In the first year of this program, you’ll build foundational knowledge in social work. Key study areas include behavioral and mental health, human behavior, cultural humility, research methods, social work ethics, assessment and applied practice with diverse populations across the life course.
In your second year, you’ll focus on advanced generalist coursework that integrates micro skills for direct practice with mezzo and macro skills in policy, administration and community organization.
This online MSW program prepares you to become a skilled practitioner who:
- Delivers culturally-adapted, knowledge-informed, ethical interventions to individuals, families and groups (micro).
- Affects social change through skills in organization, administration, policy development and community practice (macro).
- Unites communities and groups of stakeholders around shared values and causes (mezzo).
As a graduate, you’ll be ready for a wide range of roles in clinical social work, community organization, policy advocacy, program administration or other positions across the public and private sectors.
Who’s a good candidate for a master’s in social work?
Ideal candidates for this program are passionate about working with people and addressing complex social conditions impacting some of society’s most vulnerable and marginalized communities. The best candidates are individuals who care about others and want to make a positive change in those we serve.
To graduate, you must complete 960 hours of practical experience in two separate, year-long internships. Your first two semesters will consist of a generalist internship that provides exposure to the field of social work, as well as reinforcing foundational assessment, intervention and practice skills. In your second internship, you’ll focus on advanced practice and apply concepts to populations and needs related to your interests and career goals.
Did you earn a BSW in the last six years and want to pursue an MSW? You may be eligible to apply for our online Master of Social Work – advanced standing – advanced generalist program, which can be completed in one year.
Earn your online MSW from a fully accredited school
The online master’s of social work is accredited by the Council of Social Work Education (CSWE). As a graduate, you may be eligible for licensure through your state's licensing agency.
After graduating with an online MSW, you may seek graduate-level social work licensure. You may also pursue your clinical license, though this may require additional steps depending on the requirements of your state licensing agency, which varies by state.
Do you want to make a meaningful difference in the lives of others? Arizona State University’s online Master of Social Work empowers you to support individuals, families and communities with compassionate care. You’ll build the skills to promote equity, advance social justice and develop real-world solutions to society’s most difficult challenges.
This program includes a sequence of courses that address today’s most pressing social issues. Through a combination of online learning and real-world experience, you’ll gain the skills to develop and apply practical solutions that make a meaningful impact.
Along with your courses, you’ll participate in 960 hours of required applied practicum education at two distinct internship sites. You’ll work in partnership with the School of Social Work’s Practicum Education Office to find internship sites within your geographic region that meet school and CSWE standards. Pre-placement requirements will be arranged and monitored by the practicum agency and supported by ASU staff.
The impressive faculty in the School of Social Work inspires the next generation of social workers through real-world solutions to issues in areas such as child welfare, family violence, health and mental health disparities, human trafficking and water scarcity. Our faculty are among the most prolific social work researchers in the country and many of the texts used in social work programs across the country were written by faculty who teach in the school’s online social work programs. Our faculty includes:
- 7 Fellows of the American Academy of Social Work and Social Welfare
- 11 Fellows of the Society for Social Work and Research
- 5 Fulbright Scholars
The School of Social Work is a part of the Watts College of Public Service and Community Solutions — a comprehensive public service college dedicated to addressing social problems through teaching, research and service. Our programs, which range from public policy and social work to criminal justice and emergency management, are designed to prepare graduates to make a difference in their communities.
in social work research, according to the National Science Foundation, 2023.
best online bachelor’s programs, according to U.S. News & World Report, 2025.
in the U.S. for innovation for 11 consecutive years, ahead of Stanford and MIT.
public university in the U.S. chosen by international students, according to the Institute of International Education, 2022.
for best graduate social work program, U.S. News & World Report, 2026.
Applicants to the Master of Social Work program must fulfill the requirements of both the Graduate College and the Watts College of Public Service and Community Solutions.
Competitive applicants typically have a ‘B’ (3.00 on a 4.00 scale) cumulative GPA in the last 60 semester hours or 90 quarter hours of their undergraduate coursework.
Note: If you don’t meet the minimum GPA requirement, admission will still be considered using each component of your application, taking into consideration your professional and academic background.
All applicants must submit:
- Graduate admission application and application fee.
- Official transcripts.
- Program-specific admission essay.
- Up-to-date curriculum vitae or resume.
- Three letters of recommendation, including academic and professional references.
- Proof of completion of 240 hours of social work or human services experience within the past five years. To document, you can download the social work or human services experience form and upload it with your resume and statement of education and career goals.
For your two applied field education experiences, you can expect your internship to take approximately 16 hours per week in each semester for a total of 960 hours throughout the entire program. The inability to pass a background check or fingerprint clearance can limit the opportunities available and impair your ability to secure the required internships for this program.
The admission committee will use your statement of education and career goals to evaluate your knowledge of your career choice, your understanding of and commitment to the mission of the ASU School of Social Work and your passion for the social work profession. Your statement will also be used to assess your written communication abilities.
Your statement should be four to six pages double-spaced using a 12-point font and one-inch margins. When formulating your essay, please use the prompts listed below as paragraph headings. For the admission committee to appropriately review your statement, you must address all five guideline statements, including:
1. Your experience, background and relationships that influenced your selection of social work as your professional career, such as family, education, employment, diversity experience, volunteer involvement and personal characteristics. Additionally, please include challenges or barriers you’ve faced in your pursuit of higher education, what motivated you to persist and how you overcame them.
2. Your understanding of the responsibilities of the social work profession and specifically the role and responsibilities that you wish to be able to assume as a professional social worker. Additionally, please address how you’ve incorporated social work values in your human service experiences and interactions with others.
3. Your reasons for selecting the ASU School of Social Work program and your thoughts on how the mission statement addresses your short- and long-term career goals.
4. Your understanding of social justice as it relates to social work and how you’ll address the inadequacies of our social systems to combat racism. The ASU School of Social Work is committed to social justice, including the dignity and worth of all individuals. Social workers must maintain a commitment to equity by fighting to eradicate racism and all forms of injustice.
5. Your plan for managing the rigorous demands of graduate education with your required 960-hour professional field practicum (two internships), employment and personal obligations.
You can also download the template for your statement of education and career goals for more information about the format.
An applicant whose native language is not English (regardless of current residency) must provide proof of English proficiency.
ASU's academic programs that prepare you for professional licensure or certification are designed to meet Arizona's requirements. Completing an ASU program may not fulfill educational requirements for licensure or certification in other states. For additional information, visit the professional licensure webpage.
No, Arizona State University’s diplomas don’t specify whether you earn your degree online or in person. All diplomas and transcripts simply say “Arizona State University.”