MSW Programs in Alabama

There are ten MSW programs in the state of Alabama. Nine of these have been accredited by the Council of Social Work Education, and one of them (Oakwood University) is in the pre-candidacy stage of accreditation. This article will review each of the AL masters of social work programs and what they offer. These programs might be right for you if you already work in social work as a way to expand your career and income opportunities. You may also be interested in an MSW program as a way to transition into a social work career, even if you work in another field. 

Social workers play an important part in a community. They help individuals, groups, and families overcome difficulties such as homelessness, poverty, mental illness, and much more. Part of the help social workers provide depends on where they are employed. There are many organizations that need to employ social workers, including hospitals, rehab centers, psychiatric units, veteran associations, and even corporations. Daily life for a social worker might involve helping a client find resources such as food and housing. The job also tends to include providing emotional support to the client, advocating on their behalf, interviewing them to find their needs, providing transportation, and spending time documenting these duties to track the client’s case. One type of social worker, called a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) has the credentials to provide mental health therapy to clients. Earning a master’s degree from a CSWE-accredited MSW program, such as the ones discussed in this article, can prepare you to take the licensing exam to become an LCSW. 

Social workers in Alabama play a role in improving social issues within the state. According to an Alabama news source, some of the biggest social issues include mass incarceration, economic injustice, and racial injustice. Social workers can help these issues in a number of ways. They might help fight economic injustice through working with impoverished families to help them get food, employment, housing, or state benefits. A social worker involved with people who are experiencing imprisonment might provide rehabilitation and connect them with necessities upon release. A big part that an Alabama social worker might play is advocating for change at the policy level, so that statewide improvements to issues can be made. 

Earning a master’s degree allows a social worker to potentially have a higher level of responsibility. This can also mean a higher wage. According to O*Net Online, below are the career growth projections and median state income for Alabama social workers. However, it’s important to remember that these numbers are the average for everyone who falls into the categories below, not just those with their master’s degree. So, the pay and job outlook might be higher if those with a master’s degree were highlighted by itself. 

• Child, Family, and School Social Workers
  • Projected Growth: 5%
  • Average Annual Wages: $45,970
• Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers
  • Projected Growth: 12% (much higher than average growth)
  • Average Annual Wages: $37,870
• Healthcare Social Workers
  • Projected Growth: 10%  (much higher than average growth)
  • Average Annual Wages: $55,850
• Social Workers, All Other
  • Projected Growth: 2%
  • Average Annual Wages: $83,470
• Social and Community Service Managers
  • Projected Growth: 6%
  • Average Annual Wages: $61,980

If earning an Alabama master’s degree in social work sounds like it might be for you, the rest of this article can help you decide which MSW program might be best for you to enroll in to start your advanced social work education.

Alabama Online Masters in Social Work

There are six MSW programs in Alabama that offer an online version of the MSW program. Two of these programs are offered solely 100% online, while the other four also offer an on-campus format for students who want to attend that way. 

Online courses make it easier for a student with many obligations to get their education. They often benefit those who work full-time during the day, as the flexibility of an online education can let a student attend a virtual class and complete homework in their free time. Some of the universities offer asynchronous courses, which allow a student to complete class on their own time. Others offer synchronous courses, which means there are scheduled times that a video lecture takes place. Online courses means that the coursework is usually completed online as well. However, each program has a practicum requirement, which must be completed in person at an agency local to the student. Some schools may also require the student to visit in person once or twice a semester. 

Online courses are typically equal in quality to on-campus programs, especially if the program is CSWE-accredited. If an online MSW program seems like it might be helpful for you, take a look at the programs reviewed below to see which might fit your needs. 

Below are the MSW programs in Alabama that offer an online option.

CSWE Accredited MSW Programs in Alabama

Nine out of the ten MSW programs in Alabama have been accredited by the CSWE, or Council on Social Work Education. Five of the programs were reviewed in previous sections, and the other four will be reviewed in this section. 

The Council on Social Work Education is the sole agency in the United States responsible for awarding accreditation status to social work programs at the bachelor’s and master’s level. The CSWE is composed of professionals in the field of social work who work together to determine what makes a program high-quality, and develops standards for innovative education that social work programs should offer. Accreditation means that a program has met these standards based on the current requirements of the CSWE. 

