Top 10 Online Social Work Degree Programs for 2019
Social work professionals are able to improve the quality of life for the vulnerable populations. Those who graduate with a degree in social work can find jobs with a wide range of human service agencies identifying individuals, families, and groups in need to determine appropriate intervention actions and provide support services. Social workers practice in hospitals, schools, nursing homes, and government agencies. Some work with specific populations such as pediatrics, families, or geriatrics. They might also specialize in a specific at-risk group such as abused children, drug or alcohol addicted individuals, or pregnant teens. There is a substantial need for qualified, educated social workers across the country.
Featured Online Schools
To pursue a career in social work, education is essential, and earning potential increases with advanced studies, as professionals with advanced degrees receive much higher salaries than those with an associate or bachelor's degree. However, individuals pursuing additional educational accomplishments while working may face significant challenges and difficulties. Online degree options provide students with the flexibility necessary to allow them to successfully complete their educational goals, even with other obligations like work or family.
Below is a list of the top-ranked online programs for 2019. These programs offer the highest quality educational at a range of degree levels, from undergraduate to graduate and postgraduate certificate programs. Each one is uniquely designed to increase students' skills and knowledge while providing the education necessary to advance their careers and increase their salary.
How to Get a Degree in Social Work Online?
Top 10 Online Social Work Degree Programs for 2019
What Degree Is Needed to Become a Licensed Social Worker?
Each state requires social workers who plan to practice independently to earn professional licensure, and the level of licensure you're eligible for depends on your level of education. At a minimum, you must have a bachelor's degree in social work (BSW) approved by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE). Graduates with this online social work degree are qualified for entry-level positions, including jobs as a case management aid, juvenile court liaison, or community outreach worker.
Some states and employers also require social workers to hold a master of social work (MSW) degree. The MSW prepares graduates for a wide variety of careers, including jobs as marriage and family therapists, mental health professionals, child welfare specialists, and licensed clinical social workers. As a result, many BSW graduates decide to continue their studies and enroll in online MSW programs, which allows them to secure management-level positions immediately after graduation.
Bachelor's in Social Work
An online bachelor's degree in social work introduces students to the field, and provides training in support services, casework, intervention strategies, and social welfare policy. Widely recognized as the entry-level credential for social work practice, a BSW leads to employment in addiction counseling, aiding in juvenile residential facilities, and casework in social service agencies. In many states, graduates with a BSW degree accredited by the CSWE may obtain the Licensed Social Worker credential, although they cannot deliver clinical services directly to clients. For students seeking higher salaries and greater responsibilities in clinical practice, a BSW or related degree serves as a prerequisite for a master's in social work and clinical licensure.
Master's Degrees in Social Work
The most versatile of social work degrees, a MSW leads to a variety of positions in clinical settings, including medical, healthcare, and mental health. Graduates also find lucrative careers working in children and family service agencies, correctional and substance abuse facilities, school settings, and employee services.
While all CSWE-accredited MSW degrees prepare graduates for the licensing exams, the type of license differs from state to state. Graduates of MSW programs may obtain the LMSW license but can only practice under the supervision of a qualified Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW). However, all MSW degree holders planning to offer direct clinical services, such as psychotherapy and mental health counseling, or those working in private practice must obtain LCSW licensure and complete supervised hours in clinical practice.
Students in an MSW may choose from several high-paying specializations. In addition to clinical social work, these include family, geriatric, public health, school, and substance abuse specialties. Depending on program requirements and number of courses taken, a master's degree in social work online takes two years or less to complete, not including clinical supervision hours.
Doctoral Degrees in Social Work
A doctorate degree in social work is the terminal degree in the field, preparing graduates for interesting and highly-paid career paths. Doctoral programs prepare their graduates to enter high-level administrative and policy positions, and to conduct and publish research that advances the discipline. As the practice of social work expands, the CSWE looks for doctorally qualified faculty to teach the next generation of social work professionals.
Students may elect to pursue a DSW, doctor of social work, or a Ph.D. The DSW, sometimes referred to as an advanced practice doctorate, teaches applications of techniques social work practitioners use in clinical settings. A Ph.D. program, while overlapping in content with a DSW, focuses primarily on academic scholarship, knowledge building, and policy analysis in social work and social welfare. It strives to prepare faculty for research and teaching positions in higher education. Offered in online and traditional campus-based formats, both degrees require at least five years of study, including a dissertation or some other form of independent inquiry.
Licensing For Social Work Graduates
When evaluating your options, you should keep in mind that licensing and certification requirements vary by state. Some graduates obtain a social work license in the state where they earned their degree, while others choose to go elsewhere. This is an important choice because you will only be able to practice where you have your license. Be sure to check with your state's licensing agency to find out the requirements, which typically include supervised work experience or continuing education. Below you'll find a quick overview of licenses you can pursue after earning your social work degree online.
License Renewal
Social workers must renew their licenses periodically, typically every 2-3 years. Requirements for renewal vary widely from state to state, but most state licensing boards require completion of approved continuing education hours and payment of a renewal fee.
