Social work is an important career that involves helping people in a variety of ways. This job is often in demand due to the role social workers play within organizations such as social service agencies, hospitals, and mental health, rehabilitaiton, and retirement facilities. Social workers are needed in every state in the US, including California. California is a large state that encompasses a highly diverse population of many ethnicities, races, income levels, languages, and more. Because of this, social workers in different fields are in demand to help the varying needs of Californians. O*Net Online reports that the career of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers and Healthcare Social Workers are projected to grow 9% or more in California, which is higher than the average career. Child, Family, and School Social Workers and all other social work careers are also projected to grow at a faster rate than average, at 5-8%.
California Online Masters in Social Work
There are a total of 14 universities that offer an online MSW program in California. Enrolling in an online MSW program in California can hold multiple benefits to students. For example, many students in social work programs have already started their career and are attending school to expand their career and income opportunities, and an online format allows them to continue working while receiving an education. Online masters in social work programs can be beneficial for students with other responsibilities as well, such as a family or a varying schedule. The education that one receives through an online MSW program is usually equal in quality to the on-campus format, and allows for the same opportunities, such as enrolling in an accelerated advanced standing version of the program if a student qualifies.
CSWE Accredited Online MSW Programs in California
California features 12 CSWE-accredited MSW programs. The CSWE is responsible for creating criteria for social work programs in the United States that ensures that students are being provided a quality education that prepares them for their exams and career. Many employers prefer to hire social workers that have graduated from a CSWE-accredited program. Additionally, attending an accredited program can make it easier to continue a career as a licensed social worker if you want to move states and transfer your license, as other states have similar requirements for social workers because of the CSWE.
CSWE-accredited online MSW programs in California include:
- Program: Social Work Online MSW (advanced standing)
- Accreditation: Council on Social Work Education (CSWE)
- Number of Units: 40.5-46.5 units.
- Length: Two to 3.5 years of part-time study for the advanced standing program.
- Format: Online, requires one three-day, on-campus session per year.
- Practicum Requirement: 960 hours
- Tuition: $510 per unit
- Program: MSW Distributed Learning Program
- Accreditation: CSWE
- Number of Units: 34-36 units for the one year, advanced standing program, and 57-70 units for the three year program.
- Length: One or three years. The one year program is for advanced standing students, and the three year program is for those who want to attend part-time.
- Format: Online, with two weekend visits a semester.
- Practicum Requirement: 1,200 hours
- Tuition: $4,751 per semester
- Program: Master of Social Work
- Accreditation: CSWE
- Number of Units: 60
- Length: Two to three years. There is also a one year option for those who qualify for the advanced standing program.
- Format: Online
- Practicum Requirement: 16 hours per week for the duration of the program.
- Tuition: $752 per unit.
- Program: Pathway Distance Education Program Online Master of Social Work
- Accreditation: CSWE
- Number of Units: 60
- Length: Three years
- Format: Online
- Practicum Requirement: 16 hours per week in the first year and 20 hours per week in the advanced years.
- Tuition: $650 per unit.
- Program: Master of Social Work
- Accreditation: CSWE
- Number of Units: 60
- Length: Two years
- Format: Online with in-person class sessions once per month on Saturdays.
- Practicum Requirement: 500 hours each year.
- Tuition: $35,000 total.
- Program: MSW 3-Year Part-Time Online Program
- Accreditation: CSWE
- Number of Units: 78 quarter units (52 semester units)
- Length: Three years of part-time study.
- Format: Online
- Practicum Requirement: 1,080 hours
- Tuition: $48,258 plus fees.
- Program: Online/Hybrid MSW Program
- Accreditation: CSWE
- Number of Units: 37-60. The 30 unit program is for advanced standing students and the 60 units is a requirement for those in the standard program.
- Length: One to two years depending on if a student is enrolled in the standard or advanced-standing program.
- Format: Online/Hybrid
- Practicum Requirement: 1,050 hours.
- Tuition: $600 per unit.
- Program: Master of Social Work
- Accreditation: CSWE
- Number of Units: 69 credits for the standard option, 39 units for the advanced standing option.
- Length: Two years for the standard option and one year for the advanced standing option.
- Format: Online
- Practicum Requirement: 1000 hours.
- Tuition: $709 per unit.
- Program: Master of Social Work Online
- Accreditation: CSWE
- Number of Units: 48 units for the standard program and 24 units for the advanced standing program.
- Length: The traditional full-time program takes four semesters to complete, and eight semesters if attending part-time. The advanced standing program takes three semesters of full-time study to complete.
- Format: Online, with some on-campus workshops.
- Practicum Requirement: 1,100 hours.
- Tuition: $31,734 plus fees.
- Program: MSW Online Track
- Accreditation: CSWE
- Number of Units: 60 units for the standard program, and 30 units for the advanced standing program.
- Length: One year for the advanced standing program, and two years for the standard program.
- Format: Online, with four three-day residency requirements throughout the program.
- Practicum Requirement: 900 hours
- Tuition: $788 per unit plus fees.
- Program: MSW Program
- Accreditation: CSWE
- Number of Units: 60
- Length: Three years
- Format: Online, with two in-person meeting days per month.
- Practicum Requirement: 1,080 hours.
