FAQ: Are there any one year online MSW programs?

Answer: Yes for Professionals with a Bachelor of Social Work (BSW).

One year online Master of Social Work (MSW) programs are basically full-time programs that accept advanced standing students, those who have already completed a Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) from a Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) accredited undergraduate program. These programs can typically be completed in one to one and a half years and are a great option for professionals with a BSW who are looking to increase their credentials or become a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (which requires a MSW) in a shorter period of time. For students who have not earned a BSW, a traditional full-time online MSW program typically takes two years to complete.

Information for Non-BSW Graduates

Simmons College's online MSW program, SocialWork@Simmons, offers a traditional accelerated MSW program which can be completed in as few as 15 months. Currently, this is the shortest full-length online MSW program. Visit the Simmons College page for more information.

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Advanced standing MSW programs typically have stricter admission criteria than traditional programs. In addition, most programs require students to have completed their BSW within the past five to eight years to be eligible for admission. For more information about these programs including admission requirements, visit our main page on advanced standing online MSW programs.

Currently, there are 37 schools that offer online MSW programs that can be completed in approximately one year (i.e. full-time advanced standing online MSW programs). On OnlineMSWprograms.com, we classify any MSW program that requires students to visit the campus two or fewer times per year as an online program. All but two of the schools that offer these programs are 100% online and do not require students to visit the campus during the program. Only Adelphi University and the University of Alaska Anchorage, which only accepts students from Alaska, require students to visit the campus during the program. All online MSW programs require field education which is typically completed at a local health services agency.

Online MSW Programs that can be Completed in One Year (Advanced Standing Programs)

Click on the school name for more information about their programs, admission requirements and eligibility restrictions.

Online MSW Programs that can be Completed in One Year (Advanced Standing Programs)
School Name	Program Structure*	Length	Concentration(s)
Adelphi University	Limited Campus Visits Required	15 months	Advanced Generalist
Boise State University	100% Online	12 months	Advanced Social Work Practice with Individuals and Families
Campbellsville University	100% Online	1 year	Advanced Generalist, Clinical Social Work
Columbia University	100% Online	1 year	Advanced Clinical Social Work Practice; Advanced Generalist Practice and Programming; Policy Practice; Social Enterprise Administration
Delaware State University	100% Online	12 months	Advanced Generalist Practice
Edinboro University	100% Online	~1 year (five quarters)	Family Social Work Practice
Louisiana State University	100% Online	1 year (3 semesters)	Advanced Direct Social Work Practice
Loyola University Chicago	100% Online	10 months	Specializations in: Children and Families, Health, Leadership and Development in Social Services, Mental Health, and Schools.
Metropolitan State University of Denver	100% Online	1 year	Children and Families, Mental Health, Leadership and Management
Morgan State University	100% Online	1 year	Urban Children, Youth, and Families and Addictions
New Mexico State University	100% Online	1 year	Advanced Generalist Practice with Populations of the Southwest
Ohio State University	100% Online	3 semesters	Mental Health and Substance Misuse, Child and Youth Services
Portland State University	100% Online	1 year	Health Across the Lifespan, Practice and Leadership with Communities and Organizations
Rutgers University	100% Online	4 semesters	Clinical Social Work
Samford University	100% Online	1 year	Advanced Clinical Practice
Texas A&M University	100% Online	1 year	Advanced Generalist
Texas State University - San Marcos	100% Online	1 year	Advanced Practice Leadership
The Catholic University of America	100% Online	1.5 years	Clinical Concentration
Tulane University	100% Online	1 year	Advanced Generalist, with Certificates Available in Disaster Mental Health; Trauma Studies and Family Practice
University of Alaska Anchorage	Limited Campus Visits Required	1 year	Advanced Generalist
University of Arkansas	100% Online	1 year	Emphasizes a Multi-System Life Course Perspective
University at Buffalo (SUNY)	100% Online	1.5 years	Evidence-based practice with a trauma-informed and human rights perspective
University of Central Florida	100% Online	16 months	Clinical Practice
University of Kentucky	100% Online	1 year	Advanced Generalist
University of Louisville	100% Online	1 year	Generalist with your chose of advanced topics: Alcohol and Drug Counseling, Gerontology, Mental Health, Military Social Work, Psycho-Social Oncology
University of New England (UNE)	100% Online	16 months	Integrated Clinical Practice Specialization
University of Nevada, Reno	100% Online	15 months	Advanced Generalist
University of New Hampshire	100% Online	28 months	Advanced Generalist with Electives: Health and Mental Health; Addictions and Substance Abuse; Children, Youth, and Families; Disabilities
University of South Florida	100% Online	3 semesters	Clinical Social Work
University of Southern California (USC) Sponsored	100% Online	~ 1.5 years (three semesters)	Families and Children; Health; Mental Health; Community Organization, Planning and Administration (COPA)
University of Tennessee at Knoxville	100% Online	1 year (Summer, Fall and Spring)	Evidence Based Interpersonal Practice (Clinical); Management, Leadership and Community Practice (Macro)
University of Texas - Arlington	100% Online	1 year	Direct Practice with Children and Families, Direct Practice in Mental Health and Substance Abuse, and Direct Practice in Aging
University of Texas - Rio Grande Valley	100% Online	1 year	Administration and Community Practice, Direct Practice with Latino Individuals, Families and Groups
Western Kentucky University	100% Online	1 year	Advanced Generalist
Western New Mexico University	100% Online	1 calendar year	Advanced Generalist with electives
Yeshiva University	100% Online	1.5 years	Advanced Generalist

*Programs that are 100% online do not require students to visit the campus during the program.

Earn Your Master of Social Work Online from Fordham University

Traditional and advanced standing online MSW options are available.
Top-ranked graduate school of social work by U.S. News & World Report (2018)
Full-time or part-time program tracks

Learn more about the online Master of Social Work at Fordham University.

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Last updated: March 2020


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