Illinois' requirements provide an example of typical renewal procedures. Social workers practicing in Illinois must renew their license every two years, submit an application and pay an annual $30 fee. Additionally, they must complete 30 hours of continuing education units (CEUs). These CEUs must include a minimum of three hours of coursework in ethics and another three in cultural competency. At least half of the total CEUs must be obtained through in-person instruction or experiences. Live virtual workshops do not qualify. Illinois social workers must obtain their CEUs from a licensed state provider, or through courses offered by the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) or the ASWB.
Social Work Certifications
In response to changes in the field of social work, social workers increasingly pursue voluntary certifications beyond their degrees and state requirements for licensure. Social workers seeking enhanced professional recognition, in addition to career and salary advancement may obtain professional certifications in areas such as case management, school social work, gerontology, healthcare, hospice and palliative care, and addictions.
Certifications recognize the work experience and dedication of social workers practicing in these fields, and validates their specialized knowledge and training. Employers seek out social workers with these specialized credentials to fill key leadership positions, and often offer salary boosts for certificate holders.
Administered by the Commission for Case Manager Certification in collaboration with NASW, the C-SWCM recognizes BSW-trained case managers with three years, or 4,500 hours, of supervised professional experience in an agency providing case management services. Requirements include an a CSWE-accredited BSW degree, a current BSW-level license, and a passing score on the ASWB bachelor's level exam.
Accreditation for Online Social Work Programs
Academic accreditation is important for any program, but this is especially true for an online social work degree. First, regionally accredited programs are guaranteed to meet standards for quality and credibility. For example, an accredited master's curriculum will cover core social work competencies and include a requirement of at least 900 hours of field experience. More importantly, only accredited online MSW programs will meet state licensure requirements. Earning a degree from an unaccredited program will limit your eligibility for advanced placement opportunities.
Many programs hold at least two types of accreditation: one from a regional accrediting agency and the other from the CSWE, the only accrediting body for social work in the United States. The CSWE provides programmatic accreditation, which guarantees that graduates are adequately prepared to become professionals in the field. Determining whether a school has achieved accreditation can be confusing, as some are more transparent than others. Thankfully, the CSWE offers a helpful directory of all accredited online social work degrees on its website.
What Can You Do With a Social Work Degree?
In human services, few degrees open as many doors as a degree in social work. Earning an online social work degree will prepare you for a variety of careers, including in other disciplines like administration, clinical practice, and nonprofit and government advocacy. An online social work degree is also the perfect choice for those who want to become therapists in any field, or who want to manage social responsibility or community engagement programs in corporate settings. Below are a few examples of some of the most common roles pursued by graduates with an online social work degree.
Social workers assess and treat clients with emotional and social issues. They provide advocacy and resources for their clients, families, and caregivers. Duties include case management, documentation, and referrals. Social workers typically hold an MSW degree and state licensing to practice, although graduates with a bachelor's degree and a bachelor-level license may find entry-level positions providing nonclinical services.
Average Annual Salary: $44,824
Financing Your Online Social Work Degree
There are many types of financial aid available to cover the cost of an online degree in social work. The first step is filling out a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), which will qualify you for financial aid from the federal government. The most popular option is to take out federal student loans, which offer deferred interest and payments while you are earning your degree.
There are also no-cost grants or scholarships, which are awarded for commitment to special projects or based on academic merits or financial need. Finally, you can explore resources such as employer tuition assistance (if you currently work full time), private aid from religious or service organizations, campus employment, and federal work-study or graduate assistantships. Veterans are also eligible for funding under the Yellow Ribbon Program.
Repayment costs on student loans can add up quickly. In fact, the average cost of online MSW programs is over $20,000. This is where loan forgiveness programs come in. Depending on your eligibility, you may want to consider a few options for reducing your debt. The National Health Service Corps Loan Repayment Program offers up to $50,000 in exchange for two years of service in a high-need Health Professional Shortage Area. There's also the federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program, which forgives the remaining balance on your loan after you've made 120 monthly payments while in full-time employment.
Scholarships for Social Work Students
Students interested in an online social work degree should research the availability of scholarships and grants . Unlike loans, students receive these awards free and clear. Scholarships comes from a variety of funding sources, often supporting students from a particular region or targeted group. Some provide funds for students in a particular specialization such as mental health, developmental disabilities, and children and family services.
Who Can Apply: The ASHA awards scholarships to undergraduate and graduate students committed to working in a school health profession. School health professionals and students enrolled in a college-level program in school health fields may also apply. Recipients must be members of the ASHA and use the funding to attend the organization's annual conference.
Amount: $250 Apply Here
To determine the best online social work programs, we looked at the most important factors prospective students, mainly common predictors of future success and a school's commitment to online programs. This boils down to admissions rate, student loan default rate, retention rate, graduation rate, and the percent of students enrolled in online classes. All data points are taken from information provided by colleges and universities to the National Center for Education Statistics.
Each factor is weighted evenly in order to give an objective view and determine the 10 best online social work programs. To calculate our rankings, we looked at a school's ranking when organized by a single factor, and then averaged each category's ranking to find an overall score: Admissions Rate (20%) + Default Rate (20%) + Retention Rate (20%) + Graduation Rate (20%) + Percent of Students Enrolled in Online Classes (20%) = Final score.