. Choose from six start times per year to fit your busy schedule.

 

Fast Track

Advanced Generalist/Advanced Standing Option (AG/AS)

Time to Completion: One year*

Total Credit Hours: 39 credits

Practicum: 600 hours of field placement practicum

Prior Degree:CSWE-accredited BSW/BASW/BSSW degree

Experience

Standard Advanced Generalist Option (SAG)

Time to Completion: Two years*

Total Credit Hours: 69 credits

Practicum: 1,000 hours of field placement practicum

Prior Degree:Prior Degree: Non-Social Work Bachelor's Degree

Career Outlook for Master in Social Work

Results for:
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
Median Salary2
Job openings (in the last 12 months)
Top Companies Hiring
Median Salary2
Job openings (in the last 12 months)
Top Companies Hiring
Median Salary2
Job openings (in the last 12 months)
Top Companies Hiring
Median Salary2
Job openings (in the last 12 months)
Top Companies Hiring
Median Salary2
Job openings (in the last 12 months)
Top Companies Hiring
Median Salary2
Job openings (in the last 12 months)
Top Companies Hiring

Data source: Lightcast™ 2025 www.lightcast.io

The pathway information provided through this website is based partly on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data licensed by the University of Massachusetts Global from Lightcast. While the University of Massachusetts Global believes this data to be reliable, some of the data is based on estimates made by Lightcast when actual data is unavailable. Those estimates and the corresponding data may need to be corrected.

  1. Change in employment projections 2022 - 2032
  2. Based on BLS Occupational Employment Statistics and updated quarterly
  3. The University of Massachusetts Global does not guarantee a job to graduates upon completion of any program

Courses You Might Take

SOWK 502

Social Work Practice with Individuals and Families

3 Credits
SOWK 503

Social Work Practice with Groups, Communities, and Organizations

3 Credits
SOWK 630

Child Welfare

3 Credits
SOWK 657

Mental Health and Mental Illness

3 Credits
SOWK 650

Crisis Intervention and Trauma Response

3 Credits
SOWK 651

Social Work Response to Disasters

3 Credits

What it’s like going to UMass Global?

Instructor-Led, Session-Based

This program is delivered in an instructor-led format, with eight-week sessions and multiple start dates per year for flexibility. In each class, you'll focus on one topic at a time and can take a session off if needed—no penalty. Courses include online lectures, group discussions, and structured assignments with set deadlines. This format offers clear milestones and peer interaction, making it ideal for students who thrive in a structured learning environment.

Personalized Support Services

UMass Global meets you wherever you are in life, with dedicated support at every step. From enrollment coaching and financial aid to academic advising and career services, we're committed to your success. Access personalized guidance, flexible resources, and a supportive community, empowering you to achieve your educational goals, no matter your starting point.

Woman shaking hands with man

Employer-Aligned Curriculum

At UMass Global, our employer-aligned curriculum ensures that coursework is directly relevant to today’s workplace. Designed with input from industry experts and faculty who are also working professionals, our programs focus on practical, career-advancing skills. Using a “backwards course design,” we tailor coursework to meet current job market needs. Our diverse faculty provides real-world insights and mentorship, ensuring that the skills you learn are immediately applicable to your career or future career changes.

Instructor-Led, Session-Based

This program is delivered in an instructor-led format, with eight-week sessions and multiple start dates per year for flexibility. In each class, you'll focus on one topic at a time and can take a session off if needed—no penalty. Courses include online lectures, group discussions, and structured assignments with set deadlines. This format offers clear milestones and peer interaction, making it ideal for students who thrive in a structured learning environment.

Personalized Support Services

UMass Global meets you wherever you are in life, with dedicated support at every step. From enrollment coaching and financial aid to academic advising and career services, we're committed to your success. Access personalized guidance, flexible resources, and a supportive community, empowering you to achieve your educational goals, no matter your starting point.

Woman shaking hands with man

Employer-Aligned Curriculum

At UMass Global, our employer-aligned curriculum ensures that coursework is directly relevant to today’s workplace. Designed with input from industry experts and faculty who are also working professionals, our programs focus on practical, career-advancing skills. Using a “backwards course design,” we tailor coursework to meet current job market needs. Our diverse faculty provides real-world insights and mentorship, ensuring that the skills you learn are immediately applicable to your career or future career changes.

Our Faculty

Beaulieu_Sibyl
Sibyl Beaulieu
Director of Field Education, Associate Professor of Social Work and Field Director
Sibyl Beaulieu
Portrait of Dr. Golnaz Agahi
Dr. Golnaz Agahi
Assistant Field Director, Associate Professor of Social Work
Dr. Golnaz Agahi

Master of Social Work Admission Requirements

You do not need to hold a BSW degree in order to apply, and there is also no GRE requirement. Applicants to the MSW degree program must complete the formal application process with all required documents, which include:

  • Completed application
  • 3.0 grade point average (GPA)
  • Written personal narrative that speaks to your motivations for choosing social work as an academic and career goal
  • Official transcripts from all regionally accredited institutions where coursework was completed or attempted
  • For more information please view the MSW Program Introduction Video

Residency Restrictions

This program is not available to residents of all states. Please contact a University Enrollment Coach for details.

