Master of Social Work (MSW) Programs in Arizona

There are three Master’s of Social Work Programs in Arizona. Each has been accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE). If you want to become a social worker, or are one already and want to increase your career and income opportunities, one of these programs may be right for you to earn a master’s degree in social work to meet your goals. This article will go over these programs and what they offer to help you decide which might be best for you.

Social work is a challenging career that many people find rewarding. Social workers help improve the lives of others. A social worker might do things such as:

• Helping clients on a caseload find resources like food and housing.
• Collaborate with various agencies to help clients get what they need.
• Work with clients to meet goals.
• Document client progress through case notes.
• Support clients through receiving services such as mental health medication.
• Advocate for policy change in their community.

If you have your master’s degree, you may qualify for additional responsibilities. You can also earn a license to becocme a licensed clinical social worker. These kinds of social workers might perform the following duties in addition to the above:

• Provide therapy and interventions for people with mental health conditions. A licensed clinical social worker (LCSW) may even open their own mental health practice.
• Supervise social services organizations, including mental health facilities, nonprofits, hospitals, VA clinics, and more.
• Provide supervision to social work licensure candidates (if licensed themselves).

When it comes to Arizona, according to O*Net Online, the state’s social work career outlook and median annual income is as follows:

• Child, Family, and School Social Workers
  • Projected Growth: 25% (much faster than other occupations)
  • Average Annual Wages: $48,220
• Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers
  • Projected Growth: 44% (much faster than other occupations)
  • Average Annual Wages: $45,100
• Healthcare Social Workers
  • Projected Growth: 42% (much faster than other occupations)
  • Average Annual Wages: $63,790
• Social Workers, All Other
  • Projected Growth: 5%
  • Average Annual Wages: $57,640
• Social and Community Service Managers
  • Projected Growth: 35% (much faster than other occupations)
  • Average Annual Wages: $72,070

Something to note is that the projected job growth for each of the above positions is much higher than other careers, or even social work jobs in another state. For example, the average career growth is 3%, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. This means that Arizona has a high need for social workers, and the need is likely to increase. Therefore, this seems to be a good time to earn a social work degree.

When it comes to wages, the BLS states that US social workers have a median annual wage of $58,380 as of mid-2023, with the lowest 10% of social workers making less than $38,400 annually, while the highest 10% earned more than $94,910. It’s important to remember that wages can vary across the US, and even within the same state. So even when going off of the wage estimates above, this may change depending on where one lives or what kind of organization someone is applying for. Additionally, wages may vary depending on the level of education and/or experience that someone has. A master’s level social worker may make more money than one with a bachelor’s degree, for example.

If social work is for you, then take a look at these CSWE-accredited MSW programs in Arizona to learn more.

Arizona Online Masters in Social Work

There are three MSW programs with an online option in Arizona. These offer a unique opportunity for a flexible education. Online programs are often helpful for people who work full time or have other responsibilities, but want a program that is of equal quality to their in-person counterparts. These programs are often designed with the purpose of accommodating professionals who already work in social services. One important factor in choosing a high-quality online program is ensuring that it has been accredited. For social work, this means accreditation by the CSWE. Accreditation helps ensure the legitimacy and quality of an online program.

Depending on the university, your classes might take place entirely online and completed at your pace. Others may have scheduled class times, where you are required to watch live videos. Most programs require you to complete your practicum at an in-person agency. You may also have to visit the college campus a couple of times per semester.

Below is an overview of MSW programs in Arizona with online options. They each have an on-campus option as well.

CSWE Accredited MSW Programs in Arizona

Three MSW programs in Arizona are accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE). Each of these were reviewed in previous sections, including:

• Arizona State University
• Grand Canyon University
• Northern Arizona University

The CSWE is the sole accrediting institution of social work master’s programs in the United States. Accreditation is a status that can be earned by academic programs to demonstrate that they provide high quality and innovative education. The CSWE sets these standards, which are developed by the members of the organization. Members tend to be professionals within the field of social work who have years of experience and a good idea of what a good-quality social work education should look like. They make these determinations to improve social work as a whole, so future students can go into the field as prepared professionals themselves.

