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Online Master of Social Work (MSW) Program

Build the skills and confidence you need to make an impact in diverse communities with our CSWE-accredited online Master of Social Work program.

Ready to Get Started?

Fill out the form and we will contact you to provide information about furthering your education.

Please use our International Form if you live outside of the U.S.

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Online Master of Social Work (MSW) Program

Ready to Get Started?

Fill out the form and we will contact you to provide information about furthering your education.

Please use our International Form if you live outside of the U.S.

  • Current Step 1: About You
  • Step 2: Contact Information
""
GROW YOUR CONFIDENCE

Interactive simulations and virtual Skills Labs allow you to practice skills in scenarios that reflect what social workers face in the field. Emerge from your program feeling confident and ready to make a positive impact.

LEARN FROM EXPERT FACULTY

All of Walden’s online MSW program faculty have doctorates as well as real-world practice experience.

PREPARE FOR LICENSURE

Our MSW degree program offers valuable tools and robust resources to help you prepare to sit for your licensure exam.

CUSTOMIZE YOUR PROGRAM

Tailor your online MSW to your unique needs with focus areas, certificates, and degree completion options.

Program Details

Built for Working Professionals

With eight start dates, Walden’s online MSW program gives you the flexibility to pursue your goals and passions in a way that fits your busy life.

 

MSW Focus Areas and Embedded Certificates

Target your learning and start shaping your dream career working with the populations that matter most to you.

 

FOCUS AREAS

 

Addictions

Explore the specific needs of clients experiencing addiction when it comes to accessing and receiving services.

Child and Family

Prepare to work in community social welfare agencies, child welfare agencies, or the juvenile justice system.

Healthcare

Explore a unique array of challenges that certain patient populations and their families face in accessing and receiving medical services.

Military

Prepare yourself to address the specific needs of active military personnel, veterans, and their families.

Trauma

Prepare yourself to work with individuals who have faced trauma.

EMBEDDED CERTIFICATES

If you want to take your studies a step further, you can add a third course (5 credits) from a single focus area and earn an optional embedded certificate along with your MSW degree.

EMBEDDED CERTIFICATES

If you want to take your studies a step further, you can add a third course (5 credits) from a single focus area and earn an optional embedded certificate along with your MSW degree.

STUDENT EXPERIENCE

How will I learn?

Walden’s online MSW program features Skills Labs, video case studies, and field experiences that help you deepen your understanding and apply your knowledge in practical contexts and settings.

 

 

Curriculum ComponentRequirementsCostAmount
Tuition92 quarter credit hours

97 quarter credit hours
with certificate
$535 per credit hour

$49,220

$49,955

Skills Lab FeeTwo in programIncluded (travel, lodging, and other expenses are additional if the face- to-face option is selected.)$0
Program FeePer quarter – Standard

Per quarter – with optional Certificate
$175

$1,750

$1,925

  

Standard

with Certificate

$50,970**

$53,820**

BELIEVE & ACHIEVE SCHOLARSHIP

YOUR TUITION
-$5,885

$45,085*

*Represents Traditional option, no certificate, minimum time to completion, and Believe & Achieve Scholarship. Your actual total program time and costs may vary. Believe & Achieve Scholarship savings based on current tuition. See Scholarship Details for more information.

**Tuition reflects the minimum time to completion. Time to completion varies by student, depending on individual progress and credits transferred, if applicable. Tuition and time to complete may be reduced if transfer credits are accepted, or if you receive grants, scholarships or other tuition reductions. Walden may accept up to 45 transfer credits. For a personalized estimate of the number of your transfer credits that Walden would accept, call an Enrollment Specialist at 855-646-5286.

Tuition and fees are subject to change. Books and materials are not included and may cost between $2,500 to $3,500. The tuition reflects the minimum time to completion, which can vary by student, depending on individual progress.