School Social Work Credential

Master of Social Work students can add a Pupil Personnel Services Credential in School Social Work to expand their career options. Three courses, combined with fieldwork, will fulfill the requirements for your PPSC-SSW.

Graduate Level Exams

This Master’s degree program does not require applicants to take costly exams like the GRE. 

WASC Senior College and University Commission

University of Massachusetts Global is accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC)

Council on Social Work Education (CSWE)

UMass Global's Bachelor of Arts in Social Work program is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE)

Calculate Time and Cost

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Pursue your dream of changing lives with a MSW from UMass Global
Frequently Asked Questions

It usually takes between four to six years to become a social worker. Aspiring social workers must earn their bachelor’s degree, and many continue on to earn a master’s degree as well.

In the United States and Canada, the requirements to become a licensed social worker vary by state, province, and territory. However, a common prerequisite is obtaining a degree in social work from an accredited institution. Typically, a Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) is the minimum requirement for entry-level positions, while a Master of Social Work (MSW) is often necessary for advanced clinical roles.

According to the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB), licensure requirements can differ significantly depending on your location. You can find specific licensing requirements by state or province on their website: ASWB Licensing Requirements.

For further insight into the requirements and pathways to becoming a social worker, you can refer to the article: Social Worker Requirements: What You Will Need. This article may provide additional details and considerations for individuals pursuing a career in social work.

Social worker licensure requirements vary by state. Typically, obtaining your licensure includes achieving a minimum level of education, reaching a required amount of supervised practice time and completing an application. There are also optional and advanced licensures for specific social worker careers. You can learn more about requirements here.

Social workers can help military clients address difficulties such as PTSD, depression or anxiety, unemployment, financial hardship and more through individual or family counseling. Social workers support military personnel and their loved ones by developing community programs and initiatives that can improve their lives. Learn more about military social work.

Testimonials

UMass Global has been a welcoming school to veterans and adult learners. The courses offered provide exceptional learning and skillsets needed for your profession. This university is a great solution, more importantly to adult learners coming back after years of being out or being a parent, especially a single parent.

Yajaira V.
Social Work, MSW

Education is a treasure waiting for people to partake. There’s nothing more effective than getting a degree in a field you’re interested in and passionate about.

Bill K.
Social Work, MSW

 

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Assessment of Student Learning Outcomes

All Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) programs measure and report student learning outcomes. Students are assessed on their mastery of the competencies that comprise the accreditation standards of the Council on Social Work Education. All social work students are expected to master these competencies of social work practice during their professional training. A measurement benchmark is set by the social work program for each competency. An assessment score at or above that benchmark is considered by the program to represent mastery of a competency. This form is used to assist the CSWE in the evaluation of the program's compliance with the accreditation standards below:

  • 5.0.1(d) The program posts its assessment plan and summary outcomes publicly on its webpage using Form AS
    The findings are updated every two years, at minimum.
    1. The program submits Form AS M5.0.1(d) to report its assessment plan and most recent assessment summary outcomes.
    2. The program provides a hyperlink to the program’s webpage where the assessment plan and summary outcomes are publicly displayed.
    3. The program provides outcomes for each program option and in aggregate.

Licensure

To provide a pathway to licensure, the MSW Program integrated the required California pre-licensure course content into our second-year curriculum. As a CSWE accredited program, most states accept licensure eligibility with some states specifying required courses. However, because licensure requirements vary by state and are subject to change, students should confirm eligibility and verify course requirements for the state they intend to pursue licensure.

This program is fully accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) and meets licensure degree requirements in all states and territories in the U.S. However, certain states require specific courses for Licensure. See those requirements below:

  • SOWK 601: Family Violence – 7 hours of Child Abuse Assessment and Reporting in California; 10 hours of Aging, Long Term Care and Elder/Dependent Adult Abuse; and 15 hours of Spousal/Partner Abuse Assessment, Detection, and Intervention
  • SOWK 602: Social Work Law and Ethics – CA Law and Ethics
  • SOWK 603: Social Work and Human Sexuality – 10 hours of Human Sexuality
  • SOWK 622: Advanced General Practice I – 15 hours of Alcoholism and Chemical Substance Abuse & Dependency; and 6 hours of Suicide Risk Assessment and Intervention Training
  • SOWK 623: Advanced General Practice II – 3 hours of Provision of Mental Health Services via Telehealth

  • SOWK 664: Psychopathology

  • SOWK 664: Psychopathology
  • SOWK 502: Individual and Family Practice
  • SOWK 503: Group, Communities, and Organization Practice

  • SOWK 664: Psychopathology
  • SOWK 655: Substance Abuse elective

Students will need to take a course in New Mexico cultures to meet the coursework requirement for licensure

Students will need to take a course in child abuse provided by a NY provider to meet the coursework requirement for licensure

Students will need to take an HIV training course to meet the coursework requirement for licensure