CSWE accreditation is beneficial to students because it helps them prepare for any relevant licensing exams post-graduation, such as the LCSW exam. Other benefits include consistency of educational standards across the US, and that employers tend to prefer to hire social workers who attended an accredited school.

No GRE Required MSW Programs in Arizona

Two of the MSW programs in Arizona do NOT require students to take the GRE. These are Grand Canyon University and Northenrn Arizona University. One program, Arizona State University, does require students to submit GRE scores if their undergraduate GPA is below 3.2.

The GRE, or Graduate Record Exam, was originally designed to assess a student’s skills in topics such as problem-solving, math, critical thinking, vocabulary, and more. The intention was to help schools determine who was ready for graduate-level studies. However, more and more universities have started to opt out of having this requirement as part of the application. Instead, they are choosing to look at the big picture when it comes to a student’s qualifications. These days, programs might look at a combination of factors, including undergraduate grades, life and work experience, references, and more. This tends to give programs a much more well-rounded view of what a student is capable of. Other requirements may vary by program.

Arizona MSW Programs with Accelerated Advanced Standing Options

All three of the MSW programs in Arizona offer an advanced standing program and were reviewed in the first section, including:

• Arizona State University
• Grand Canyon University
• Northern Arizona University

An advanced standing curriculum offers the chance to complete the MSW program in about half the time of a standard MSW program. This means one year to three semesters as opposed to two years. There is often a part-time option available as well, so someone in advanced standing can complete the program in two years instead of three to four years, as is the case in the regular program.

However, to qualify for this version of the MSW program, you typically need to fulfill the following requirements:

• Have a bachelor’s in social work (BSW) degree from a CSWE-accredited institution. This typically has to be done within the last five years.
• Meet the MSW program’s GPA requirements. This is usually above a 3.2, but depends on the program.
• Any other unique requirements laid out by the admissions website for your program of choice.

Advanced standing can also benefit students because it can be more affordable, since less credits are being taken overall. It often can be done online as well. In general, advanced standing may be a good option for qualifying students who want to complete their program and move into their career.

Affordable MSW Programs in Arizona

Cost is often a factor for many when deciding what program to complete. While affordability is subjective, there are ways to decide what works best for you. Certain schools offer a more affordable tuition compared to others. These are usually public state universities, while the more expensive tuition tends to come from private universities. State universities are often more affordable because part of the cost is supplemented by tax dollars. So, if you go to an in-state school, it is often more affordable because you may have paid into it with your taxes. So, if you want to save money on tuition, look at state colleges in your state first.

Below are the three MSW programs in Arizona for you to compare the cost.

• Arizona State University
  • Tuition: $543 per credit
• Grand Canyon University
  • Tuition: $590 per credit
• Northern Arizona University
  • Tuition: $11,846 (in person), $14,640 (online)

Arizona CSWE Accredited MSW Programs

University Name	City	State	Program Title	Program URL
Arizona State University	Phoenix	AZ	Master of Social Work	https://socialwork.asu.edu/
Grand Canyon University	Phoenix	AZ	Master of Social Work	https://www.gcu.edu/degree-programs/master-social-work
Northern Arizona University	Flagstaff	AZ	Master of Social Work	https://nau.edu/social-work/

Conclusion

Social work is a necessary and important career that helps individuals and communities. While one can become a social worker with a bachelor’s degree, many will find that they have more opportunities with a master’s degree. If you live in Arizona, considering one of the high-quality MSW programs in the state from Arizona State University, Grand Canyon University, or Northern Arizona might be right for you. Each of the programs are accredited by the CSWE, offer an online version of the program, and an advanced standing option. Students can even choose between the two public state universities or the private university. There are many reasons to become a social worker, including job security and work fulfullment. Plus, you’ll be helping others, which is the biggest reward of all.