If you are planning to enroll in three or more courses per quarter, the costs may be more than your financial aid offer per quarter.1

Curriculum ComponentRequirementsCostamount
Tuition

52 quarter credit hours

57 quarter credit hours with certificate

 

$535 per credit hour$27,820

$30,495
Skills Lab FeeOne in program
(face-to-face and virtual options available)
Included (travel, lodging and other expenses are additional if the face- to-face option is selected)$0
Program FeePer quarter – standard

Per quarter – with optional certificate
$175

$1,050

$1,225

  

with certificate
$28,870*

$31,720*
BELIEVE & ACHIEVE SCHOLARSHIP

YOUR TUITION
(STANDARD OPTION)
-$3,210


$25,660

* Tuition reflects the minimum time to completion. Time to completion varies by student, depending on a variety of factors, such as individual progress, selected electives, and credits transferred, if applicable. Tuition and time to complete may be reduced if transfer credits are accepted, or if you receive grants, scholarships or other tuition reductions. Walden may accept up to 10 transfer credits. For a personalized estimate of the number of your transfer credits that Walden would accept, call an Enrollment Specialist at 855-646-5286.

Tuition and fees are subject to change. Books and materials are not included and may cost between $1,500 to $2,500. The tuition reflects the minimum time to completion, which can vary by student, depending on individual progress.

If you are planning to enroll in three or more courses per quarter, the costs may be more than your financial aid offer per quarter.1

Program Outcomes

Career Impact

Pursue your passion for helping others live better lives. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, demand for social work professionals is expected to increase 7% by 2032—faster than the national average for all occupations.1

 

No guarantee is made that a person who enrolls in the MSW program will obtain a job or will earn the stated salaries.

1Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics | Job outlook | Estimated wage (as of May 2023) 
2Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics | Job outlook | Estimated wage (as of May 2023) 
3Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics | Job outlook | Estimated wage (as of May 2022)

Learning Outcomes

As a graduate of Walden’s Master of Social Work program, you will be prepared to:

Develop a professional orientation and identity as a social worker.

Apply legal and ethical standards in the administration of social work.

Apply principles of advocacy that promote cultural understanding and positive social change in individuals, communities, and society.

Utilize evidence-based research and critical thinking skills to inform practice in meeting the needs of diverse clientele.

Synthesize and apply theories of human growth and development to develop culturally responsive social work practices.

Demonstrate knowledge and skills in the areas of engagement, assessment, intervention, and evaluation with individuals, families, groups.

Master of Social Work Program Assessment of Student Learning Outcomes

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Meet Your Academic Team

Learn about the dedicated online MSW faculty who are committed to supporting and guiding you through a successful, enriching educational experience.

You Might Also Be Interested In 

Explore related degree programs at Walden.

MSW FAQ

What’s it like to take an online MSW program?

The Walden online experience is designed with the adult learner in mind, allowing students to balance their courses with their careers, families, and other responsibilities. Students can access the online classroom at any time. They interact with faculty and peers using online discussion boards, and assignments are submitted via the online classroom.

Students have access to a wide variety of support services, including the Writing Center, Walden library, and the Student Success Advising team. Our Student Success Advisors can help track academic progress and answer questions regarding academic policies and programs.rack academic progress and answer questions regarding academic policies and programs.

What’s special about Walden’s online Master of Social Work program?

Walden’s online Master of Social Work (MSW) program is grounded in experiential learning and multicultural perspectives—so students emerge from their program ready to make a difference for their clients and community. Our online MSW features:

  • Interactive simulations and virtual Skills Labs to help students practice what real social workers face in the field each day.
  • Dedicated faculty who all hold doctorates and have real-world practice experience. They bring their firsthand experience directly from the field to the classroom.
  • Practical tools and resources to help students prepare to sit for their state licensure exam.
  • The ability for students to customize their online MSW program to reflect their interests, needs, and preferences with focus areas, certificates, and degree completion options.
Is Walden’s online MSW program accredited by CSWE?