- Tuition: $2,871 per semester.
- Program: Master of Social Work
- Accreditation: CSWE
- Number of Units: 60 units for the Generalist Track and 36 units for the Advanced Standing track.
- Length: 38 months for the Generalist Track and 24 months for the Advanced Standing track.
- Format: Online
- Practicum Requirement: 900 hours
- Tuition: $47,290 total.
No GRE Required Online MSW Programs in California
In California, there are 12 Master of Social Work programs that do not require the GRE for admission. The Graduate Record Examination (GRE) is a standardized exam that is used by some universities to determine a student’s preparedness for graduate-level academics, and submitting the score is part of the admissions process to determine if a student can be accepted into a university. However, many universities are choosing to opt out of requiring GRE scores to be submitted in applications and instead may require a multitude of other materials that give a more well-rounded view of a student. This frequently includes things like a resume, letters of recommendation, undergraduate transcripts, an essay, and possibly more depending on the institution and program.
Below are California MSW programs that do not require the GRE.
- Program: Master of Social Work
- Accreditation: Candidate for CSWE
- Number of Units: 60
- Length: Two years
- Format: Online
- Practicum Requirement: 900 hours
- Tuition: $742 per unit
- Program: Online Master of Social Work (Online MSW)
- Accreditation: Candidate for CSWE
- Number of Units: 60 for the standard program, 35 units for the advanced standing program.
- Length: Two years of full-time study or three years of part-time study for the standard program, and three semesters for the advanced standing program.
- Format: Online
- Practicum Requirement: 720 hours
- Tuition: $1,210 per unit
There are many other universities that do not require a GRE score for their online MSW program, including those that have been reviewed under the section titled “CSWE Accredited Online MSW Programs in California”. These universities are:
- Cal Poly Humboldt
- California State University, Chico
- California State University, East Bay
- California State University, Northridge
- California State University, San Bernardino
- California State University, Stanislaus
- National University
- San Jose State University
- University of Massachusetts Global
- University of Southern California
Universities offering an online MSW program that do require the GRE include:
- California Baptist University
- Loma Linda University
California CSWE Accredited MSW Programs
| University Name | City | State | Program Title | Program URL |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brandman University | Irvine | CA | Master of Social Work | https://www.brandman.edu/academic-programs/arts-and-sciences/master-of-social-work |
| California Baptist University | Riverside | CA | Master of Social Work | http://www.calbaptist.edu/programs/master-of-social-work/ |
| California State University, Chico | Chico | CA | Master of Social Work | https://www.csuchico.edu/swrk |
| California State University, Fresno | Fresno | CA | Master of Social Work | https://www.fresnostate.edu/chhs/social-work/ |
| California State University, Northridge | Northridge | CA | Master of Social Work | https://www.csun.edu/social-behavioral-sciences/social-work |
| California State University, San Bernardino | San Bernardino | CA | MSW Degree | https://www.csusb.edu/social-work/msw |
| California State University, Stanislaus | Turlock | CA | Master of Social Work | https://www.csustan.edu/social-work |
| Humboldt State University | Arcata | CA | Master of Social Work | https://socialwork.humboldt.edu/ |
| Loma Linda University | San Bernardino | CA | Master of Social Work | https://behavioralhealth.llu.edu/academics/social-work-and-social-ecology |
| Northcentral University | La Jolla | CA | Master of Social Work | https://www.ncu.edu/programs-degrees/masters/master-social-work#gref |
| Pacific Oaks College | Pasadena | CA | Online Master of Social Work | https://www.pacificoaks.edu/academic-programs/online-master-of-social-work/ |
| San Jose State University | San Jose | CA | Master of Social Work | https://www.sjsu.edu/socalwork |
| University of Southern California | Los Angeles | CA | Master of Social Work | https://dworakpeck.usc.edu/ |
California MSW Programs With Accelerated Advanced Standing Options
In CA, there are ten MSW programs offering an advanced standing format. The advanced-standing social work program can be beneficial to enroll in if you qualify. This program usually takes only about half the time or less to earn a master’s in social work degree, meaning that a student usually has to complete less units as well. To qualify to enroll in an advanced standing program, universities typically require students to have earned a bachelor’s degree in social work from an accredited university within the last 5-10 years (depending on the university’s individual requirements) They also usually require the student to have maintained a minimum GPA of 3.0 or above, also dependant on the individual requirements of the university.
Below are the MSW programs in CA that have an advanced standing option. The specifics for each of these have been outlined in previous sections of this article.
- Cal Poly Humboldt
- California Baptist University
- California State University, Chico
- California State University, Northridge
- California State University, San Bernardino
- National University
- Pacific Oaks College
- San Jose State University
- University of Massachusetts Global
- University of Southern California
Affordable MSW Programs in California
There are seven universities in California that offer a more affordable MSW program. The affordable options are typically state universities, and they offer an education that is equivalent to private universities, but are more accessible to more students. Each of the California State Universities offering an MSW program are accredited by the CSWE, and other specifics have been reviewed in previous sections. These universities include:
- Cal Poly Humboldt
- California State University, Chico
- California State University, East Bay
- California State University, Northridge
- California State University, San Bernardino
- California State University, Stanislaus
- San Jose State University