Accreditation is an important feature to look for when you are deciding which AL MSW program to attend. It ensures that you are receiving the best possible education and will gain the knowledge you need to take your licensing exam in the future and go into your social work career. Employers tend to prefer social workers who have attended a CSWE-accredited university. Also, attending an accredited program means that you may be more prepared to transfer careers as a social worker all across the country due to the nationwide standards of consistency, excellence, and innovation.

Below are the CSWE-accredited MSW programs in Alabama.

No GRE Required MSW Programs in Alabama

Nine of the MSW programs in Alabama do NOT require the GRE when applying for the social work program. One of the programs, Samford University, requires the GRE if the applicant’s undergraduate GPA is lower than 3.0. 

The Graduate Record Exam (GRE) is becoming increasingly scarce among social work master’s programs applications. The exam is a standardized test to determine a student’s readiness for master’s level education. It assesses a student’s readiness in things like math, vocabulary, critical thinking, and more. Some STEM or other programs may still require this, depending on the university. However, social work programs are choosing to admit students based on multiple factors including their work or volunteer experiences, references, GPA, and responses to any essay questions that might be asked. Other requirements may be added depending on the program.

Alabama MSW Programs with Accelerated Advanced Standing Options

All ten of the MSW programs in Alabama offer advanced standing. This version of the MSW program can allow a student to graduate in half the time of a traditional program. Often, these programs are offered full-time or part-time, just like the traditional program. So, if a traditional program takes two years of full-time work or three years of part-time work to graduate, an advanced standing program will only take one to two years. 

However, in order to qualify for advanced standing, you must have earned your bachelor’s degree in social work from a CSWE-accredited university. Depending on the program, your GPA should also be around 3.2 or above. The social work bachelor’s program is considered to have covered the information covered in the first year of the traditional master’s program, which is why it takes about half the time. Someone in the advanced standing program will still also have to complete a practicum, but it also only requires about half the hours of the traditional program. Depending on the university, you may be able to enroll in a part-time, full-time, online, or on-campus advanced standing program.

Affordable MSW Programs in Alabama

Affordability may be a big factor in making your decision about where to complete your MSW program. Luckily, there are several factors that make it a little easier to decide the best route for your needs. For one, the FAFSA is a great way to start the journey of funding your education. The FAFSA is a free yearly application that can help connect you with federal grants and loans based on your financial need, which is based on things like your yearly income and family size. 

Beyond the FAFSA, there are other strategies you can implement to make school more affordable. Looking for scholarships is one way that many students have paid for their education. The CSWE, for example, offers scholarships and fellowships to social work students. Also, many universities offer scholarships within their programs to help students through school. To find out more about those, you can contact your school of interest or look through their website. 

Finally, finding a school with a more affordable tuition is yet another strategy. While many universities may have similar costs, there are some on the lower end worth considering. State universities, for example, tend to be more affordable to resident’s of that state, and are of equal quality to other, more expensive programs. 

Below are a couple examples of affordable MSW programs in Alabama.

• Alabama A&M University
  • Tuition: $422 per credit hour
• University of Alabama
  • Tuition: $440 per credit hour
• University of Alabama at Birmingham
  • Tuition: $468 per credit hour

Taking all of this into account, you will have a better chance of affording your master’s of social work program!

Alabama CSWE Accredited MSW Programs

University Name	City	State	Program Title	Program URL
Samford University	Birmingham	AL	Master of Social Work	https://www.samford.edu/publichealth/master-of-social-work
Troy University	Troy	AL	Master of Social Work	https://www.troy.edu/academics/academic-programs/graduate/msw-social-work-direct-practice.html
University of Alabama	Tuscaloosa	AL	Master of Social Work	http://www.ua.edu/academic/colleges/socwork
University of North Alabama	Florence	AL	Master of Social Work	https://www.una.edu/socialwork/

Conclusion

Alabama offers a wide variety of MSW programs for potential social workers to choose from. While the state is not without its social problems, you might be able to be a part of the solution as a social worker while helping your community. Earning a master’s degree in social work from an Alabama university can open the doors to many opportunities in a variety of workplaces as you serve a diverse client base. With nine of the ten social work master’s programs being accredited by the Council on Social Work Education, there is likely to be one that will meet your needs and help usher you into a life-changing education.