On November 12, 2019, the Walden MSW program achieved reaffirmation of its accreditation by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE), the sole accrediting agency for social work education in the U.S. We are proud to say the reaffirmation is for the maximum allowed—eight years, through October 2027.

You can find more information about accreditation at the CSWE website.

How does Walden’s master’s in social work online program compare with campus-based programs?

Our curriculum is designed to incorporate required elements as determined by CSWE, making it comparable to campus-based programs that are structured in accordance with CSWE guidelines.

In addition, the Walden online MSW program offers a great deal of flexibility for working professionals because of its online format and the university’s comprehensive student support for online learners. This flexibility allows students to earn their degrees from wherever they have internet access and study on their own schedule.

What do I need for admission to the Walden online MSW program?

For admission to the part-time and two-year full-time tracks:

  • Bachelor’s degree from an accredited university with a GPA of 2.5 or higher
    • Lower GPAs can be considered on a case-by-case basis

For admission to the Advanced Standing track:

  • Applicants must have graduated with a Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) from a Council of Social Work Education (CSWE)-accredited program within the last eight years with a minimum GPA of 3.0
    • GPA in social work courses may be considered if favorable
Is financial aid available?

Walden students may qualify for government student loans and grants. For more information about the financial aid process at Walden, talk to an Enrollment Specialist at 1-866-492-5336.

Walden also offers scholarships. Be sure to ask an Enrollment Specialist about availability and eligibility requirements.

What is field experience and how does it work?

Field experience is required by all CSWE-accredited MSW programs and is an opportunity for students to work in real-life settings, interacting with clients under the supervision of a professional social worker. As part of the Walden online Master of Social Work curriculum, students complete two field experiences over four quarters/terms for a total of 900 hours (students in the Advanced Standing option will complete one field experience for 500 hours). It is important that students consider how they will manage the field experience requirements with other responsibilities.

Field experiences can normally be completed in or near a student’s town or community, and some sites offer tele-practice experiences to meet the direct practice requirements. While we cannot guarantee field sites in any community will have availability or be able to provide a field placement, we partner with students to help them thoroughly explore their community options. Our dedicated team of field education experts, all of whom hold MSW degrees, supports students in selecting and working with field locations that are appropriate for the curriculum and have the necessary supervision.

In addition, students are enrolled in a synchronous (online live with an instructor) field seminar course, which meets weekly, while in their field placement to guide the monitoring and reflecting processes required by CSWE.

To learn more, call an Enrollment Specialist at 1-866-492-5336.

Do I have to come to a campus for any part of my Walden online MSW program?

You will not need to come to a campus, but the MSW program includes two six-week hybrid Skills Labs, which comprise three weeks of online content, followed by a three-day intensive experience (available face-to-face or virtually), and then closes with two weeks of online content. When you attend your Skills Labs depends on your degree option (Traditional, Traditional Accelerated, or Advanced Standing) and when you plan to enter your field placement. Students work closely with their academic advisors to plan their attendance.

Skills Labs are an integral part of the online MSW program at Walden, providing invaluable hands-on experiences. The labs allow MSW students to meet and collaborate with peers and faculty, get support, discuss ideas, and practice critical professional skills needed to be a social worker. Advising is available and important information about obtaining your license is covered.

We know that time is precious in the lives of our busy students, so Skills Labs are planned carefully to provide the most benefit possible.

Contact an Enrollment Specialist at 1-866-492-5336 for more information.

How long will it take me to finish my Walden online Master of Social Work program?

The amount of time it takes to complete your degree will vary based on your previous educational experience, course load, and field placement schedule. We anticipate that students with other life commitments will take two courses per quarter and complete their program in approximately three years.

Some students will take longer, and some will complete the program in less time by decreasing or increasing their course load. Talk with an Enrollment Specialist at 1-866-492-5336 to discuss your individual time commitment.