Boston University Online Master of Social Work (MSW) Program

The online Master of Social Work (MSW) Program at Boston University School of Social Work (BUSSW) is a part-time program in Clinical Social Work Practice. BUSSW’s online MSW program is fully accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE), and enables students who do not live near the BUSSW campus or who have time constraints that prevent them from traveling to classes to earn their MSW from an internationally recognized private research university.

Learn More: Interview with Kristina Whiton-O’Brien – Assistant Director of Online Advising and Field Education at BU
“Field Education is a dynamic and integral part of the curriculum at Boston University School of Social Work…” Read more

Boston University’s MSW program is currently ranked in the top 20 nationwide by U.S. News and World Report. The online MSW program is taught by active BUSSW faculty members, who call upon their research experience and knowledge of established and emerging social work practices to engage students in a combination of lectures, discussion, and coursework.

Classes that are part of the online program include Human Behavior in the Social Environment, Racial Justice and Cultural Intersectionality of Oppression, Communities and Organizations: Analysis and Intervention, Family Therapy, Adult Psychopathology, Clinical Practice with Adult Trauma, and Cognitive and Behavioral Treatment. Weekly live classroom sessions allow students and faculty to interact with each other in real-time to review course content, exchange ideas, and virtually attend field-related seminars. Students take one course at a time, and each course spans seven weeks.

Each student of the online program enrolls in one or two field placements within or near their geographic area. Boston University manages the matching of MSW students to field education sites, and assigns students to placements that expose them to vibrant and diverse areas of social work environments and responsibilities. Students complete their field education concurrently with practice courses and an integrative field seminar. Internships must take place during normal business hours for field agencies.

Online MSW Program Tracks

There are three options for completing the MSW degree (students should note that their eligibility for these concentrations depends upon their academic background and past human services experience).

• Traditional MSW Track (TT): This track consists of 65 credits, which can be completed in three years over the course of nine semesters (fall, spring, and summer). Students take foundation and advanced courses online, attend live classroom sessions held Sunday or Monday nights, and complete two field internships.

• Human Service Experience Track (HSE): Applicants who have a minimum of two years of supervised human services experience may be considered for the HSE track. The program consists of 65 credits, which can be completed in three years over the course of nine semesters (fall, spring, and summer). Students take foundation and advanced courses online, attend live classroom sessions held Sunday or Monday nights, and complete a single 1,000 hour field internship.

• Advanced Standing Track: This option is open to applicants with an undergraduate social work degree from a program accredited by CSWE. Students accepted into the advanced standing track are able to put 22-25 credit hours of previous coursework towards their MSW degree. The remaining 40-43 credits in the program must be taken at BUSSW or as part of a BUSSW-approved course of study. Students enroll in an advanced 1,000 hour field internship.

Admission Requirements

Applicants must have earned or be on track to earn a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution prior to enrollment in BUSSW’s online program. They must also have received their bachelor’s degree within six years of entry into the program with a minimum undergraduate academic average of 3.0 (B). If a student’s cumulative undergraduate GPA is below a 3.0 on the U.S. 4.0 point scale, he or she must submit GRE or MAT scores.

Candidates should have a broad academic background in the social, behavioral, and biological sciences that gives them a strong understanding of the person-in-environment approach that is central to clinical social work. Classes related to cultural diversity, social problems, and the impact that social/socioeconomic conditions have on communities, groups and individuals are also helpful.

ALL Applicants must submit the following:

• An online application that includes a personal statement, current resume/CV, and three reference forms with accompanying letters of recommendation.
• A non-refundable $95 application fee.
• Official transcripts from all previous undergraduate and graduate institutions (including international programs where applicable).
• GRE or MAT scores if applicant’s cumulative undergraduate GPA is below 3.0 on the standard U.S. 4.0 scale.
• The completion of a telephone or Skype interview may also be required.

Advanced Standing Applicants:

• Candidates for the Advanced Standing track must have or be working towards an undergraduate degree in Social Work from a CSWE-accredited institution, and hold a minimum cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.0.
• If applicant is a graduate of an undergraduate social work program, he or she must submit a copy of his/her final field evaluation from senior year. If applicant is currently enrolled, he or she must submit a copy of his/her mid-year evaluation from senior year. (Note that an applicant’s field evaluation and academic reference should not be written by the same person.)

Human Service with Experience Applicants:

• Applicants interested in the Human Service track must submit verification that they have completed at least two years of social work or human services experience under supervision.
• One of the three letters of recommendation that applicants submit must come from a professional supervisor who can speak to their performance and development in a human services role.

Prospective individuals should note that BUSSW’s online MSW program does not accept applications from residents of Maryland, New Hampshire, or within the Massachusetts Route 128 corridor.